Japanese Olympic Champions Miura and Kihara Announce Retirement
Japanese figure skating pair Riki Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, known as "Rikuryu," have announced their retirement from competitive sports following their historic gold medal victory at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. The duo, who became the first Japanese pair to win Olympic gold, made the announcement via social media and during an Imperial Garden Party in Tokyo. They expressed pride in their achievements, including World Championship titles, and stated they have no regrets. The skaters plan to transition into new roles, aiming to promote pair skating in Japan and support future athletes.
Editorial summary awaiting refresh
Cross-source coverage
Wire timeline
Figure Skater Ryuichi Kihara Retires, Exchanges Warm Messages with Former Mentor
Japanese figure skaters Riki Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, known as the 'Rikuryu' pair, announced their retirement on April 17, 2026, following their gold medal victory in pairs skating at the Milan-Cortina Olympics. The article highlights a touching exchange between Kihara and his former high school grade leader, Yasunori Usuda, a part-time lecturer at Chukyo University Chukyo High School in Nagoya. Upon learning of the retirement via news, Usuda emailed Kihara to express gratitude for his hard work and advise him to rest. Kihara replied promptly, thanking his mentor. The piece reflects on their relationship, noting Kihara's serious demeanor and inner strength during his high school years. It also recalls how Usuda supported Kihara after a difficult short program performance at the Olympics, offering encouragement that helped the pair secure the gold medal. Usuda praised their resilience despite forming their partnership midway through their careers and expressed confidence that they would inspire future generations of skaters. The narrative underscores the deep personal connections and mentorship that supported their athletic success.
asahiFigure Skater Ryuichi Kihara Retires, Exchanges Messages with Former Mentor
Japanese figure skaters Riki Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, known collectively as the 'Rikuryu' pair, announced their retirement on April 17, 2026, following their gold medal victory in pairs skating at the Milan-Cortina Olympics. The article highlights a poignant exchange between Kihara and his former high school grade leader, Yasunori Usuda, a part-time lecturer at Chukyo University High School in Nagoya. Upon learning of the retirement via news, Usuda emailed Kihara to express gratitude for his hard work and advise him to rest. Kihara replied promptly, acknowledging the need for a break. The narrative reflects on their strong bond, noting how Usuda supported Kihara during challenging moments, such as after placing fifth in the Olympic short program, which ultimately motivated the pair to secure the gold. Usuda praised their resilience despite forming their partnership midway through their careers and expressed confidence that their legacy would inspire future generations of skaters. The piece underscores the personal connections and mentorship that underpinned their athletic success, offering a glimpse into the emotional side of their retirement announcement.
asahiFigure Skater Ryuichi Kihara Retires, Exchanges Touching Messages with Former Mentor
Japanese figure skating pair Riki Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, known collectively as 'Rikuryu,' announced their retirement on April 17, 2026, following their gold medal victory at the Milan-Cortina Olympics. The article highlights a poignant exchange between Kihara and his former high school grade leader, Yasunori Usuda, a part-time lecturer at Chukyo University Chukyo High School in Nagoya. Upon learning of the retirement via news, Usuda emailed Kihara to express gratitude for his hard work and advise him to rest. Kihara replied promptly, thanking his mentor and confirming he would take time to relax. Usuda recalled Kihara as a serious, quiet student with strong inner resolve, noting their continued communication over the years. He remembered encouraging Kihara after the pair placed fifth in the Olympic short program, a message Kihara credited with giving him the courage to ultimately win gold. Usuda praised the pair's resilience despite forming their partnership midway through their careers and expressed confidence that they would inspire future generations of skaters. The piece underscores the deep personal connections and mentorship that supported their athletic journey.
