Lucas Tsuyoshi Honda

{{Short description|Japanese figure skater}}

{{Infobox figure skater

| name = Lucas Tsuyoshi Honda

| native_name = 本田 ルーカス剛史

| native_name_lang = ja

| image = Sae Shimizu and Lucas Tsuyoshi Honda performing their short program at the 2024–25 Junior Grand Prix Final.jpg

| image_size= 250px

| caption = Sae Shimizu and Lucas Tsuyoshi Honda performing their short program at the 2024–25 Junior Grand Prix Final

| country = {{JPN}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2002|9|15|mf=yes}}

| birth_place = Osaka, Japan

| hometown = Uji, Kyoto

| height = {{height|m=1.72}}

| partner = Sae Shimizu (since 2023)

| formerpartner =

| coach = Bruno Marcotte
Brian Shales
Mie Hamada
Cathy Reed

| formercoach = Hiroaki Sato
Yamato Tamura
Satsuki Muramoto
Kotoe Nagasawa
Tsuyako Yamashita

| skating club = Kinoshita Academy

| currenttraininglocations = Uji, Kyoto

| beganskating = 2011

| retired =

| discipline = Pair skating (since 2023)
Men's singles (2016–24)

| module = {{Figure skating infobox medals|nationals=Japan

|NC={{FS medal|b|NC|nationals=Japan|2024–25|Osaka|p}}

}}

}}

{{Nihongo|Lucas Tsuyoshi Honda|本田 ルーカス剛史|Honda Lucas Tsuyoshi|born September 15, 2002}} is a Japanese figure skater, who currently competes in the pairs discipline with partner, Sae Shimizu. Together, they are the 2024–25 Japan national bronze medalists, two-time Japan Junior national champions (2023, 2024), and the 2024 JGP Turkey bronze medalists.

As a singles skater, he is the 2021 CS Cup of Austria silver medalist, the 2020 NHK Trophy bronze medalist, and the 2020–21 Japan junior national champion.

Personal life

Honda was born on September 15, 2002, in Osaka, Japan. He is a fourth generation Japanese Brazilian. In addition, Honda is able to speak English proficiently.{{cite web |title=清水咲衣選手&本田ルーカス剛史選手「ペアはみんなで『頑張ろう』という雰囲気」 フィギュアスケーターのオアシス♪ KENJIの部屋 |url=https://news.jsports.co.jp/skate/article/20190310227300/ |website=JSports |publisher=JSports |access-date=9 October 2024}}

He was a student at Ayaha High School before enrolling at Doshisha University in 2021, where he currently studies in the Faculty of Sports and Health Science.

His figure skating idol is Takahiko Kozuka.

Career

= Early career =

Honda began figure skating in 2011. His first encounter with skating was in kindergarten. It wasn't until the second grade of elementary school, where he entered a class taught by coach Tsuyako Yamashita and began skating in earnest. He was then coached by Kotoe Nagasawa.

On the basic novice level, Honda finished thirteenth and fourth at the 2012–13 and 2013–14 Japan Basic Novice Championships, respectively. Going on to compete as an advanced novice level skater, Honda placed fifth at the 2014–15 Japan Advanced Novice Championships and ninth at the 2015–16 Japan Novice Championships.

As a junior skater, Honda competed at the 2016–17, 2017–18, and 2018–19 Japan Junior Championships, placing seventeenth, sixteenth, and ninth, respectively.

== 2019–20 season ==

Honda started the season by winning the bronze medal at the 2019–20 Japan Junior Championships before going on to compete at the 2019–20 Japan Championships, finishing eleventh.

Following the season, Honda moved from Osaka to Uji, Kyoto to train at the Kinoshita Academy under coaches, Mie Hamada, Yamato Tamura, Hiroaki Sato, and Satsuki Muramoto.

== 2020–21 season ==

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a large number of modifications were made to the Grand Prix structure. The competitors consisted only of skaters from the home country, skaters already training in the host nation, and skaters assigned to that event for geographic reason.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/winter/figureskating/grand-prix-figure-skate-events-downsized-1.5673788|title=Grand Prix figure skating series downsized to localized events|author=Associated Press|publisher=CBC|date=August 4, 2020}} As a result, Honda was selected compete at the 2020 NHK Trophy, where he won the bronze medal.

