Mao Asada studied classical ballet from the age of three to nine, but in 1995 switched to figure skating, when her sister, Mai Asada, also switched from ballet to skating.
Mao Asada belajar balet klasik dari umur tiga sampai enam tahun, tapi pada tahun 1995 berpindah ke figure skating, saat kakak-nya, Mai Asada, juga berpindah dari balet ke skating.