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 Yukari was born on August 25, 1985 in
Konan City. She started to skate at the Waseda University Skating
Club in 1991, in Aichi. Her technical prowess was identified at an
early age and she moved up the ranks quickly, thanks in no small
part to her attempts to perfect the elusive triple Axel.
Yukari’s breakthrough year was
2000-01, in which she won the Japanese junior championship and
finished an impressive fourth at the World Junior Championship. She
followed up these tremendous achievements the following season,
where she was a strong fifth at the Japanese senior championships
and won the World Junior silver medal. In 2002-03, she debuted on
the senior Grand Prix circuit and landed an historic triple Axel at
Skate America in Spokane, Washington, becoming the first female skater to perform the difficult jump in competition since
countrywoman Midori Ito at the 1992 Winter Olympics. She capped off
this impressive year with a bronze medal at the Four Continents.
After this impressive debut, Yukari focused more
on her artistry, in addition to maintaining her jumping
prowess. Her musical choices have always been varied; she has skated to a concert piece by Gounod in her short program and to
a Beatles medley in her free skate! Coached by
the famous Nobuo Sato at the Shin Yokohama Skate Center, she continued to compete on the senior Grand Prix circuit and
was a
regular competitor at the prestigious Four Continents events. She
was also an Asian Winter Games bronze medalist.
Following a couple
of comparatively disappointing seasons, Yukari sprung back to
prominence in 2005-06 with a brilliant year. Added as a late
entry to Japan's Grand Prix roster, she began with a surprise bronze
medal at Skate Canada and followed up with a historic win at the NHK
Trophy in Osaka. She continued with an impressive bronze at
the Grand Prix Final in Tokyo and a strong fifth-place showing at
the always-competitive Japan nationals. This dream season took
a disappointing turn, however, when she was left off Japan's Olympic
team and was named to the Four Continents and Worlds team instead.
Making the most of it, Yukari skated to a silver medal at the 4CC
and a fifth-place finish at Worlds in a performance many thought
worthy of a medal.
 Yukari is a well-rounded young lady
away from the skating rink. Among her hobbies are playing the
piano, knitting, jazz dancing, and, of course, shopping. She is one
of the Japanese skaters your hosts here at JapanSkates have seen
perform live, and we have been greatly impressed with her energetic
performances and excellent sportsmanship. As she enters the
2006-07 season, not as a substitute but as a heavy favorite wherever
she goes, we wish her nothing but
the best.
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