asahiFigure Skater Ryuichi Kihara Retires, Exchanges Warm Messages with Former Mentor
Japanese figure skating pair Riki Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, known collectively as 'Rikuryu,' announced their retirement on April 17, 2026, following their gold medal victory at the Milan-Cortina Olympics. The article highlights a poignant exchange between Kihara and his former high school grade leader, Yasunori Usuda, a part-time lecturer at Chukyo University Chukyo High School in Nagoya. Upon learning of the retirement via news, Usuda emailed Kihara to express gratitude for his hard work and advise him to rest. Kihara replied promptly, thanking his mentor and confirming he would take time to relax. Usuda recalled Kihara as a serious student with inner strength and noted how he supported the pair during the Olympics when they faced early challenges. After their eventual gold medal win, Kihara credited Usuda’s earlier messages for giving him courage. Usuda praised the pair's resilience despite forming their partnership midway through their careers and expressed hope that they would mentor future skaters. The piece underscores the personal bonds and mentorship behind their athletic success, focusing on the human element of their retirement announcement rather than just the sporting achievement.
asahiFigure Skater Ryuichi Kihara Retires, Exchanges Warm Messages with Former Mentor
Japanese figure skating pair Riki Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, known as 'Rikuryu,' announced their retirement on April 17, 2026, following their gold medal victory at the Milan-Cortina Olympics. The article highlights a touching exchange between Kihara and his former high school grade leader, Yasunori Usuda, a part-time lecturer at Chukyo University Chukyo High School in Nagoya. Upon learning of the retirement via news, Usuda emailed Kihara to express gratitude for his hard work and advise him to rest. Kihara replied promptly, thanking his mentor and confirming he would take time to relax. Usuda recalled Kihara as a serious yet internally strong student who maintained contact after graduation. He also remembered encouraging Kihara during the Olympics when the pair placed fifth in the short program, a moment that preceded their eventual gold medal win. Kihara had previously credited Usuda's messages with giving him courage. Usuda praised the pair's resilience despite forming their partnership midway through their careers and expressed hope that they would pass on their experience to future generations of skaters.
asahiFigure Skater Ryuichi Kihara Retires, Exchanges Warm Messages with Former Mentor
Japanese figure skating pair Riki Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, known as 'Rikuryu,' announced their retirement on April 17, 2026, following their gold medal victory at the Milan-Cortina Olympics. The article highlights a touching exchange between Kihara and his former high school grade leader, Yasunori Usuda, a part-time lecturer at Chukyo University Chukyo High School in Nagoya. Upon learning of the retirement via news, Usuda emailed Kihara to express gratitude for his hard work and advise him to rest. Kihara replied promptly, thanking his mentor. The piece recalls their long-standing relationship, noting Kihara's serious demeanor and inner strength during his high school years. Usuda had previously supported the pair during the Olympics, offering encouragement after they placed fifth in the short program, which ultimately helped them secure the gold. Usuda praised their resilience despite forming their partnership midway through their careers and expressed confidence that they would inspire future generations of skaters. The article underscores the personal connections and mentorship that supported their successful athletic journey.
asahiOlympic Gold Medalists Rikuryu Announce Retirement from Figure Skating
Japanese figure skating pair Riki Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, collectively known as 'Rikuryu,' have announced their retirement at the end of the current season. The duo made history by becoming the first Japanese pair to win an Olympic gold medal in figure skating at the Milan-Cortina Games. The announcement was made via Instagram on April 17, 2026, by the Kinoshita Group, which manages the skaters. The article reflects on Kihara's career trajectory, noting his transition from singles skating to pairs in 2013 at age 20. Initially hesitant about the physical demands of lifting partners, Kihara eventually embraced the discipline, undergoing weight training and shifting his focus from individual technical goals, such as the triple axel, to synchronized pair performance. His early partnership with Narumi Takahashi during the 2014 Sochi Olympics is also referenced. This retrospective highlights the humorous and challenging beginnings of his pairs career, contrasting his initial fears with his ultimate success as half of the world's best pair. The retirement marks the end of a significant era for Japanese figure skating, celebrating their groundbreaking achievement on the global stage.
