# Tatsuya Tsuboi

Tatsuya Tsuboi (壷井 達也, Tsuboi Tatsuya, born December 17, 2002) is a Japanese figure skater. He is the 2024–25 Japan national bronze medalist, the 2024 NHK Trophy bronze medalist, the 2023 World University Games silver medalist, and the 2022 Coupe du Printemps silver medalist.
On the junior level, he is the 2022 World Junior bronze medalist and 2018–19 Japan junior national champion.

## Personal life

Tatsuya Tsuboi was born in Okazaki, Aichi. As of 2022, he is a student at Kobe University, studying in the International Human Sciences Department.

## Career
### Early career

Tsuboi began to skate at the age of 7.
After making his international junior debut at the 2017 edition of the Coupe du Printemps toward the end of the 2016–17 season, Tsuboi made his Junior Grand Prix debut the following autumn, placing fifth at both the 2017 JGP Belarus and 2017 JGP Italy. After winning the bronze medal at the 2017–18 Japan Junior Championships, he finished thirteenth at the senior level. He returned to the Coupe du Printemps, this time winning gold.
Tsuboi did not compete on the 2018–19 Junior Grand Prix, but won the junior silver medal at the Asian Open Trophy. He won gold at the 2018–19 Japan Junior Championships, and finished seventh at the senior level, as a result of which he was assigned to compete at the 2019 World Junior Championships. Tsuboi finished fourteenth there. Then, he was invited to skate in the gala at the 2019 World Team Trophy as the reigning Japan junior national champion.

### 2021–2022 season: Junior World bronze

After appearing only domestically over the following two seasons, partially as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tsuboi became more active in the 2021–22 season, even though Japan opted not to assign skaters to the Junior Grand Prix. He was the silver medalist at the 2021–22 Japan Junior Championships, and placed ninth at the senior edition. These placements earned him an assignment to the 2022 World Junior Championships. Also given precursor assignments to the Bavarian Open and the Coupe du Printemps, he won gold at the former at the junior level and silver at latter at the senior level.
The World Junior Championships were originally scheduled for March in Sofia. However, as a result of both the Omicron variant and the Russo-Ukrainian War, they could not be held in their original location, and were moved to Tallinn in April. As well, the International Skating Union banned Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing, significantly altering the figure skating field. Tsuboi finished fifth in the short program with a new personal best score. He was third in the free skate, rising to third overall to win the bronze medal.

### 2022–2023 season: Senior debut

Moving to the senior level permanently, Tsuboi was assigned to make his Grand Prix debut at the MK John Wilson Trophy, where he finished fifth. At his second event, the Grand Prix of Espoo, he was fifth in the short program but rose to fourth after the free skate, where he set new personal bests in that segment and overall. He described nothing but "happiness" with the results.
Tsuboi finished ninth at the 2022–23 Japan Championships, and was subsequently assigned to compete at the 2023 Winter World University Games. He won the silver medal.

### 2023–2024 season

Given two assignments on the Grand Prix, Tsuboi finished eighth at the 2023 Skate America and ninth at the 2023 NHK Trophy. He went on to finish seventh at the 2023–24 Japan Championships before closing his season with a silver medal win at the 2024 Challenge Cup.
=== 2024–2025 season ===
Tsuboi started the season by finishing fifth at the 2024 Asian Open Trophy. Selected as a host pick at the 2024 NHK Trophy, Tsuboi placed third in both the short program and free skate, scoring personal bests in all competition segments. He would walk away with the bronze medal overall. Pleased with this result, Tsuboi said in an interview afterwards, "I didn't even think that I would end up third. With the short and free program and free skating, I knew I had to do everything I can, put my best out there and give it my all. The day in day out efforts I've been making have paid off. This is my first podium in the senior Grand Prix series, so it's been a great confidence booster."
In late December, Tsuboi competed at the 2024–25 Japan Championships. During the short program, Tsuboi finished a disappointing fourteenth place after landing his quadruple salchow on the quarter and popping his triple axel attempt into a single. During the free skate the following day, however, Tsuboi delivered a solid free skate, placing third in that segment of the competition. Due to several skaters that placed ahead of him in the short program faltering during the free skate, Tsuboi managed to move up to the bronze medal position overall. Due to this result, Tsuboi was named to the Four Continents and World teams.
In late February, at the 2025 Four Continents Championships in Seoul, South Korea, Tsuboi placed fifth.

