Kaoruko Wada

{{Infobox figure skater

|name= Kaoruko Wada

|image= Kaoruko Wada at the 2024-25 Junior Grand Prix Final.jpg

|imagesize= 250px

|caption= Kaoruko Wada at the 2024–25 Junior Grand Prix Final

|native_name= 和田薫子

|native_name_lang= ja

|altname=

|country= {{JPN}}

|birth_date= {{birth date and age|2009|05|13}}

|birth_place= Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan

|hometown= Nagoya

|residence=

|height= 1.48 m

|coach= Machiko Yamada
Yuko Hongo
Soshi Tanaka

|skating club= Grand-Prix Tokai FSC

|former skating club=

|currenttraininglocations= Nagoya

|formertraininglocations=

|beganskating= 2014

|retired=

|module={{Figure skating infobox medals

|JGPF={{FS medal|s|GPF|2024–25|Grenoble|w}}

}}

{{nihongo|Kaoruko Wada|和田薫子|Wada Kaoruko|extra=born May 13, 2009}} is a Japanese figure skater. She is the 2024–25 Junior Grand Prix Final silver medalist, 2024 JGP Czech Republic champion, the 2024 JGP Poland silver medalist, and the 2024–25 Japanese Junior national silver medalist.

Personal life

Wada was born on May 13, 2009, in Nagoya, Japan. She is currently a student at Nagoya Municipal Maezu Junior High School.

Career

= Early career =

Wada began figure skating in 2014 at the age of five after watching Mao Asada compete at the 2014 Winter Olympics and subsequently getting Asada's autograph. Soon after beginning to skate, she began training under Machiko Yamada, who had previously coached Asada during the early years of her career.

On the basic novice level, Wada finished twenty-fourth at the 2018–19 Japan Novice B Championships and the following year, finished fourth at the 2019–20 Japan Novice B Championships.

As an advanced novice skater, she placed sixth at the 2020–21 Japan Novice A Championships and won the silver at the 2021–22 Japan Novice A Championships. Following the latter event, Wada competed at the 2021–22 Japan Junior Championships, where she finished eleventh.

During the subsequent seasons, Wada would finish tenth at the 2022–23 Japan Junior Championships and thirteenth at the 2023–24 Japan Junior Championships.

= 2024–25 season =

File:Kaoruko Wada performing her short program at the 2024–25 JuniorGrand Prix Final.jpg]]

Making her international debut on the 2024–25 ISU Junior Grand Prix circuit, Wada unexpectedly took gold at 2024 JGP Czech Republic, defeating reigning World Junior bronze medalist Rena Uezono. Following the event, she said, "I didn't expect to win this title, and I enjoyed performing the short program and the free skating. It was amazing. I found some room to improve through this competition, so I will practice more and I want to enjoy performing more and show better performances to the audience." Wada would go on to take silver behind reigning World Junior champion Mao Shimada at 2024 JGP Poland. With these results, Wada qualified for the 2024–25 Junior Grand Prix Final.

File:Kaoruko Wada during her free skate at the 2024–25 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final.jpg]]

In late November, Wada competed at the 2024–25 Japan Junior Championships, where she won the silver medal. Weeks later, Wada competed at the JGP Final in Grenoble, France. She placed second in both the short program and free skate, winning the silver medal overall and sharing the podium with fellow Japanese skaters, Mao Shimada and Ami Nakai. Wada expressed delight at this result, saying that this "was my first participation in the JGP final but Ami and Mao helped me a lot. This is why I think it was possible to achieve this result as a team." Two weeks later, Wada made her senior level debut at the 2024–25 Japan Championships, where she finished in tenth place.

Wada finished her season at the 2025 World Junior Championships in Debrecen, Hungary, where she placed fifth in the short program, less than three points back of third place. During the free skate, despite landing all her jumps, the judges determined that five of those jumps were landed on the quarter and two other jumps were underrotated. As a result, Wada placed ninth in the free skate segment and dropped to eighth place overall.{{cite web |title=2025 World Jr Championships - Womens Free Skate - Kaoruko Wada |url=https://skatingscores.com/2425/wjc/jr/women/i/long/jpn/kaoruko_wada/ |website=Skating Scores |publisher=Skating Scores |access-date=7 March 2025}} Following the event, she said, "There were some things I was a bit unsure about in terms of my score, but I was very satisfied with my performance itself, so I’m glad."{{cite web |title=Kaoruko Wada 🇯🇵 117.30 / 181.65 |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DGqW3iHo8hV/?hl=en |website=Instagram |publisher=Golden Skate |access-date=7 March 2025}}

Programs

class=wikitable style=text-align:center ! Season ! Short program ! Free skating ! Exhibition
2024–2025 \| rowspan=2 \| How Does a Moment Last Forever {{small \|by Tim Rice & Alan Menken performed by Céline Dion choreo. by Noriko Sato}} \| Titanic Never An Absolution Southampton {{small \|by James Horner }} Titanic Symphony {{small\| by Richard Clayderman }} Hard to Starboard {{small\| by James Horner choreo. by Kenji Miyamoto }} \| Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing {{small\| (from Sing) performed by Tori Kelly }}
2023–2024 \| Sing For Me {{small\| by Tarja, Kid Crazy, Christel Sundberg, & Tracy Lipp choreo. by Kenji Miyamoto }} \|
2022–2023 \| Reflection Steps Moving {{small\| by Secret Garden choreo. by Akiko Suzuki }} \| Masquerade Waltz {{small \| by Aram Khachaturian choreo. by Mihoko Higuchi, Yuko Hongo, & Machiko Yamada }} \|

class=wikitable style=text-align:center

! Season

! Short program

! Free skating

! Exhibition

2024–2025

| rowspan=2 |

How Does a Moment Last Forever
{{small |by Tim Rice & Alan Menken
performed by Céline Dion
choreo. by Noriko Sato}}

Titanic
Never An Absolution
Southampton
{{small |by James Horner }}
Titanic Symphony
{{small| by Richard Clayderman }}
Hard to Starboard
{{small| by James Horner
choreo. by Kenji Miyamoto }}

Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing
{{small| (from Sing)
performed by Tori Kelly }}

2023–2024

Sing For Me
{{small| by Tarja, Kid Crazy, Christel Sundberg, & Tracy Lipp
choreo. by Kenji Miyamoto }}

2022–2023

Reflection
Steps
Moving
{{small| by Secret Garden
choreo. by Akiko Suzuki }}

Masquerade Waltz
{{small | by Aram Khachaturian
choreo. by Mihoko Higuchi, Yuko Hongo, & Machiko Yamada }}

Competitive highlights

colspan="5" style="background-color: #ffdead; " align="center" \| International: Junior
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Event ! 21–22 ! 22–23 ! 23–24 ! 24–25
align=left \| Junior Worlds				8th
align=left \| {{small\|JGP}} Final				bgcolor=silver \| 2nd
align=left \| {{small\|JGP}} Czech Republic				bgcolor=gold \| 1st
align=left \| {{small\|JGP}} Poland				bgcolor=silver \| 2nd
colspan="5" style="background-color: #ffdead; " align="center" \| National
align="left" \| Japan				10th
align=left \| Japan Junior	11th	10th	13th	bgcolor=silver \| 2nd

Detailed results

{{Figure skating personal bests

|ref=

|198.22|2024 JGP Poland

|70.58|2024 JGP Poland

|40.65|2024 JGP Poland

|29.93|2024 JGP Poland

|127.64|2024 JGP Poland

|68.40|2024 JGP Czech Republic

|59.54|2024 JGP Poland

}}

= Senior level =

class="wikitable"
colspan="5" style="background-color: #ffdead; " align="center" \| 2024–25 season
Date ! Event ! SP ! FS ! Total
December 19–22, 2024 \| 2024–25 Japan Championships \| align=center \| 10 66.70 \| align=center \| 8 128.93 \| align=center \| 10 195.63

class="wikitable"

colspan="5" style="background-color: #ffdead; " align="center" | 2024–25 season

Date

! Event

! SP

! FS

! Total

December 19–22, 2024

| 2024–25 Japan Championships

| align=center | 10
66.70

| align=center | 8
128.93

| align=center | 10
195.63

= Junior level =

Current personal best scores are highlighted in bold.

