Tokyo, June 12, 2025 ā Former Olympic figure skater and world champion Mao Asada announced the launch of the Kinoshita MAO Academy, a new athlete development program aimed at training young figure skaters in Japan. The initiative is a joint venture with the Kinoshita Group and will officially begin operations on August 1, 2025, with its base of operations at MAO RINK in Tachikawa, Tokyo.
Asada, 34, made the announcement at a press conference in Tokyo, stating, āAs a coach, Iām taking my first step into a new chapter. I want to work closely with each skater and guide them with care.ā She will serve as the academyās director and oversee its training philosophy and curriculum.
The academy will initially accept approximately ten students, regardless of gender, between the ages of 5 and 9 (as of April 1, 2025). Applications will be accepted online from June 12 through June 30. Candidates will undergo a document screening, followed by interviews and practical skill evaluations.
The Kinoshita MAO Academy will offer a multi-disciplinary training program combining on-ice practice with ballet, dance, rhythmic gymnastics, and athletic conditioning. Scholarships will be available based on performance level. A parallel program, Kinoshita MAO Club, will also be launched to introduce beginners to figure skating, with the potential to transition into the academy.
Asada retired from competitive skating in April 2017 after competing in two Olympic Games and winning a silver medal at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Since then, she has performed professionally in nationwide tours such as the Mao Asada Thanks Tour and BEYOND, and in November 2024, she opened MAO RINK TACHIKAWA TACHIHI to serve as a training hub.
Commenting on the new venture, Kinoshita Group CEO Naoya Kinoshita expressed hopes that the academy will produce athletes capable of competing on the Olympic stage in the coming decade.
When asked about her future in professional skating, Asada said she plans to focus her efforts on the academy and the affiliated club, adding with a smile, āHalf and half,ā referencing a phrase she famously used during the 2014 Sochi Olympics regarding her competitive status ā a moment that later became a cultural reference point in Japanese sports media.
With this new endeavor, Asada shifts her focus from performance to mentorship, channeling her experience and technical expertise into shaping the future of Japanese figure skating.
https://kinoshita-mao-academy.com/
https://www.kinoshita-group.co.jp/
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