Maniwa Karen - A 12-year-old analyst seeks the shape of beauty

With an extraordinary sense and courage, he pushes his own possibilities in a white world without knowing his limits. We'll take a closer look at the pure and innocent ski life of such a super kids.

Originally from Aomori, Resident in Canada

Maniwa Karen. 12 years old, born on July 30, 2012. In the 9th All Japan Junior Skiing Technology Championship Junior (Elementary School Student) Women's Division, he won with a clear score in all three events. He is a rising star who made his first appearance and first victory in the Junior Technology Championship.

Kanorei is currently "returning to Japan" and normally lives in Canada. Canada is the home of winter sports, with world-class resorts such as Whistler, so why are they going to go out of their way to do basic skiing in Japan? Who is this mysterious kid?

I listened to the conversation with my mother at my home in Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture.

--Is Kanorei currently living in Canada? Are you skiing in B.C., where Whistler and others are located?

"No, the place I live now is so cold that it won't snow. I'm in the place where Niagara Falls is located, and I attend a school in St. Catherine, Ontario. It's a boarding school, so I've been in Canada alone for over a year.
Why not? For some reason (lol). I thought I might go to Canada (lol). But St. Catherine is so rural, there's nothing there, and it's boring. Japan can have something like Don Quixote. I love Don Quixote!"

This is the story of Kana Rei, which started with a slightly strange tone like this. I see, my dad is Canadian and my mom is from Aomori, and I mean half-Japanese. You might think that their family lives in Canada, but his father is an orthopedic doctor and he opens a clinic called "Maniwa Orthopedics" in Hirosaki City.

Here's a supplementary explanation of the situation by the mother.

"At the end of fifth grade, Kana Rei suddenly said to me that I would go to Canada. Half of them are Canadians, so I thought I would eventually want them to go to Canada. But it came a little earlier. There were only
three boarding schools in Canada that even elementary school students can attend, and St. Catherine was the closest school to Kana Rei's father's parents' house in Ontario. But during the winter, from December to March, I returned to Japan with permission from the school, and I skied every day while completing my online assignments."

"In Japan, everyone can practice while they're still at school, so I'm lucky♬. Every day, I ski in my hometown from the morning until the night ends!"
Kano Rei said.

I see, the background finally begins to be visible.

As if invited to enter a world of white adventures

Born in Aomori, he was an elementary school student who won the All Japan Junior Technical Selection, so you might have thought he had grown up skiing since he was a child, but Kanorei said he first wore skiing when he was in the first grade of elementary school.

——(Editorial Department) When you first skied, was there anything that remained in your heart?

"The ramen at Momosawa Ski Resort was delicious! (laughs) My uncle, a relative, asked me if I could give it a try. There was a skiing class for Hirosaki residents, where I took part in it.
Ah, I thought skiing is like this, it's fun. I've been skiing ever since. Also, I remember the next day, my legs got really painful. I thought skiing requires muscle strength."

Skiing is fun! Coupled with her desire to eat ramen, Kana Rei began attending schools and taking lessons on weekends and during winter breaks. For now, be aware of taking the badge test level 3 exam, and your goal beyond that is to pass the level 1 exam.

Here's a video of the skating from my second year. The challenging skiing experience shows off the good skiing skills.

I spent that kind of skiing life until about fourth grade, but my environment changed dramatically in fifth grade. He joined the local Aomori Rossignor, a basic skiing team. I wonder what the trigger was.

"There was a test drive event for ROSSIGNOL at a ski resort, and I happened to be participating, and the team manager invited me to do so. "That's fine" (laughs). I thought, "You should just come."

When the coach saw Kano Rei's skiing, he found his skiing skills and was scouted by the team. The director's words sparked her desire for inquiry.

However, I dared to ask. I wonder why Kanorei chose basic skiing.

This is because Momosawa Ski Resort, which Kanorei's "home" is a municipal ski resort in Hirosaki City, is a small ski resort with a strong local feel, but Owani Ski Resort is nearby. Owani Ski Resort is a mecca for alpine competitions, famous as the home of Higashi-Sokugijuku High School, a prestigious school that produced the famous slalomer Kimura Kiminobu (from Hirosaki City), a former Japanese slalomer. I wonder why Kanorei went on to the basic skiing path rather than the alpine.
Actually, there was this episode.

"I sometimes thought racing was cool and I wanted to do racing, but it hurts to hit a pole and I was scared of speed. So I went for basic skiing (laughs).

I got into the world of basic skiing because of a slight hesitation about alpine competition, and it was a confusion that seemed to have been guided.

12Age Analyst

Kanorei's growth has been amazing since joining the Aomori Rossignol team. Every time I slide, I get better. Just by receiving advice from the coach, your techniques will be refined.

The background to this is Kana Rei's incredible abilities. This is the ability to think logically and put it into words. It's the best because it adds a cheerful and relaxed personality and an open-minded mentality that absorbs everything.

——What is the appeal of basic skiing for Kanorei?

"There's no end. I want to improve my skills and express my beauty. My skiing skills change every year, and there are many goals to improve. Also, when it comes to fun, I think "analysis." It's really fun to find problems with slipping and improve them. Also, when I practice what my coach told me to overcome, I think that feeling of accomplishment is even more exciting. Watching footage of my skiing, I was surprised to find that I've changed! When I think "I'm going to give you a lucky pose (laughs)."

