# Kanako Murakami

Kanako Murakami (村上 佳菜子, Murakami Kanako, born November 7, 1994) is a Japanese retired figure skater. She is the 2010–11 Grand Prix Final bronze medalist, 2014 Four Continents champion, 2010 World Junior champion, 2009–10 JGP Final champion, and a four-time Japanese national medalist (bronze in 2010, 2011; silver in 2012, 2013).

## Personal life

Murakami was born on November 7, 1994, in Naka-ku, Nagoya.
In September 2024, Murakami married her boyfriend, Yutaka, in a ceremony held at Miyako Island.

## Career
### Early career

Making her first international appearance, Murakami won the silver medal in the spring girls category at the Mladost Trophy in the 2004–05 season.
In the 2005–06 season, she won silver at the 2005–06 Japan Novice Championships in the Novice B category, which is the lower of the novice levels. This medal earned her a trip to compete in the spring competition, the Gardena Spring Trophy, which she won on the novice level. Murakami competed at the 2006–07 Japan Novice Championships in the Novice A category and placed 7th, and at the 2007–08 Japan Novice Championships in the Novice A category, she placed 5th.

### 2008–09 season: Junior international debut

Murakami debuted on the ISU Junior Grand Prix. She won the bronze medal at her first event in Madrid, Spain. At her second event, in Sheffield, England, she won the competition. She was the 4th qualifier for the 2008–09 ISU Junior Grand Prix Final.
Prior to the JGP Final, Murakami competed at the 2008–09 Japan Junior Championships, which served both as the junior national championships and the qualifier for the Japanese team to the World Junior Championships. Murakami placed 7th in the short program and won the free skating to take the bronze medal, which earned her an invitation to compete at the 2008–09 senior national championships. However, as Japan had earned only two berths to the 2009 World Junior Championships, Murakami did not qualify.
At the JGP Final, she placed 2nd in the short program and 3rd in the free skating to place 4th overall. Following the Final, Murakami competed at the 2008–09 Japan Championships, where she placed 7th in the short program, 8th in the free skating, and 7th overall.

### 2009–10 season: JGP Final and World Junior title

In the 2009–10 season, Murakami competed on the 2009–10 ISU Junior Grand Prix and won both her events to qualify for the 2009–10 Junior Grand Prix Final. And she won a gold medal at the JGP Final.
At the 2009–10 Japan Junior Championships, she won both segments of the competition to win the title overall. The win qualified her for the 2009–10 Japan Championship, where she placed fifth overall, behind Mao Asada, Akiko Suzuki, Yukari Nakano, and Miki Ando.
She was assigned to compete at the 2010 World Junior Championships, where she won the title after placing second in the short program and first in the free skating.

### 2010–11 season: Senior debut

Murakami moved up to the senior ISU Grand Prix for the 2010–11 season. Her assignments for the 2010–11 ISU Grand Prix season were the 2010 NHK Trophy and the 2010 Skate America.
At the 2010 NHK Trophy, she placed second in the short program behind Carolina Kostner, and fifth in the free skating to capture the bronze medal. During both programs, she landed a triple toe-triple toe combination cleanly. At the 2010 Skate America, she placed second in the short program after singling her double Axel. She placed second in the free skate behind Rachael Flatt and won the gold medal.
Murakami qualified for the 2010–11 Grand Prix Final. She placed third in the short program and second in the free skate on her way to the bronze medal.

### 2011–12 season

In the 2011–12 Grand Prix season, Murakami finished sixth overall at the 2011 Cup of China and fourth at the 2011 Trophée Éric Bompard. She earned her second consecutive bronze medal at the 2011 Japan Championships.
Murakami placed fourth at the 2012 Four Continents Championships and fifth at the 2012 World Championships.
She was part of the ladies' team representing Japan at the 2012 ISU World Team Trophy. She placed 3rd in the short program but 8th in the free skating and finished 6th overall.

### 2012–13 season

Murakami started her season with bronze at the 2012 Skate Canada International and finished 4th at her next event, the 2012 Cup of Russia. She placed second at the 2012–13 Japan Championships.
She won the bronze medal in her third appearance at the 2013 Four Continents Championships with fellow Japanese medalists Mao Asada and Akiko Suzuki taking the gold and silver medal respectively.
Murakami finished 4th at the 2013 World Championships setting a personal best score of 189.73 points.

### 2013–14 season: Four Continents champion

Murakami finished 4th at her first Grand Prix event of the season, the 2013 Cup of China, and then 7th at the 2013 Rostelecom Cup. At 2013–14 Japan Championships, she finished second behind Akiko Suzuki. After the event, she began wearing new boots which caused swelling in her right ankle.
Murakami won the 2014 Four Continents Championships setting a new personal best overall score of 196.91 points, as well as a personal best in the free skating with 132.18 points. At her Olympic debut in Sochi, Russia, Murakami placed 15th in the short program, 12th in the free skating, and placed 12th overall. She finished 10th at the 2014 World Championships.

### 2014–15 season

Murakami started off her season by competing at Japan Open, where she placed 4th in the ladies' event and Team Japan finished 3rd overall. She then won a medal on the Grand Prix series, taking bronze at the 2014 Cup of China after placing third in both segments. At the 2014 NHK Trophy, she finished 4th after placing 3rd in the short program and 7th in the free skating. With those results, she was the third alternate for the 2014-15 Grand Prix Final.
At the 2014–15 Japan Championships, Murakami placed 9th in the short program, 4th in the free skate, and fourth overall. She was selected to compete at the 2015 World Championships due to her placements in her Grand Prix events. At Worlds, she placed 4th in the short program, 8th in the free skate and 7th overall, earning season's best scores in all segments.
Murakami then competed at 2015 World Team Trophy where she finished 6th and Team Japan placed third overall. After twisting her ankle during an ice show in late April 2015, she cancelled the rest of her post-season skating appearances.

### 2015–16 season

Murakami resumed regular training in September 2015. She began her season on the Challenger Series, placing 7th at the U.S. Classic. Her Grand Prix assignments were the 2015 Skate Canada International and 2015 Trophée Éric Bompard. She finished fourth at both events. In France, the second day of competition was cancelled due to the Paris attacks and the short program standings were deemed the final results.
Murakami placed 6th at the Japanese Championships and 7th at the 2016 Four Continents.

### 2016–17 season

Murakami performed an exhibition program as a special guest at the 2017 World Team Trophy and announced her retirement.

## Endorsements and public life

Murakami is sponsored by Adidas Japan, All Nippon Airways (ANA), Nichirei, Brother Industries, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., and Nippon Menard Cosmetic Co., Ltd, in addition to several local companies.
Following her win at the 2010 World Junior Championships, Murakami has taken part in many local events including the first pitch ceremony of Chunichi Dragons, a professional baseball team based in Nagoya.