asahiRyuichi Kihara of 'Rikuryu' Announces Retirement After Historic Olympic Gold
Japanese figure skating pair Riki Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, known collectively as 'Rikuryu,' have announced their retirement at the end of the current season. The announcement was made via Instagram on April 17, 2026, following their historic achievement at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, where they became the first Japanese pair to win a gold medal in figure skating. Miura, aged 24, and Kihara, aged 33 and affiliated with the Kinoshita Group, concluded their partnership on a high note. The article reflects on Kihara's career trajectory, noting his transition from singles skating to pairs in 2013 at age 20. Initially hesitant about the physical demands of lifting partners, Kihara eventually embraced the discipline, undergoing weight training to increase his mass from 63kg to 67kg. The piece highlights early anecdotes from his time with former partner Narumi Takahashi during the 2014 Sochi Olympics era, illustrating his growth from a slender singles skater to a robust pair specialist. This retirement marks the end of a significant chapter in Japanese figure skating history, celebrating their breakthrough success on the global stage.
asahiRyuichi Kihara and Riki Miura Announce Retirement After Historic Olympic Gold
Japanese figure skating pair Riki Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, known collectively as 'Rikuryu,' have announced their retirement at the end of the current season. The announcement was made via Instagram on April 17, 2026, by the Kinoshita Group, which manages the duo. This decision follows their historic achievement at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, where they became the first Japanese pair to win a gold medal in figure skating. The article reflects on Kihara's career trajectory, noting his transition from singles skating to pairs in 2013 at age 20. It highlights early challenges, including his initial fear of throwing partners and humorous anecdotes about weight training with his former partner, Narumi Takahashi, during the 2014 Sochi Olympics era. Despite uncertainties about his switch from singles, where he aimed to perfect the triple axel, Kihara found success in pairs. The piece celebrates their legacy as pioneers for Japanese pair skating while marking the end of an era for the celebrated team.
asahiJapanese Figure Skating Duo 'Rikuryu' Announces Retirement After Historic Olympic Gold
Ryuichi Kihara and Riki Miura, the Japanese figure skating pair known as 'Rikuryu,' have announced their retirement at the end of the current season via Instagram. This announcement follows their historic achievement at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, where they became the first Japanese pair to win a gold medal in figure skating. The article reflects on Kihara's career trajectory, noting his transition from singles skating to pairs in 2013 at age 20. It highlights early challenges, including his initial fear of throwing partners and humorous anecdotes about weight training with his former partner, Narumi Takahashi, during the 2014 Sochi Olympics era. Kihara, now 33, and Miura, 24, are celebrated for overcoming these early hurdles to reach the pinnacle of their sport. The piece serves as a retrospective on their journey, contrasting Kihara's early insecurities with their ultimate success as world champions and Olympic gold medalists. The announcement marks the end of a significant chapter in Japanese figure skating history, closing the book on a partnership that redefined the country's presence in pair skating.
asahiRyuichi Kihara of 'Rikuryu' Announces Retirement After Historic Olympic Gold
Japanese figure skating pair Riki Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, known collectively as 'Rikuryu,' have announced their retirement at the end of the current season. The announcement was made via Instagram on April 17, 2026, following their historic achievement at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, where they became the first Japanese pair to win a gold medal in figure skating. Miura, aged 24, and Kihara, aged 33 and affiliated with the Kinoshita Group, concluded their partnership on a high note. The article reflects on Kihara's career trajectory, noting his transition from singles skating to pairs in 2013 at age 20. Initially hesitant about the physical demands of lifting partners, Kihara eventually embraced the discipline, humorously recounting early interactions with former partner Narumi Takahashi regarding his weight training efforts. This retrospective highlights the duo's journey from early uncertainties to becoming world champions, cementing their legacy in Japanese sports history. The piece serves as both a news report on their retirement and a tribute to their significant contributions to figure skating.
asahiRyuichi Kihara of 'Rikuryu' Announces Retirement After Historic Olympic Gold
Japanese figure skating pair Riki Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, known collectively as 'Rikuryu,' have announced their retirement at the end of the current season. The announcement was made via Instagram on April 17, 2026, following their historic achievement of winning the gold medal in pair skating at the Milan-Cortina Olympics. This victory marked the first time a Japanese pair secured an Olympic gold in the discipline. The article reflects on Kihara's career trajectory, noting his transition from singles to pair skating in 2013 at age 20. It highlights early challenges, including his initial fear of throwing partners and humorous anecdotes about weight training with his former partner, Narumi Takahashi, during the 2014 Sochi Olympics era. Kihara, now 33, and Miura, 24, leave the sport after cementing their legacy as pioneers for Japanese pair skating. The piece serves as a retrospective on their journey from uncertain beginnings to becoming world champions, celebrating their contribution to the sport before their final competitive season concludes.