## Programs

| Season | Short program | Free skating | Exhibition |
| 2024–2025 | En Aranjuez Con Tu Amor by Joaquín Rodrigo performed by Il Divo choreo. by Zachary Donohue Adore Anima by Luca D'Alberto choreo. by Masahiro Kawagoe | I Pagliacci Vesti la giubba Preludio No, Pagliaccio non son Suvvia, coserribile by Ruggero Leoncavallo choreo. by Massimo Scali | Stairway to Heaven (2012 Remaster) by Led Zeppelin Stairway to Heaven performed by Rodrigo y Gabriela choreo. by Misao Sato |
| 2023–2024 | En Aranjuez Con Tu Amor by Joaquín Rodrigo performed by Il Divo choreo. by Zachary Donohue | Torn (Redux) (from High Strung) by Nathan Lanier, Phil Thornalley, Anne Preven, Scott Cutler choreo. by Massimo Scali | Johanna (from Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street) performed by Jamie Campbell Bower |
| 2022–2023 | Stairway to Heaven (2012 Remaster) by Led Zeppelin Stairway to Heaven performed by Rodrigo y Gabriela choreo. by Misao Sato | Torn (Redux) (from High Strung) by Nathan Lanier, Phil Thornalley, Anne Preven, Scott Cutler choreo. by Massimo Scali | Johanna (from Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street) performed by Jamie Campbell Bower |
| 2021–2022 | The Tree of Life by Alexandre Desplat choreo. by Kohei Yoshino | Preludes, Op. 23 No. 7: Prelude in C minor No. 5: Prelude in G minor No. 4: Prelude in D major by Sergei Rachmaninoff choreo. by Kohei Yoshino | |
| 2020–2021 | Puttin' On The Ritz by Irving Berlin choreo. by Akiko Suzuki | Preludes, Op. 23 No. 7: Prelude in C minor No. 5: Prelude in G minor No. 4: Prelude in D major by Sergei Rachmaninoff choreo. by Kohei Yoshino | |
| 2019–2020 | Puttin' On The Ritz by Irving Berlin choreo. by Akiko Suzuki | Preludes, Op. 23 No. 5: Prelude in G minor No. 4: Prelude in D major by Sergei Rachmaninoff choreo. by Kohei Yoshino Symphony No. 9 From the New World by Antonín Dvořák choreo. by Yuko Hongo | |
| 2018–2019 | Your Song by Elton John choreo. by Kenji Miyamoto | Symphony No. 9 From the New World by Antonín Dvořák choreo. by Yuko Hongo | |
| 2017–2018 | Your Song by Elton John choreo. by Kenji Miyamoto | Rurouni Kenshin by Nasoki Sato | |

## Competitive highlights

GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series; JGP: Junior Grand Prix

### 2016–17 season to present

International :
| Event | 16–17 | 17–18 | 18–19 | 19–20 | 20–21 | 21–22 | 22–23 | 23–24 | 24–25 |
| Worlds | | | | | | | | | TBD |
| Four Continents | | | | | | | | | 5th |
| GP Finland | | | | | | | 4th | | |
| GP NHK Trophy | | | | | | | | 9th | 3rd |
| GP Skate America | | | | | | | | 8th | |
| GP Wilson Trophy | | | | | | | 5th | | |
| Asian Open Trophy | | | | | | | | | 5th |
| Challenge Cup | | | | | | | 8th | 2nd | |
| Printemps | | | | | | 2nd | | | |
| Universiade | | | | | | | 2nd | | |
| International: Junior ||||||||||
| Junior Worlds | | | 14th | | | 3rd | | | |
| JGP Belarus | | 5th | | | | | | | |
| JGP Italy | | 5th | | | | | | | |
| Asian Open | | | 2nd | | | | | | |
| Bavarian Open | | | | | | 1st | | | |
| Printemps | 2nd | 1st | | | | | | | |
| National ||||||||||
| Japan | 10th | 13th | 7th | WD | | 9th | 9th | 7th | 3rd |
| Japan Junior | 5th | 3rd | 1st | 4th | 7th | 2nd | | | |

### Earlier seasons

| Event | 15–16 |
| National ||
| Japan Junior | 14th |

## Detailed results

ISU personal best scores in the +5/-5 GOE System :
| Segment | Type | Score | Event |
| Total | TSS | 251.52 | 2024 NHK Trophy |
| Short program | TSS | 85.02 | 2024 NHK Trophy |
| Short program | TES | 48.47 | 2024 NHK Trophy |
| Short program | PCS | 37.28 | 2022 MK John Wilson Trophy |
| Free skating | TSS | 166.50 | 2024 NHK Trophy |
| Free skating | TES | 89.28 | 2024 NHK Trophy |
| Free skating | PCS | 78.62 | 2022 Grand Prix of Espoo |

