--- title: "Hamada Mie coaches in Kyoto; peace message rooted in Hiroshima history" sdDatePublished: "2026-08-06T09:18:00Z" source: "https://www.olympics.com/en/news/figure-skating-japan-coach-hamada-mie-exclusive" topics: - name: "sport" identifier: "medtop:15000000" locations: - "Kyoto" - "Hiroshima" - "Nagasaki" - "Japan" --- Hamada Mie coaches in Kyoto; peace message rooted in Hiroshima history Figure skating, Hiroshima and world peace: Why Japanese coach Hamada Mie wants to be a messenger - exclusive Figure skating, Hiroshima and world peace: Why Japanese coach Hamada Mie wants to be a messenger - exclusive The internationally renowned skating guru's mother is a survivor of the Hiroshima atomic bombing 81 years ago. In an exclusive interview with Olympics.com, Hamada speaks about her family's tragic history, and why it's more important than ever to keep telling the tale. Hamada Mie is one of the most acclaimed figure skating coaches in the world, named the International Skating Union’s Coach of the Year in 2024. Past and present skaters who have been under her tutelage include Miyahara Satoko , Kihira Rika , Honda Marin , Chiba Mone and yes, Shimada Mao , who is making her highly anticipated senior debut this coming season. But Hamada plays another important role, perhaps one of even greater significance than developing world-class skaters. She is a messenger of peace - as the daughter of a survivor of the Hiroshima atomic bombing more than eight decades ago. Shimada Mao reveals short program for senior debut: "I hope to spread my wings" Hamada Mie is a former ISU Coach of the Year. August is a period of mourning and reflection in Japan, which was left in ashes following World War II 81 years ago. It goes without saying that the dates of 6 and 9 August - the dates of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, respectively - carry extra weight and poignance. Hamada’s mother, Kyoko, was 11 years old when the bomb dropped in Hiroshima, and was about two kilometres from the centre of the explosion. Kyoko was fortunate enough to have survived, but her older sister Mutsuko was not. As she searched for her sister, Kyoko discovered her sister’s jacket amid the ruins, an item that hangs in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. Mie has been around such tales of Hiroshima as far as she can remember. They are in her skin, encoded in her DNA. She considers it more than just a duty or responsibility to tell her family’s story. It’s her life. Two years ago, at the urging of Mie, Kyoko published a book recollecting her sister, and her experience as a Hibakusha , the Japanese word for survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Mie said Kyoko is 92, and her age has started to show, but she can still recall 6 August, 1945, with absolute clarity. The pair continue to reach people, tugging at the hearts of those who have listened. The organisation Kyoko is a member of, Nihon Hidankyo - the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organisations - received the Nobel Peace Prize two years ago for their work. Mie is now 66. But with each passing year, she feels increasingly compelled to make time to speak, amid the daily unsung rigours of raising future Olympians. “What you hear and feel as a child is different compared to the things you feel as an adult or a parent,” Hamada said during an interview with Olympics.com at the Kinoshita Skate Academy in Kyoto where she is based, ahead of the 81st anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing on Thursday. “I have a child, a daughter, and I think about things such as what it would be like if she left the house and never came home. With age, the weight of it all, the sadness, should never be experienced again by anyone. It really hits home, the older I become. “I think everyone needs to understand that everyone has their own take on what justice is. We clash because people think their version of justice is the right one. We are quick to say others are wrong but they have their definition of what justice is as well. “People often talk about common sense. But common sense differs depending on the country. I think everyone should recognise that common sense comes in all shapes and sizes.” Hamada's coaching resume includes some of figure skating's top talents - like Milano Cortina 2026 Olympian Chiba Mone. Hamada Mie: "None of it is possible without peace" Hamada said growing up, her mother would not tolerate any hint of ungratefulness, which she admits has affected her coaching philosophy. “My mother loves traditional Japanese dance. She claims she was very talented but had no choice to give it up. The period she lived in wouldn’t allow it. “So she used to tell me all the time when I used to skate myself to appreciate being able to do what I love. She used to say that she had to quit, everyone had to quit because of how things were back then. She was envious of the children in my time. “When I made excuses of any kind, blamed the ice or other people, she really let me have it. Times are different now of course, so I’m not about to force anything on anyone. “But there’s a part of me that thinks, the kids who get it done, get it done no matter the circumstances.” In a time of turmoil in various corners of the globe, Hamada does not forget that it is peace that allows us to enjoy sport as we do. It is a simple yet deep message, coming from someone whose family has had to overcome the greatest challenges. “Even with the Olympics, peacetime is what makes it all possible. Of course results and other things matter, but none of it is possible without peace - as we found out with COVID,” she said. “The Olympics were on the line, and lots of events and competitions were cancelled. So I don’t take it for granted that we have an opportunity and a place to play sport as we do now. I’m asked to speak at seminars in a lot of different countries but for the last five minutes, I always tell my story. “I think if we appreciate peace and what we have, being able to hold seminars or competitions or whatever, I am confident that we will not head in the wrong direction. Just being grateful for normalcy. "Many people who I tell my story to really appreciate it, which means a great deal to me.” Hamada's latest talent, 17-year-old Shimada Mao, is embarking on her debut senior season in 2026-27. Hamada on Shimada Mao: "Ready to let it all out" As another summer of remembrance nears the end, the opening chapter to one of figure skating’s brightest careers approaches in Shimada, who enters her maiden senior season behind a dominant junior campaign in which she won all 39 meets. Hamada has zero concerns about how the 17-year-old Shimada will stack up against the seniors, saying she is more than good enough. It will be the intangibles the teen prodigy will have to get used to. “Finally. It’s about time,” Hamada said. “She couldn’t compete (at the senior level) last season and there was nothing she could do about it. She’s been waiting and waiting and she is ready to let it all out this season. “I think how she fits in among the other seniors will be key. She has the skating, the technique. It’s all there. I think it will come down to how the judges perceive her. “Of course, there is always someone better than you. But I don’t think she’s lacking anything. I’ve spoken to her about the rules - the six-jump limit, for example - but nothing changes as far as what she has to do. “We have been planning this for a long time, from novice to juniors to now seniors. There are a few adjustments to some new rules, but we stay the course.” Picture by International Skating Union