He then went on to win the gold medal at the 2020–21 Japan Junior Championships and place thirteenth at the 2020–21 Japan Championships.

== 2021–22 season ==

File:Lucas Tsuyoshi Honda at the 2021 CS Cup of Austria.jpg]]

Honda started the season by competing at the 2021 CS Cup of Austria, where he won the silver medal.

Despite the Japan Skating Federation not allowing Japanese figure skaters to compete on the Junior Grand Prix series due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Honda was nevertheless selected as a "wildcard" entry to compete at the 2021–22 Junior Grand Prix Final set to be held in Osaka, Japan. However, the Final ultimately ended up being cancelled due to the ongoing pandemic.

At the 2021–22 Japan Championships, Honda finished twelfth and was selected to compete at the 2022 World Junior Championships, where he ultimately came in fourteenth.

== 2022–23 season ==

Competing on the Grand Prix series, Honda finished eleventh at the 2022 Grand Prix of Espoo. He went on to compete at the 2022–23 Japan Championships, finishing twenty-first.

= Pair skating with Shimizu =

== 2023–24 season ==

In early 2023, Honda decided to give try pair skating at the insistence of his mother.{{cite web |title=清水咲衣選手&本田ルーカス剛史選手「ペアを組んで一気に世界が変わった」 フィギュアスケーターのオアシス♪ KENJIの部屋 |url=https://news.jsports.co.jp/skate/article/20190310227298/ |website=JSports |publisher=JSports |access-date=9 October 2024}} It was later announced in May that Honda had teamed up with fellow Kinoshita Academy singles skater, Sae Shimizu, and that the pair would continue training under their singles skating coach, Mie Hamada, while also making trips to Oakville, Ontario, Canada to work with Bruno Marcotte and Brian Shales, the coaches of World Champions, Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara.

The pair made their debut at the 2023 Japan Eastern Sectional Championships, which they won, before going on to also win the 2023–24 Japan Junior Championships.

Honda also competed in the men's singles event at the 2023–24 Japan Championships, where he finished a career-best tenth place. After the event, he announced his retirement from singles skating with the intention to focus on pair skating.

Shimizu/Honda were selected to compete at the 2024 World Junior Championships on the condition that they earn the minimum technical element scores to compete.{{cite tweet | number = 1738932068153999573 | user = skatejapanews | date = December 24, 2023 | title = Junior Worlds Assignments✨}} Competing at the 2024 Bavarian Open, the pair finished eleventh, earning these minimum scores in the process.{{cite tweet | number = 1747979939394064451 | user = skatejapanews | title = Pairs entries for Bavarian Open 2023 | date = January 18, 2024}} Going on to compete at the World Junior Championships, the pair placed fourteenth.

File:Sae Shimizu and Lucas Tsuyoshi Honda during their free skate at the 2024–25 Junior Grand Prix Final.jpg]]

== 2024–25 season ==

Competing on the 2024–25 ISU Junior Grand Prix circuit, the pair finished fourth at 2024 JGP Czech Republic and won the bronze medal at 2024 JGP Turkey. These results allowed the pair to qualify for the 2024–25 Junior Grand Prix Final in Grenoble, France.{{cite web |title=ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2024/2025 - Junior Pairs |url=https://results.isu.org/events/jgp2024/jgpspairs.htm |website=International Skating Union |access-date=8 October 2024}}

In late November, the pair competed at the 2024–25 Japan Junior Championships, where they won the national title for a second consecutive time. This result ensured their qualification to compete at the senior championships.{{cite web |title=The follow junior skaters have qualified for Senior Nationals: |url=https://x.com/skatejapanews/status/1858256898115473778 |website=X |publisher=Skate Japan News |access-date=18 November 2024}} Going on to compete at the Junior Grand Prix Final, Shimizu/Honda would score personal bests in all three competition segments and finish fifth overall. Two weeks later, they competed at the 2024–25 Japan Championships. During their free skate, the pair stopped the performance after Shimizu dislocated her left shoulder following a fall during their attempted side-by-side jump combination. She then had her shoulder popped back into place so the pair could finish their performance.{{cite web |title=ペアでアクシデント 清水、本田組が演技中断 転倒で「肩が外れたような感じ」覚悟の再開で3位表彰台 |url=https://hochi.news/articles/20241222-OHT1T51088.html?page=1 |website=Hochi News |publisher=Hochi News |access-date=22 December 2024}} They would win the bronze medal overall and were subsequently named the World Junior team.{{cite web |title=🇯🇵 Japan’s assignments for #WorldJFigure |url=https://x.com/AnythingGOE/status/1870821433531629983 |website=X |publisher=Anything GOEs |access-date=22 December 2024}} Shimizu/Honda were also named to the World team on the condition that they could achieve the mininum technical element scores to compete at the event, which they were unable to do.{{cite web |title=🇯🇵 Japan’s assignments for #WorldFigure |url=https://x.com/AnythingGOE/status/1870817771808075919 |website=X |publisher=Anything GOEs |access-date=22 December 2024}}

They concluded the season with an eleventh-place finish at the 2025 World Junior Championships in Debrecen, Hungary.

Programs

= With Shimizu =

class=wikitable style=text-align:center

! Season

! Short program

! Free skating

2024–2025

| rowspan=2 |

|

2023–2024

|

= Men's singles =

class=wikitable style=text-align:center

! Season

! Short program

! Free skating

! Exhibition

2023–2024

|

| rowspan=2 |

|

2022–2023

|

|

2021–2022

| rowspan=2 |

|

|

2020–2021

| rowspan=2 |

|

2019–2020
{{Cite web|title=本田ルーカス剛史 | スケート∞リンク ~フジスケ~|url=https://www.fujitv.co.jp/sports/skate/figure/skater/LucasTsuyoshiHONDA.html|access-date=2020-12-06|website=フジテレビ|language=ja}}

|

|

Competitive highlights

=Pair skating with Shimizu=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
colspan="3" style="background-color: #ffdead; " align="center" | International
Event

! 23–24

! 24–25

align=left | Asian Winter Games6th
colspan="3" style="background-color: #ffdead; " align="center" | International: Junior
align=left | Junior Worlds14th11th
align=left | {{small|JGP}} Final5th
align=left | {{small|JGP}} Czech Republic4th
align=left | {{small|JGP}} Turkeybgcolor=cc9966 | 3rd
align=left | Bavarian Open11th
colspan="3" style="background-color: #ffdead; " align="center" | National
align="left" | Japanbgcolor=cc9966 | 3rd
align=left | Japan Juniorbgcolor=gold | 1stbgcolor=gold | 1st

= Men's singles 2019–20 season to 2023–24 =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
colspan="6" style="background-color: #ffdead; " align="center" | International
Event

! 19–20

! 20–21

! 21–22

! 22–23

! 23–24

align=left | {{small|GP}} Finland11th
align=left | {{small|GP}} NHK Trophybgcolor=cc9966|3rd
align=left | {{small|CS}} Cup of Austriabgcolor=silver|2nd
colspan="6" style="background-color: #ffdead; " align="center" | International: Junior
align=left | Junior WorldsC14th
align=left | {{small|JGP}} FinalC
align=left | Bavarian Openbgcolor=cc9966|3rd
colspan="6" style="background-color: #ffdead; " align="center" | National
align=left | Japan11th13th12th21st10th
align=left | Japan Juniorbgcolor=cc9966|3rdbgcolor=gold|1st
colspan="6" style="background-color: #ffdead; " align="center" | Team events
align=left | Japan Openbgcolor=silver|2nd T
1st P

= Men's singles pre-international debut =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
colspan="4" style="background-color: #ffdead; " align="center" | National
Event

! 16–17

! 17–18

! 18–19

align=left | Japan Junior17th16th9th

Detailed results

= Pairs with Shimizu =

{{Figure skating personal bests

|ref={{r|SS-SSLTH}}

|145.66|2024–25 JGP Final

|50.20|2024–25 JGP Final

|26.58|2024–25 JGP Final

|24.22|2025 World Junior Championships

|95.46|2024–25 JGP Final

|48.57|2024 JGP Turkey

|48.73|2024–25 JGP Final

}}

== Senior level ==

Current personal best scores are highlighted in bold.

