Over the years her students have claimed medals on the Junior Grand Prix and senior international circuit, but until last season Japanese coach Mie Hamada had never produced a senior national champion or a senior World medalist.
Satoko Miyahara became the first of Hamada’s charges to claim a coveted national title, and a few months later captured a silver medal at the 2015 World Championships.
That momentum has continued this season for the Kyoto-born coach and her team.
Miyahara mined gold at the 2015 U.S. International Figure Skating Classic in Salt Lake City and two of Hamada's other students, Yuna Shiraiwa and Marin Honda, have both booked places at the Junior Grand Prix Final in their first season competing on the junior circuit.
Hamada, 55, is now constantly on the go with students competing in competitions on different continents, sometimes simultaneously. In September, she went directly from the United States to Germany where another student, Mariko Kihara, was competing at Nebelhorn Trophy.
On her return to Japan, Hamada went directly to the Japan Open where Miyahara was competing.
The skating schedule in the coming months has some events conflicting with others Hamada said. “Skate America and Japanese novice nationals are happening at the same time. Following that, I have sectionals (the Western Japan Championships), Japanese junior nationals and NHK Trophy.”
It has been a long road for the dedicated coach, herself a national competitor in the 1970s and early 1980s, and a contemporary of Emi Watanabe, the eight-time Japanese champion and the first Japanese lady to medal at Worlds (a bronze in 1979).
The highlight of her career was a 10th place finish at Japanese nationals.
“Emi was a much better skater than I was of course,” Hamada said with a laugh. “I wasn’t particularly talented myself. That’s why I think I decided to go to America to find out my own strengths and weaknesses.”
Hamada studied in the U.S. for a time and, whilst there, took advantage of the opportunity to improve her own skating skills. “It was a really good learning experience for me. I worked mainly on my edges and basic skating, things which I wasn’t good at,” she said.
After graduating from Kyoto's Doshisha University 32 years ago, Hamada retired from competitive skating and turned to coaching.
“Perhaps it’s because there were things I wasn’t able to do as a skater myself that I was able to become a coach,” Hamada said. “Of course, it’s lovely to end your career having achieved all you wanted, but even if those dreams don’t come true, you can take that energy and use it in another way. I am very fortunate to have been able to do that.”
The 36 skaters Hamada currently has under her wing train at the Kansai University rink in Takatsuki, Osaka. Six of those currently compete internationally.
With so many students, Hamada spends up to eight hours a day, six days a week at the rink. Thursday is her only day off. Yamato Tamura, a two-time Japanese men’s champion, coaches alongside Hamada.
She believes that training alongside other strong skaters is a positive for her students when they attend competitions. “When you go to an event, you have to skate with your rivals from other clubs in any case, so it’s good for them to train in such an environment, on a daily basis, where they have to be mindful of doings things at their own pace,” she said. “If you don’t have any rivals, you cannot grow as a skater.”
Even after three decades of coaching, Hamada said she has not lost her passion for training those at the grassroots level.
“I just love teaching. I’ve taught many of my skaters since they were beginners. I’ve coached my current junior girls from the moment they first stepped out onto the ice. Just because Satoko has competed at Worlds doesn’t mean that anything has changed very much at all.”
Hamada first came to prominence when she coached Yukina Ōta to the 2003 World junior title and the Four Continents crown in 2004. Despite a promising start to her career, Ōta never made it onto the senior podium at Japanese nationals and was forced to retire in 2008 due to injury.
Hamada has coached Miyahara since age 6. She is full of praise for her highest ranked skater.
“Satoko really is a hard worker and truly special. First of all, she never complains and she does what you ask of her,” Hamada said. “Not only that, she practices thoughtfully. She also has a very pleasant disposition. She’s serious and has a good attitude towards learning. Up until now, there has never been a second when I thought she was slacking off.
“I didn’t start out with the aim that Satoko would skate at the World Championships. It was about improving a little bit every day and training with the idea of what style of skating and what kind of skater she wanted to become. The result of that just happened to be that she was able to go to the World Championships. It was just an extension of what she had been doing day-to-day.”
