# Takahiko Kozuka

Takahiko Kozuka (小塚 崇彦, Kozuka Takahiko, born February 27, 1989) is a former competitive Japanese figure skater. He is the 2011 World silver medalist, a two-time Grand Prix Final medalist, a two-time Four Continents medalist, and the 2010–11 Japanese national champion. He is also the 2006 World Junior champion and the 2005–06 JGP Final champion.

## Personal life

Kozuka was born on February 27, 1989, in Nagoya, Japan. His father, Tsuguhiko Kozuka, competed in singles skating at the 1968 Olympics; his mother, Sachiko, competed in ice dancing; and his grandfather, Mitsuhiko Kozuka, was prominent in early Japanese skating.
Kozuka studied sports education at Chukyo University. His thesis compares jumps performed on the floor to those on the ice. In March 2016, he received a master's degree in physical education. During his competitive career, he worked for Toyota, one of his sponsors, and remained at the company after his retirement from skating.
On July 23, 2015, Kozuka announced his engagement to his girlfriend and Japanese television news presenter, Yukari Oshima. They married in February 2016.

## Career

As both of his parents are coaches, Kozuka stepped onto the ice at age three and began skating seriously at five. He was inspired by Yuka Sato's win at the 1994 World Championships. Nobuo Sato and Kumiko Sato became his coaches when he was in primary school.
Kozuka is known for the quality of his edges and basic skating skills. His coaching team made him practice compulsory figures when he was a child.

### Early career

In the 2005–06 season, Kozuka won the Junior Grand Prix Final, the Japanese Junior Championships, and the World Junior Championships.

### 2006–07 to 2008–09

Kozuka debuted on the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series in the 2006–07 season. He won the bronze medal at the 2006 NHK Trophy and placed 6th in the 2006 Trophée Eric Bompard. He placed 6th in the 2006–07 Japanese Championships and 4th in the 2007 Asian Winter Games.
In the 2007–08 season, he won the silver medal at the 2007–08 Japan Championships. He placed 8th at the 2008 Four Continents and 8th at the 2008 Worlds.
In the 2008–09 season, Kozuka won gold at the 2008 Skate America and silver at the 2008 Trophee Eric Bompard. He qualified for the Grand Prix Final where he won the silver medal. Kozuka won another national silver medal at the 2008–09 Japan Championships. He won the bronze medal at the 2009 Four Continents and placed 6th at the 2009 Worlds.

### 2009–10 season

In the 2009–10 season, Kozuka won the silver medal at the 2009 Cup of Russia earning 215.13 points and placed seventh in the 2009 NHK Trophy scoring 186.00. He won the bronze medal at the Japanese National Championships with 236.13 points, placing second in the short program and third in the free skate, and thus qualified to compete at the 2010 Winter Olympics and at the 2010 World Championships.
Kozuka finished eighth overall in the men's singles at the 2010 Winter Olympics with 231.19 points. At the 2010 Worlds he finished in tenth position with a total of 216.73 points.

### 2010–11 season

Kozuka's assigned events for the 2010–11 ISU Grand Prix season were the 2010 Cup of China and the 2010 Trophée Eric Bompard. He won the 2010 Cup of China with 233.51 points, placing first in both the short program and the free skate. He went on to win the 2010 Trophée Eric Bompard with 248.07, again winning both segments of the competition. He was the top qualifier for the men's event at the 2010–11 Grand Prix Final.
During a practice session at the Grand Prix Final, Kozuka inadvertently collided with Daisuke Takahashi. Both were shaken but went on to compete at the event. Kozuka said, "I apologized to him and he accepted the apology with a smile and claimed that he was not in pain but I still feel awful about it. I promised him and his coach that it will never happen again." Kozuka was fourth in the short program and second in the free skate, and won the bronze medal. He won his first national title in December 2010, placing first in both the short program and the free skate to total 251.93 points. At the 2011 World Championships, he placed sixth in the short program but moved to second overall after the long program and won his first World medal.