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

! Event

! SP

! FS

! Total

February 11–13, 2025

| 2025 Asian Winter Games

| align=center | 6
45.69

| align=center | 6
89.89

| align=center | 6
135.58

December 19–22, 2024

| 2024–25 Japan Championships

| align=center | 3
54.22

| align=center | 3
82.50

| align=center bgcolor=cc9966 | 3
136.72

== Junior level ==

Current personal best scores are highlighted in bold.

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

! Event

! SP

! FS

! Total

February 26–March 3, 2025

| 2025 World Junior Championships

| align=center | 11
49.33

| align=center | 10
92.50

| align=center | 11
141.83

December 5–8, 2024

| 2024–25 JGP Final

| align=center | 5
50.20

| align=center | 4
95.46

| align=center | 5
145.66

November 15–17, 2024

| 2024–25 Japan Junior Championships

| align=center | 1
48.51

| align=center | 1
84.34

| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1
132.83

September 18–21, 2024

| 2024 JGP Turkey

| align=center | 4
48.04

| align=center | 3
92.15

| align=center bgcolor=cc9966 | 3
140.19

September 4–7, 2024

| 2024 JGP Czech Republic

| align=center | 7
44.96

| align=center | 3
91.33

| align=center | 4
136.29

colspan="5" style="background-color: #ffdead; " align="center" | 2023–24 season
Date

! Event

! SP

! FS

! Total

February 26–March 3, 2024

| 2024 World Junior Championships

| align=center | 14
43.69

| align=center | 14
72.08

| align=center | 14
115.77

January 1–February 4, 2024

| 2024 Bavarian Open

| align=center | 12
39.82

| align=center | 7
77.22

| align=center | 11
117.04

November 17–19, 2023

| 2023–24 Japan Junior Championships

| align=center | 1
40.00

| align=center | 1
69.69

| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1
109.69

= Men's singles =

{{Figure skating personal bests

|ref={{r|LTH-res}}

|225.89|2021 CS Cup of Austria

|83.95|2021 CS Cup of Austria

|46.15|2021 CS Cup of Austria

|37.80|2021 CS Cup of Austria

|141.94|2021 CS Cup of Austria

|67.24|2021 CS Cup of Austria

|74.70|2021 CS Cup of Austria

}}

== Senior level ==

Current personal best scores are highlighted in bold.

class="wikitable"