But, it has not always been plain sailing for Hamada. Just as Japan’s golden age of skating was kicking into high gear in 2005 the rink at which she previously coached in Kyoto closed. She was forced to bundle her students into her own car and drive up to three hours, in some cases, to find practice ice.
Even now, the lack of rinks in Japan is something that concerns her. “No matter how much ability you or your coach may have, if there are no rinks it’s a non-starter. I think cutting down the amount of time it takes to commute to a rink and improving the facilities we already have in Japan will contribute to making the competitive standard better.”
While Hamada will go to certain lengths on behalf of her skaters, she also tries to engender a certain amount of independence in them, so that they have the skills to cope with whatever may be thrown at them, not only while they compete, but also when they finish skating.
“In competition and in life, nothing goes 100% the way you plan. Because of that, it’s so important to use the time that you have wisely. I also believe it is not in my student’s best interests if they are too dependent on me as a coach. I want them to be able to think positively in whatever situation in which they find themselves.”
What Hamada does instill in her students is a sense of purpose and belief.
“People talk about spirit, technique and physical strength a lot in skating. I believe spirit is the most important of these. Being physically fit is important and, of course, so is technique — but without spirit you can’t move up to the next level. I emphasize this with my students, as well as qualities such as perseverance and patience that I want them to develop.”
Hamada tries to preserve the individual style of each of her skaters and encourages them to improve on their weaknesses. “I try and leave the good parts of each skater’s character as it is.
“However, as this is a sport, in order to win there are things that you have to work at overcoming. Individuality is important, but I try to not let my skaters develop bad habits. Individuality is a wonderful thing, but having too much can get in the way. It’s hard to judge and find that right balance of just enough personality.”
When asked who she considers is a complete skater, Hamada had no hesitation in naming Carolina Kostner, the 2014 Olympic bronze medalist.
“I adore Kostner; her skating, her posture... There are male skaters whose skating I admire, but what I really love to see is a female skater with pretty lines and nice flow. I like how Kostner places her feet and I like skaters who have beautiful edgework. I am quite strict with my students about their footwork and about how they place their feet.”
The level of intensity and competition domestically and the popularity of the sport in Japan are factors that she feels have contributed significantly to the development of Japanese skating and the ability of Japanese skaters to handle pressure so well.
“The fact that there is such fierce competition nationally is perhaps the reason why there is such strength and depth. I think we are also fortunate to have so many fans come and watch skating. It really helps the skaters to get used to skating in front of large crowds.”
Hamada has set out clear goals for her skaters to work towards this season.
“For Satoko, I’d like to see her on the World podium again. I feel Japanese skaters lack a bit of power compared to skaters from other countries, so I want to see her improve on that. For the juniors (Honda and Shiraiwa), this is their first season since moving up from novice, so I’d like them to get the experience of competing two days in a row. I think that their goal should be to skate well in both their short and free.”
With all the distractions of an insatiable media and enthusiastic fan base in Japan, Hamada is firm in her belief that what a skater does on the ice should do the talking.
“I think my students have lately become experts at giving answers to the press. They are able to say things that will get the media and the public excited. They have also become very good at making sure they thank their fans, their federation and their families.
“However, I think the only way you can truly express your gratitude is through your performance.”
結果 (
日本語) 1:
[コピー]コピーしました!
