At the 2026 Winter Olympics, a Japanese figure skating pair set a world record in the free skate and won gold. It was Japan’s first such medal in ペアスケーティング (pea sukētingu, pair skating).
木原龍一 (Kihara Ryūichi, Ryuichi Kihara) and 三浦璃来 (Miura Riku, Riku Miura), known to fans as “りくりゅう” (RikuRyū), initially finished fifth in the short program after an error on a lift. But 信頼関係 (shinrai kankei, a relationship of trust) built over seven years of partnership provided the foundation for a dramatic comeback.
On Friday, the pair announced their retirement from competition (they’ll still work together to promote pairs figure skating), bringing a close to one element of a partnership that redefined Japan’s presence in pair skating. However, their interviews can show us how language reflects relationships in Japan.
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