class="wikitable"
colspan="6" style="background: #ffdead; text-align:center;" \| 2024–25 season
Date ! Event ! SP ! FS ! Total
February 25–March 2, 2025 \| 2025 World Junior Championships \| align=center \| 5 64.35 \| align=center \| 9 117.30 \| align=center \| 8 181.65
December 5–8, 2024 \| 2024–25 JGP Final \| align=center \| 2 67.77 \| align=center \| 2 123.98 \| align=center bgcolor=silver \| 2 191.75
November 15–17, 2024 \| 2024–25 Japan Junior Championships \| align=center \| 2 66.40 \| align=center \| 4 123.77 \| align=center bgcolor=silver \| 2 190.17
September 25–28, 2024 \| 2024 JGP Poland \| align=center \| 2 70.58 \| align=center \| 2 127.64 \| align=center bgcolor=silver \| 2 198.22
September 4–9, 2024 \| 2024 JGP Czech Republic \| align=center \| 1 67.21 \| align=center \| 1 126.93 \| align=center bgcolor=gold \| 1 194.14
style="background-color: #ffdead; " colspan=6 align=center \| 2023–24 season
Date ! Event ! SP ! FS ! Total
November 17–19, 2023 \| 2023–24 Japan Junior Championships \| align=center \| 7 60.26 \| align=center \| 15 97.61 \| align=center \| 13 157.87
style="background-color: #ffdead; " colspan=6 align=center \| 2022–23 season
Date ! Event ! SP ! FS ! Total
November 25–27, 2022 \| 2022–23 Japan Junior Championships \| align=center \| 9 57.37 \| align=center \| 10 101.21 \| align=center \| 10 158.58
style="background-color: #ffdead; " colspan=6 align=center \| 2021–22 season
Date ! Event ! SP ! FS ! Total
November 19–21, 2021 \| 2021–22 Japan Junior Championships \| align=center \| 12 52.89 \| align=center \| 9 103.88 \| align=center \| 11 156.77

class="wikitable"

colspan="6" style="background: #ffdead; text-align:center;" | 2024–25 season

Date

! Event

! SP

! FS

! Total

February 25–March 2, 2025

| 2025 World Junior Championships

| align=center | 5
64.35

| align=center | 9
117.30

| align=center | 8
181.65

December 5–8, 2024

| 2024–25 JGP Final

| align=center | 2
67.77

| align=center | 2
123.98

| align=center bgcolor=silver | 2
191.75

November 15–17, 2024

| 2024–25 Japan Junior Championships

| align=center | 2
66.40

| align=center | 4
123.77

| align=center bgcolor=silver | 2
190.17

September 25–28, 2024

| 2024 JGP Poland

| align=center | 2
70.58

| align=center | 2
127.64

| align=center bgcolor=silver | 2
198.22

September 4–9, 2024

| 2024 JGP Czech Republic

| align=center | 1
67.21

| align=center | 1
126.93

| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1
194.14

style="background-color: #ffdead; " colspan=6 align=center | 2023–24 season

Date

! Event

! SP

! FS

! Total

November 17–19, 2023

| 2023–24 Japan Junior Championships

| align=center | 7
60.26

| align=center | 15
97.61

| align=center | 13
157.87

style="background-color: #ffdead; " colspan=6 align=center | 2022–23 season

Date

! Event

! SP

! FS

! Total

November 25–27, 2022

| 2022–23 Japan Junior Championships

| align=center | 9
57.37

| align=center | 10
101.21

| align=center | 10
158.58

style="background-color: #ffdead; " colspan=6 align=center | 2021–22 season

Date

! Event

! SP

! FS

! Total

November 19–21, 2021

| 2021–22 Japan Junior Championships

| align=center | 12
52.89

| align=center | 9
103.88

| align=center | 11
156.77

References

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite web |title=Kaoruko Wada |url=https://www.skatingscores.com/jpn/women/kaoruko_wada/ |website=Skating Scores |access-date=28 September 2024}}

{{cite web |title=Kaoruko WADA: Competition Results |url=https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs_cr_00113818.htm |website=International Skating Union |access-date=28 September 2024}}

{{cite web|url=https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00113818.htm|title= Karuko WADA: 2024/2025|publisher= International Skating Union|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240927101212/https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00113818.htm |archive-date= September 27, 2024}}

{{cite web|url=https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00113818.htm|title= Karuko WADA: 2023/2024|publisher= International Skating Union|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313062103/https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00113818.htm |archive-date= March 13, 2024}}

{{cite web |title=フィギュア 2022-2023女子新プログラム一覧【坂本花織・樋口新葉・紀平梨花等】 |url=https://figureskatejapan.com/data/new-program-women2022-2023.html |website=Figure Skating Japan |access-date=28 September 2024}}

{{cite web |title=愛知県のアスリート・フィギュアスケート和田薫子応援プロジェクト |url=https://a-port-p.asahi.com/projects/wada2022 |website=A-Port |access-date=28 September 2024}}

{{cite web |title=浅田真央さんに憧れ全中5位の1年生・和田薫子飛躍へ技術と表現力磨く【フィギュアスケート】 |url=https://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/636099 |website=Chunichi |access-date=28 September 2024}}

