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Mao Asada Wins Cup of China, Rika Hongo Places 2nd

From November 6 – 8, this year’s Cup of China took place in Beijing. This was the third event in the International Skating Union’s 2015 – 2016 Grand Prix Series. Japan sent 2 skaters to this competition, Mao Asada and Rika Hongo. Mao won the event, while Rika was a close second.

Mao Asada won the Cup of China with a total score of 197.48. This was her first Grand Prix event since returning to skating after taking a year off. Mao’s short program was given a score of 71.73, the best of the night. She opened the program with her signature triple axel, which she landed. “It went just as I pictured it,” Mao said. “I was nervous before I started. I wasn’t able to skate that well in practice and just tried to use the nervous energy to my advantage. I hope I can carry this momentum over into the free program.” She added, “I’m entering this season at an unexpectedly high level. The women’s level is high and that gave me the push as well as the motivation. Challenging at this level and getting them (the program) all together is significant.”

Mao’s free skate received a score of 125.75, the third best of the night. Like in the short program, she opened with the triple axel and landed it again. That was the bright spot in an otherwise problematic performance. She fell after the second part of her triple flip-triple loop combination. She then stepped out on the landing of her triple lutz. Later, she did a single flip instead of the planned triple flip-double loop-double loop combination. She was also penalized for starting her program late. “I wasn’t satisfied today,” Mao said later. “I feel like there are areas that need working on in the free program but I have taken one step toward the Grand Prix Final. I don’t have much time before the next event and I want to focus on my free program in practice.” Mao’s next event will be the NHK Trophy in Nagano later this month. With the Cup of China win, Mao has now won 15 Grand Prix series titles, the most among active skaters and the third most of all time. Only Russians Evgeni Plushenko and Irina Slutskaya have more. When asked about maybe competing at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Mao said, “My feelings are much more geared toward the next event but the Olympics are at the back of my mind.”

We’re back with this week’s edition of Oricon Flashback. This is where we look back on what topped Oricon this week 5, 10, 15, and 20 years ago. Think of it as a way to reminisce and learn about the past of Japanese music.

10 Johnny’s Groups Make Up Best Artist 2015’s First Set of Performers

Today, Nippon TV announced the first bits of information about their year end music show, Best Artist 2015. This year’s show will take place on November 24 at 7 PM JST. The live show will run for about 4 hours. Arashi’s Sakurai Sho will host.

Nippon TV also announced the first set of performers. This set of performers is composed of 10 acts from Johnny & Associates. They will come together to perform a special medley of love songs titled “Johnny’s LOVE Medley 2015.” This medley will feature 51 men on stage in total. Fans are encouraged to vote for their favorite Johnny’s love songs online so that they will be performed in the special medley on Best Artist 2015. Voting is open now until midnight JST on November 13.

See who will be include in “Johnny’s LOVE Medley 2015” and vote for your favorite Johnny’s love song to be included in the performance after the jump!

Nishikido Ryo appears on the latest cover of Anan magazine. Check out the rest of the pictures below as Nishikido poses for the camera in this casual and cozy photoshoot.

Nishikido is currently starring in the drama “Samurai Sensei” and his group, Kanjani8, will be releasing their new album “Kanjani8 no Genki ga Deru CD!!” on November 11.

Dempagumi.inc’s Mogami Moga to release solo photobook

On December 10th, Mogami Moga will release her first photobook. With an as-of-yet unrevealed title, the photo collection will showcase several sides of the idol, whose popularity has grown through her sexy photoshoots and modeling for the fashion magazine KERA. Moga has said of the work: