Yuka Orihara

Yuka Orihara (折原 裕香, Orihara Yuka, born 26 June 2000) is a Japanese ice dancer who competes for Finland. With her current partner, Juho Pirinen, she is the 2019–20 Finnish national champion and a four-time Finnish national silver medalist (2021–25).^[1]

Yuka Orihara
Yuka Orihara and Juho Pirinen at the 2022 Finlandia Trophy
Other names	折原 裕香 紀藤 裕香
Born	(2000-06-26) June 26, 2000 (age 24) Saitama, Japan
Hometown	Helsinki, Finland
Height	1.57 m (5 ft 2 in)
Figure skating career
Country	Finland (since 2019)  Canada (2018–19)  Japan (2012–18)
Discipline	Ice dance (since 2016) Women's singles (2012–15)
Partner	Juho Pirinen (since 2019) Lee Royer (2018–19) Kanata Mori (2016–2018)
Coach	Maurizio Margaglio Neil Brown
Skating club	Helsingin Luistelijat
Began skating	2006
Medal record
Finnish Championships 2020 Vantaa Ice dance 2022 Pori Ice dance 2023 Joensuu Ice dance 2024 Helsinki Ice dance 2025 Rauma Ice dance

Personal life

Orihara was born on June 26, 2000 in Tokyo, Japan.^[2] Her mother, Shizuko, is a known costume designer in Japan, who in addition to designing her daughter's figure skating costumes, has also designed costumes for several known Japanese skaters including Yuzuru Hanyu,^[3] Shoma Uno,^[4] Kaori Sakamoto,^[5] Wakaba Higuchi,^[6] and Marin Honda.^[7][8][9]

Orihara originally competed under the name Yuka Kito (紀藤 裕香, Kito Yuka) before deciding to compete under her mother's last name in 2016.^[8][10][11]

In 2019, Orihara graduated from Renaissance High School in Daigo, Ibaraki, Japan.^[12][13] She is multilingual and able to speak Japanese, English, and Finnish.^[14][15]

Career

Early career

Orihara began figure skating in 2006 at the age of six. While skating for Japan, she represented Musashino Senior High School.^[16][11] Originally a singles skater, she competed at the 2012–13 and 2014–15 Japan Junior Championships, finishing fifteenth and fourteenth respectively.^[17]

In 2016, Orihara decided that to give ice dance a try and teamed up with Kanata Mori. The duo skated together for two seasons.^[18][10] Orihara/Mori won silver at the 2016–17 Japan Junior Championships and placed fourth on the senior level at the 2016–18 Japan Championships. Their final competition together was the 2018 Mentor Toruń Cup, where they finished eleventh.^[18]

Given the lack of training rinks to practice ice dance in Japan, Orihara decided to move to British Columbia, Canada after a Japanese skating coach introduced her to Canadian ice dance coaches Megan Wing and Aaron Lowe. Soon after, she teamed up with Canadian ice dancer, Lee Royer.^[13][19] Together, they competed at the 2019 Canadian Junior Championships where they finished fifth. Their partnership dissolved after one season.^[20]

Partnership with Pirinen

2019–20 season

Orihara/Pirinen performing their rhythm dance at the 2020 European Championships

In spring 2019, Finland-based Italian ice dance coach, Maurizio Margaglio, who was acquainted with Orihara's then coaching team, contacted them, requesting that Orihara travel to Helsinki to have a try-out with his then partnerless student, Juho Pirinen. Orihara agreed to this request and following a successful tryout, she soon moved to Finland to train with Pirinen.^[15][8]

Deciding to represent Finland, the duo made their international debut at the 2019 CS Lombardia Trophy, where they finished eleventh. They then continued competing on the 2019–20 ISU Challenger Series, finishing fifth at the 2019 CS Warsaw Cup and seventh at the 2019 CS Finlandia Trophy.^[21] Orihara/Pirinen would also win bronze at the 2019 Volvo Open Cup and the 2019 Santa Claus Cup.^[1]

With top Finnish ice dancing team, Turkkila/Versluis not competing at the 2019–20 Finnish Championships, Orihara/Pirinen won the event by over forty points.^[22]

Selected to compete at the 2020 European Championships in Graz, Austria, the duo came in eighteenth place. They then closed their season with a fifth-place finish at the 2020 Egna Dance Trophy.^[21][1]

2020–21 season

Although Orihara/Pirinen were assigned to make their Grand Prix series debut at the 2020 Internationaux de France, the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[23]

The duo would not compete for the rest of the season.^[1]

Orihara and Pirinen at the 2021 CS Finlandia Trophy

2021–22 season

Competing on the 2021–22 ISU Challenger Series, Orihara/Pirinen finished fifteenth at the 2021 CS Lombardia Trophy and twelfth at the 2021 CS Finlandia Trophy. They would follow it up with a fourth-place finish and a gold medal at the 2021 Trophée Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur and the 2021 NRW Trophy, respectively.^[21][1]

In December, Orihara/Pirinen won the silver medal at the 2021–22 Finnish Championships. They would end their season with another silver medal at the 2022 International Challenge Cup.^[1]

2022–23 season

Orihara/Pirinen during their ending pose at the 2022 CS Finlandia Trophy

Beginning their season on the 2022–23 ISU Challenger Series, Orihara/Pirinen placed fourth at the 2022 CS Nepela Memorial and sixth at the 2022 CS Finlandia Trophy. They subsequently finished fourth at the 2022 Trophée Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur.^[21][1]

Debuting on the 2022–23 Grand Prix series, the duo finished eighth at the 2022 NHK Trophy and seventh at the 2022 Grand Prix of Espoo.^[21][1]

In December, they won their second consecutive silver medal at the 2022–23 Finnish Championships. Orihara/Pirinen would then end their season by winning silver at the 2022 Bavarian Open and bronze at the 2022 International Challenge Cup.^[21][1]

2023–24 season

Orihara/Pirinen performing their free dance at the 2024 World Championships

Orihara/Pirinen started the season by competing 2023–24 ISU Challenger Series, finishing sixth at the 2023 CS Nepela Memorial and at the 2023 CS Finlandia Trophy. They subsequently took gold at the 2023 Mezzaluna Cup.^[21][1]

Going on to compete at the 2023 Grand Prix of Espoo, Orihara/Pirinen finished sixth. They then won silver at the 2023–24 Finnish Championships. Selected to compete at the 2024 European Championships in Kaunas, Lithuania, the duo finished tenth.^[21][1]

With Finland having two berths for ice dance at the 2024 World Championships in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Orihara/Pirinen would make their World Championship debut in March, coming in sixteenth place.^[24][21]

2024–25 season

Orihara/Pirinen began the season by competing on the 2024–25 ISU Challenger Series, finishing fourth at both the 2024 CS Budapest Trophy and the 2024 CS Trophée Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur. Going on to compete on the 2024–25 Grand Prix circuit, they finished sixth at the 2024 NHK Trophy and the 2024 Finlandia Trophy.^[21]

In December, Orihara/Pirinen won the silver medal at the 2025 Finnish Championships.^[21]

