Takahiko Kozuka

Takahiko Kozuka (小塚 崇彦, Kozuka Takahiko, born February 27, 1989) is a former competitive Japanese figure skater. He is the 2011 World silver medalist, a two-time Grand Prix Final medalist, a two-time Four Continents medalist, and the 2010–11 Japanese national champion. He is also the 2006 World Junior champion and the 2005–06 JGP Final champion.

Takahiko Kozuka
Kozuka at the 2008 Skate America
Personal information
Country representedJapan
Born (1989-02-27) February 27, 1989
Nagoya, Japan
Height1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Former coachNobuo Sato, Yuka Sato, Jason Dungjen, Tsuguhiko Kozuka, Kumiko Sato
Former choreographerKenji Miyamoto, Lori Nichol, Shae-Lynn Bourne, Marina Zueva, Yuka Sato, Kurt Browning, David Wilson, Fedor Andreev
Skating clubToyota Motor Corporation SC
Former training locationsToyota, Aichi
Detroit
Yokohama
Began skating1992
RetiredMarch 15, 2016
ISU personal best scores
Combined total258.41
2011 Worlds
Short program86.39
2012-13 Grand Prix Final
Free skate180.79
2011 Worlds
Medal record
Representing  Japan
Figure skating: Men's singles
World Championships
2011 MoscowMen's singles
Four Continents Championships
2014 TaipeiMen's singles
2009 VancouverMen's singles
Grand Prix Final
2008–09 GoyangMen's singles
2010–11 BeijingMen's singles
Winter Universiade
2015 GranadaMen's singles
World Junior Championships
2006 LjubljanaMen's singles
Junior Grand Prix Final
2005–06 OstravaMen's singles

Personal life

Kozuka was born on February 27, 1989 in Nagoya, Japan.[1] His father, Tsuguhiko Kozuka, competed in singles skating at the 1968 Olympics; his mother, Sachiko, competed in ice dancing; and his grandfather, Mitsuhiko Kozuka, was prominent in early Japanese skating.[2][3]

Kozuka studied sports education at Chukyo University.[4] His thesis compares jumps performed on the floor to those on the ice.[5] In March 2016, he received a master's degree in physical education.[3] During his competitive career, he worked for Toyota, one of his sponsors,[4] and remained at the company after his retirement from skating.[6]

On July 23, 2015, Kozuka announced his engagement to his girlfriend and Japanese television news presenter, Yukari Oshima.[7][8] They married in February 2016.[3][9]

Career

As both of his parents are coaches, Kozuka stepped onto the ice at age three and began skating seriously at five.[10] He was inspired by Yuka Sato's win at the 1994 World Championships.[2] Nobuo Sato and Kumiko Sato became his coaches when he was in primary school.[3]

Kozuka is known for the quality of his edges and basic skating skills.[11] His coaching team made him practice compulsory figures when he was a child.[4]

Early career

In the 2005–06 season, Kozuka won the Junior Grand Prix Final, the Japanese Junior Championships, and the World Junior Championships.

2006–07 to 2008–09

Kozuka debuted on the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series in the 2006–07 season. He won the bronze medal at the 2006 NHK Trophy and placed 6th in the 2006 Trophée Eric Bompard. He placed 6th in the 2006–07 Japanese Championships and 4th in the 2007 Asian Winter Games.

In the 2007–08 season, he won the silver medal at the 2007–08 Japan Championships. He placed 8th at the 2008 Four Continents and 8th at the 2008 Worlds.

In the 2008–09 season, Kozuka won gold at the 2008 Skate America and silver at the 2008 Trophee Eric Bompard.[12] He qualified for the Grand Prix Final where he won the silver medal. Kozuka won another national silver medal at the 2008–09 Japan Championships. He won the bronze medal at the 2009 Four Continents and placed 6th at the 2009 Worlds.

2009–10 season

In the 2009–10 season, Kozuka won the silver medal at the 2009 Cup of Russia earning 215.13 points and placed seventh in the 2009 NHK Trophy scoring 186.00. He won the bronze medal at the Japanese National Championships with 236.13 points, placing second in the short program and third in the free skate, and thus qualified to compete at the 2010 Winter Olympics and at the 2010 World Championships.

