Yuka Sato signs autographs and chats with her fans.

by YOKO MORIHIRO
Hokubei Mainichi

SAN JOSE — The ice skating show tour “Stars on Ice” stopped in San Jose on Jan. 30, featuring former Olympian and world-class Japanese figure skater Yuka Sato, who also held a reception for her Japanese fans living in the area.

The event was attended by young students and parents, about 40 people in all, who clearly enjoyed the opportunity to ask Sato questions, take photos, and get the signature of one of Japan’s most famous and beloved skaters. Some participants even brought presents for Sato.

Talented and Down-to-Earth

Sato answered each question that was posed to her thoroughly and politely. One fan asked, “You’ve worked as a pro skater for a long time now. What’s your secret to stay focused for so long?” Sato replied, “I think it’s because I love my work.” When Sato was a little girl, she used to watch “Stars on Ice” on video and she longed to be a part of the show. “So I’m very excited to be able to appear in the show,” she said.

The passion for skating runs in Sato’s family. Her parents are both well-known figure skating coaches in Japan, and she began skating when she was four years old. Over the years, Sato earned a reputation for her fluid skating style. She appeared in two Winter Olympics, the Albertville Games in France in 1992 and the Lillehammer Games in Norway in 1994. Also in 1994, she won the World Figure Skating Championships.

After the World Championships, Sato has worked actively as a professional skater and regularly appears in skating shows, mainly in the U.S. Despite her long career, she revealed that she still gets butterflies in her stomach before each performance.

When asked why she continues with it, she replied, “I love to perform in the spotlight and to be cheered on by the crowd. So as long as I can keep feeling that, I hope to continue skating.”

Sato was also bombarded with questions by her smaller and cuter fans, who wanted to know about other sports she liked, her favorite foods, and how much money she made.

Sato also talked about the next generation of Japan’s skaters, saying she enjoys watching rising stars like Takahiko Kozuka and female skater Mao Asada.

Meeting Japanese Fans

One of the participants, San Jose resident Hiroko Murakami, who has been a figure skating fan since the ’90s, held Sato’s autograph dearly.

When asked about her impression of Sato after meeting her, Murakami said, “She answered all the questions so calmly and politely. She seems like a really wonderful person. I hope the next generation of skaters will learn from her, not just from her skating technique but also from her demeanor.”

Sato, who is currently a resident of Detroit, said, “The culture and the weather are different so I get homesick sometimes.” She enjoys meeting with other Japanese expatriates that are living in the U.S., which is why she specifically requested exchanges like this. “It makes me happy to meet with other Japanese, and I hope they enjoy it as well.”

By April, Sato’s tour will have taken her to 40 cities around the nation, and she plans to have exchanges like this with her fans in 13 of those cities. This year she has already held events in Seattle and Portland, where 120 Japanese fans came out to meet with her.

The Next Generation

In the “Stars on Ice” show, Sato was joined by some of today’s top-notch skaters, such as Sasha Cohen, who won silver at the Torino Olympics in the women’s singles, and bronze medalist Jeffrey Buttle of Canada. Veteran skaters were also on hand to co-star, such as Todd Eldredge and Ilya Kulik.

The theme of this year’s show, “On the Edge: Heart of the Champion,” was chosen because, as Sato explained, “We want to show the audience the spirit of the athletes. Not to mention some pretty fancy edge work.”

The show did not disappoint. It was a powerhouse display of technique and skill full of vigorous jumps and precise spins. The entertainment was non-stop from start to finish.

And throughout it all, Sato skated beautifully, both in a central role for the group numbers and as a solo performer. The crowd showered her with cheers, ensuring we will be seeing more of Sato for some time.

Translated by Lefteris Kafatos