### 2011–present

Kozuka was assigned to 2011 Skate America and 2011 NHK Trophy for the 2011–12 Grand Prix season, and he won the bronze medal at Skate America and the silver medal at NHK Trophy. Kozuka earned the silver medal at the 2011 Japanese national figure skating championships, thus qualifying for a spot on the Japanese team for the 2012 World Championships, where he finished 11th.
Kozuka began the 2012–13 season by winning gold at the 2012 Skate America and then won silver at the 2012 Rostelecom Cup. He injured his right instep in mid-December 2012. Kozuka finished 5th at the Japan Championships.
In 2013–14, Kozuka earned a bronze medal at the 2013 Cup of China. He placed 3rd at the 2013 Japanese National Championships but was not included in the Japanese team to the Olympics. He was assigned instead to the 2014 Four Continents Championships where he won the silver medal. When Daisuke Takahashi withdrew from the 2014 World Championships, Kozuka replaced him as a substitute and placed 6th at that competition.
In 2014–15, Kozuka placed 8th and 6th, respectively, at Skate Canada and Rostelecom Cup. He placed 6th in the short program at the 2014 Japanese National Championships, but rallied with a second-place free skate to place 3rd overall. He was assigned to the 2015 World Championships, where he finished 12th.
Toward the end of his career, Kozuka had tendinitis in his left ankle. He announced his retirement from skating on March 15, 2016. On April 17, he performed his farewell exhibition program, Epilogue, at the last show of 2016 Stars on Ice Japan in Tokyo. In 2017, he said that he would remain involved in figure skating. He started the Kozuka Skate Academy in 2016 and also works as a skating commentator for Fuji TV.

## Programs

| Season | Short program | Free skating | Exhibition |
| 2015–2016 | Respeto y orgullo by Jin Oki choreo. by Kenji Miyamoto | Io ci sarò by Andrea Bocelli choreo. by Lori Nichol | Epilogue by Ryuichi Sakamoto choreo. by Kenji Miyamoto |
| 2014–2015 | A Evaristo Carriego by Eduardo Oscar Rovira choreo. by Kenji Miyamoto | Io ci sarò by Andrea Bocelli choreo. by Lori Nichol | Respeto y orgullo by Jin Oki choreo. by Kenji Miyamoto |
| 2013–2014 | Unsquare Dance by Dave Brubeck choreo. by Shae-Lynn Bourne | Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso by Camille Saint-Saëns choreo. by Marina Zueva | Bang Bang by will.i.am choreo. by Yuka Sato |
| 2012–2013 | Theme from Exodus by Ernest Gold choreo. by David Wilson | Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso by Camille Saint-Saëns choreo. by Marina Zueva | The Sound of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel choreo. by Yuka Sato Moondance by Van Morrison performed by Michael Bublé choreo. by Marina Zueva |
| 2011–2012 | Inner Urge by Joe Henderson choreo. by David Wilson | Fantasia for Nausicaa (from Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind) by Joe Hisaishi choreo. by Marina Zueva, Fedor Andreev | Cello Song by Nick Drake choreo. by Yuka Sato |
| 2010–2011 | Soul Man by Orin Isaacs choreo. by Roberto Campanella, Yuka Sato | Piano Concerto No. 1 by Franz Liszt choreo. by Marina Zueva, Fedor Andreev | Hello, Goodbye & Safety Dance (from Glee) choreo. by Kurt Browning, Roberto Campanella Free Fallin' performed by John Mayer choreo. by Yuka Sato |
| 2009–2010 | Bold as Love by Jimi Hendrix choreo. by Yuka Sato | Guitar Concerto by Michael Kamen and Tomoyasu Hotei choreo. by Yuka Sato | Closer by Ne-Yo choreo. by Clarence Ford |
| 2008–2009 | Take Five by the Dave Brubeck Quartet choreo. by Yuka Sato | Romeo and Juliet by Nino Rota choreo. by Yuka Sato | Save the Last Dance for Me by Michael Bublé choreo. by Sandra Bezic |
| 2007–2008 | Caravan by The Ventures choreo. by Yuka Sato | Beatles Concerto for 2 Pianos and Orchestra　 by John Rutter choreo. by Yuka Sato | Stayin' Alive　 (from Saturday Night Fever) by The Bee Gees choreo. by Kenji Miyamoto |
| 2006–2007 | Art on Ice Sarabande by Edvin Marton choreo. by Marina Zueva | Piano Concerto No. 2 by Frédéric Chopin choreo. by Marina Zueva | I Could Have Danced All Night (from My Fair Lady) by Jamie Cullum choreo. by Yuka Sato |
| 2005–2006 | Sing, Sing, Sing by Benny Goodman choreo. by Yuka Sato | Piano Concerto in F by George Gershwin choreo. by Yuka Sato | Car Wash by Missy Elliott, Christina Aguilera |
| 2004–2005 | Migra by Santana choreo. by Yuka Sato | Pirates of the Caribbean by Klaus Badelt, Hans Zimmer choreo. by Yuka Sato | Car Wash by Missy Elliott, Christina Aguilera |
| 2003–2004 | Sing, Sing, Sing by Benny Goodman | Polovtsian Dances (from Prince Igor) by Alexander Borodin | Cotton Eye Joe by Rednex |
| 2002–2003 | Don Quixote by Leon Minkus | Moonlight Serenade by Glenn Miller | |
| 2001–2002 | Sabre Dance (from Gayane) by Aram Khachaturian | Espana Cani by Pascual Marquina Narro | |
| 2000–2001 | The Mexican Hat Dance by Jarabe tapatio | | |