Kozuka finished eighth overall in the men's singles at the 2010 Winter Olympics with 231.19 points.[13] At the 2010 Worlds he finished in tenth position with a total of 216.73 points.

2010–11 season

Kozuka's assigned events for the 2010–11 ISU Grand Prix season were the 2010 Cup of China and the 2010 Trophée Eric Bompard. He won the 2010 Cup of China with 233.51 points, placing first in both the short program and the free skate. He went on to win the 2010 Trophée Eric Bompard with 248.07, again winning both segments of the competition.[14] He was the top qualifier for the men's event at the 2010–11 Grand Prix Final.

During a practice session at the Grand Prix Final, Kozuka inadvertently collided with Daisuke Takahashi.[15] Both were shaken but went on to compete at the event. Kozuka said, "I apologized to him and he accepted the apology with a smile and claimed that he was not in pain but I still feel awful about it. I promised him and his coach that it will never happen again."[16] Kozuka was fourth in the short program and second in the free skate, and won the bronze medal. He won his first national title in December 2010, placing first in both the short program and the free skate to total 251.93 points. At the 2011 World Championships, he placed sixth in the short program but moved to second overall after the long program and won his first World medal.

2011–present

Kozuka was assigned to 2011 Skate America and 2011 NHK Trophy for the 2011–12 Grand Prix season, and he won the bronze medal at Skate America and the silver medal at NHK Trophy. Kozuka earned the silver medal at the 2011 Japanese national figure skating championships,[17] thus qualifying for a spot on the Japanese team for the 2012 World Championships, where he finished 11th.

Kozuka began the 2012–13 season by winning gold at the 2012 Skate America and then won silver at the 2012 Rostelecom Cup. He injured his right instep in mid-December 2012.[18] Kozuka finished 5th at the Japan Championships.

In 2013–14, Kozuka earned a bronze medal at the 2013 Cup of China. He placed 3rd at the 2013 Japanese National Championships but was not included in the Japanese team to the Olympics. He was assigned instead to the 2014 Four Continents Championships where he won the silver medal. When Daisuke Takahashi withdrew from the 2014 World Championships, Kozuka replaced him as a substitute and placed 6th at that competition.

In 2014–15, Kozuka placed 8th and 6th, respectively, at Skate Canada and Rostelecom Cup.[19] He placed 6th in the short program at the 2014 Japanese National Championships, but rallied with a second-place free skate to place 3rd overall. He was assigned to the 2015 World Championships, where he finished 12th.

Toward the end of his career, Kozuka had tendinitis in his left ankle.[3] He announced his retirement from skating on March 15, 2016.[6] On April 17, he performed his farewell exhibition program, Epilogue, at the last show of 2016 Stars on Ice Japan in Tokyo.[3] In 2017, he said that he would remain involved in figure skating.[20] He started the Kozuka Skate Academy in 2016 and also works as a skating commentator for Fuji TV.[21]

Programs
Kozuka performing his exhibition gala to Stayin' Alive at the 2007 Cup of Russia.
Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2015–2016
[1][22][23]
2014–2015
[24]
  • A Evaristo Carriego
    by Eduardo Oscar Rovira
    choreo. by Kenji Miyamoto
  • Io ci sarò
    by Andrea Bocelli
    choreo. by Lori Nichol
  • Respeto y orgullo
    by Jin Oki
    choreo. by Kenji Miyamoto
2013–2014
[25]
2012–2013
[26]
  • Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso
    by Camille Saint-Saëns
    choreo. by Marina Zueva
2011–2012
[27]
2010–2011
[29][30]
  • Soul Man
    by Orin Isaacs
    choreo. by Roberto Campanella, Yuka Sato
  • Hello, Goodbye & Safety Dance
    (from Glee)
    choreo. by Kurt Browning, Roberto Campanella
  • Free Fallin'
    performed by John Mayer
    choreo. by Yuka Sato
2009–2010
[31]
2008–2009
[32]
2007–2008
[33]
  • Beatles Concerto for
    2 Pianos and Orchestra　
    by John Rutter
    choreo. by Yuka Sato
2006–2007
[34]
2005–2006
[35]
2004–2005
[36]
  • Car Wash
    by Missy Elliott, Christina Aguilera
2003–2004
2002–2003
2001–2002
2000–2001

