Minoru Sano (figure skater)

Minoru Sano (佐野 稔, Sano Minoru) (born June 3, 1955)^[1] is a Japanese former competitive figure skater. He is the 1977 World bronze medalist and a five-time Japanese national champion (1972–76).^[2]

Minoru Sano
Born	(1955-06-03) June 3, 1955 (age 69) Isawa, Yamanashi, Japan
Height	1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Figure skating career
Country	Japan
Retired	1977
Medal record Representing  Japan Men's figure skating World Championships 1977 Tokyo Men's singles

Career

Sano became the Japanese national champion for the first time in the 1972–73 season. In 1973 and 1974, he stood on the podium at the Skate Canada International and Prize of Moscow News. He represented Japan at the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria and finished ninth. The next season, he won his fifth consecutive national title and went on to win bronze at the 1977 World Championships in Tokyo. It was the first time that a Japanese representative stood on the world podium in any figure skating discipline. Japan would not win another world medal in men's singles until 2002 (bronze for Takeshi Honda).^[3]

Sano subsequently retired from competition and turned professional. In 1978, he founded "Viva! Ice World" (renamed "Prince Ice World" in 1988). It was the first ice show in Japan.^[4] He appeared on many television shows as an actor, TV presenter, or a guest.^[5] He also released pop singles. He helped to popularize figure skating in Japan.

Sano is currently a TV commentator and a figure skating instructor.^[6] His former students include Shizuka Arakawa and Yamato Tamura.

Results

International
Event	70–71	71–72	72–73	73–74	74–75	75–76	76–77
Olympics						9th
Worlds			14th	8th	10th	7th	3rd
Skate Canada				3rd	2nd
Moscow News					3rd
National
Japan Champ.	3rd	2nd	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st