asahiJapanese Figure Skating Duo 'Rikuryu' Announces Retirement After Historic Olympic Gold
Ryuichi Kihara and Riki Miura, the Japanese figure skating pair known as 'Rikuryu,' have announced their retirement at the end of the current season via Instagram. The announcement follows their historic achievement at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, where they became the first Japanese pair to win a gold medal in figure skating. Kihara, aged 33, and Miura, aged 24, reflected on their journey, which began with Kihara's transition from singles skating in 2013. Initially hesitant about the physical demands of pair skating, specifically lifting partners, Kihara eventually embraced the discipline. The article highlights early anecdotes from his career, including humorous interactions with former partner Narumi Takahashi regarding his weight training efforts during the lead-up to the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Their partnership culminated in global success, metaphorically described in the headline as baking the 'world's best cake.' This retirement marks the end of a significant chapter in Japanese figure skating history, celebrating their breakthrough performance on the international stage.
asahiRyuichi Kihara of 'Rikuryu' Announces Retirement After Historic Olympic Gold
Japanese figure skating pair Riki Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, known collectively as 'Rikuryu,' have announced their retirement at the end of the current season. The announcement was made via Instagram by Kihara's affiliation, the Kinoshita Group, on April 17, 2026. This decision follows their historic achievement at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, where they became the first Japanese pair to win a gold medal in figure skating. The article reflects on Kihara's career trajectory, noting his transition from singles skating to pairs in 2013 at age 20. It highlights early challenges, including his initial fear of throwing partners and humorous anecdotes about weight training with his former partner, Narumi Takahashi, during the 2014 Sochi Olympics era. Despite uncertainties about his switch from singles, where he aimed to perfect the triple axel, Kihara found success in pairs. The piece serves as a retrospective on their journey from young athletes to Olympic champions, marking the end of an era for Japanese figure skating.
asahiJapan's Olympic Figure Skating Champions Miura and Kihara Announce Retirement
Japanese figure skating pair Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, known as 'Riku-Ryu,' have announced their retirement from competitive skating following their gold medal victory at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. The announcement was made on social media, where the duo expressed no regrets and highlighted their desire to promote pairs skating in Japan. Miura, 24, and Kihara, 33, secured Japan's first-ever pairs medal at the Winter Games, overcoming significant physical challenges including Kihara's back issues and Miura's shoulder injuries. Since pairing up in 2019, they achieved a historic sweep of major senior titles, including the World Championships and Grand Prix Final, elevating the status of pairs skating in Japan. Having trained in Canada for seven seasons, they now plan to focus on developing younger athletes and addressing coaching shortages in their home country. The International Skating Union praised their contributions, wishing them success in their future endeavors. Their retirement marks the end of a dominant era that transformed Japan's standing in the discipline.
asiaOlympic Gold Medalists 'Rikuryu' Announce Retirement from Figure Skating
Japanese figure skating pair Riki Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, known collectively as 'Rikuryu,' have announced their retirement at the end of the current season. The announcement was made via Instagram on April 17, 2026, shortly after the duo achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Japanese pair to win an Olympic gold medal at the Milan-Cortina Winter Games. The article reflects on their seven-year journey, which began when Kihara, then considering quitting the sport, accepted Miura's invitation to form a partnership. Despite initial concerns about replacing previous partners, they developed a strong chemical connection under the guidance of coach Bruno Marcotte in Canada. Their career trajectory transformed from serious contenders to Olympic champions, capturing national attention and emotion. The piece highlights key moments, including their consultation with Japan Skating Federation official Yoshiko Kobayashi and their eventual triumph in Italy. This retirement marks the end of a significant era for Japanese figure skating, celebrating their legacy as pioneers who broke barriers for pair skating in Japan.
