Kanako Murakami
Murakami at the 2012 World Championships
Born (1994-11-07) November 7, 1994
Naka-ku, Nagoya
Height1.62 m (5 ft 4 in)
Figure skating career
CountryJapan
CoachMachiko Yamada, Mihoko Higuchi
Skating clubChukyo University
Began skating1999
RetiredApril 23, 2017
Medal record
Representing  Japan
Figure skating: Ladies' singles
Four Continents Championships
Gold medal – first place2014 TaipeiLadies' singles
Bronze medal – third place2013 OsakaLadies' singles
Grand Prix Final
Bronze medal – third place2010–11 BeijingLadies' singles
World Team Trophy
Gold medal – first place2012 TokyoTeam
Bronze medal – third place2015 TokyoTeam
Asian Winter Games
Gold medal – first place2011 Astana-AlmatyLadies' Singles
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place2010 The HagueLadies' singles
Junior Grand Prix Final
Gold medal – first place2009–10 TokyoLadies' singles
Kanako Murakami
Japanese name
Kanji村上 佳菜子
Kanaむらかみ かなこ

Kanako Murakami (村上 佳菜子, Murakami Kanako, born November 7, 1994) is a Japanese retired figure skater. She is the 2010–11 Grand Prix Final bronze medalist, 2014 Four Continents champion, 2010 World Junior champion, 2009–10 JGP Final champion, and a four-time Japanese national medalist (bronze in 2010, 2011; silver in 2012, 2013).

Personal life

Murakami was born on November 7, 1994, in Naka-ku, Nagoya.[1]

Career

Early career

Making her first international appearance, Murakami won the silver medal in the spring girls category at the Mladost Trophy in the 2004–05 season.[2]

In the 2005–06 season, she won silver at the 2005–06 Japan Novice Championships in the Novice B category, which is the lower of the novice levels.[3] This medal earned her a trip to compete in the spring competition, the Gardena Spring Trophy, which she won on the novice level.[4] Murakami competed at the 2006–07 Japan Novice Championships in the Novice A category and placed 7th,[5] and at the 2007–08 Japan Novice Championships in the Novice A category, she placed 5th.[6]

2008–09 season: Junior international debut

Murakami debuted on the ISU Junior Grand Prix. She won the bronze medal at her first event in Madrid, Spain.[7] At her second event, in Sheffield, England, she won the competition.[8] She was the 4th qualifier for the 2008–09 ISU Junior Grand Prix Final.[9]

Prior to the JGP Final, Murakami competed at the 2008–09 Japan Junior Championships, which served both as the junior national championships and the qualifier for the Japanese team to the World Junior Championships. Murakami placed 7th in the short program and won the free skating to take the bronze medal,[10][11] which earned her an invitation to compete at the 2008–09 senior national championships. However, as Japan had earned only two berths to the 2009 World Junior Championships, Murakami did not qualify.

At the JGP Final, she placed 2nd in the short program and 3rd in the free skating to place 4th overall.[12] Following the Final, Murakami competed at the 2008–09 Japan Championships, where she placed 7th in the short program, 8th in the free skating, and 7th overall.[13]

2009–10 season: JGP Final and World Junior title

Murakami at the 2009–10 Junior Grand Prix Final podium

In the 2009–10 season, Murakami competed on the 2009–10 ISU Junior Grand Prix and won both her events to qualify for the 2009–10 Junior Grand Prix Final. And she won a gold medal at the JGP Final.

At the 2009–10 Japan Junior Championships, she won both segments of the competition to win the title overall.[14] The win qualified her for the 2009–10 Japan Championship, where she placed fifth overall, behind Mao Asada, Akiko Suzuki, Yukari Nakano, and Miki Ando.

Murakami at the 2010 World Junior Championships podium

She was assigned to compete at the 2010 World Junior Championships, where she won the title after placing second in the short program and first in the free skating.

2010–11 season: Senior debut

Murakami moved up to the senior ISU Grand Prix for the 2010–11 season. Her assignments for the 2010–11 ISU Grand Prix season were the 2010 NHK Trophy and the 2010 Skate America.