! style="background-color: #ffdead;" colspan=5 | 2023–24 season

Date

! Event

! SP

! FS

! Total

December 20–24, 2023

| 2023–24 Japan Championships

| align=center | 14
73.58

| align=center | 10
144.04

| align=center | 10
217.62

style="background-color: #ffdead;" colspan=5 | 2022–23 season
Date

! Event

! SP

! FS

! Total

December 21–25, 2022

| 2022–23 Japan Championships

| align=center | 20
62.48

| align=center | 20
118.39

| align=center | 21
180.87

November 25–27, 2022

| 2022 Grand Prix of Espoo

| align="center" | 10
67.92

| align="center" | 11
129.98

| align="center" | 11
197.90

style="background-color: #ffdead;" colspan=5 | 2021–22 season
Date

! Event

! SP

! FS

! Total

December 22–26, 2021

| 2021–22 Japan Championships

| align=center | 11
78.53

| align=center | 11
146.69

| align=center | 12
225.22

November 11–14, 2021

| 2021 CS Cup of Austria

| align="center" | 1
83.95

| align="center" | 5
141.94

| align="center" bgcolor=silver | 2
225.89

style="background-color: #ffdead;" colspan=5 | 2020–21 season
Date

! Event

! SP

! FS

! Total

December 23–27, 2020

| 2020–21 Japan Championships

| align=center | 14
67.52

| align=center | 13
126.51

| align=center | 13
194.03

November 27–29, 2020

| 2020 NHK Trophy

| align="center" | 3
79.22

| align="center" | 6
138.34

| align="center" bgcolor=cc9966 | 3
217.56

October 3, 2020

| 2020 Japan Open

| align="center" | –

| align="center" | 1
137.99

| align="center" bgcolor=silver | 1P/2T
137.99

style="background-color: #ffdead;" colspan=5 | 2019–20 season
Date

! Event

! SP

! FS

! Total

December 18–22, 2019

| 2019–20 Japan Championships

| align=center | 9
75.72

| align=center | 12
134.24

| align=center | 11
209.96

== Junior level ==

class="wikitable"

! style="background-color: #ffdead;" colspan=5 | 2021–22 season

Date

! Event

! SP

! FS

! Total

April 13–17, 2022

| 2022 World Junior Championships

| align=center | 9
73.01

| align=center | 16
123.82

| align=center | 14
196.83

style="background-color: #ffdead;" colspan=5 | 2020–21 season
Date

! Event

! SP

! FS

! Total

November 21–23, 2020

| 2020–21 Japan Junior Championships

| align=center | 1
80.35

| align=center | 3
129.13

| align=center bgcolor=gold | 1
209.48

style="background-color: #ffdead;" colspan=5 | 2019–20 season
Date

! Event

! SP

! FS

! Total

February 3–9, 2020

| 2020 Bavarian Open

| align="center" | 2
69.45

| align="center" | 3
126.25

| align="center" bgcolor=cc9966 | 3
195.70

November 15–17, 2019

| 2019–20 Japan Junior Championships

| align=center | 4
74.14

| align=center | 6
120.61

| align=center bgcolor=cc9966 | 3
194.75

style="background-color: #ffdead;" colspan=5 | 2018–19 season
Date

! Event

! SP

! FS

! Total

November 23–25, 2018

| 2018–19 Japan Junior Championships

| align=center | 7
63.34

| align=center | 9
111.29

| align=center | 9
174.63

style="background-color: #ffdead;" colspan=5 | 2017–18 season
Date

! Event

! SP

! FS

! Total

November 24–26, 2017

| 2017–18 Japan Junior Championships

| align=center | 15
53.51

| align=center | 17
92.72

| align=center | 16
146.23

style="background-color: #ffdead;" colspan=5 | 2016–17 season
Date

! Event

! SP

! FS

! Total

November 23–25, 2016

| 2016–17 Japan Junior Championships

| align=center | 16
51.32

| align=center | 17
99.51

| align=center | 17
150.83

References

{{reflist|refs=

{{cite web |title=Sae SHIMIZU / Lucas Tsuyoshi HONDA: Competition Results |url=https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs_cr_00119532.htm |website=International Skating Union |publisher=International Skating Union |access-date=8 September 2024}}

{{cite web|url=https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00119532.htm|title= Sae SHIMIZU / Lucas Tsyoshi HONDA: 2024/2025|website=International Skating Union|publisher=International Skating Union|archive-date=September 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240907163444/https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00119532.htm |url-status=dead}}

{{cite web|url=https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00119532.htm|title= Sae SHIMIZU / Lucas Tsyoshi HONDA: 2023/2024|website=International Skating Union|publisher=International Skating Union|archive-date=March 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240301160245/isuresults.com/bios/isufs00119532.htm |url-status=dead}}

{{cite web |url=https://skatingscores.com/jpn/pairs/sae_shimizu_lucastsuyoshi_honda/|title=JPN-Sae Shimizu/Lucastsuyoshi Honda |publisher= Skating Scores}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs_cr_00102340.htm |title=Competition Results: Lucas Tsuyoshi Honda |publisher= International Skating Union }}

{{cite web |title=Lucas Tsuyoshi Honda |url=https://skatingscores.com/jpn/men/lucas_tsuyoshi_honda/ |website=Skating Scores |publisher=Skating Scores |access-date=9 October 2024}}

