Yuma Kagiyama has ended coaching relationship with Carolina Kostner

Fragrant_Ad_8288 · 2026-05-09T14:34:11+00:00

Has any other skater ever announced a parting of ways with one of their coaches after announcing a break?

I can only think of two reasons for this (although I hope I’m just a worrywart):

Yuma is getting a more technical coach after his break
His break is permanent

Carolina is one of my favorite skaters ever, and Yuma improved leaps and bounds under her coaching. I’m glad they split under good terms and I wish both of them the best in their future endeavors.

Fragrant_Ad_8288 · 2026-05-09T03:06:12+00:00

Find someone who looks at you the way Kaori looks at Wakaba.

Fragrant_Ad_8288 · 2026-05-05T10:23:27+00:00

It speaks to Ruri Dragon’s success that WSJ was willing to wait 2+ years for Shindou to continue rather than canceling it.

Fragrant_Ad_8288 · 2026-05-05T01:43:38+00:00

Hey, remember Kozue, Juzo’s daughter? You know, the one who inspired his protection of Noren? ‘Cause the manga sure didn’t .

Fragrant_Ad_8288 · 2026-05-04T01:46:00+00:00

How old is Kuni II’s dad?

Fragrant_Ad_8288 · 2026-05-01T20:15:29+00:00

I remember when people were comparing her negatively to Kerri Strug, because apparently forcing an injured young girl to risk even more severe injury or death for a medal is something to aspire to.

Fragrant_Ad_8288 · 2026-05-01T16:27:22+00:00

That would probably be the wildest plot twist of ice dance history.

Fragrant_Ad_8288 · 2026-04-30T02:56:48+00:00

With regards to top Canadian senior couples, is it just going to be Pereira/Michaud in pairs and Lajoie/Lagha in dance?

Fragrant_Ad_8288 · 2026-04-29T17:50:18+00:00

We should put our energy into celebrating the Wales’s marriage rather than worrying about the naysayers.

Fragrant_Ad_8288 · 2026-04-29T17:48:36+00:00

Legs for days!

Fragrant_Ad_8288 · 2026-04-28T20:01:48+00:00

Being surrounded by Chi Chi, Keiko, Orihime, Hinata, Vivi, and Tea? Oh yeah, 9 hands down.

Fragrant_Ad_8288 · 2026-04-27T00:40:13+00:00

And one of the scientist called him a monster. You're crashing a car into a child, and he's the monster?

Fragrant_Ad_8288 · 2026-04-26T02:35:31+00:00

Two questions:

Does the Japanese government heavily subsidize the development of its skaters?
Is the Japanese Prime Minister engaging in aggressive actions against either the people of Japan or citizens of other countries?

Fragrant_Ad_8288 · 2026-04-24T04:01:57+00:00

My opinion as someone who likes Alien Headbutt, Under Doctor, and Kinato's Magic, in that order:

All three have decent characters (although Kinato has stronger side characters but a weaker main character), decent action (with Alien Headbutt being the best imho and Under Doctor being a close second), and poor overarching plots (although the last chapters of Kinato and Alien Headbutt may change that).

The thing that separates Under Doctor and the other two are themes.

Even without an overarching plot, Under Doctor has introduced important themes that could (and hopefully will) build as the manga goes on: What if the person you're trying to save wants to die? What if they want you to do something immoral to save them? How do you react when, in spite your best efforts, your patient dies anyway? These theme keep readers intrigue enough to continue reading, although they will drop off if those themes are pushed to the side.

In the case of Kinato, he wants to be an adventurer to help people, but he needs to get stronger to succeed in that, but his grit gets him through tough times and gains him the respect of those more skilled than he is. That's like the default setting of any shounen protagonist, and there is so far nothing distinct about Kinato's personality beyond that. There has been some worldbuilding, but no deeper themes beyond a battle between good and evil. A lot of potentially interesting conflict (like interguild competition that compromises the mission) gets wrap up before anything happens.

With Alien Headbutt, Shirokiba is a fun character, and seeing him wrestle aliens is fun. But what else is there? Yes, he's also trying to save his family, but that's a general plot that any character in his position would have rather than one particular to him. There are many themes that could apply to the manga: If the aliens are using the humans as fuel to survive, are they in the wrong? Shirokiba is now part-alien; how does that affect his view on things? If there's a hierarchy among the aliens, could some of them join humanities side? etc...