## Programs

| Season | Short program | Free skating | Exhibition |
| 2016–17 | Danse Boheme (from Carmen) by Georges Bizet choreo. by Mihoko Higuchi | E lucevan le stelle (from Tosca) by Giacomo Puccini choreo. by Mihoko Higuchi | Prayer for Taylor by Michael W. Smith Seven Nation Army performed by Haley Reinhart and Postmodern Jukebox |
| 2015–16 | El Tango de Roxanne (from Moulin Rouge!) by Craig Armstrong performed by Ewan McGregor, José Feliciano, Jacek Koman choreo. by Mihoko Higuchi | SAYURI (from Memoirs of a Geisha) by John Williams choreo. by Mihoko Higuchi | Time to Say Goodbye by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman |
| 2014–15 | Think of Me (from Phantom of the Musical) by Andrew Lloyd Webber choreo. by Mihoko Higuchi | Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber choreo. by Mihoko Higuchi | Néctar Flamenco by Eduardo Niebla Frente a Frente by Lucía Méndez |
| 2013–14 | Chaconne (from Violin Partita No. 2) by Johann Sebastian Bach arranged by Ikuko Kawai choreo. by Tatiana Tarasova Catgroove by Parov Stelar Libella Swing by Parov Stelar Swing Bop choreo. by Mihoko Higuchi | Papa, Can You Hear Me? (from Yentl) composed by Michel Legrand choreo. by Pasquale Camerlengo | King of Anything by Sara Bareilles The Mask of Zorro by James Horner |
| 2012–13 | Prayer for Taylor by Michael W. Smith choreo. by Marina Zueva | Oblivion A fuego lento Adios Nonino by Astor Piazzolla choreo. by Pasquale Camerlengo | Someone like You Rolling in the Deep by Adele |
| 2011–12 | Chaconne (from Violin Partita No. 2) by Johann Sebastian Bach arranged by Ikuko Kawai choreo. by Tatiana Tarasova | Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64 by Felix Mendelssohn choreo. by Marina Zueva | Amarti Si by Filippa Giordano |
| 2010–11 | Jumpin' Jack by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy | The Mask of Zorro by James Horner | Be Italian (from Nine) performed by Fergie |
| 2009–10 | Néctar Flamenco by Eduardo Niebla Frente a Frente by Lucía Méndez | Swan Lake by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky | (The Legend of) Miss Baltimore Crabs (from Hairspray) performed by Michelle Pfeiffer |
| 2008–09 | Limelight Modern Times by Charlie Chaplin | Diablo Rojo by Rodrigo y Gabriela Selections by Jose Luis Encinas Vamos A Bailar by Gipsy Kings | Baby Face by Brenda Lee |

## Competitive highlights

* GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series; JGP: Junior Grand Prix
International :
| Event | 03–04 | 04–05 | 05–06 | 06–07 | 07–08 | 08–09 | 09–10 | 10–11 | 11–12 | 12–13 | 13–14 | 14–15 | 15–16 | 16–17 |
| Olympics | | | | | | | | | | | 12th | | | |
| Worlds | | | | | | | | 8th | 5th | 4th | 10th | 7th | | |
| Four Continents | | | | | | | | | 4th | 3rd | 1st | | 7th | |
| GP Final | | | | | | | | 3rd | | | | | | |
| GP Bompard | | | | | | | | | 4th | | | | 4th | |
| GP Cup of China | | | | | | | | | 6th | | 4th | 3rd | | |
| GP NHK Trophy | | | | | | | | 3rd | | | | 4th | | |
| GP Rostelecom | | | | | | | | | | 4th | 7th | | | 11th |
| GP Skate America | | | | | | | | 1st | | | | | | 10th |
| GP Skate Canada | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | | | 4th | |
| CS Lombardia | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6th |
| CS U.S. Classic | | | | | | | | | | | | | 7th | |
| Asian Games | | | | | | | | 1st | | | | | | |
| Ice Challenge | | | | | | | 1st | | | | | | | |
| International: Junior |||||||||||||||
| Junior Worlds | | | | | | | 1st | | | | | | | |
| JGP Final | | | | | | 4th | 1st | | | | | | | |
| JGP Croatia | | | | | | | 1st | | | | | | | |
| JGP Poland | | | | | | | 1st | | | | | | | |
| JGP Spain | | | | | | 3rd | | | | | | | | |
| JGP U.K. | | | | | | 1st | | | | | | | | |
| Challenge Cup | | | | | | 1st | | | | | | | | |
| International: Novice |||||||||||||||
| Gardena Spring Trophy | | | 1st | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mladost Trophy | | 2nd Sp | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| National |||||||||||||||
| Japan Champ. | | | | | | 7th | 5th | 3rd | 3rd | 2nd | 2nd | 5th | 6th | 8th |
| Japan Junior | | | | | | 3rd | 1st | | | | | | | |
| Japan Novice | 10th B | 4th B | 2nd B | 7th A | 5th A | | | | | | | | | |
| Team events |||||||||||||||
| World Team Trophy | | | | | | | | | 1st T 6th P | | | 3rd T 6th P | | |
| Japan Open | | | | | | | | | | | 1st T 5th P | 3rd T 4th P | | |
| A: Novice A; B: Novice B; Sp: Spring girls; TBD: Assigned; WD: Withdrew T: Team result, P: Personal result. Medals awarded for team result only. |||||||||||||||

