# Yuka Orihara

Yuka Orihara (折原 裕香, Orihara Yuka, born 26 June 2000) is a Japanese ice dancer who competes for Finland. With her current partner, Juho Pirinen, she is the 2019–20 Finnish national champion and a four-time Finnish national silver medalist (2021–25).

## Personal life

Orihara was born on June 26, 2000 in Tokyo, Japan. Her mother, Shizuko, is a known costume designer in Japan, who in addition to designing her daughter's figure skating costumes, has also designed costumes for several known Japanese skaters including Yuzuru Hanyu, Shoma Uno, Kaori Sakamoto, Wakaba Higuchi, and Marin Honda.
Orihara originally competed under the name Yuka Kito (紀藤 裕香, Kito Yuka) before deciding to compete under her mother's last name in 2016.
In 2019, Orihara graduated from Renaissance High School in Daigo, Ibaraki, Japan. She is multilingual and able to speak Japanese, English, and Finnish.

## Career
### Early career

Orihara began figure skating in 2006 at the age of six. While skating for Japan, she represented Musashino Senior High School. Originally a singles skater, she competed at the 2012–13 and 2014–15 Japan Junior Championships, finishing fifteenth and fourteenth respectively.
In 2016, Orihara decided that to give ice dance a try and teamed up with Kanata Mori. The duo skated together for two seasons. Orihara/Mori won silver at the 2016–17 Japan Junior Championships and placed fourth on the senior level at the 2016–18 Japan Championships. Their final competition together was the 2018 Mentor Toruń Cup, where they finished eleventh.
Given the lack of training rinks to practice ice dance in Japan, Orihara decided to move to British Columbia, Canada after a Japanese skating coach introduced her to Canadian ice dance coaches Megan Wing and Aaron Lowe. Soon after, she teamed up with Canadian ice dancer, Lee Royer. Together, they competed at the 2019 Canadian Junior Championships where they finished fifth. Their partnership dissolved after one season.

### Partnership with Pirinen
#### 2019–20 season

In spring 2019, Finland-based Italian ice dance coach, Maurizio Margaglio, who was acquainted with Orihara's then coaching team, contacted them, requesting that Orihara travel to Helsinki to have a try-out with his then partnerless student, Juho Pirinen. Orihara agreed to this request and following a successful tryout, she soon moved to Finland to train with Pirinen.
Deciding to represent Finland, the duo made their international debut at the 2019 CS Lombardia Trophy, where they finished eleventh. They then continued competing on the 2019–20 ISU Challenger Series, finishing fifth at the 2019 CS Warsaw Cup and seventh at the 2019 CS Finlandia Trophy. Orihara/Pirinen would also win bronze at the 2019 Volvo Open Cup and the 2019 Santa Claus Cup.
With top Finnish ice dancing team, Turkkila/Versluis not competing at the 2019–20 Finnish Championships, Orihara/Pirinen won the event by over forty points.
Selected to compete at the 2020 European Championships in Graz, Austria, the duo came in eighteenth place. They then closed their season with a fifth-place finish at the 2020 Egna Dance Trophy.

#### 2020–21 season

Although Orihara/Pirinen were assigned to make their Grand Prix series debut at the 2020 Internationaux de France, the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The duo would not compete for the rest of the season.

#### 2021–22 season

Competing on the 2021–22 ISU Challenger Series, Orihara/Pirinen finished fifteenth at the 2021 CS Lombardia Trophy and twelfth at the 2021 CS Finlandia Trophy. They would follow it up with a fourth-place finish and a gold medal at the 2021 Trophée Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur and the 2021 NRW Trophy, respectively.
In December, Orihara/Pirinen won the silver medal at the 2021–22 Finnish Championships. They would end their season with another silver medal at the 2022 International Challenge Cup.

#### 2022–23 season

Beginning their season on the 2022–23 ISU Challenger Series, Orihara/Pirinen placed fourth at the 2022 CS Nepela Memorial and sixth at the 2022 CS Finlandia Trophy. They subsequently finished fourth at the 2022 Trophée Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur.
Debuting on the 2022–23 Grand Prix series, the duo finished eighth at the 2022 NHK Trophy and seventh at the 2022 Grand Prix of Espoo.
In December, they won their second consecutive silver medal at the 2022–23 Finnish Championships. Orihara/Pirinen would then end their season by winning silver at the 2022 Bavarian Open and bronze at the 2022 International Challenge Cup.