At the 2010 NHK Trophy, she placed second in the short program behind Carolina Kostner, and fifth in the free skating to capture the bronze medal. During both programs, she landed a triple toe-triple toe combination cleanly. At the 2010 Skate America, she placed second in the short program after singling her double Axel. She placed second in the free skate behind Rachael Flatt and won the gold medal.[15]

Murakami (right) with Alissa Czisny (center) and Carolina Kostner (left) at the 2010–11 Grand Prix Final podium

Murakami qualified for the 2010–11 Grand Prix Final. She placed third in the short program and second in the free skate on her way to the bronze medal.

2011–12 season

In the 2011–12 Grand Prix season, Murakami finished sixth overall at the 2011 Cup of China and fourth at the 2011 Trophée Éric Bompard. She earned her second consecutive bronze medal at the 2011 Japan Championships.[16]

Murakami placed fourth at the 2012 Four Continents Championships and fifth at the 2012 World Championships.

Team Japan (center) at the 2012 ISU World Team Trophy podium

She was part of the ladies' team representing Japan at the 2012 ISU World Team Trophy. She placed 3rd in the short program but 8th in the free skating and finished 6th overall.

2012–13 season

Murakami started her season with bronze at the 2012 Skate Canada International and finished 4th at her next event, the 2012 Cup of Russia. She placed second at the 2012–13 Japan Championships.[17]

Murakami (right) with Mao Asada (center) and Akiko Suzuki (left) at the 2013 Four Continents Championships podium

She won the bronze medal in her third appearance at the 2013 Four Continents Championships with fellow Japanese medalists Mao Asada and Akiko Suzuki taking the gold and silver medal respectively.

Murakami finished 4th at the 2013 World Championships setting a personal best score of 189.73 points.

2013–14 season: Four Continents champion

Murakami finished 4th at her first Grand Prix event of the season, the 2013 Cup of China, and then 7th at the 2013 Rostelecom Cup. At 2013–14 Japan Championships, she finished second behind Akiko Suzuki. After the event, she began wearing new boots which caused swelling in her right ankle.[18]

Murakami won the 2014 Four Continents Championships setting a new personal best overall score of 196.91 points, as well as a personal best in the free skating with 132.18 points. At her Olympic debut in Sochi, Russia, Murakami placed 15th in the short program, 12th in the free skating, and placed 12th overall. She finished 10th at the 2014 World Championships.[19]

2014–15 season

Murakami started off her season by competing at Japan Open, where she placed 4th in the ladies' event and Team Japan finished 3rd overall. She then won a medal on the Grand Prix series, taking bronze at the 2014 Cup of China after placing third in both segments. At the 2014 NHK Trophy, she finished 4th after placing 3rd in the short program and 7th in the free skating. With those results, she was the third alternate for the 2014-15 Grand Prix Final.

At the 2014–15 Japan Championships, Murakami placed 9th in the short program, 4th in the free skate, and fourth overall. She was selected to compete at the 2015 World Championships due to her placements in her Grand Prix events. At Worlds, she placed 4th in the short program, 8th in the free skate and 7th overall, earning season's best scores in all segments.

Murakami then competed at 2015 World Team Trophy where she finished 6th and Team Japan placed third overall. After twisting her ankle during an ice show in late April 2015, she cancelled the rest of her post-season skating appearances.[20]

2015–16 season

Murakami resumed regular training in September 2015.[20] She began her season on the Challenger Series, placing 7th at the U.S. Classic. Her Grand Prix assignments were the 2015 Skate Canada International and 2015 Trophée Éric Bompard.[21] She finished fourth at both events. In France, the second day of competition was cancelled due to the Paris attacks and the short program standings were deemed the final results.

Murakami placed 6th at the Japanese Championships and 7th at the 2016 Four Continents.

2016–17 season

Murakami performed an exhibition program as a special guest at the 2017 World Team Trophy and announced her retirement.[22]

Endorsements and public life

Murakami is sponsored by Adidas Japan,[23] All Nippon Airways (ANA),[24] Nichirei,[25] Brother Industries, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., and Nippon Menard Cosmetic Co., Ltd, in addition to several local companies.

