"RikuRyu" Bids Emotional Farewell: Japan's Iconic Figure Skating Pair Announces Retirement

On April 28, 2026, Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara—the figure skating pair affectionately known as "RikuRyu," who established numerous milestones in Japanese skating history—held a press conference in Tokyo to announce their retirement from competitive skating. As the conference began, Kihara was visibly moved, his eyes welling with tears as he reflected on their journey. Finding himself choked up at the podium, he managed to say, "I am truly grateful from the bottom of my heart." His partner, Miura, lightened the mood with a smile, playfully asking, "You're crying already?" and joking, "I guess I've become the one who has to pull us through today." Their interaction highlighted the profound trust and unbreakable bond that defined their partnership. Regarding their decision, the duo appeared refreshed, stating they had given everything to the sport. "We’ve left it all on the ice and have absolutely no regrets," they shared, describing their years together as "a treasure." They also revealed that the decision to retire had actually been finalized as early as last year. Looking ahead, the pair plans to continue skating professionally in ice shows and intends to work toward popularizing pair skating in Japan. They also hinted at future coaching roles to nurture the next generation of skaters, with Miura adding a humorous note: "I’ll keep working hard on my muscle training!" Social media was flooded with reactions, with many fans moved to tears by Kihara’s raw emotion and others expressing surprise at his frankness. Countless messages of "Thank you for the inspiration" and "Good luck on your new journey" have been posted to celebrate their careers. After seven years of stunning the world and leading the Japanese pair skating scene, the "RikuRyu" story reaches a major milestone, wrapped in gratitude and smiles.

The Context

Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, known by the portmanteau "RikuRyu," are the most successful pair skaters in Japanese history. Before their partnership began in 2019, Japan was a powerhouse in singles skating but rarely a contender in the pairs discipline. Training in Oakville, Canada, the duo made history by winning the World Championships in 2023 and achieving a "Grand Slam" (winning the Grand Prix Final, Four Continents, and World Championships in a single season). Their success is credited with sparking a surge of interest in pair skating within Japan, a discipline that requires immense physical strength and synchronized technical skill. Their retirement marks the end of an era for a team that brought Japan its first-ever Olympic medals and world titles in the pairs category.

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