#### 2023–24 season

Orihara/Pirinen started the season by competing 2023–24 ISU Challenger Series, finishing sixth at the 2023 CS Nepela Memorial and at the 2023 CS Finlandia Trophy. They subsequently took gold at the 2023 Mezzaluna Cup.
Going on to compete at the 2023 Grand Prix of Espoo, Orihara/Pirinen finished sixth. They then won silver at the 2023–24 Finnish Championships. Selected to compete at the 2024 European Championships in Kaunas, Lithuania, the duo finished tenth.
With Finland having two berths for ice dance at the 2024 World Championships in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Orihara/Pirinen would make their World Championship debut in March, coming in sixteenth place.

#### 2024–25 season

Orihara/Pirinen began the season by competing on the 2024–25 ISU Challenger Series, finishing fourth at both the 2024 CS Budapest Trophy and the 2024 CS Trophée Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur. Going on to compete on the 2024–25 Grand Prix circuit, they finished sixth at the 2024 NHK Trophy and the 2024 Finlandia Trophy.
In December, Orihara/Pirinen won the silver medal at the 2025 Finnish Championships.

## Programs
### Ice dance with Pirinen

| Season | Rhythm dance | Free dance | Exhibition |
| 2024–2025 | Disco Inferno by The Trammps Love to You Baby by Donna Summer Y.M.C.A. by Village People choreo. by Massimo Scali, Sini Parkkinen | A Chorus Line Opening: I Hope I Get It One One (Finale) by A Chorus Line Ensemble choreo. by Massimo Scali, Sini Parkkinen | |
| 2023–2024 | Like a Prayer Love Song Express Yourself by Madonna choreo. by Massimo Scali, Luca Lanotte, Nicolò Tacchetto, Sini Parkkinen | When You're Good to Mama performed by Queen Latifah Nowadays performed by Renée Zellweger Nowadays/Hot Honey Rag performed by Renée Zellweger & Catherine Zeta-Jones (from Chicago) by Fred Kander & John Ebb choreo. by Massimo Scali, Luca Lanotte, Nicolò Tacchetto, Sini Parkkinen | Jet Set (from Catch Me If You Can) performed by Aaron Tveit & Company of the Original Cast |
| 2022–2023 | Cha Cha: I Like It Like That by Pete Rodriguez performed by The Blackout All-Stars Rhumba: Dancing with a Stranger by Sam Smith performed by Klaus Hallen Tanz Orchester Samba: La Percussion by Ottomix & Yano Samba: Instruction by Jax Jones ft. Demi Lovato & Stefflon Don performed by DJ Ice choreo. by Neil Brown, Luca Lanotte, Matteo Zanni | My Jolly Sailor Bold by Ashley Serena We're Sinking by E. Shepherd Stevenson & Christopher Lloyd choreo. by Neil Brown, Luca Lanotte, Matteo Zanni | Mary Poppins Returns Overture by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman Trip a Little Light Fantastic performed by Lin-Manuel Miranda End Title Suite Overture by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman |
| 2021–2022 | Blues: Lean on Me by Bill Withers performed by Glee cast (from Glee) Funk: Give Up the Funk by Parliament (from Glee) performed by Glee cast choreo. by Neil Brown, Paola Mezzadri, Luca Lanotte, Maurizio Margaglio, Sini Parkkinen | Gabriel's Oboe (from The Mission) by Ennio Morricone choreo. by Neil Brown, Paola Mezzadri, Luca Lanotte, Maurizio Margaglio, Sini Parkkinen | |
| 2020–2021 | Mary Poppins Returns Quickstep: Overture by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman Waltz: Trip a Little Light Fantastic performed by Lin-Manuel Miranda End Title Suite Overture by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman choreo. by Paola Mezzadri, Luca Lanotte | Gabriel's Oboe (from The Mission) by Ennio Morricone choreo. by Neil Brown, Paola Mezzadri, Luca Lanotte, Maurizio Margaglio, Sini Parkkinen | |
| 2019–2020 | Mary Poppins Returns Quickstep: Overture by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman Waltz: Trip a Little Light Fantastic performed by Lin-Manuel Miranda End Title Suite Overture by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman choreo. by Paola Mezzadri, Luca Lanotte | Near Light by Ólafur Arnalds Waves by Dean Lewis choreo. by Paola Mezzadri, Megan Wing, Aaron Lowe, Neil Brown | |