Following her win at the 2010 World Junior Championships, Murakami has taken part in many local events including the first pitch ceremony of Chunichi Dragons, a professional baseball team based in Nagoya.[26]

Programs

Murakami performs her free skating to The Mask of Zorro in the 2010 NHK Trophy.
Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2016–17
2015–16
[1][27][28]
2014–15
[29]
2013–14
[30]
  • Catgroove
    by Parov Stelar
  • Libella Swing
    by Parov Stelar
  • Swing Bop
    choreo. by Mihoko Higuchi
2012–13
[31]
  • Oblivion
  • A fuego lento
  • Adios Nonino
    by Astor Piazzolla
    choreo. by Pasquale Camerlengo
2011–12
[32]
2010–11
[33]
2009–10
[34]
2008–09
[35]
  • Diablo Rojo
    by Rodrigo y Gabriela
  • Selections
    by Jose Luis Encinas
  • Vamos A Bailar
    by Gipsy Kings

Competitive highlights

International[36]
Event 03–04 04–05 05–06 06–07 07–08 08–09 09–10 10–11 11–12 12–13 13–14 14–15 15–16 16–17
Olympics 12th
Worlds 8th5th4th10th7th
Four Continents 4th3rd1st7th
GP Final 3rd
GP Bompard 4th4th
GP Cup of China 6th4th3rd
GP NHK Trophy 3rd4th
GP Rostelecom 4th7th11th
GP Skate America 1st10th
GP Skate Canada 3rd4th
CS Lombardia 6th
CS U.S. Classic 7th
Asian Games 1st
Ice Challenge 1st
International: Junior[36]
Junior Worlds 1st
JGP Final 4th1st
JGP Croatia 1st
JGP Poland 1st
JGP Spain 3rd
JGP U.K. 1st
Challenge Cup 1st
International: Novice
Gardena Spring Trophy 1st
Mladost Trophy 2nd Sp
National[37]
Japan Champ. 7th5th3rd3rd2nd2nd5th6th8th
Japan Junior 3rd1st
Japan Novice 10th B 4th B 2nd B 7th A 5th A
Team events
World Team
Trophy		 1st T
6th P		3rd T
6th P
Japan Open 1st T
5th P		3rd T
4th P
A: Novice A; B: Novice B; Sp: Spring girls; TBD: Assigned; WD: Withdrew
T: Team result, P: Personal result. Medals awarded for team result only.

Detailed results

Murakami's gold medal at the 2010 Skate America

Small medals for short program and free skating awarded only at ISU Championships.