Programs

Ice dance with Pirinen

Season	Rhythm dance	Free dance	Exhibition
2024–2025 [25]	Disco Inferno by The Trammps Love to You Baby by Donna Summer Y.M.C.A. by Village People choreo. by Massimo Scali, Sini Parkkinen	A Chorus Line Opening: I Hope I Get It One One (Finale) by A Chorus Line Ensemble choreo. by Massimo Scali, Sini Parkkinen
2023–2024 [2]	Like a Prayer Love Song Express Yourself by Madonna choreo. by Massimo Scali, Luca Lanotte, Nicolò Tacchetto, Sini Parkkinen	When You're Good to Mama performed by Queen Latifah Nowadays performed by Renée Zellweger Nowadays/Hot Honey Rag performed by Renée Zellweger & Catherine Zeta-Jones (from Chicago) by Fred Kander & John Ebb choreo. by Massimo Scali, Luca Lanotte, Nicolò Tacchetto, Sini Parkkinen	Jet Set (from Catch Me If You Can) performed by Aaron Tveit & Company of the Original Cast
2022–2023 [26]	Cha Cha: I Like It Like That by Pete Rodriguez performed by The Blackout All-Stars Rhumba: Dancing with a Stranger by Sam Smith performed by Klaus Hallen Tanz Orchester Samba: La Percussion by Ottomix & Yano Samba: Instruction by Jax Jones ft. Demi Lovato & Stefflon Don performed by DJ Ice choreo. by Neil Brown, Luca Lanotte, Matteo Zanni	My Jolly Sailor Bold by Ashley Serena We're Sinking by E. Shepherd Stevenson & Christopher Lloyd choreo. by Neil Brown, Luca Lanotte, Matteo Zanni	Mary Poppins Returns Overture by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman Trip a Little Light Fantastic performed by Lin-Manuel Miranda End Title Suite Overture by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman
2021–2022 [27]	Blues: Lean on Me by Bill Withers performed by Glee cast (from Glee) Funk: Give Up the Funk by Parliament (from Glee) performed by Glee cast choreo. by Neil Brown, Paola Mezzadri, Luca Lanotte, Maurizio Margaglio, Sini Parkkinen	Gabriel's Oboe (from The Mission) by Ennio Morricone choreo. by Neil Brown, Paola Mezzadri, Luca Lanotte, Maurizio Margaglio, Sini Parkkinen
2020–2021 [28]	Mary Poppins Returns Quickstep: Overture by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman Waltz: Trip a Little Light Fantastic performed by Lin-Manuel Miranda End Title Suite Overture by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman choreo. by Paola Mezzadri, Luca Lanotte
2019–2020 [29]		Near Light by Ólafur Arnalds Waves by Dean Lewis choreo. by Paola Mezzadri, Megan Wing, Aaron Lowe, Neil Brown

Competitive highlights

Orihara/Pirinen performing a spin during their free dance at the 2020 European Championships

GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series

Ice dance with Pirinen for Finland

International[21][1]
Event	19–20	20–21	21–22	22–23	23–24	24–25
Worlds					16th	TBD
Europeans	18th				10th	7th
GP Finland				7th	6th	6th
GP France		C
GP NHK Trophy				8th		6th
CS Budapest						4th
CS Denis Ten Memorial					WD
CS Finlandia	7th		12th	6th	6th
CS Lombardia	11th		15th
CS Ondrej Nepela	5th			4th	6th
CS Trophée Métropole Nice			4th	4th		4th
CS Warsaw Cup			5th
Bavarian Open				2nd
Challenge Cup			2nd	3rd
Egna Trophy	5th
Mezzaluna Cup					1st
NRW Trophy			1st
Santa Claus Cup	3rd
Sofia Trophy						4th
Volvo Open Cup	3rd
National[21][1]
Finnish Champ.	1st	C	2nd	2nd	2nd	2nd

Ice dance with Royer for Canada

National[20]
Event	18–19
Canadian Champ.	5th J

Ice dance with Mori for Japan

International[18]
Event	16–17	17–18
Mentor Toruń Cup		11th
National[18]
Japan Champ.	2nd J	4th

Women's singles for Japan

National[30][17][31]
Event	12–13	14–15
Japan Junior	15th	14th

Detailed results

Ice dance with Juho Pirinen

ISU personal best scores in the +5/-5 GOE System ^[1]

Segment	Type	Score	Event
Total	TSS	183.64	2024 Finlandia Trophy
Rhythm dance	TSS	72.56	2024 Finlandia Trophy
	TES	41.40	2021 CS Warsaw Cup
	PCS	31.35	2024 Finlandia Trophy
Free dance	TSS	111.12	2024 European Championships
	TES	62.82	2024 European Championships
	PCS	48.30	2024 European Championships

Results in the 2019-20 season ^[1]