### Senior level

Results in the 2024-25 season :
| Date | Event | SP | SP | FS | FS | Total | Total |
| Date | Event | P | Score | P | Score | P | Score |
| Sep 2–6, 2024 | 2024 Asian Open Trophy | 2 | 82.37 | 7 | 122.61 | 5 | 204.98 |
| Nov 8–10, 2024 | 2024 NHK Trophy | 3 | 85.02 | 3 | 166.50 | 3 | 251.52 |
| Dec 19–22, 2024 | 2024–25 Japan Championships | 14 | 73.94 | 3 | 173.37 | 3 | 247.31 |
| Feb 19–23, 2025 | 2025 Four Continents Championships | 6 | 78.07 | 5 | 156.86 | 5 | 234.93 |
2023–24 season :
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| February 22–25, 2024 | 2024 Challenge Cup | 1 85.80 | 2 169.01 | 2 254.81 |
| December 20–24, 2023 | 2023–24 Japan Championships | 7 85.85 | 7 166.49 | 7 252.34 |
| November 24–26, 2023 | 2023 NHK Trophy | 12 64.63 | 5 151.99 | 9 216.62 |
| October 20–22, 2023 | 2023 Skate America | 9 72.57 | 8 144.41 | 8 216.98 |
| 2022–23 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| February 23–26, 2023 | 2023 Challenge Cup | 12 67.16 | 5 145.18 | 8 212.34 |
| January 12–22, 2023 | 2023 Winter World University Games | 2 84.48 | 2 159.34 | 2 243.82 |
| December 21–25, 2022 | 2022–23 Japan Championships | 11 74.84 | 9 146.33 | 9 221.17 |
| November 25–27, 2022 | 2022 Grand Prix of Espoo | 5 78.82 | 4 166.08 | 4 244.90 |
| November 11–13, 2022 | 2022 MK John Wilson Trophy | 7 76.75 | 5 149.38 | 5 226.13 |
| 2021–22 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| December 22–26, 2021 | 2021–22 Japan Championships | 12 77.31 | 8 157.90 | 9 235.21 |
| 2018–19 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| December 20–24, 2018 | 2018–19 Japan Championships | 11 69.95 | 5 144.92 | 7 214.87 |
| 2017–18 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| December 21–23, 2017 | 2017–18 Japan Championships | 14 63.35 | 11 135.36 | 13 198.71 |
| 2016–17 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| December 22–25, 2016 | 2016–17 Japan Championships | 15 59.49 | 8 127.54 | 10 187.03 |

### Junior level

2021–22 season :
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| April 13–17, 2022 | 2022 World Junior Championships | 5 79.15 | 3 154.67 | 3 233.82 |
| March 18–20, 2022 | 2022 Coupe du Printemps | 2 77.35 | 2 148.29 | 2 225.64 |
| January 18–22, 2022 | 2021 Bavarian Open | 1 81.92 | 1 156.42 | 1 238.34 |
| November 19–21, 2021 | 2021–22 Japan Junior Championships | 1 81.05 | 2 146.55 | 2 227.60 |
| 2020–21 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| November 21–23, 2020 | 2020–21 Japan Junior Championships | 4 73.18 | 10 107.38 | 7 180.56 |
| 2019–20 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| November 15–17, 2019 | 2019–20 Japan Junior Championships | 6 68.83 | 3 123.94 | 4 192.77 |
| 2018–19 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| March 4–10, 2019 | 2019 World Junior Championships | 20 62.59 | 10 133.29 | 14 195.88 |
| November 23–25, 2018 | 2018–19 Japan Junior Championships | 2 78.23 | 2 144.56 | 1 222.79 |
| August 1–5, 2018 | 2018 Asian Open Trophy | 2 50.87 | 2 117.14 | 2 168.01 |
| 2017–18 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| March 16–18, 2018 | 2018 Coupe du Printemps | 1 64.43 | 1 131.40 | 1 195.83 |
| November 24–26, 2017 | 2017–18 Japan Junior Championships | 5 63.53 | 2 125.62 | 3 189.15 |
| October 11–14, 2017 | 2017 JGP Italy | 6 65.98 | 5 132.46 | 5 198.44 |
| September 20–24, 2017 | 2017 JGP Belarus | 5 66.49 | 5 118.70 | 5 185.19 |
| 2016–17 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| March 10–12, 2017 | 2017 Coupe du Printemps | 2 51.72 | 2 104.63 | 2 156.35 |
| November 23–25, 2016 | 2016–17 Japan Junior Championships | 6 56.07 | 5 121.55 | 5 177.62 |
| 2015–16 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| November 21–23, 2015 | 2015–16 Japan Junior Championships | 14 48.89 | 14 96.69 | 14 145.58 |