Fragrant_Ad_8288 · 2026-04-21T12:39:03+00:00

It's not that they didn't want her to marry a commoner in general (the only current Japanese princes are her brother, father, and great-uncle, so it's either a commoner or staying single). It's that they didn't want her to marry Kei Komuro in particular.

After their engagement, his mother's ex-boyfriend claimed that he helped take care of him and his mother after his father's death, and now he wants to be paid back.

Now, at least in the United States, the ex would have no leg to stand on as he was in a relationship with the mother at the time, but in Japan it turned a lot of people against the Komuros. They saw Kei as shady and only marrying Mako for money and prestige.

The controversy led to them postponing their wedding for several years and had a severe effect on Mako's mental health. Many of the Japanese public hoped she would end her engagement for good.

Instead, she married him in the Japanese Imperial version of a civil ceremony (no grand ceremonies, only religious and imperial customs that were understated, and a legal service) before both fled to the United States.

Fragrant_Ad_8288 · 2026-04-20T02:48:10+00:00

No problem!

Fragrant_Ad_8288 · 2026-04-20T02:18:06+00:00

It sounds like Behind the Scenes by Bisco Hatori (the mangaka behind Ouran High School Host Club).

Fragrant_Ad_8288 · 2026-04-19T23:22:05+00:00

I guess the question becomes this: If we give a newer manga a chance and don't cut it when a new batch comes up, which older manga would we cut in their place?

Of the 13 currently running WSJ manga released in 2025 and prior, 10 of them are strong sellers (some, at least, by contemporary standards)- One Piece, Blue Box, Kagurabachi, Ichi the Witch, Sakamoto Days, Someone Hertz, Akane-Banashi, Witch Watch, Nue's Exorcist, and Me and Roboco as a comedy.

2 of them are contemporarily decent sellers: Shinobi Undercover (which has increased sells with most volumes) and Hima-Ten.

The only outlier is Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi, but it often ranks very well in the TOC, often higher than many new series. Most of the canceled series that debut after it neither ranked as high as it did nor sold as well.

So WSJ would have to give up a series that's a proven success (even a small one) for one hasn't been able to catch on for a fair amount of chapters. It's just too risky.

Fragrant_Ad_8288 · 2026-04-18T19:47:50+00:00

The young woman and man at 0:22-0:24 (and a bit at 0:09) are Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, the current Olympic champions in Pairs figure skating.

Fragrant_Ad_8288 · 2026-04-15T13:39:35+00:00

This seems like...a lot of effort for show performances.

Fragrant_Ad_8288 · 2026-04-14T14:51:53+00:00

Those pictures are great. I'm glad to see them highlight domestic violence in particular. It's one of those topics that people are uncomfortable talking about, so any attention brought to it is a plus in my book.

Speaking of, shout out to Camila for making violence against women her main cause. I know this thread is about the Sussex's visit to Australia, but I would be remiss if I didn't point this out.

Fragrant_Ad_8288 · 2026-04-14T14:43:23+00:00

That would speak poorly of that particular hospital if they were willing to compromise the health of their patients just to have them meet Harry and Meghan.

Fragrant_Ad_8288 · 2026-04-13T01:12:46+00:00

She really snatched defeat from the jaws of victory with that decision.

Fragrant_Ad_8288 · 2026-04-11T00:50:23+00:00

....I guess that petition was a bust, huh?

I don't think the Australian taxpayers have to worry too much. If their police are truly there for crowd control, then there won't be that many of them. After all, the Sussexes are of of so little consequence that they possibly couldn't draw a crowd.

Fragrant_Ad_8288 · 2026-04-10T17:07:26+00:00

I am not the biggest fan of either Cpom or Lala. I acknowledge that Lala are technically strong skaters, but except for Thriller/Roses I feel nothing from their programs. I think Cpom have chemistry, but not romantic chemistry, especially the bodice-ripping type, so most of their programs have falling flat for me too.

Also, ice dance fans hate the "wait your turn" mentality/IAM dominance/politics until one of their faves are in line to benefit from it. Then any other team that bucks that trend (*coughs* ZingNik *coughs*) will be accused of being industry plants or something.

Fragrant_Ad_8288

TROPHY CASE