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Japanese women’s singles skater Chisato Uramatsu (23) announced her retirement from singles skating on the 25th February, 2025. Several months later, on the 19th July, she announced on Instagram that she and Atsuhiko Tamura (21), who had previously skated with Sara Kishimoto, had formed a new ice dance team. I recently caught up with Uramatsu and Tamura to find out more about the new partnership and their hopes for the season ahead. Their answers have been translated from Japanese.
Following her retirement from women’s singles and wanting to try ice dance, Uramatsu spent the 2025 off-season practicing for her ice dance badge test, while Tamura was working on improving the quality of his skating. Of their first impressions of each other, Uramatsu shared that Tamura’s ‘hair had grown out, so I thought that his vibe was different!’, whilst he said that ‘the first time that I met her, she seemed smaller than I had expected from seeing her in videos.’
Their assessment of the dynamics of their new partnership was positive, as they spoke of their growth as a team since they first started working together, with their movements becoming more synchronised day by day. ‘Also, in terms of life in Canada and many other aspects, I’m learning a lot from him,’ Uramatsu said, and Tamura similarly noted that he ‘really respect[s] Chisato, because she skates with a lot of speed and there is also a lot to learn from her in terms of performance skills.’
Although Tamura’s favourite ice dance element is twizzles – because he likes spinning – twizzles were the main challenge for Uramatsu moving from singles to ice dance: ‘when I was in singles, I did not really like footwork and was not very good at it, so I avoided it and did not practice it much, so now I am paying the price! [laughs].’ In contrast, her favourite ice dance element is the step sequence, given that ‘compared to skating alone, I’m able to skate much more smoothly, and I like that feeling’.
How do you spend your weekends?
Chisato: Walking around the city, going to the pool to swim, or watching YouTube.
Atsuhiko: I am a big fan of Chiikawa (ed. Japanese web manga series).
For Tamura, the introduction to the world of skating came when he went to an ice rink for fun with his family, and thought that he ‘wanted to try skating.’ Uramatsu recalled that it hadn’t been her decision to start skating, but before she knew it, she and her mother had enrolled in skating lessons. Now, the two train in Canada at the prestigious Ice Academy of Montreal, alongside leading ice dance teams. ‘I don’t usually get the chance to eat Japanese food [in Canada], so I miss Japanese ramen,’ Tamura said. They both shared that their training environment in Montreal was both inspiring and stimulating: Uramatsu’s skating idol is Madison Chock, whilst Tamura’s is Zachary Lagha: ‘his expressive ability is a big inspiration.’
What is your favourite film?
Chisato: Grande Maison Paris (2024)
Atsuhiko: Jujutsu Kaisen 0 (2021)
The two ice dancers are currently working hard to prepare for their first season as a team: a season which, incidentally, is also the long-awaited Olympic season. Uramatsu expressed her excitement for training mates Laurence Fournier-Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron’s performances this season, whilst Tamura said that he is ‘excited for Olivia Smart and Tim Dieck’s free dance.’ Yet both are equally as focused on their own growth and programs this year, and are training to push themselves to greater heights every day: they shared that they are working especially to hone their twizzles. As for their new programs, they said that their ‘coaches helped us choose music which will express the world that we both create together.’
What is your favourite program?
Chisato: Rena Uezono’s 2023-24 season’s free skate.
Atsuhiko: Philippe Candeloro’s D’Artagnan.
Their principal goal this season is to put out their best performances at Japanese Nationals in December. The ice dance field in the country has become stronger and more competitive each year, with a plethora of new teams going head to head. The growing depth of the field serves to spur on both Uramatsu and Tamura: ‘the fact that our rivals are increasing provides us with a lot of motivation, so we are working hard to improve the quality of each and every element.’