## Competitive highlights

GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series

### Ice dance with Pirinen for Finland

International :
| Event | 19–20 | 20–21 | 21–22 | 22–23 | 23–24 | 24–25 |
| Worlds | | | | | 16th | TBD |
| Europeans | 18th | | | | 10th | 7th |
| GP Finland | | | | 7th | 6th | 6th |
| GP France | | C | | | | |
| GP NHK Trophy | | | | 8th | | 6th |
| CS Budapest | | | | | | 4th |
| CS Denis Ten Memorial | | | | | WD | |
| CS Finlandia | 7th | | 12th | 6th | 6th | |
| CS Lombardia | 11th | | 15th | | | |
| CS Ondrej Nepela | 5th | | | 4th | 6th | |
| CS Trophée Métropole Nice | | | 4th | 4th | | 4th |
| CS Warsaw Cup | | | 5th | | | |
| Bavarian Open | | | | 2nd | | |
| Challenge Cup | | | 2nd | 3rd | | |
| Egna Trophy | 5th | | | | | |
| Mezzaluna Cup | | | | | 1st | |
| NRW Trophy | | | 1st | | | |
| Santa Claus Cup | 3rd | | | | | |
| Sofia Trophy | | | | | | 4th |
| Volvo Open Cup | 3rd | | | | | |
| National |||||||
| Finnish Champ. | 1st | C | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd |

### Ice dance with Royer for Canada

National :
| Event | 18–19 |
| Canadian Champ. | 5th J |

### Ice dance with Mori for Japan

International :
| Event | 16–17 | 17–18 |
| Mentor Toruń Cup | | 11th |
| National |||
| Japan Champ. | 2nd J | 4th |