長年にわたって彼女の学生ジュニア グランプリ、国際シニア メダルを主張しているが、昨シーズンまで日本コーチ浜田みえ生産していた決してシニア チャンピオンまたはシニア世界選手権メダリスト。聡子宮原切望された全国タイトルを主張する浜田の料金の最初となり、数ヵ月後 2015年世界選手権で銀メダルを捕獲しました。その勢いは、京都生まれの監督と彼女のチームにこの季節を続けています。宮原採掘、2015年米国国際フィギュア スケートのクラシック ソルト レイク シティと浜田の他の生徒、ユウナ白岩の 2 つで金目たる、マリン ホンダ両方予約を持っている場所、ジュニア ・ グランプリ ・ ファイナルでジュニア サーキットでの競争の最初のシーズン。浜田、55、今常に外出先で、異なる大陸の大会に参戦する時同時に学生です。9 月に彼女は他の学生、真理子木原がネーベル ホルン杯で競争していたドイツにアメリカ合衆国から直接行った。日本に帰りに、浜田は宮原が競っていたジャパン オープンに直接行きました。今後数ヶ月でスケートのスケジュールには、浜田が言った他の人と競合するいくつかのイベントがあります。「スケート アメリカと日本語初心者の国民が同時に起こっています。次に、私がある sectionals (西日本選手権大会)、日本ジュニア選手権、NHK 杯。それは世界 (1979 年に青銅) で金目たるを自身は 1970 年代と 1980 年代初頭に国内競技者専用のコーチと渡部絵美の現代、8 度の全日本チャンピオン、最初の日本人女性のために長い道のりをされています。彼女のキャリアのハイライトは、日本選手権で 10 位だった。「Emi だったもちろんによりもはるかに良いスケーター」浜田は笑いながら言った。"私ではなかった特に有能な自分。だからこそ私は自分の長所と短所を見つけるためにアメリカに行くことを決めたと思う」。浜田はしばらく米国で勉強し、ながら、彼女自身のスケートのスキルを向上させる機会を取った。「私の本当に良い学習経験だった。主に私のエッジと基本的なスケート、私は得意ではなかったことにしました」と彼女は言った。京都の同志社大学 32 年前から卒業後浜田は競技から引退し、コーチになっています。「おそらくスケーターとしてコーチになることが自分で行うことができなかったことがあったので、「濱田です。」それは、あなたのすべてを達成したあなたのキャリアを終わらせる素敵なもちろんそのエネルギーを取るでき別の方法でそれを使用してそれらの夢が叶わない場合でも。私は非常に幸運にすることができた。大阪府高槻市の関西大学スケート リンクで彼女の翼の電車の下で現在 36 スケーター浜田があります。それらの六つは現在国際的に競います。多くの学生が、浜田を費やして、スケート場で週 6 日、一日 8 時間まで。木曜日は、オフ彼女の唯一の日です。大和田村、2 時間日本男子チャンピオン、浜田と一緒にコーチ。彼女はコンテストに参加すると、他の強いスケーターと一緒に訓練が彼女の学生のために積極的であることと考えています。「イベントに行くときする必要がある他のクラブからいずれにせよあなたのライバルとスケートので日常的にこのような環境での訓練をのため良いことだ自分のペースでの所業事を意識する必要がある彼らが、"彼女は言った。「すべてのライバルを持っていない、スケーターとして、成長できません」。コーチングの 3 つの数十年後も浜田は草の根レベルでそれらの訓練のための彼女の情熱を失っていない彼女を言った。「私は教育をを大好きです。初心者だったので、私は私の選手の多くを教えています。私は彼らが最初の氷の上に出た瞬間から私の現在のジュニアの女の子を指導しました。聡子が世界選手権で出場していって、何かがまったく変わった非常に。」彼女は 2004 年に 2003年世界ジュニアのタイトルおよび 4 つの大陸の王冠にゆきな Ōta を指導したとき、浜田は最初目立つようになった。彼女のキャリアに有望なスタートにもかかわらず、Ōta は決して日本選手権でシニア表彰台にそれを作ったの負傷のために 2008 年に引退を余儀なくされました。浜田は 6 歳以降宮原を指導しています。彼女は彼女の最も高いランク付けされたスケーターのための賞賛の完全です。“Satoko really is a hard worker and truly special. First of all, she never complains and she does what you ask of her,” Hamada said. “Not only that, she practices thoughtfully. She also has a very pleasant disposition. She’s serious and has a good attitude towards learning. Up until now, there has never been a second when I thought she was slacking off.“I didn’t start out with the aim that Satoko would skate at the World Championships. It was about improving a little bit every day and training with the idea of what style of skating and what kind of skater she wanted to become. The result of that just happened to be that she was able to go to the World Championships. It was just an extension of what she had been doing day-to-day.”But, it has not always been plain sailing for Hamada. Just as Japan’s golden age of skating was kicking into high gear in 2005 the rink at which she previously coached in Kyoto closed. She was forced to bundle