She came, saw, conquered: Japan’s Ami Naki made a splash in her senior ISU Grand Prix debut, winning the Grand Prix de France and claiming bronze at Skate Canada International. Most likely, this will get the 17-year-old into the ISU Grand Prix Final in her very first senior season.

A surprise victory

In France, Nakai’s victory came as a huge surprise. Yes, the young skater from Funabashi not far from Tokyo had competed successfully on the ISU Junior Grand Prix and earned the bronze at the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final 2024. Yes, she also was a World Junior bronze medalist in 2023 and came fourth in 2024, but junior success doesn’t always translate into success at the senior level, especially not right away. 

Nakai was up against seasoned competitors with big names. She beat her teammate and three-time ISU World Champion Kaori Sakamoto as well as 2024 ISU World silver medalist Isabeau Levito in Angers with strong performances that included her secret weapon, the triple Axel. 

Ami Nakai (JPN) and coach Kensuke Nakaniwa react to her score at the ISU Grand Prix de France © ISU

In France, Nakai was a newcomer that stunned everybody including herself with her victory. When she came to Saskatoon, the game had changed. She suddenly was a top contender. 

 “I made sure to get myself in good condition so that I could give as good a performance as I did in France,” Nakai said in Saskatoon. “I don't think at all that it was winning in France that should give me confidence. I'd rather gain confidence from the training that I put in.”

The 17-year-old said she felt not nervous, just very excited about her second ISU Grand Prix. 

“The win in France gave me confirmation of the importance of good practices,” Nakai pointed out. “I have put in really good and hard training, which gave me confidence in France. I have been able to put in good training the past two weeks and just have to believe in myself.”

Not everything was perfect at Skate Canada International but Ami Nakai (JPN) claimed the bronze © ISU

Not everything went perfect, though, Nakai missed her triple Axel in the Short Program and popped it into a double in the Free Skating but since her other elements and the overall performances were strong, she made the podium. 

“During practices, I do train so that even if I can't land the triple Axel, I can continue on with my program,” the skater shared. “For me, if I don't go all out on the take off for the triple Axel, I am going to make a mistake. I'm always telling myself that I have to go for it all out.”

Enjoying the programs

Nakai, who looks up to Japanese figure skating icon Mao Asada, trains with Rinka Watanabe, another Japanese woman that has landed the triple Axel in competition. “Rinka helps me a lot by taking videos during training, and she also gives me advice. I learn a lot by watching her practice her jumps,” Ami noted. 

Ami Nakai (JPN) enjoys performing her programs © ISU

However, it is not only about the triple Axel. “I not only worked on my triple Axel, but also on getting consistency on my other jumps,” Nakai said about her summer training. “I think that this will help me get my base values (and GOEs) up, so that I have a good starting point to build on. I really worked hard on that.”

This effort definitely is paying off now.

Nakai focuses as well on her programs and her performance. She is skating to “La Strada” by Nino Rota in the Short Program and to “What a Wonderful World” in the Free Skating and has worked with renowned choreographers David Wilson and Kenji Miyamoto. 

Ami Nakai (JPN) especially likes the step sequence in her Free Skating © ISU

“In the Short Program I like it when the music switches moods and I start acting like a clown,” she shared with a smile. 

“My choreographer, David Wilson, chose the music for me for the Short Program. He told me that this music really matches me a lot at this point in my career and he wanted me to skate to it. He also told me that this choice has something to do with the fact that the Olympic Games are in Italy.”

Ami loves to interpret “What a Wonderful World” in the Free Skating as well. “I really like the step sequence in the program. I do sing along a bit with the music during the step sequence, and I like that it is a music that gives hope.”

Aiming at the Olympic Games

Making the ISU Grand Prix Final in her home country Japan will be a dream come true for Nakai and she is determined to prepare as well as she can. “I think I'll be using that time before the Final to brush up on my programs. It is also true that the percentage of landing my triple Axel is somewhat declining. I know that I need to make improvements on that. I'd also like to get more flow in my programs,” she shared.

Ami Nakai 's (JPN)  win a the ISU Grand Prix de France brought her close to the ISU Grand Prix Final © ISU

“Now that I'm in the senior ranks, I have great skaters that I compete against and I can see what they have and that I don't have,” Nakai explained. “I'm really learning a lot to acquire what I don't have and what they have, so that one day when I go through the ranks and I'm at the top I'll be able to transmit to the next generation what I have learned so that they can learn from me.”

Right now, Nakai keeps following her path. With the success on the ISU Grand Prix series, making the Japanese Olympic team suddenly has become a possibility.

“At the start of the season the Olympics were not at all on my mind, but now I think the Olympics got a bit closer,” Ami said. “I want to train even harder and gain confidence, to be able to say openly, with pride, that I am aiming to represent Japan at the Olympic Games.”