Marin Honda is another figure skater set to miss the 2020 Japan Open this upcoming weekend – the 19-year-old has withdrawn from the competition due to a dislocated right shoulder. Honda’s spot on the roster has been filled by 17-year-old Mako Yamashita.
The competition will be held on October 3rd in Saitama, Japan. Unlike the traditional format, since 2006, of three teams (Japan, Europe, and North America) with four athletes per team (two males and two females), this year the event will feature two teams (Red and Blue) of five Japanese skaters (two males and three females).
List of entries:
Prior to Honda withdrawing, former Olympian and bronze medalist at last year’s Skate Canada Keiji Tanaka also withdrew from the Japan Open due to an injury. Olympic silver medalist and four-time Japanese National champion Shoma Uno, two-time Four Continents champion and 2018-2019 ISU Grand Prix Final champion Rika Kihira, and 19-year-old Koshiro Shimada cannot participate in the event because they are currently training in Switzerland with Stephane Lambiel.