her students into her own car and drive up to three hours, in some cases, to find practice ice.Even now, the lack of rinks in Japan is something that concerns her. “No matter how much ability you or your coach may have, if there are no rinks it’s a non-starter. I think cutting down the amount of time it takes to commute to a rink and improving the facilities we already have in Japan will contribute to making the competitive standard better.”While Hamada will go to certain lengths on behalf of her skaters, she also tries to engender a certain amount of independence in them, so that they have the skills to cope with whatever may be thrown at them, not only while they compete, but also when they finish skating.“In competition and in life, nothing goes 100% the way you plan. Because of that, it’s so important to use the time that you have wisely. I also believe it is not in my student’s best interests if they are too dependent on me as a coach. I want them to be able to think positively in whatever situation in which they find themselves.”What Hamada does instill in her students is a sense of purpose and belief.“People talk about spirit, technique and physical strength a lot in skating. I believe spirit is the most important of these. Being physically fit is important and, of course, so is technique — but without spirit you can’t move up to the next level. I emphasize this with my students, as well as qualities such as perseverance and patience that I want them to develop.”Hamada tries to preserve the individual style of each of her skaters and encourages them to improve on their weaknesses. “I try and leave the good parts of each skater’s character as it is.「しかし、これはそこに勝つために、スポーツは克服で仕事をしているもの。個性は重要ですが私は悪い習慣を開発私のスケーターをさせないことを試みる。個性は素晴らしいことですが方法で得ることができますあまりにも多くのこと。判断し、ちょうど足りるだけの人格の正しいバランスを見つけるは難しいがある。」彼女は完全なスケーターは、考えている人を確認するメッセージが表示されたら、浜田ためらいでなかった名前付けカロリーナ ・ コストナー、2014年のオリンピック銅メダリスト。「コストナー; 大好き彼女は、彼女の姿勢をスケート.男性スケーターがスケートの私は感心するが、かなりラインといい流れ女性スケーターは、私が本当に見てみたいです。コストナーは、彼女の足を置くし、美しいエッジワークを持っている選手を好きな方法が好きです。私はかなり厳格なフットワークと自分の足を配置する方法についての私の学生。レベルの強度と競争国内日本のスポーツの人気は彼女が感じている要因と日本スケートの開発と圧力をうまく処理する日本人スケーターの能力に大きく貢献しています。「全国的にこのような熾烈な競争があるという事実はおそらく理由そのような強度と深さがあります。我々 は来て、スケートを見る多くのファンがいるに恵まれていますと思います。それ本当に役立ちます大観衆の前でスケートに慣れるスケーター。」浜田はこのシーズンに向けて努力する彼女のスケート選手のための明確な目標を設定します。「聡子、のたいもう一度世界の表彰台に彼女を参照してください。日本のスケーターの改善には、彼女を見たいので他の国からの選手に比べて消費電力のビットを欠いている気がします。これは、後輩 (ホンダ ・白岩)、行の競合する 2 日間の経験を取得するようにしたいので、初心者から移転して以来の彼らの最初のシーズンです。彼らの目標はショートとフリーの両方でうまく滑るべきと思います。」飽くことのないメディアと日本で熱狂的なファンのすべての気晴らしは、浜田はスケーターが氷の上でどういう話を行う必要があります彼女の信念の会社。「私は生徒が最近マスコミへの回答を与えること専門家なると思います。メディアを取得することを言うことができるし、公共の興奮します。彼らともなっている非常に彼らに感謝のファン、所属連盟とその家族を確認して作るが得意。「しかし、だあなた感謝を表現できる本当唯一方法はあなたのパフォーマンス」
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