{{cite web |last1=Gallagher |first1=Jack |title=[ICE TIME] Kaoruko Wada Stuns Rena Uezono to Win in Junior Grand Prix Debut |url=https://featured.japan-forward.com/sportslook/ice-time-kaoruko-wada-stuns-rena-uezono-to-win-in-junior-grand-prix-debut/ |website=Japan Forward |date=11 September 2024 |access-date=28 September 2024}}

{{cite web |title=【フィギュア】中３和田薫子が帰国初海外でジュニアGP優勝「反対回りも…」スピン挑戦の理由 |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202409090000709.html?Page=1 |website=Nikkan Sports |access-date=28 September 2024}}

{{cite web|url= https://isu.org/figure-skating/news/news-fsk/15050-newcomers-and-junior-stars-set-highlights-at-isu-junior-grand-prix-in-ostrava?highlight=WyJrYW9ydWtvIiwid2FkYSIsIndhZGEncyIsImthb3J1a28gd2FkYSJd&templateParam=15 |title= Newcomers and Junior stars set highlights at ISU Junior Grand Prix in Ostrava |publisher=International Skating Union |date=September 9, 2024 |access-date=October 19, 2024}}

{{cite web|url= https://isu.org/isu-news/news/126-junior-grand-prix-news/15059-records-and-surprises-highlight-isu-junior-grand-prix-in-gdansk?highlight=WyJrYW9ydWtvIiwid2FkYSIsIndhZGEncyIsImthb3J1a28gd2FkYSJd&templateParam=15 |title= Records and surprises highlight ISU Junior Grand Prix in Gdansk |publisher=International Skating Union |date=September 30, 2024 |access-date=October 19, 2024}}

{{cite web |url= https://isu.org/figure-skating/news/news-fsk/15067-skaters-grab-six-last-tickets-for-the-junior-final-at-isu-junior-grand-prix-wuxi-chn?templateParam=15 |title= Skaters grab six last tickets for the Junior Final at ISU Junior Grand Prix Wuxi (CHN) |publisher= International Skating Union |date= October 15, 2024 |access-date= October 19, 2024 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

{{cite web|title=Mao Shimada Wins Junior Grand Prix Final for 3rd Consecutive Year |url= https://japan-forward.com/mao-shimada-wins-junior-grand-prix-final-for-3rd-consecutive-year/ |last1=Gallagher |first1=Jack |website=Japan Forward |date=December 7, 2024 |access-date=March 1, 2025 }}

{{cite web|url=https://isu-skating.com/figure-skating/news/spectacular-mao-shimada-jpn-defies-gravity-for-strong-lead-at-isu-world-junior-championships/|title=Spectacular Mao Shimada (JPN) defies gravity for strong lead at ISU World Junior Championships|date=February 27, 2025|access-date=March 1, 2025|publisher=International Skating Union}}

{{cite web|url=https://isu-skating.com/figure-skating/news/incredible-mao-shimada-jpn-flies-high-to-historic-third-isu-world-junior-championship-title/|title=Incredible Mao Shimada (JPN) flies high to historic third ISU World Junior Championship title|date=March 1, 2025|access-date=March 1, 2025|publisher=International Skating Union}}

}}

External links

{{isu name|id=00113818|name=Kaoruko WADA}}
[https://www.skatingjapan.or.jp/figure/player/detail.php?id=tMFC%2BjDq6ws%3D WADA Kaoruko] at the Japan Skating Federation
[https://www.skatingscores.com/jpn/women/kaoruko_wada/ Kaoruko Wada] at SkatingScores.com

Category:Living people

Category:2009 births

Category:Figure skaters from Aichi Prefecture

Category:Japanese female single skaters

Category:Figure skaters from Nagoya

Category:21st-century Japanese sportswomen

colspan="5" style="background-color: #ffdead; " align="center" \| International: Junior
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Event ! 21–22 ! 22–23 ! 23–24 ! 24–25
align=left \| Junior Worlds				8th
align=left \| {{small\|JGP}} Final				bgcolor=silver \| 2nd
align=left \| {{small\|JGP}} Czech Republic				bgcolor=gold \| 1st
align=left \| {{small\|JGP}} Poland				bgcolor=silver \| 2nd
colspan="5" style="background-color: #ffdead; " align="center" \| National
align="left" \| Japan				10th
align=left \| Japan Junior	11th	10th	13th	bgcolor=silver \| 2nd