Koshiro Shimada

Japan’s Koshiro Shimada, who is passionate about figure skating, has distinguished himself not only as a top competitor, but also as a remarkably talented show skater. Known for his ability to bring extravagant characters to life on the ice, he took on the role of “Sanji” in the anime-themed show “One Piece on Ice,” alongside former training partner Shoma Uno.

The second edition of the show took place in Tokyo on September 7th and 8th, 2024. In this interview, Shimada shares his experiences from this unique performance, discussing his preparation for portraying such a distinctive character, as well as the similarities and differences between himself and his anime counterpart.

In the spring of 2024, Shimada also portrayed a character in the show “Hyoen” while performing alongside his idol Daisuke Takahashi. He describes how he easily adapted to playing a partly female character and the positive feedback he received from the audience.

The insights gained from these shows are fueling Shimada’s competitive edge. He reflects on his 2023-24 season and looks forward to this season with excitement, particularly for his upcoming performance at Skate America this fall.

Shimada will retain last season’s free skate to “Danse Macabre” but will debut his new short program set to “Can’t Take My Eyes of You” by Shawn Mendes. He discusses his experience working with Shae-Lynn Bourne for the first time and the reasons behind his song choice.

Known for his supportive nature and friendships with fellow competitors, Shimada explains why these relationships are important to him and shares a humorous anecdote involving his good friend Kazuki Tomono.

The Tokyo Regionals will be his first competition of the season before he participates at Skate America and the Grand Prix de France.

Related Info:

• ISU Bio
• GS Fan Fest

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