I am instinctively drawn to the gap between his carefree smile and the thoughts of athletes who stoically pursue improving their skills.

Expand your strengths in search of beauty

——What are the "strengths" of your own slippers?　

"I guess it's a turn that uses the bend of the board. Also, it's sharp edging."

What kind of things do you usually train?

"I've been saying the same thing to my coaches for a long time, such as "inner tilt and inner tilt" (laughs). I think it's my own challenge to make sure I get closer to the snowy surface by deepening my inner tilt.
In fact, the coach sent me out on warrior training (laughs). Since last season, I've been joining the Hirosaki University alpine team from time to time, and now I've been racing with university students.

It was surprising that he was an elementary school student and was given the pole practice for the university's sports ski club.

"The technology used in racing has recently been adopted in the technology selection process, and there are many adult All-Japanese athletes who are from racing, and there are also All-Japan Juniors who come from racing. I think the technology is becoming more racing-oriented, with the angle of the edge and the entry of turns. I think the look style has also become more of a racing style.

So I think they're surprisingly similar in terms of basics and racing technology. The obvious difference is whether it's beauty or speed. I think technical selection is all about looking for beauty."

With the spurt of Takeda Ryu, who has won six consecutive technical selections and has also experienced the FIS World Cup, it is certainly said that the evaluation point for technical selection is now centered around Alpine's technology.
I guess this is what junior technology selection also follows this trend. Takeda Ryu also said, "I always tell the juniors that if you don't do the alpine, you won't be able to improve your basics too!."

In other words, Kana Rei is practicing poles to make it even more beautiful on basic skis.

1"I can win" in the event

Last season, the big performance that Kano Rei experienced for the first time has arrived. March 28th to 30th, 2025 @ Sugadaira Ski Resort, the 9th All Japan Junior Technology Championship, will be competing for elementary school students between third and sixth graders. I was asked to share what happened at that time.

"It was my first big tournament, so I was actually nervous. But when I got to the start, I was able to get through it in a good way. I think I was able to show my true potential. I think I'm strong in the real world. My condition was getting better. I thought, 'I can win' in the first event."

The first event is "small maneuvering and rhythm change." Despite the poor visibility caused by the thick gas, I rhythmically chopped a sharp turn that would make sharp edging and descended at high speed. The judges continued to score 85 and 86 points as they drew strong skiing that would make them hard to believe they were elementary school girls. The audience was excited by the high score that was their first time.

Here's the slippage at that time. Maniwa Kanorei (Bib 313) will appear from around 18:45

"But in the second event, I failed incredibly just before the finish line. The snow was softer than I expected, and my skiing went sloppy. The score was fine, but if I could skate properly to the end, he would be cool. I wouldn't be bothered if I thought I was making a mistake even though I was in first place."

His desire for perfection is now a top athlete. Despite making minor mistakes, he came in first place in all three events, and won the overall championship with overwhelming strength, surpassing the others.

In fact, when Kano Rei was in the fifth grade, he was unsure whether to try out junior technical selection, but he delayed his participation by a year, saying, "He's not yet fully qualified." Kano Rei has surprisingly improved in just one season. We asked him what I think he has grown the most last season.

"I think I've improved a lot even after three days of junior technical selection. I came to the national tournament and received a lot of inspiration from those around me, and by experiencing the tournament, I sometimes get used to the competitive environment that's the best, and in a good sense, I think it's sometimes "drinking and improving"."

He even calmly analyzed how the tense tension of the tournament helped the players grow.

I can't stop 'loving'

Kano Rei says she watches and analyzes videos of various top athletes in order to improve.

"Because it's the Aomori Rossignol team, of course Rossignol's YouTube channel , Takeda Ryu and Yanaga Nana (lol). I also often watch videos of Kuriyama Mirai and Okumura Shun. I watch most of the YouTube footage of top players in Japan.

I want to be a player like this one is Yanaga Nana, who came in first place in the previous technical selection. Everything is already delicious. I use my lower body well and the position of my waist cannot move. The ankles are also very soft and the joints are extremely good. He's also a two-wielding style of basics and alpine, so it's amazing.

If you like it, Kuriyama Mirai is also the player. The inner tilt is just as impressive, and the edging is deep, which makes me dream of it. The skis come back in a flash, and I think the switching is quick and cool. It's typical of female players, but the hip joints and joints are very soft, and I think both Yanaga Nana and Kuriyama Mirai are very good at using the joints."

...The analysis never stops at this rate.

It is certain that this analytical ability is being used to greatly improve Kano Rei's speed of growth and technology. Plus, his intellectual curiosity. What do you get addicted to other than skiing? When I asked...

Only with Team Karen

Her own passion and hard work alone made it impossible to achieve this growth. The presence of parents, especially mothers, who have always been close to each other and supported them, is huge.
During the season, the mother drives Kanorei to Momosawa Ski Resort for 40 minutes each way from around 8am, and waits for Kanorei at the ski resort until around 9pm when the night game ends. What a dedication.

There was a very warm and heartwarming look of the family there. There is no doubt that Team Karen is the one who supports Kanorei's super kids.

Curious spirit becomes wings

Skiing was fun and engrossed, and before I knew it, I was skiing faster and more beautifully than anyone else.
The driving force behind this is an endless sense of curiosity and a feeling of love.
Super kids flying into the future - Maniwa Kanorei.

The story of an unknown adventure is only just beginning.