Date	Event	RD		FD		Total
		P	Score	P	Score	P	Score
Sep 13-15, 2019	2019 CS Lombardia Trophy	11	57.94	10	90.54	11	148.48
Sep 20-21, 2019	2019 CS Nepela Memorial	5	67.01	6	99.92	5	166.93
Oct 11-13, 2019	2019 CS Finlandia Trophy	7	62.19	7	95.53	7	157.72
Nov 5-10, 2019	2019 Volvo Open Cup	3	67.48	3	96.89	3	164.37
Dec 2-8, 2019	2019 Santa Claus Cup	2	70.16	5	96.42	3	166.58
Dec 13-15, 2019	2020 Finnish Championships	1	70.15	1	102.75	1	172.90
Jan 20-26, 2020	2020 European Championships	16	64.49	19	91.59	18	156.08
Feb 7-9, 2020	2020 Egna Dance Trophy	5	70.76	6	97.99	5	168.75

Results in the 2021-22 season ^[1]

Date	Event	RD		FD		Total
		P	Score	P	Score	P	Score
Nov 9-12, 2021	2021 CS Lombardia Trophy	15	57.98	16	86.82	15	144.80
Oct 7-10, 2021	2023 CS Finlandia Trophy	13	61.18	12	97.33	12	158.51
Oct 20-24, 2021	2021 Trophée Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur	4	62.84	6	92.38	4	155.22
Nov 4-7, 2021	2021 NRW Trophy	3	60.79	1	102.20	1	162.99
Nov 18-20, 2021	2021 CS Warsaw Cup	6	71.56	5	105.21	5	176.77
Dec 17-19, 2021	2022 Finnish Championships	2	70.69	2	105.63	2	176.32
Feb 24-27, 2022	2022 Challenge Cup	2	65.31	2	104.08	2	169.39

Results in the 2022-23 season ^[1]

Date	Event	RD		FD		Total
		P	Score	P	Score	P	Score
Sep 29 - Oct 1, 2022	2022 CS Nepela Memorial	4	62.34	3	102.98	4	165.32
Oct 6-9, 2022	2022 CS Finlandia Trophy	6	68.81	5	101.36	6	170.17
Oct 19-23, 2022	2022 Trophée Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur	4	64.50	4	96.16	4	160.66
Nov 18-20, 2022	2022 NHK Trophy	9	66.47	8	101.98	8	168.45
Nov 25-27, 2022	2022 Grand Prix of Espoo	8	69.13	6	104.04	7	173.17
Dec 16-18, 2022	2023 Finnish Championships	2	74.73	2	106.44	2	181.17
Jan 31 - Feb 5, 2023	2023 Bavarian Open	2	72.52	3	105.37	2	177.89
Feb 23-26, 2023	2023 Challenge Cup	3	69.06	2	108.11	3	177.17

Results in the 2023-24 season ^[1]

Date	Event	RD		FD		Total
		P	Score	P	Score	P	Score
Sep 28-30, 2023	2023 CS Nepela Memorial	7	65.62	6	105.91	6	171.53
Oct 6-8, 2023	2023 CS Finlandia Trophy	6	67.93	4	106.80	6	174.73
Oct 20-22, 2023	2023 Mezzaluna Cup	1	73.76	1	115.25	1	189.01
Nov 17-19, 2023	2023 Grand Prix of Espoo	7	69.52	6	107.21	6	176.73
Dec 15-17, 2023	2024 Finnish Championships	2	75.80	2	110.47	2	186.27
Jan 8-14, 2024	2024 European Championships	10	68.59	9	111.12	10	179.71
Mar 18-24, 2024	2024 World Championships	17	68.66	16	107.33	16	175.99

Results in the 2024–25 season ^[1]

Date	Event	RD		FD		Total
		P	Score	P	Score	P	Score
Oct 11-13, 2024	2024 CS Budapest Trophy	5	70.25	4	108.25	4	178.50
Oct 16-20, 2024	2024 CS Trophée Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur	4	71.24	3	109.24	4	180.48
Nov 8–10, 2024	2024 NHK Trophy	7	67.34	6	107.94	6	175.28
Nov 15-17, 2024	2024 Finlandia Trophy	8	72.56	6	111.08	6	183.64
Dec 13-15, 2024	2025 Finnish Championships	2	77.21	2	114.87	2	192.08
Jan 7-12, 2025	2025 Sofia Trophy	4	66.81	2	108.17	4	174.98
Jan 28 – Feb 2, 2025	2025 European Championships	8	75.70	6	118.24	7	193.94