23 Facts About Takahiko Kozuka

Takahiko Kozuka is a former competitive Japanese figure skater.

Takahiko Kozuka's thesis compares jumps performed on the floor to those on the ice.

On July 23,2015, Takahiko Kozuka announced his engagement to his girlfriend and Japanese television news presenter, Yukari Oshima.

Takahiko Kozuka was inspired by Yuka Sato's win at the 1994 World Championships.

Takahiko Kozuka is known for the quality of his edges and basic skating skills.

Takahiko Kozuka's coaching team made him practice compulsory figures when he was a child.

Takahiko Kozuka won the bronze medal at the 2006 NHK Trophy and placed 6th in the 2006 Trophee Eric Bompard.

Takahiko Kozuka placed 8th at the 2008 Four Continents and 8th at the 2008 Worlds.

Takahiko Kozuka won the bronze medal at the 2009 Four Continents and placed 6th at the 2009 Worlds.

Takahiko Kozuka won the bronze medal at the Japanese National Championships with 236.13 points, placing second in the short program and third in the free skate, and thus qualified to compete at the 2010 Winter Olympics and at the 2010 World Championships.

Takahiko Kozuka finished eighth overall in the men's singles at the 2010 Winter Olympics with 231.19 points.

Takahiko Kozuka won the 2010 Cup of China with 233.51 points, placing first in both the short program and the free skate.

Takahiko Kozuka went on to win the 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard with 248.07, again winning both segments of the competition.

Takahiko Kozuka won his first national title in December 2010, placing first in both the short program and the free skate to total 251.93 points.

Takahiko Kozuka earned the silver medal at the 2011 Japanese national figure skating championships, thus qualifying for a spot on the Japanese team for the 2012 World Championships, where he finished 11th.

Takahiko Kozuka placed 3rd at the 2013 Japanese National Championships but was not included in the Japanese team to the Olympics.

Takahiko Kozuka was assigned instead to the 2014 Four Continents Championships where he won the silver medal.

When Daisuke Takahashi withdrew from the 2014 World Championships, Takahiko Kozuka replaced him as a substitute and placed 6th at that competition.

Takahiko Kozuka placed 6th in the short program at the 2014 Japanese National Championships, but rallied with a second-place free skate to place 3rd overall.

Takahiko Kozuka was assigned to the 2015 World Championships, where he finished 12th.

Toward the end of his career, Takahiko Kozuka had tendinitis in his left ankle.

Takahiko Kozuka announced his retirement from skating on March 15,2016.

Takahiko Kozuka started the Kozuka Skate Academy in 2016 and works as a skating commentator for Fuji TV.