## Competitive highlights

GP: Grand Prix; JGP: Junior Grand Prix
International :
| Event | 98–99 | 99–00 | 00–01 | 01–02 | 02–03 | 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 |
| Olympics | | | | | | | | | | | | 8th | | | | | | |
| Worlds | | | | | | | | | | 8th | 6th | 10th | 2nd | 11th | | 6th | 12th | |
| Four Continents | | | | | | | | | | 8th | 3rd | | 4th | | | 2nd | | |
| GP Final | | | | | | | | | | | 2nd | | 3rd | | 5th | | | |
| GP Bompard | | | | | | | | | 6th | | 2nd | | 1st | | | | | |
| GP Cup of China | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1st | | | 3rd | | WD |
| GP NHK Trophy | | | | | | | | | 3rd | | | 7th | | 2nd | | | | |
| GP Rostelecom | | | | | | | | | | 5th | | 2nd | | | 2nd | | 6th | 9th |
| GP Skate America | | | | | | | | | | 8th | 1st | | | 3rd | 1st | 6th | | |
| GP Skate Canada | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8th | |
| Asian WG | | | | | | | | | 4th | | | | | | | | | |
| Universiade | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2nd | |
| Gardena | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1st | | | |
| International: Junior |||||||||||||||||||
| Junior Worlds | | | | | | | | 1st | | | | | | | | | | |
| JGP Final | | | | | | | | 1st | | | | | | | | | | |
| JGP Canada | | | | | 4th | | | 2nd | | | | | | | | | | |
| JGP Hungary | | | | | | | 7th | | | | | | | | | | | |
| JGP Japan | | | | | | | | 1st | | | | | | | | | | |
| JGP Mexico | | | | | | 2nd | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| JGP Poland | | | | | | 9th | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| National |||||||||||||||||||
| Japan Champ. | | | | | | | 4th | 4th | 6th | 2nd | 2nd | 3rd | 1st | 2nd | 5th | 3rd | 3rd | 5th |
| Japan Junior | | 9th | 18th | 8th | 7th | 6th | 4th | 1st | | | | | | | | | | |
| Japan Novice | 1st B | 1st B | 1st A | 1st A | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Team events |||||||||||||||||||
| World Team Trophy | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd T 8th P | | | 1st T 6th P | | | | |
| Japan Open | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd T 4th P | 1st T 4th P | 3rd T 3rd P | 1st T 2nd P | 1st T 2nd P | 3rd T 6th P | |
| T = Team result; P = Personal result. Medals awarded for team result only. |||||||||||||||||||

