A new cohort of Japanese ice dancers is gaining ground, supported by an experienced Olympian with a mission to advance the sport.
With her wealth of experience, Cathy Reed finds joy in the challenges and rewards of coaching young skaters.
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An International Journey on Ice
Japan has achieved great international success in figure skating for both men’s and women’s singles. By comparison, the couples who represent Japan in pairs and ice dance events sometimes glide under the radar. Two-time Olympic ice dancer Cathy Reed is working to change that, bringing her experience to coaching the next potential champions.
Born in Michigan to a Japanese mother and American father, Reed began competing in ice dance with her younger brother, Chris. After rising to prominence by winning the novice division at the 2006 U.S. Championships, the siblings decided to compete for their mother’s homeland of Japan at the senior level. They went on to win seven national titles between 2008 and 2015, and represented Japan at two Winter Olympic Games—Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014.
Reed and her brother Chris perform their free dance in the figure skating team event at the Olympics Winter Games Sochi 2014. Photo: JIJI PRESS
For Reed, representing Japan at the Olympic Games was a dream come true. “It was just incredible and such an honor to compete there and to do it twice with my brother made it even more special,” she recalls. “Of course, I was nervous, but I tried to treat it like any other competition to focus on the skating, not the stage, and to truly enjoy the moment.” She also feels fortunate to have competed alongside a strong cohort of Japanese skaters, who served as role models and helped to build a solid base for the next generation of talent.
With family roots in neighboring Saitama Prefecture, Tokyo was a familiar destination for Reed growing up, and her family visited regularly for skating events. “We did all the touristy things as kids—visiting Sensoji Temple in Asakusa and Tokyo Tower.”
Creating Space for Japan’s Ice Dancers
Ice dance itself is unique within figure skating, emphasizing musicality and intricate footwork performed in close hold, akin to ballroom dancing on ice. Most Japanese skaters begin in the singles discipline, taking advantage of a rich competitive environment and ample opportunities to compete. By contrast, dance and pairs are less developed: fewer couples mean fewer competitions, along with limited training environments not suited to working with a partner.
Building on Japan’s impressive results in singles skating, Reed hopes to see more opportunities for ice dancers to show off their moves.
Reed is currently based at the Kinoshita Academy Kyoto Ice Arena in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture. The Kinoshita Academy has a dedicated figure skating program not only for singles but also for ice dance and pairs. In Japan, as she points out, securing ice time for ice dance teams to practice can often be difficult amid the popularity of singles skating and limited number of ice rinks.
In light of these challenges, there was welcome news in September for Japan’s skating community with the opening of the Tokyo Tatsumi Ice Arena, an Olympic-sized rink in Koto City. The first year-round ice-skating facility operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the new arena makes use of the existing infrastructure of the former Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center.
Continuing a Legacy Through Coaching
For Reed, coaching has been both a way to give back and to carry forward the dreams she shared with her brother Chris, who passed away suddenly from cardiac arrest in 2020. “Losing my brother was so hard because I thought we could work together to promote ice dancing here. But I made a promise to him that I would do this regardless,” she says. “Seeing the skaters love what they do out there is the most rewarding feeling—watching them enjoy their successes, learn from their failures and make this journey their own.”
Her approach emphasizes not just technique but also character for her students. “Naturally, you want to be a great athlete, but it’s even more important to be a great person first and have strong values. Being a good person will only help you train better, focus more and grow as an athlete.”
Reed at the rink with a young pair of ice dancers.
Some of her inspiration comes from outside the rink. Reed often spends time in Tokyo attending stage shows, ballet and kabuki performances. “Tokyo is where you’re going to get the most international dance and theater,” she notes, adding that these performances help enrich the choreography for her students and broaden her artistic perspective.
Japan’s skaters will take to the ice in February at the 2026 Winter Olympics, officially known as Milano Cortina 2026 and jointly hosted by Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. Reed is also anticipating the performance of her younger sister, Allison, who will compete in ice dance for Lithuania alongside her partner, Saulius Ambrulevičius.
Looking ahead, Reed stresses the importance of giving Japanese ice dancers more international exposure and opportunities to compete. “The judges need to see them, and people need to know that Japan has great ice dance teams. They need those opportunities to grow, to keep skating together and to keep improving at the same time.”
Interview and writing by Louise George Kittaka
Photos by Fujishima Ryo
AloJapan.com