Senior results

2016–17 season
Date Event SP FS Total
December 22–25, 2016 2016–17 Japan Championships 12
58.52		 7
124.03		 8
182.55
November 4–6, 2016 2016 Rostelecom Cup 10
55.25		 11
95.78		 11
151.03
October 21–23, 2016 2016 Skate America 10
47.87		 9
97.16		 10
145.03
September 8–11, 2016 2016 CS Lombardia Trophy 8
54.61		 6
96.66		 6
151.27
2015–16 season
Date Event SP FS Total
February 16–21, 2016 2016 Four Continents Championships 2
68.51		 13
106.61		 7
175.12
December 24–27, 2015 2015–16 Japan Championships 4
66.02		 8
115.56		 6
181.58
November 13–15, 2015 2015 Trophée Éric Bompard 4
58.30		 cancelled
October 30 – November 1, 2015 2015 Skate Canada International 3
59.79		 6
111.80		 4
171.59
September 16–20, 2015 2015 U.S. Classic 5
55.58		 7
92.02		 7
144.62
2014–15 season
Date Event SP FS Total
March 23–29, 2015 2015 World Championships 4
65.48		 8
114.18		 7
179.66
December 26–28, 2014 2014–15 Japan Championships 9
57.55		 4
110.74		 5
168.29
November 28–30, 2014 2014 NHK Trophy 3
64.38		 7
108.71		 4
173.09
November 7–9, 2014 2014 Cup of China 3
60.44		 3
108.95		 3
169.39
October 4, 2014 2014 Japan Open – 4
114.38		 3T
2013–14 season
Date Event SP FS Total
March 24–30, 2014 2014 World Championships 10
60.86		 10
111.58		 10
172.44
February 19–20, 2014 2014 Winter Olympics 15
55.60		 12
115.38		 12
170.98
January 21–25, 2014 2014 Four Continents Championships 1
64.73		 1
132.18		 1
196.91
December 20–23, 2013 2013–14 Japan Championships 3
67.42		 2
135.10		 2
202.52
November 22–24, 2013 2013 Rostelecom Cup 9
49.24		 4
113.22		 7
162.46
November 1–3, 2013 2013 Cup of China 4
57.33		 4
108.62		 4
165.95
October 5, 2013 2013 Japan Open – 5
102.15		 1T
2012–13 season
Date Event SP FS Total
March 13–17, 2013 2013 World Championships 3
66.64		 7
123.09		 4
189.73
February 8–11, 2013 2013 Four Continents Championships 3
64.04		 3
116.99		 3
181.03
December 20–24, 2012 2012–13 Japan Championships 5
57.26		 2
126.41		 2
183.67
November 9–11, 2012 2012 Rostelecom Cup 6
56.78		 3
109.56		 4
166.34
October 26–28, 2012 2012 Skate Canada International 4
56.21		 4
111.83		 3
168.04
2011–12 season
Date Event SP FS Total
April 18–22, 2012 2012 World Team Trophy 3
63.78		 8
95.84		 6
159.62
March 26–31, 2012 2012 World Championships 2
62.67		 5
112.74		 5
175.41
February 7–12, 2012 2012 Four Continents Championships 3
63.45		 5
105.87		 4
169.32
December 22–26, 2011 2011–12 Japan Championships 1
65.56		 6
107.13		 3
172.69
November 18–20, 2011 2011 Trophée Éric Bompard 4
55.77		 4
105.54		 4
161.31
November 4–6, 2011 2011 Cup of China 4
53.09		 7
97.11		 6
150.20
2010–11 season
Date Event SP FS Total
April 24 – May 1, 2011 2011 World Championships 10
54.86		 7
112.24		 8
167.10
February 3–5, 2011 2011 Asian Winter Games 1
54.48		 1
122.56		 1
177.04
December 24–26, 2010 2010–11 Japan Championships 3
61.50		 3
126.02		 3
187.52
December 9–12, 2010 2010–11 Grand Prix Final 3
61.47		 2
117.12		 3
178.59
November 11–14, 2010 2010 Skate America 2
54.75		 2
110.18		 1
164.93
October 22–24, 2010 2010 NHK Trophy 2
56.10		 5
94.06		 3
150.16

Junior results

2009–10 season
Date Event Level SP FS Total
March 8–14, 2010 2010 World Junior Championships Junior 2
59.00		 1
106.47		 1
165.47
December 25–27, 2009 2009–10 Japan Championships Senior 5
60.28		 5
116.33		 5
176.61
December 3–6, 2009 2009–10 Junior Grand Prix Final Junior 2
59.52		 1
101.01		 1
160.53
November 21–23, 2009 2009–10 Japan Junior Championships Junior 1
58.96		 1
106.89		 1
165.85
Oct. 28 – Nov. 1, 2009 2009 Ice Challenge Senior 1
59.40		 1
111.01		 1
170.41
October 7–11, 2009 2009 Junior Grand Prix, Croatia Junior 1
59.74		 1
95.18		 1
154.92
September 9–12, 2009 2009 Junior Grand Prix, Poland Junior 1
56.16		 1
104.69		 1
160.85
2008–09 season
Date Event Level SP FS Total
February 4–8, 2009 2009 International Challenge Cup Junior 1
48.16		 1
87.98		 1
136.14
December 25–27, 2008 2008–09 Japan Championships Senior 7
55.74		 8
92.09		 7
147.83
November 23–24, 2008 2008–09 Japan Junior Championships Junior 7
48.94		 1
94.55		 3
144.15
December 11–14, 2008 2008–09 Junior Grand Prix Final Junior 2
51.04		 3
90.59		 4
141.63
October 15–18, 2008 2008 Junior Grand Prix, United Kingdom Junior 1
55.52		 2
98.32		 1
153.84
September 24–29, 2008 2008 Junior Grand Prix, Spain Junior 2
46.58		 3
80.29		 3
126.87