Competitive highlights

GP: Grand Prix; JGP: Junior Grand Prix

International[37]
Event 98–99 99–00 00–01 01–02 02–03 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
Olympics 8th
Worlds 8th6th10th2nd11th6th12th
Four Continents 8th3rd4th2nd
GP Final 2nd3rd5th
GP Bompard 6th2nd1st
GP Cup of China 1st3rdWD
GP NHK Trophy 3rd7th2nd
GP Rostelecom 5th2nd2nd6th9th
GP Skate America 8th1st3rd1st6th
GP Skate Canada 8th
Asian WG 4th
Universiade 2nd
Gardena 1st
International: Junior[37]
Junior Worlds 1st
JGP Final 1st
JGP Canada 4th2nd
JGP Hungary 7th
JGP Japan 1st
JGP Mexico 2nd
JGP Poland 9th
National[38]
Japan Champ. 4th4th6th2nd2nd3rd1st2nd5th3rd3rd5th
Japan Junior 9th 18th 8th7th6th4th1st
Japan Novice 1st B 1st B 1st A 1st A
Team events
World Team
Trophy		 3rd T
8th P		1st T
6th P
Japan Open 3rd T
4th P		1st T
4th P		3rd T
3rd P		1st T
2nd P		1st T
2nd P		3rd T
6th P
T = Team result; P = Personal result. Medals awarded for team result only.

Detailed results

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

Kozuka (left) with the other medalists at the 2011 World Championships.
Kozuka (center) with the other medalists at the 2008 Skate America.