asahiOlympic Champions Miura and Kihara Announce Retirement from Figure Skating
Japanese figure skating pair Riki Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, also known as Rikuryu, have announced their retirement from competitive sports. The announcement was made via social media on April 17, 2026, shortly after their historic gold medal victory in the pairs event at the Milan-Cortina Olympics. Miura, aged 24, and Kihara, aged 33, represented the Kinoshita Group during their career. This article by the Asahi Shimbun reflects on their journey, highlighting their dramatic rise to the top of the podium. Initially skating with different partners, the duo formed their partnership in July 2019 following a tryout initiated by Miura after Kihara split from his previous partner. Their immediate chemistry was described by Kihara as akin to 'lightning striking.' The report features a retrospective of their career through forty photographs, capturing key moments from their early days, such as the 2019 NHK Trophy, to their ultimate Olympic triumph. The piece underscores their legacy as assets to Japanese sports, celebrating the excitement they generated with their performances. While the full detailed history is behind a paywall, the available text emphasizes the significance of their partnership and their decision to conclude their competitive careers on a high note as Olympic champions.
asahiJapan's Olympic Pairs Champions Miura and Kihara Announce Retirement
Japanese figure skating pair Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara have announced their retirement from competitive skating at the end of the current season. The duo made history by becoming Japan's first-ever Olympic gold medalists in pairs figure skating at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games. Their victory in Milan was marked by a dramatic comeback from fifth place, achieving a world-record score of 158.13 points in the free skate under the new scoring system. Since forming their partnership in 2019, they also secured back-to-back team silver medals at the Beijing 2022 and Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics. In a statement posted on Instagram, the skaters expressed pride in their journey and stated they have no regrets, having given their all to their careers. They indicated plans to pursue new challenges aimed at increasing the recognition and popularity of pair skating within Japan. This announcement follows recent news that their Olympic teammate, Yuma Kagiyama, will take a break from competition during the 2026-27 season, marking a significant transition period for Japanese figure skating.
Latest NewsOlympic Gold Medalists Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara Announce Retirement
Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, the celebrated Japanese pairs figure skating duo known affectionately as 'RikuRyu,' have officially announced their retirement from competitive skating. The announcement was made via a joint statement released on Friday morning, accompanied by a photograph of the pair celebrating with their gold medals on social media platforms Instagram and X. The skaters recently achieved career-defining success by winning the gold medal for Japan at the Milano Cortina Olympics in February. In their statement, Miura and Kihara expressed deep satisfaction with their journey, noting that they gave their absolute best effort and hold no regrets about ending their competitive careers. Their victory in Italy was described as dramatic and serves as a fairy-tale conclusion to their time in the sport. This retirement marks the end of an era for one of Japan's most popular figure skating pairs, who leaves the ice after reaching the pinnacle of their profession with an Olympic title. The news confirms that the duo will not continue to compete in future international or domestic competitions.
Latest articles - The Japan TimesOlympic Champions Miura and Kihara Announce Retirement After Historic Gold
Japanese figure skating pair Riki Miura and Ryuichi Kihara have announced their retirement at the end of the 2026 season, following their historic gold medal victory at the Milan-Cortina Olympics. The duo, known as 'Rikuryu,' made history by becoming the first Japanese pair to win Olympic gold, overcoming a fifth-place finish in the short program to deliver a stunning free skate performance. This article reflects on their journey, highlighting Kihara's period of uncertainty seven years prior when he considered quitting the sport due to injuries and a previous partnership breakup. During that time, Kihara worked part-time at his childhood rink in Nagoya, where he eventually reconnected with the skating community. The piece emphasizes the significance of their bond and perseverance, noting that without their partnership, the Olympic triumph might not have been possible. Their final performances were described as perfect, marking the end of a celebrated career that inspired many in Japan and globally. The announcement was made via Instagram, drawing attention to their legacy and the emotional weight of their achievement after years of dedication and challenges.
asahi