## Detailed results

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

### Senior results

2015–16 season :
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| November 20–22, 2015 | 2015 Rostelecom Cup | 8 69.61 | 9 125.87 | 9 195.48 |
| 2014–15 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| March 23–29, 2015 | 2015 World Championships | 19 70.15 | 9 146.81 | 12 222.69 |
| February 4–8, 2015 | 2015 Winter Universiade | 1 77.15 | 3 140.55 | 2 217.70 |
| December 26–28, 2014 | 2014–15 Japan Championships | 6 72.39 | 2 173.29 | 3 245.68 |
| November 14–16, 2014 | 2014 Rostelecom Cup | 3 81.38 | 7 135.42 | 6 216.80 |
| October 31 – November 2, 2014 | 2014 Skate Canada | 6 75.85 | 11 127.32 | 8 203.17 |
| October 4, 2014 | 2014 Japan Open (team event) | – | 6 119.51 | 3 |
| 2013–14 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| March 24–30, 2014 | 2014 World Championships | 6 85.54 | 6 152.48 | 6 238.02 |
| January 20–26, 2014 | 2014 Four Continents Championships | 4 76.85 | 1 159.53 | 2 236.38 |
| December 20–23, 2013 | 2013–14 Japan Championships | 3 90.70 | 4 174.11 | 3 264.81 |
| November 1–3, 2013 | 2013 Cup of China | 3 81.62 | 5 145.30 | 3 226.92 |
| October 17–20, 2013 | 2013 Skate America | 4 77.75 | 5 153.20 | 6 230.95 |
| October 5, 2013 | 2013 Japan Open (team event) | – | 2 158.32 | 1 |
| 2012–13 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| April 1–3, 2013 | 2013 Gardena Spring Trophy | 1 81.18 | 2 147.45 | 1 228.63 |
| December 20–23, 2012 | 2012–13 Japan Championships | 3 84.58 | 7 143.98 | 5 228.56 |
| December 6–9, 2012 | 2012 Grand Prix Final | 4 86.39 | 5 166.88 | 5 253.27 |
| November 9–11, 2012 | 2012 Rostelecom Cup | 3 76.34 | 3 153.65 | 2 229.99 |
| October 19–21, 2012 | 2012 Skate America | 2 85.32 | 1 166.12 | 1 251.44 |
| October 6, 2012 | 2012 Japan Open (team event) | – | 2 165.08 | 1 |
| 2011–12 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| April 18–22, 2012 | 2012 World Team Trophy | 8 73.61 | 5 151.69 | 6 225.30 |
| March 26 – April 1, 2012 | 2012 World Championships | 13 71.78 | 11 146.85 | 11 218.63 |
| December 22–26, 2011 | 2011–12 Japan Championships | 2 85.60 | 2 165.37 | 2 250.97 |
| November 11–13, 2011 | 2011 NHK Trophy | 2 79.77 | 2 155.25 | 2 235.02 |
| October 21–23, 2011 | 2011 Skate America | 2 70.69 | 2 141.40 | 3 212.09 |
| October 1, 2011 | 2011 Japan Open (team event) | – | 3 148.21 | 3 |
| 2010–11 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| April 24 – May 1, 2011 | 2011 World Championships | 6 77.62 | 2 180.79 | 2 258.41 |
| February 15–20, 2011 | 2011 Four Continents Championships | 6 66.25 | 2 157.27 | 4 223.52 |
| December 24–27, 2010 | 2010–11 Japan Championships | 1 87.91 | 1 164.02 | 1 251.93 |
| December 9–12, 2010 | 2010 Grand Prix Final | 4 77.90 | 2 159.89 | 3 237.79 |
| November 26–28, 2010 | 2010 Trophée Eric Bompard | 1 77.64 | 1 170.43 | 1 248.07 |
| November 5–7, 2010 | 2010 Cup of China | 1 77.40 | 1 156.11 | 1 233.51 |
| October 2, 2010 | 2010 Japan Open (team event) | – | 4 150.71 | 1 |
| 2009–10 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| March 22–28, 2010 | 2010 World Championships | 4 84.20 | 12 132.53 | 10 216.73 |
| February 14–27, 2010 | 2010 Winter Olympic Games | 8 79.59 | 8 151.60 | 8 231.19 |
| December 25–27, 2009 | 2009–10 Japan Championships | 2 80.54 | 3 155.59 | 3 236.13 |
| November 5–8, 2009 | 2009 NHK Trophy | 5 74.05 | 10 111.95 | 7 186.00 |
| October 22–25, 2009 | 2009 Rostelecom Cup | 2 75.50 | 2 139.63 | 2 215.13 |
| October 3, 2009 | 2009 Japan Open (team event) | – | 4 130.13 | 3 |
| 2008–09 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| April 16–19, 2009 | 2009 World Team Trophy | 10 65.25 | 7 125.68 | 8 190.93 |
| March 23–29, 2009 | 2009 World Championships | 5 79.35 | 7 142.83 | 6 222.18 |
| February 2–8, 2009 | 2009 Four Continents Championships | 3 76.61 | 4 145.15 | 3 221.76 |
| December 24–27, 2008 | 2008–09 Japan Championships | 2 77.40 | 2 148.54 | 2 225.94 |
| December 10–14, 2008 | 2008 Grand Prix Final | 1 83.90 | 3 140.73 | 2 224.63 |
| November 13–16, 2008 | 2008 Trophée Eric Bompard | 2 77.00 | 2 153.78 | 2 230.78 |
| October 23–26, 2008 | 2008 Skate America | 3 80.10 | 1 146.08 | 1 226.18 |
| 2007–2008 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| March 17–23, 2008 | 2008 World Championships | 8 70.91 | 8 134.24 | 8 205.15 |
| February 13–17, 2008 | 2008 Four Continents Championships | 7 67.48 | 6 128.90 | 8 196.38 |
| December 26–28, 2007 | 2007–08 Japan Championships | 2 72.70 | 2 146.64 | 2 219.34 |
| November 22–25, 2007 | 2007 Cup of Russia | 7 64.65 | 4 135.33 | 5 199.98 |
| October 25–28, 2007 | 2007 Skate America | 10 56.25 | 7 121.22 | 8 177.47 |
| 2006–07 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| April 29, 2007 | 2007 Japan Open (team event) | – | 4 132.76 | 1 |
| February 1–3, 2007 | 2007 Asian Winter Games | 5 58.73 | 4 118.38 | 4 177.11 |
| December 27–29, 2006 | 2006–07 Japan Championships | 5 70.49 | 6 130.39 | 6 200.88 |
| Nov. 30 – Dec. 3, 2006 | 2006 NHK Trophy | 4 67.95 | 3 140.39 | 3 208.34 |
| November 16–19, 2006 | 2006 Trophée Eric Bompard | 11 56.04 | 6 121.81 | 6 177.85 |

