Rikako Fukase (; born August 12, 1997) is a Japanese and Canadian figure and synchro skater. She formerly represented Japan in ice dancing, skating with Aru Tateno and Eichu Cho (Oliver Zhang) at a total of four ISU Championships. With Cho, she is the 2020 NHK Trophy silver medalist and a two-time Japanese national medalist.
Fukase has also competed in synchronized skating. In the 2022–23 season, she skated for Canada as a member of Les Suprêmes, winning gold at the 2023 ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships.
Career
Partnership with Tateno In 2014, Fukase began competing in partnership with Aru Tateno, representing Japan in ice dancing. In their first season together, they competed domestically but made no international appearances. Their international debut came in September 2015, at the ISU Junior Grand Prix in Austria. They placed 19th at the 2016 World Junior Championships in Debrecen, Hungary. The following season, they finished 13th at the 2017 World Junior Championships in Taipei, Taiwan.
Fukase/Tateno moved up to seniors for their fourth season together. They took bronze at the 2017–18 Japan Championships and placed 11th at the 2018 Four Continents Championships in Taipei.
Fukase/Tateno were coached by Romain Haguenauer, Patrice Lauzon, Pascal Denis, and Marie-France Dubreuil in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Partnership with Cho (Zhang) Fukase continued her career for Japan in partnership with Canadian-born ice dancer Oliver Zhang, who would compete with her as Eichu Cho. During their first season, they took silver at the 2019–20 Japan Championships and placed 13th at the 2020 Four Continents Championships.
The following season was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in many event cancellations. Fukase/Cho won silver at the 2020 NHK Trophy and bronze at the 2020–21 Japan Championships.
Fukase/Cho trained mainly in Montreal. Their coaches included Romain Haguenauer, Patrice Lauzon, Marie-France Dubreuil, Pascal Denis, Josée Piché, Benjamin Brisebois, Ginette Cournoyer, Yutaka Higuchi, and Aya Sunayama.
Synchronized skating In the 2022–23 season, Fukase competed as a member of Canada's Les Suprêmes. She began training with the team in May 2022. They won gold at the 2023 ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships.
Programs With Cho (Zhang) Season Rhythm dance Free dance Exhibition 2020–2021 Someone in the Crowd Another Day of Sun Planetarium My Funny Valentine Feeling Good Booty Swing 2019–2020 The Huns Attack Reflection
With Tateno Season Short dance Free dance Exhibition 2017–2018 Senorita Bonita Tequila Qué rico el mambo Hello, Dolly! The International Hello Dolly 2016–2017 Petite Fleur Opus One The King and I 2015–2016 Aquarellen Feuerfest! Dream a Little Dream of Me Puttin' On the Ritz Sing, Sing, Sing
Competitive highlights GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series; JGP: Junior Grand Prix
Synchro with Les Suprêmes for Canada International Event 22–23 23–24 24–25 25–26 World Championships 1st 1st 4th 1st Budapest Cup 1st Dresden Cup 2nd International Classic 1st Leon Lurje Trophy 3rd Lumiere Cup 1st Marie Lundmark Trophy 2nd 1st Spring Cup 1st Budapest Cup 1st Riga Amber Cup 1st National Canadian Championships 3rd 1st 1st 1st CS = Challenger Series; C = Cancelled
Ice dancing with Cho (Zhang) for Japan International Event 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 Four Continents 13th NHK Trophy 2nd Mentor Toruń Cup 9th National Japan Champ. 2nd 3rd WD Eastern Sect. 1st WD = Withdrew
Ice dancing with Tateno for Japan International Event 14–15 15–16 16–17 17–18 Four Continents 11th Lombardia 11th Toruń Cup 5th International: Junior Junior Worlds 19th 13th Austria 11th Estonia 10th Japan 6th Toruń Cup 3rd 7th National Japan 3rd Japan Junior 1st 1st 1st Eastern Sect. 1st J 1st J 1st J 1st J = Junior level
Ladies' singles National Event 11–12 12–13 13–14 14–15 Japan Eastern Sectional 26th J Kanto Block 2 Regional 11th J 24th J 21st J 6th J = Junior level
References
External links