Novice results

2005–06 season
Date Event Level SP FS Total
March 29–31, 2006 2006 Gardena Spring Trophy Novice 1
39.55		 1
66.51		 1
106.06

References

  1. 1 2 "Kanako MURAKAMI: 2015/2016". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 28, 2016.
  2. ↑ 12th Mladost Trophy: Spring Girls – Results Archived 2012-05-17 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ↑ 2005–06 Japan Novice Championships (Novice B) Archived 2008-12-11 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ 2005–06 Gardena Spring Trophy (Novice)
  5. ↑ 2006–07 Japan Novice Championships (Novice A) Archived 2008-10-12 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ 2007–08 Japan Novice Championships 2007–08 Japan Novice Championships (Novice A) Archived 2008-10-12 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ 2008–09 Junior Grand Prix Madrid Cup
  8. ↑ 2008–09 ISU Junior Grand Prix John Curry Memorial Archived 2008-12-22 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ↑ 2008–09 ISU Junior Grand Prix Standings (Ladies) Archived 2008-10-09 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ 2008–09 Japan Junior Championships Archived 2009-02-03 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ↑ "2008 全日本フィギュアスケート選手権 - フジテレビ". Archived from the original on 2009-02-02. Retrieved 2008-12-27.
  12. ↑ 2008–09 Grand Prix and Junior Grand Prix Final
  13. ↑ 2008–09 Japan Championships Archived 2008-12-30 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ↑ Japan Junior Figure Skating Championships 2009 Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ↑ Wong, Elvin (November 14, 2010). "Murakami captures gold". Golden Skate.
  16. ↑ "Mao scores emotional national crown victory | The Japan Times Online". www.japantimes.co.jp. Archived from the original on 2012-01-08.
  17. ↑ "Japan Figure Skating Championships 2012". Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  18. ↑ "Murakami making solid preparations for Four Continents". Japan Times. January 21, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Ladies Result".
  20. 1 2 Xiong, Wei (March 7, 2016). "Kanako Murakami: 'I can still do it'". Golden Skate.
  21. ↑ "ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2015/16- Ladies" (PDF). ISU Prod. ISU. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  22. ↑ 村上佳菜子が現役を引退 世界選手権５度出場 [Kanako Murakami retires from competition after 5 World Championships appearances] (in Japanese). Sports Nippon. April 23, 2017. Archived from the original on April 27, 2017.
  23. ↑ "Adidas Official Blog".
  24. ↑ Kanako is supported by about 30 companies
  25. ↑ "「おいしい瞬間・歌う村上さん」篇". www.nichirei.co.jp. Archived from the original on 2015-12-23.
  26. ↑ Season-opening game!
  27. ↑ The ICE 2015 (Television production). Japan: Fuji TV. 25 July 2015.
  28. ↑ The ICE in Miyagi (Television production). Japan: Miyagi TV. 8 August 2015.
  29. ↑ "Kanako MURAKAMI: 2014/2015". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 21, 2015.
  30. ↑ "Kanako MURAKAMI: 2013/2014". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 4, 2014.
  31. ↑ "Kanako MURAKAMI: 2012/2013". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 21, 2013.
  32. ↑ "Kanako MURAKAMI: 2011/2012". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on August 21, 2012.
  33. ↑ "Kanako MURAKAMI: 2010/2011". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on August 15, 2011.
  34. ↑ "Kanako MURAKAMI: 2009/2010". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 7, 2010.
  35. ↑ "Kanako MURAKAMI: 2008/2009". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 28, 2009.
  36. 1 2 "Competition Results: Kanako MURAKAMI". International Skating Union.
  37. ↑ 村上 佳菜子 / MURAKAMI Kanako (in Japanese). Japan Skating Federation. Archived from the original on July 3, 2016.
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