Friends On Ice – A chest full of gemstones

Hundreds of visitors braved Typhoon Shanshan, which brought lashing rain and turbulent winds across Japan, to attend the dress rehearsal of the 18th Friends On Ice show at the KOSÉ Shinyokohama Skate Center on August 29. The event allowed visitors to take a peek behind the scenes and catch a glimpse of the final hours before its grand premiere. In addition to producer Shizuka Arakawa, special attention was given to Japan's beloved Mao Asada, who performed in the show for the first time. Until last year, Asada toured the country as the star of her BEYOND tour, gracing more than 20 cities with multiple shows. Now, she joined the Friends On Ice ensemble from August 30 to September 1, skating twice a day alongside Daisuke Takahashi, Shoma Uno, Jason Brown, Kana Muramoto, and others.

The event began like unlocking a chest of glittering gems as all the participants took to the ice in colorful costumes for the opening number "Aurora”. The first solo performances were delivered by novices Kou Namiki, who skated to a Star Wars medley, and Saria Honda, who performed to "A Wish Worth Making." Both displayed impressive jumping techniques and expressive artistry despite their young age. Following them was Rika Hongo, who dedicated her performance to the theme of love with "Love Never Dies," bringing it to life with soulful choreography. A major stylistic shift came from 2008 Grand Prix finalist Jeremy Abbott, whose intriguing program to "Budududum" emphasized electronic music with modern dance elements. Akiko Suzuki, the 2013 national champion, transported the audience to an exotic desert world with "Prologue, Marco Polo." Then, Kao Miura, the 2023 Four Continents champion, took off on a combative space odyssey with his program to "Conquest on Spaces”, showing off his high speed and powerfull skating skills.

A storm of applause filled the hall when Jason Brown introduced himself in Japanese. The 2020 Four Continents runner-up dazzled with his performance of “Hit The Road Jack,” in which he not only executed flawless jumps but also transitioned into the disco segment with a sit spin reminiscent of a disco ball. Equally impressive was the collaboration between two-time world champion Shoma Uno and his former coach Stéphane Lambiel, who complemented each other like light and shadow. Lambiel, dressed in black, and Uno, in white, performed an emotional rendition of "Fall On Me," a song about the search for light in dark times. Moving like mirror images, they executed every element in perfect synchronicity, repeatedly finding and losing each other before finally parting ways—perhaps a metaphor for a light that is within reach but ultimately fades. The audience erupted in cheers, especially for Lambiel’s spiral and Uno’s layback spread eagle, as both skaters showcased their signature elements in perfect harmony.

Another highlight was the collaboration between Shizuka Arakawa, Mao Asada, Kana Muramoto, and Andrew Poje on the Asian-inspired piece "Warriors." The performance began with Muramoto and Arakawa swirling around each other like white winds. As the music intensified, Asada joined the duo, eventually taking command of the ice with a long, sustained spiral. Poje, dressed in all black, followed, seemingly choreographing a battle with Asada until the performance culminated in pair elements like a lift.

The second half of the ice spectacle opened with a musical-like performance by Shae-Lynn Bourne-Turok to the soundtrack of "All That Jazz." Dressed in a black costume and a black bob wig, the creative Canadian perfectly captured the film setting of the musical drama, which centers on the life of the troubled Joe Gideon. She entertained the audience with jazz dance-heavy choreography, including playful interactions like shooting a small water pistol. The excitement continued with a second number featuring "Cell Block Tango" and "Nowadays/Hot Honey Rag" from the musical Chicago, where Kaitlyn Weaver, Akiko Suzuki, Rika Hongo, Daisuke Takahashi, Andrew Poje, and skaters Marie Ogawa and Kiki Nakanishi from the Prince Ice World Ensemble convincingly portrayed the murderous female criminals. Fumika Seki's fiery performance of "Backstage Romance" followed, leading to a major stylistic shift with Takeshi Honda’s "The Mission." The 2004 national champion carried the melancholy music in his movements, cherishing every note like a precious gem. He highlighted the emotional second half with a long spread eagle, eventually dropping to his knees as if in prayer, ending his performance to thunderous applause.