### Junior results

2005–06 season :
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| March 6–12, 2006 | 2006 World Junior Championships | 2 60.07 | 1 119.98 | 1 180.05 |
| December 22–26, 2005 | 2005–06 Japan Championships | 10 55.80 | 3 137.20 | 4 193.00 |
| December 10–11, 2005 | 2005–06 Japan Junior Championships | 1 62.10 | 1 121.20 | 1 183.30 |
| November 24–27, 2005 | 2005 Junior Grand Prix Final | 1 60.14 | 1 118.58 | 1 178.72 |
| October 20–23, 2005 | 2005 JGP SBC Cup | 3 52.11 | 1 106.83 | 1 158.94 |
| October 20–23, 2005 | 2005 JGP Montreal | 3 52.10 | 2 113.67 | 2 165.77 |
| 2004–05 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| December 24–26, 2004 | 2004–05 Japan Championships | 1 71.46 | 6 111.23 | 4 182.69 |
| November 20–21, 2004 | 2004–05 Japan Junior Championships | 3 58.50 | 3 110.61 | 4 169.11 |
| September 2–5, 2004 | 2004 JGP Budapest | 14 42.87 | 5 100.07 | 7 142.94 |
| 2003–04 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| November 21–23, 2003 | 2003–04 Japan Junior Championships | 4 | 6 | 6 |
| October 30 – November 2, 2003 | 2003 JGP Poland | 11 | 8 | 9 |
| September 24–28, 2003 | 2003 JGP Mexico | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| 2002–03 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| November 23–24, 2002 | 2002–03 Japan Junior Championships | 9 | 7 | 7 |
| September 26–29, 2002 | 2002 JGP Canada | 6 | 7 | 4 |