## Detailed results

Small medals for short program and free skating awarded only at ISU Championships.

### Senior results

2016–17 season :
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| December 22–25, 2016 | 2016–17 Japan Championships | 12 58.52 | 7 124.03 | 8 182.55 |
| November 4–6, 2016 | 2016 Rostelecom Cup | 10 55.25 | 11 95.78 | 11 151.03 |
| October 21–23, 2016 | 2016 Skate America | 10 47.87 | 9 97.16 | 10 145.03 |
| September 8–11, 2016 | 2016 CS Lombardia Trophy | 8 54.61 | 6 96.66 | 6 151.27 |
| 2015–16 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| February 16–21, 2016 | 2016 Four Continents Championships | 2 68.51 | 13 106.61 | 7 175.12 |
| December 24–27, 2015 | 2015–16 Japan Championships | 4 66.02 | 8 115.56 | 6 181.58 |
| November 13–15, 2015 | 2015 Trophée Éric Bompard | 4 58.30 | cancelled | cancelled |
| October 30 – November 1, 2015 | 2015 Skate Canada International | 3 59.79 | 6 111.80 | 4 171.59 |
| September 16–20, 2015 | 2015 U.S. Classic | 5 55.58 | 7 92.02 | 7 144.62 |
| 2014–15 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| March 23–29, 2015 | 2015 World Championships | 4 65.48 | 8 114.18 | 7 179.66 |
| December 26–28, 2014 | 2014–15 Japan Championships | 9 57.55 | 4 110.74 | 5 168.29 |
| November 28–30, 2014 | 2014 NHK Trophy | 3 64.38 | 7 108.71 | 4 173.09 |
| November 7–9, 2014 | 2014 Cup of China | 3 60.44 | 3 108.95 | 3 169.39 |
| October 4, 2014 | 2014 Japan Open | – | 4 114.38 | 3T |
| 2013–14 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| March 24–30, 2014 | 2014 World Championships | 10 60.86 | 10 111.58 | 10 172.44 |
| February 19–20, 2014 | 2014 Winter Olympics | 15 55.60 | 12 115.38 | 12 170.98 |
| January 21–25, 2014 | 2014 Four Continents Championships | 1 64.73 | 1 132.18 | 1 196.91 |
| December 20–23, 2013 | 2013–14 Japan Championships | 3 67.42 | 2 135.10 | 2 202.52 |
| November 22–24, 2013 | 2013 Rostelecom Cup | 9 49.24 | 4 113.22 | 7 162.46 |
| November 1–3, 2013 | 2013 Cup of China | 4 57.33 | 4 108.62 | 4 165.95 |
| October 5, 2013 | 2013 Japan Open | – | 5 102.15 | 1T |
| 2012–13 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| March 13–17, 2013 | 2013 World Championships | 3 66.64 | 7 123.09 | 4 189.73 |
| February 8–11, 2013 | 2013 Four Continents Championships | 3 64.04 | 3 116.99 | 3 181.03 |
| December 20–24, 2012 | 2012–13 Japan Championships | 5 57.26 | 2 126.41 | 2 183.67 |
| November 9–11, 2012 | 2012 Rostelecom Cup | 6 56.78 | 3 109.56 | 4 166.34 |
| October 26–28, 2012 | 2012 Skate Canada International | 4 56.21 | 4 111.83 | 3 168.04 |
| 2011–12 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| April 18–22, 2012 | 2012 World Team Trophy | 3 63.78 | 8 95.84 | 6 159.62 |
| March 26–31, 2012 | 2012 World Championships | 2 62.67 | 5 112.74 | 5 175.41 |
| February 7–12, 2012 | 2012 Four Continents Championships | 3 63.45 | 5 105.87 | 4 169.32 |
| December 22–26, 2011 | 2011–12 Japan Championships | 1 65.56 | 6 107.13 | 3 172.69 |
| November 18–20, 2011 | 2011 Trophée Éric Bompard | 4 55.77 | 4 105.54 | 4 161.31 |
| November 4–6, 2011 | 2011 Cup of China | 4 53.09 | 7 97.11 | 6 150.20 |
| 2010–11 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| April 24 – May 1, 2011 | 2011 World Championships | 10 54.86 | 7 112.24 | 8 167.10 |
| February 3–5, 2011 | 2011 Asian Winter Games | 1 54.48 | 1 122.56 | 1 177.04 |
| December 24–26, 2010 | 2010–11 Japan Championships | 3 61.50 | 3 126.02 | 3 187.52 |
| December 9–12, 2010 | 2010–11 Grand Prix Final | 3 61.47 | 2 117.12 | 3 178.59 |
| November 11–14, 2010 | 2010 Skate America | 2 54.75 | 2 110.18 | 1 164.93 |
| October 22–24, 2010 | 2010 NHK Trophy | 2 56.10 | 5 94.06 | 3 150.16 |