Former ice dancer Kana Muramoto captivated the audience with her program to "Fortitude." She seemed to embody the music down to her fingertips, mesmerizing the crowd with beautifully executed twizzles and a long Ina Bauer. Gliding across the ice like dandelion seeds carried by the wind, she proved that a compelling program doesn't always require elaborate jumps.

Another breathtaking spectacle was the group performance by Daisuke Takahashi, Jeremy Abbott, Jason Brown, and Kao Miura, who glided like swans under the spotlight to "Exogenesis Symphony Part 3." Miura received a special round of applause when the other skaters lifted him gracefully over the ice. Furthermore, the audience cheered for the feather-light axel jumps and synchronized twizzles that matched the building intensity of the music. The skaters glided across the surface like fireflies, each followed by a spotlight, until they finally found together in an emotional finale.

The rink turned fiery red when 2019 Four Continents runners-up Andrew Poje and Kaitlyn Weaver took to the stage to perform "In Her Name, The Sea Rain." Dressed in orange costumes, they executed intricate elements and challenging lifts, moving like two flickering flames dancing as one.

As usual, Stéphane Lambiel, the 2006 world champion, delivered a performance to “Safe Return” from the movie The Whale that resembled a modern work of art. From the very beginning, he created a compelling arc of tension with a prolonged backward spiral that gently faded into a poignant performance. As the program progressed, it grew increasingly powerful, mirroring the rising hope for recovery. Finally, Lambiel glided across the ice as if being carried by tumultuous waves. Near the end, he extended his hands in prayer during an upright spin, looking up expectantly as if awaiting a sign from above.

The final single program was performed by 2006 Olympic champion Shizuka Arakawa, who dazzled in a purple glitter costume resembling an amethyst while skating to the song “Amethyst.” As fog machines enveloped the ice rink in an air of mystique, Arakawa fully embodied the song with her entire being, landing an Axel and executing her iconic Ina Bauer. She highlighted the emotional peak of the music with a long-held spiral and received applause for her spread eagle. “I skate to ‘Amethyst’ by Yoshiki. It’s the live version, which adds a sense of being at a live concert. The theme is ‘love,’ and I hope to convey the power, sadness, and diverse strengths,” Arakawa explained afterward. She was more than satisfied with the dress rehearsal, noting, “We rehearsed to give the show a solid structure for the first performance, and I can see that this is a group of highly professional skaters. In just two days of preparation, we managed to create formations to be proud of, which reinforced my sense that I am working with a team of exceptional people in both enthusiasm and skill. Every skater contributes to the choreography of the group numbers, and everyone strives to excel. Each piece shines with passion, and many of the skaters have extensive careers behind them. Once again, I felt that this is the essence of what Friends On Ice was built upon.”

The finale was introduced by all the athletes illuminating the darkened hall in white costumes, each holding a small light, making them appear as brilliant gems. As the song “Jupiter, Happy Ending” conveyed a hopeful narrative, the skaters showcased their most impressive techniques, culminating in an emotional display of fireworks. In the Grand Finale to “Love Today, When You're Smiling,” they came together in perfect synchronicity, concluding the event with thunderous applause—A ray of light piercing through the cloud-covered Yokohama. After Japan’s Miyazaki Prefecture was hit by a severe earthquake at the beginning of August, leading to a week-long megaquake alert, and Typhoon Shanshan devastated several southern parts of the country three weeks later, many Japanese citizens were left with deep concerns. In such times, shows like Friends On Ice are especially valuable, offering precious programs and providing a hopeful respite from the hardships of everyday life.

(Written by Mitsuoka Maria-Laura, photographer: Kiyoshi Sakamoto)