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▲ Source | Japan ‘edgeline-tokyo’ 
▲ During her competitive years, Mao Asada (far left)—the Japanese women’s singles figure skating legend who once rivaled Yuna Kim (center)—spoke about beginning a new life as a coach. She said it feels \”like having a child,\” and she was candid about the special emotions the transition has brought.
Tokyo — Mao Asada, 35, the iconic Japanese women’s singles figure skater, opened up about starting a new chapter as a coach. \”It feels like having a child,\” she said, sharing the unique feelings she’s experienced since making the switch.
Asada, who won the silver medal in women’s singles at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, attended a cosmetics brand product launch in Tokyo on the 27th.
As the brand’s model, she noted that figure skaters tend to wear heavy makeup for competitions and ice shows, so during her competitive years she was meticulous about skin care. \”I focused on thorough cleansing and clay masks to remove impurities and fatigue,\” she said, offering a glimpse into her routine.
Asada will begin full-time coaching in August.
She currently works with children ages 5 to 9 and will soon take an official role in youth athlete development.
Last June she announced via social media that she would make her coaching debut eight years after retiring from competition in April 2017.
She said she will take her first steps as a coach at the Kinoshita Mao Academy, established by the Kinoshita Group.
▲ Source | Mao Asada SNS 
▲ Mao Asada (left) will begin full-time coaching in August. She currently coaches children ages 5 to 9 and will soon join official youth development efforts. ⓒ Japan ‘Nikkan Sports’
\”Coaching is truly a new challenge for me. My life already feels completely renewed,\” she said, her eyes lighting up.
\”The greatest joy right now is watching kids who travel to our academy from across the country push through tough daily training and then share the moments when they win competitions or land new skills,\” she said. She described it as a quiet reward—different from the highs of competing, and something only a coach can fully appreciate.
Actor Yoshino Kimura, 50, who attended the event, laughed after hearing Asada’s remarks. \”I once had a big fight teaching my daughter math. Teaching someone is really hard,\” he said.
Asada agreed, smiling: \”Teaching children up close really does make me feel like I have a child. Becoming someone who passes knowledge on to kids has made me rethink a lot of things.\”
▲ Source | Mao Asada SNS
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