is a former Japanese competitive figure skater. He is a two-time World bronze medalist (2002, 2003), two-time Four Continents champion (1999, 2003), and six-time Japanese national champion.
Personal life Takeshi Honda was born on 23 March 1981 in Kōriyama, Fukushima, Japan. He also plays the piano.
Career Honda began short track speed skating at the age of six with his brother and switched to figure skating at nine. At 12, when he entered junior high school, he moved to Sendai to train with Hiroshi Nagakubo. Although he started the training somewhat late, he caught up very quickly and was, at 14, the youngest senior national champion in Japan ever.
In December 1997, Honda left Japan to train with Galina Zmievskaya at the International Skating Center in Simsbury, Connecticut. He represented Japan at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, where he finished 15th. Following the 1998 Skate Canada International, Honda moved to Barrie, Ontario, Canada to work with Doug Leigh. He became the first Four Continents champion in history when he won the inaugural event in 1999.
In 2002, Honda won the bronze medal at the 2002 World Championships and finished in 4th place at the Winter Olympics. He was the first male skater from Japan to medal at the World Championships since Minoru Sano took the bronze in 1977. Honda withdrew from the 2005 World Championships after injuring his ankle in a fall during the qualifying segment.
Honda ended his competitive career and turned to show skating in March 2006. He has been a mainstay in Shizuka Arakawa's Friends on Ice show since its inauguration in 2006. He resides in Takatsuki City, Osaka where he coaches at the Kansai University Skating club. He notably coached Daisuke Takahashi (as a technical coach) and Mai Asada. He is also a TV commentator.
Programs Season Short program Free skating Exhibition 2005–06 "Cutting Edge" pp.90-91 Romeo and Juliet Tosca The Dirty Boogie"Cutting Edge" p.91 2004–05 Piano Concerto No. 1 Warsaw Concerto
Red Ribbon"Cutting Edge" p.19 2003–04 Romeo and Juliet Warsaw Concerto Wherever You Will Go 2002–03 Leyenda Riverdance
The Mummy Moulin Rouge!
Wherever You Will Go 2001–02 Don Quixote"Cutting Edge" p.91, 19
Sing Sing Sing Concierto de Aranjuez
Rhapsodia Cubana Bonzo's Montreux 2000–01 Don Quixote"Cutting Edge" p.91, 19 Concierto de Aranjuez Mambo Mambo 1999–2000 Violin Concerto Rising Sun I Could Not Ask For More 1998–99 Two-Minute Warning
Doop-Doop The Man in the Iron Mask Heaven and Earth
I Believe I Can Fly 1997–98 Original song『氷上の貴公子』p.105 El Cid『氷上の貴公子』p.10 I Believe I Can Fly 1996–97 Tico Tico Swing Kids
Results GP: Champions Series/Grand Prix
International Event94–95 96–97 97–98 98–99 99–00 00–01 01–02 02–03 03–04 04–05 05–06 Olympics 15th 4th Worlds 13th 10th 11th 6th 10th 5th 3rd 3rd WD Four Continents 1st 5th 2nd 2nd 1st WD Final 5th Lalique 3rd NHK Trophy 4th 9th 6th 2nd 6th 4th 1st 2nd 7th 9th Skate America 6th 7th 2nd 2nd Skate Canada 9th 5th 3rd 5th 1st 3rd 7th 4th Sparkassen 5th Nebelhorn Trophy 1st Asian Games 1st International: Junior Junior Worlds 2nd National Japan Champ. 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 5th Japan Junior5th 1st WD: Withdrew
References
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