### Junior results

2009–10 season :
| Date | Event | Level | SP | FS | Total |
| March 8–14, 2010 | 2010 World Junior Championships | Junior | 2 59.00 | 1 106.47 | 1 165.47 |
| December 25–27, 2009 | 2009–10 Japan Championships | Senior | 5 60.28 | 5 116.33 | 5 176.61 |
| December 3–6, 2009 | 2009–10 Junior Grand Prix Final | Junior | 2 59.52 | 1 101.01 | 1 160.53 |
| November 21–23, 2009 | 2009–10 Japan Junior Championships | Junior | 1 58.96 | 1 106.89 | 1 165.85 |
| Oct. 28 – Nov. 1, 2009 | 2009 Ice Challenge | Senior | 1 59.40 | 1 111.01 | 1 170.41 |
| October 7–11, 2009 | 2009 Junior Grand Prix, Croatia | Junior | 1 59.74 | 1 95.18 | 1 154.92 |
| September 9–12, 2009 | 2009 Junior Grand Prix, Poland | Junior | 1 56.16 | 1 104.69 | 1 160.85 |
| 2008–09 season ||||||
| Date | Event | Level | SP | FS | Total |
| February 4–8, 2009 | 2009 International Challenge Cup | Junior | 1 48.16 | 1 87.98 | 1 136.14 |
| December 25–27, 2008 | 2008–09 Japan Championships | Senior | 7 55.74 | 8 92.09 | 7 147.83 |
| November 23–24, 2008 | 2008–09 Japan Junior Championships | Junior | 7 48.94 | 1 94.55 | 3 144.15 |
| December 11–14, 2008 | 2008–09 Junior Grand Prix Final | Junior | 2 51.04 | 3 90.59 | 4 141.63 |
| October 15–18, 2008 | 2008 Junior Grand Prix, United Kingdom | Junior | 1 55.52 | 2 98.32 | 1 153.84 |
| September 24–29, 2008 | 2008 Junior Grand Prix, Spain | Junior | 2 46.58 | 3 80.29 | 3 126.87 |

### Novice results

2005–06 season :
| Date | Event | Level | SP | FS | Total |
| March 29–31, 2006 | 2006 Gardena Spring Trophy | Novice | 1 39.55 | 1 66.51 | 1 106.06 |