{{cite web|url=https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00102340.htm|title= Lucas Tsyoshi HONDA: 2020/2021|website=International Skating Union|publisher=International Skating Union|archive-date=March 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321223253/isuresults.com/bios/isufs00102340.htm |url-status=dead}}

{{cite web|url=https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00102340.htm|title= Lucas Tsyoshi HONDA: 2021/2022|website=International Skating Union|publisher=International Skating Union|archive-date=March 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308124813/isuresults.com/bios/isufs00102340.htm |url-status=dead}}

{{cite web|url=https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00102340.htm|title= Lucas Tsyoshi HONDA: 2022/2023|website=International Skating Union|publisher=International Skating Union|archive-date=March 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240311183244/isuresults.com/bios/isufs00102340.htm |url-status=dead}}

{{Cite web |url=https://www.jsfresults.com/ |title={{!}}Japan Skating Federation Official Results & Data Site{{!}} |website=www.jsfresults.com |access-date=2020-11-29 }}

{{cite web |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202111170000405.html |title=本田ルーカス剛史、住吉りをん 開催国枠でジュニアGPファイナル出場へ |trans-title=Lucas Tsuyoshi Honda, Rion Sumiyoshi to participate in the Junior GP Final in the host country spot |language=ja |website=Nikkan Sports |date=November 17, 2021 }}

{{cite web |url=https://skatingscores.com/jpn/men/lucas_tsuyoshi_honda/|title=Lucas Tsuyoshi Honda|publisher= SkatingScores}}

{{cite web |title=本田ルーカス剛史 フィギュアスケートを始めたきっかけ |url=http://www.lakesmagazine.jp/2020/06/26/lav0013/ |website=Lakes Magazine |publisher=Lakes Magazine |access-date=31 July 2023}}

{{cite web |last1=浅野 |first1=有美 |title=全日本ジュニア王者、同志社大・本田ルーカス剛史の挑戦 4回転習得へ意欲 |url=http://www.4years.asahi.com/article/14334559 |website=4 Years |publisher=4 Years |access-date=31 July 2023}}

{{cite web |last1=浅野 |first1=有美 |title=同志社大・本田ルーカス剛史がペア挑戦 山隈太一朗さんが教えてくれた自分の強み |url=http://www.4years.asahi.com/article/14912930 |website=4 Years |publisher=4 Years |access-date=31 July 2023}}

{{cite web |title=本田 ルーカス 剛史 Lucas Tsuyoshi Honda |url=http://www.fujitv.co.jp/sports/skate/figure/skater/LucasTsuyoshiHONDA.html |website=Fuji TV |publisher=Fuji TV |access-date=31 July 2023}}

{{cite web |title=2021-22 Grand Prix Final Cancellation |url=http://www.isu.org/figure-skating/news/news-fsk/13878-cancellation-of-the-isu-grand-prix-of-figure-skating-final-2021-osaka-japan?templateParam=15 |website=International Skating Union |publisher=International Skating Union |access-date=31 July 2023}}

{{cite web |title=Announcement of the birth of a new pair |url=http://www.instagram.com/p/CsX5baWrIW_/ |website=Instagram |publisher=Instagram |access-date=1 August 2023}}

{{cite web |title=Lucas Tsuyoshi Honda: 2023/24 Programs |url=http://www.twitter.com/skatejapanews/status/1689760649281142785 |website=Twitter |publisher=Twitter |access-date=10 August 2023}}

{{cite web |title=Thank you |url= https://www.instagram.com/p/C1Ygj01pjYJ/?igsh=NGloajlxNHkybmY4|website=Instagram |publisher=Instagram |access-date=21 September 2024}}

{{cite web |title=清水咲衣選手&本田ルーカス剛史選手「咲衣ちゃんにツッコんでいいかわからない」 フィギュアスケーターのオアシス♪ KENJIの部屋 |url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/8f00ff4dc26c532e168a2a24bb609c825edd8233?page=1 |website=Yahoo! Japan |publisher=Yahoo! Japan |access-date=9 October 2024}}

}}