Minoru Sano

Minoru Sano

Personal information
Country represented	Japan
Born	3 June 1955 (1955-06-03) (age 56)
Medal record Competitor for  Japan Men's Figure skating World Championships Bronze 1977 Tokyo Men's singles

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

Event	1970-71	1971-72	1972-73	1973-74	1974-75	1975-76	1976-77
Winter Olympic Games						9th
World Championships			14th	8th	10th	7th	3rd
Japanese Championships	3rd	2nd	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st
Skate Canada International				3rd	2nd
Prize of Moscow News					3rd

References

1. ^ Japan Figure Skating Championship History
2. ^ The Japan Times
3. ^ History of Prince Ice World (Japanese)
4. ^ "Munesawagu Ichigo tachi (Panic Of Chicks)", Tokyo Broadcasting System, 1983-1984 (Japanese)
5. ^ Japan Figure Skating Instructor Association

Persondata
Name	Sano, Minoru
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	June 3, 1955
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death