Senior results
2015–16 season
Date Event SP FS Total
November 20–22, 2015 2015 Rostelecom Cup 8
69.61		 9
125.87		 9
195.48
2014–15 season
Date Event SP FS Total
March 23–29, 2015 2015 World Championships 19
70.15		 9
146.81		 12
222.69
February 4–8, 2015 2015 Winter Universiade 1
77.15		 3
140.55		 2
217.70
December 26–28, 2014 2014–15 Japan Championships 6
72.39		 2
173.29		 3
245.68
November 14–16, 2014 2014 Rostelecom Cup 3
81.38		 7
135.42		 6
216.80
October 31 – November 2, 2014 2014 Skate Canada 6
75.85		 11
127.32		 8
203.17
October 4, 2014 2014 Japan Open (team event) – 6
119.51		 3
2013–14 season
Date Event SP FS Total
March 24–30, 2014 2014 World Championships 6
85.54		 6
152.48		 6
238.02
January 20–26, 2014 2014 Four Continents Championships 4
76.85		 1
159.53		 2
236.38
December 20–23, 2013 2013–14 Japan Championships 3
90.70		 4
174.11		 3
264.81
November 1–3, 2013 2013 Cup of China 3
81.62		 5
145.30		 3
226.92
October 17–20, 2013 2013 Skate America 4
77.75		 5
153.20		 6
230.95
October 5, 2013 2013 Japan Open (team event) – 2
158.32		 1
2012–13 season
Date Event SP FS Total
April 1–3, 2013 2013 Gardena Spring Trophy 1
81.18		 2
147.45		 1
228.63
December 20–23, 2012 2012–13 Japan Championships 3
84.58		 7
143.98		 5
228.56
December 6–9, 2012 2012 Grand Prix Final 4
86.39		 5
166.88		 5
253.27
November 9–11, 2012 2012 Rostelecom Cup 3
76.34		 3
153.65		 2
229.99
October 19–21, 2012 2012 Skate America 2
85.32		 1
166.12		 1
251.44
October 6, 2012 2012 Japan Open (team event) – 2
165.08		 1
2011–12 season
Date Event SP FS Total
April 18–22, 2012 2012 World Team Trophy 8
73.61		 5
151.69		 6
225.30
March 26 – April 1, 2012 2012 World Championships 13
71.78		 11
146.85		 11
218.63
December 22–26, 2011 2011–12 Japan Championships 2
85.60		 2
165.37		 2
250.97
November 11–13, 2011 2011 NHK Trophy 2
79.77		 2
155.25		 2
235.02
October 21–23, 2011 2011 Skate America 2
70.69		 2
141.40		 3
212.09
October 1, 2011 2011 Japan Open (team event) – 3
148.21		 3
2010–11 season
Date Event SP FS Total
April 24 – May 1, 2011 2011 World Championships 6
77.62		 2
180.79		 2
258.41
February 15–20, 2011 2011 Four Continents Championships 6
66.25		 2
157.27		 4
223.52
December 24–27, 2010 2010–11 Japan Championships 1
87.91		 1
164.02		 1
251.93
December 9–12, 2010 2010 Grand Prix Final 4
77.90		 2
159.89		 3
237.79
November 26–28, 2010 2010 Trophée Eric Bompard 1
77.64		 1
170.43		 1
248.07
November 5–7, 2010 2010 Cup of China 1
77.40		 1
156.11		 1
233.51
October 2, 2010 2010 Japan Open (team event) – 4
150.71		 1
2009–10 season
Date Event SP FS Total
March 22–28, 2010 2010 World Championships 4
84.20		 12
132.53		 10
216.73
February 14–27, 2010 2010 Winter Olympic Games 8
79.59		 8
151.60		 8
231.19
December 25–27, 2009 2009–10 Japan Championships 2
80.54		 3
155.59		 3
236.13
November 5–8, 2009 2009 NHK Trophy 5
74.05		 10
111.95		 7
186.00
October 22–25, 2009 2009 Rostelecom Cup 2
75.50		 2
139.63		 2
215.13
October 3, 2009 2009 Japan Open (team event) – 4
130.13		 3
2008–09 season
Date Event SP FS Total
April 16–19, 2009 2009 World Team Trophy 10
65.25		 7
125.68		 8
190.93
March 23–29, 2009 2009 World Championships 5
79.35		 7
142.83		 6
222.18
February 2–8, 2009 2009 Four Continents Championships 3
76.61		 4
145.15		 3
221.76
December 24–27, 2008 2008–09 Japan Championships 2
77.40		 2
148.54		 2
225.94
December 10–14, 2008 2008 Grand Prix Final 1
83.90		 3
140.73		 2
224.63
November 13–16, 2008 2008 Trophée Eric Bompard 2
77.00		 2
153.78		 2
230.78
October 23–26, 2008 2008 Skate America 3
80.10		 1
146.08		 1
226.18
2007–2008 season
Date Event SP FS Total
March 17–23, 2008 2008 World Championships 8
70.91		 8
134.24		 8
205.15
February 13–17, 2008 2008 Four Continents Championships 7
67.48		 6
128.90		 8
196.38
December 26–28, 2007 2007–08 Japan Championships 2
72.70		 2
146.64		 2
219.34
November 22–25, 2007 2007 Cup of Russia 7
64.65		 4
135.33		 5
199.98
October 25–28, 2007 2007 Skate America 10
56.25		 7
121.22		 8
177.47
2006–07 season
Date Event SP FS Total
April 29, 2007 2007 Japan Open (team event) – 4
132.76		 1
February 1–3, 2007 2007 Asian Winter Games 5
58.73		 4
118.38		 4
177.11
December 27–29, 2006 2006–07 Japan Championships 5
70.49		 6
130.39		 6
200.88
Nov. 30 – Dec. 3, 2006 2006 NHK Trophy 4
67.95		 3
140.39		 3
208.34
November 16–19, 2006 2006 Trophée Eric Bompard 11
56.04		 6
121.81		 6
177.85