### Women's singles for Japan

National :
| Event | 12–13 | 14–15 |
| Japan Junior | 15th | 14th |

## Detailed results
### Ice dance with Juho Pirinen

ISU personal best scores in the +5/-5 GOE System :
| Segment | Type | Score | Event |
| Total | TSS | 183.64 | 2024 Finlandia Trophy |
| Rhythm dance | TSS | 72.56 | 2024 Finlandia Trophy |
| Rhythm dance | TES | 41.40 | 2021 CS Warsaw Cup |
| Rhythm dance | PCS | 31.35 | 2024 Finlandia Trophy |
| Free dance | TSS | 111.12 | 2024 European Championships |
| Free dance | TES | 62.82 | 2024 European Championships |
| Free dance | PCS | 48.30 | 2024 European Championships |
Results in the 2019-20 season :
| Date | Event | RD | RD | FD | FD | Total | Total |
| Date | Event | P | Score | P | Score | P | Score |
| Sep 13-15, 2019 | 2019 CS Lombardia Trophy | 11 | 57.94 | 10 | 90.54 | 11 | 148.48 |
| Sep 20-21, 2019 | 2019 CS Nepela Memorial | 5 | 67.01 | 6 | 99.92 | 5 | 166.93 |
| Oct 11-13, 2019 | 2019 CS Finlandia Trophy | 7 | 62.19 | 7 | 95.53 | 7 | 157.72 |
| Nov 5-10, 2019 | 2019 Volvo Open Cup | 3 | 67.48 | 3 | 96.89 | 3 | 164.37 |
| Dec 2-8, 2019 | 2019 Santa Claus Cup | 2 | 70.16 | 5 | 96.42 | 3 | 166.58 |
| Dec 13-15, 2019 | 2020 Finnish Championships | 1 | 70.15 | 1 | 102.75 | 1 | 172.90 |
| Jan 20-26, 2020 | 2020 European Championships | 16 | 64.49 | 19 | 91.59 | 18 | 156.08 |
| Feb 7-9, 2020 | 2020 Egna Dance Trophy | 5 | 70.76 | 6 | 97.99 | 5 | 168.75 |
Results in the 2021-22 season :
| Date | Event | RD | RD | FD | FD | Total | Total |
| Date | Event | P | Score | P | Score | P | Score |
| Nov 9-12, 2021 | 2021 CS Lombardia Trophy | 15 | 57.98 | 16 | 86.82 | 15 | 144.80 |
| Oct 7-10, 2021 | 2023 CS Finlandia Trophy | 13 | 61.18 | 12 | 97.33 | 12 | 158.51 |
| Oct 20-24, 2021 | 2021 Trophée Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur | 4 | 62.84 | 6 | 92.38 | 4 | 155.22 |
| Nov 4-7, 2021 | 2021 NRW Trophy | 3 | 60.79 | 1 | 102.20 | 1 | 162.99 |
| Nov 18-20, 2021 | 2021 CS Warsaw Cup | 6 | 71.56 | 5 | 105.21 | 5 | 176.77 |
| Dec 17-19, 2021 | 2022 Finnish Championships | 2 | 70.69 | 2 | 105.63 | 2 | 176.32 |
| Feb 24-27, 2022 | 2022 Challenge Cup | 2 | 65.31 | 2 | 104.08 | 2 | 169.39 |
Results in the 2022-23 season :
| Date | Event | RD | RD | FD | FD | Total | Total |
| Date | Event | P | Score | P | Score | P | Score |
| Sep 29 - Oct 1, 2022 | 2022 CS Nepela Memorial | 4 | 62.34 | 3 | 102.98 | 4 | 165.32 |
| Oct 6-9, 2022 | 2022 CS Finlandia Trophy | 6 | 68.81 | 5 | 101.36 | 6 | 170.17 |
| Oct 19-23, 2022 | 2022 Trophée Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur | 4 | 64.50 | 4 | 96.16 | 4 | 160.66 |
| Nov 18-20, 2022 | 2022 NHK Trophy | 9 | 66.47 | 8 | 101.98 | 8 | 168.45 |
| Nov 25-27, 2022 | 2022 Grand Prix of Espoo | 8 | 69.13 | 6 | 104.04 | 7 | 173.17 |
| Dec 16-18, 2022 | 2023 Finnish Championships | 2 | 74.73 | 2 | 106.44 | 2 | 181.17 |
| Jan 31 - Feb 5, 2023 | 2023 Bavarian Open | 2 | 72.52 | 3 | 105.37 | 2 | 177.89 |
| Feb 23-26, 2023 | 2023 Challenge Cup | 3 | 69.06 | 2 | 108.11 | 3 | 177.17 |
Results in the 2023-24 season :
| Date | Event | RD | RD | FD | FD | Total | Total |
| Date | Event | P | Score | P | Score | P | Score |
| Sep 28-30, 2023 | 2023 CS Nepela Memorial | 7 | 65.62 | 6 | 105.91 | 6 | 171.53 |
| Oct 6-8, 2023 | 2023 CS Finlandia Trophy | 6 | 67.93 | 4 | 106.80 | 6 | 174.73 |
| Oct 20-22, 2023 | 2023 Mezzaluna Cup | 1 | 73.76 | 1 | 115.25 | 1 | 189.01 |
| Nov 17-19, 2023 | 2023 Grand Prix of Espoo | 7 | 69.52 | 6 | 107.21 | 6 | 176.73 |
| Dec 15-17, 2023 | 2024 Finnish Championships | 2 | 75.80 | 2 | 110.47 | 2 | 186.27 |
| Jan 8-14, 2024 | 2024 European Championships | 10 | 68.59 | 9 | 111.12 | 10 | 179.71 |
| Mar 18-24, 2024 | 2024 World Championships | 17 | 68.66 | 16 | 107.33 | 16 | 175.99 |
Results in the 2024–25 season :
| Date | Event | RD | RD | FD | FD | Total | Total |
| Date | Event | P | Score | P | Score | P | Score |
| Oct 11-13, 2024 | 2024 CS Budapest Trophy | 5 | 70.25 | 4 | 108.25 | 4 | 178.50 |
| Oct 16-20, 2024 | 2024 CS Trophée Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur | 4 | 71.24 | 3 | 109.24 | 4 | 180.48 |
| Nov 8–10, 2024 | 2024 NHK Trophy | 7 | 67.34 | 6 | 107.94 | 6 | 175.28 |
| Nov 15-17, 2024 | 2024 Finlandia Trophy | 8 | 72.56 | 6 | 111.08 | 6 | 183.64 |
| Dec 13-15, 2024 | 2025 Finnish Championships | 2 | 77.21 | 2 | 114.87 | 2 | 192.08 |
| Jan 7-12, 2025 | 2025 Sofia Trophy | 4 | 66.81 | 2 | 108.17 | 4 | 174.98 |
| Jan 28 – Feb 2, 2025 | 2025 European Championships | 8 | 75.70 | 6 | 118.24 | 7 | 193.94 |