Minoru Sano

Minoru Sano (佐野 稔, Sano Minoru^?) (born June 3, 1955 in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan) is a former Japanese figure skater. He won the Japan Figure Skating Championships from 1972 to 1976 and represented Japan in the World Figure Skating Championships from 1973 to 1977.^[1]

After winning the bronze medal in the World Championships in 1977, he subsequently retired and became a national hero, as it was the first time that a Japanese figure skater had stood on a podium in that particular competition. This feat was not repeated by a male Japanese skater until Takeshi Honda won the bronze medal in the World Championships in 2002.^[2]

In 1978, he turned professional and found "Viva! Ice World" (renamed "Prince Ice World" in 1988). It was the first ice show in Japan.^[3] In those days, he was considered a heartthrob in Japan.　He appeared on many television shows as an actor, TV presenter, or a guest.^[4] He also released pop singles. His popularity helped to popularize figure skating in Japan.

Sano is currently a TV commentator and a figure skating instructor.^[5] His former students include Shizuka Arakawa and Yamato Tamura.

Results

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