Junior results
2005–06 season
Date Event SP FS Total
March 6–12, 2006 2006 World Junior Championships 2
60.07		 1
119.98		 1
180.05
December 22–26, 2005 2005–06 Japan Championships 10
55.80		 3
137.20		 4
193.00
December 10–11, 2005 2005–06 Japan Junior Championships 1
62.10		 1
121.20		 1
183.30
November 24–27, 2005 2005 Junior Grand Prix Final 1
60.14		 1
118.58		 1
178.72
October 20–23, 2005 2005 JGP SBC Cup 3
52.11		 1
106.83		 1
158.94
October 20–23, 2005 2005 JGP Montreal 3
52.10		 2
113.67		 2
165.77
2004–05 season
Date Event SP FS Total
December 24–26, 2004 2004–05 Japan Championships 1
71.46		 6
111.23		 4
182.69
November 20–21, 2004 2004–05 Japan Junior Championships 3
58.50		 3
110.61		 4
169.11
September 2–5, 2004 2004 JGP Budapest 14
42.87		 5
100.07		 7
142.94
2003–04 season
Date Event SP FS Total
November 21–23, 2003 2003–04 Japan Junior Championships 4 6 6
October 30 – November 2, 2003 2003 JGP Poland 11 8 9
September 24–28, 2003 2003 JGP Mexico 4 2 2
2002–03 season
Date Event SP FS Total
November 23–24, 2002 2002–03 Japan Junior Championships 9 7 7
September 26–29, 2002 2002 JGP Canada 6 7 4

References
  1. "Takahiko KOZUKA: 2015/2016". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016.
  2. Gallagher, Jack (January 30, 2011). "Kozuka striving to improve despite recent success". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on January 21, 2012.
  3. Xiong, Wei (April 25, 2016). "Kozuka gets touching send-off at 'Stars on Ice'". IceNetwork. Archived from the original on July 2, 2018.
  4. "Athletes: Takahiko Kozuka". NBCOlympics.com. Archived from the original on January 8, 2012.
  5. Golinsky, Reut (December 21, 2010). "Short update with Takahiko Kozuka". AbsoluteSkating. Retrieved December 22, 2010.
  6. "フィギュア小塚崇彦が現役引退　今後はトヨタ社員に　４月１７日にファンへあいさつ" [Kozuka retires from skating; Toyota employee]. Yahoo! Japan (in Japanese). March 15, 2016. Archived from the original on March 15, 2016.
  7. "フジテレビ　大島由香里". Fuji Television. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  8. IFS Magazine (July 24, 2015). "Congratulations to Takahiko Kozuka" (Facebook).
  9. "【フィギュア】小塚＆フジ大島アナが結婚" [Marriage of Kozuka and Oshima]. Yahoo! Japan (in Japanese). February 20, 2016. Archived from the original on March 15, 2016.
  10. Mittan, Barry (May 9, 2006). "Near Perfect Season for Japan's Kozuka". SkateToday.
  11. Rutherford, Lynn (October 22, 2011). "Brezina hangs on for Skate America title". IceNetwork.com. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014.
  12. Flade, Tatjana (November 30, 2008). "Kozuka breaks through on the Grand Prix". Golden Skate.
  13. "2010 Winter Olympics Results - Figure Skating". ESPN. January 18, 2010.
  14. "Takahiko Kozuka and Kiira Korpi win Trophee Bompard". USA Today. Associated Press. June 13, 2011. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
  15. "Crash no excuse for Grand Prix meltdown: Takahashi". Associated Press. December 12, 2010.
  16. Kondakova, Anna (December 11, 2010). "Chan edges out Oda for Grand Prix title". Golden Skate. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
  17. Fielding, Gus (December 26, 2011). "Mao scores emotional national crown victory". The Japan Times. Kyodo News.
  18. 小塚、右足痛めていた…５位に「もう一度やり直します」 [Kozuka injured right foot]. Sports Nippon (in Japanese). December 22, 2012. Archived from the original on December 24, 2012.
  19. Kondakova, Anna (December 2, 2014). "One step at a time for Japan's Kozuka". Golden Skate.
  20. Matsubara, Takaomi (February 1, 2017). "「フィギュアスケートに恩返しを」 小塚崇彦が語る、新たな出発の決意。" (in Japanese). bunshun.jp.
  21. Gallagher, Jack (January 15, 2019). "Takahiko Kozuka aiming to enrich skating". The Japan Times.
  22. Wang, Jackie (July 12, 2015). "Who's skating to what? 2015 program news!". Rocker Skating.
  23. 荒川静香のフレンズオンアイス2015 [Shizuka Arakawa's Friends on Ice 2015] (Television production) (in Japanese). Shin-Yokohama: Nippon TV. September 6, 2015.
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Media related to Takahiko Kozuka at Wikimedia Commons

World record holder
Preceded by
Daisuke Takahashi		 Men's free skating
28 April 2011		 Succeeded by
Patrick Chan
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