Maniwa Karen - The 12-year-old analyst's ongoing search for the form of "beauty"

With extraordinary sense and courage, they push the boundaries of what's possible in a white world without knowing the limits. We take a closer look at the pure and innocent ski life of these super kids

Born in Aomori, living in Canada

Maniwa Karen. Born on July 30, 2012, she is 12 years old. At the 9th All Japan Junior Ski Technical Championships, Junior (Elementary School) Girls Division, she won all three events with a landslide victory. She is a rising star who won her first Junior Technical Championship in her first appearance

Kanae is currently "back in Japan" and lives in Canada. Canada is the home of winter sports, with world-class resorts like Whistler, so why is she coming all the way to Japan to learn basic skiing? Who is this mysterious kid?

I listened to the talk with her mother at her home in Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture

--I understand you're currently living in Canada. Are you skiing in British Columbia, where Whistler is located?

"No, it's too cold where I live now, so it doesn't snow. I'm in St. Catherine, Ontario, near Niagara Falls, and I'm attending school there. It's a boarding school, so I've been in Canada alone for over a year now.
Why? Just because (laughs). I thought, 'Oh, maybe I should go to Canada' (laughs). But St. Catherine is so rural, there's nothing there, and it's boring. Japan is great because we have Don Quijote and stuff like that. I love Don Quijote!"

Thus began Kanae's story in a slightly mysterious tone. It turns out that her father is Canadian and her mother is from Aomori, meaning she is half Canadian. While one might think that the family lives in Canada, her father is actually an orthopedic surgeon who runs a clinic called Maniwa Orthopedic Clinic in Hirosaki City

Here's the mother's explanation of the situation:

"When Kanae was finishing fifth grade, she suddenly announced she wanted to go to Canada! Since she's half Canadian, we had always wanted her to go to Canada someday. It just happened a little sooner than expected. There are
only three boarding schools in Canada that accept elementary school students, and St. Catherine's was the closest to her father's home in Ontario. But during the winter, from December to March, she gets permission from the school to come back to Japan, where she completes her assignments online and skis every day."

"In Japan, I can practice while everyone is still in school, so I feel lucky♬. Every day, I skate all day long in my hometown, from morning until the night skiing ends!"
says Kana Rei.

I see, the background is finally starting to become clear

Invited into the world of white adventure

Born in Aomori and an elementary school student who won the All Japan Junior Technical Championships, you might think that Kanae must have been immersed in skiing from a young age, but she says that she first put on skis when she was in the first grade of elementary school

--(Editorial Department) Is there anything that sticks in your mind from the first time you went skiing?

"The ramen at Hyakusawa Ski Resort was delicious! (laughs) My uncle suggested I try skiing. There was a ski lesson that was free for Hirosaki residents, so I participated. I thought, '
Ah, so this is what skiing is like, it's fun!' I've been skiing ever since. I also clearly remember that my legs were incredibly sore the next day. I realized that skiing requires muscle strength."

"Skiing is fun!" she exclaimed, and coupled with her craving for ramen at the ski resort, Kana Rei began attending ski lessons every weekend and during winter break. Her initial goal was to take the Level 3 badge test, with her ultimate aim being to pass Level 1.

Here's a video of her skiing from when she was in second grade. Her challenging runs clearly demonstrate her excellent skiing talent.

He lived this skiing lifestyle until he was in the fourth grade, but in the fifth grade, his environment changed dramatically. He joined a local basic skiing team called "Aomori Rossignol." What was the trigger for this?

"There was a ROSSIGNOL test ride event at a ski resort, and I happened to attend, and the team manager invited me there. He said, 'That's a good idea!' (laughs). He said, 'Why don't you come?'"

The coach saw Kanae's skating, recognized her skiing talent, and scouted her to join the team. The coach's words ignited her desire to explore

However, I wanted to ask her why she chose basic skiing

The reason is that Hyakusawa Ski Resort, which Kanou Rei considers her "home," is a municipal ski resort in Hirosaki City, a small ski resort with a strong local character, but nearby is Owani Ski Resort. Speaking of Owani Ski Resort, it is a mecca for alpine skiing, famous as the home of To-O Gijuku High School, a prestigious school that produced Kimura Kiminori (from Hirosaki City), a former top slalom skier representing Japan. So why did Kanou Rei choose the path of basic skiing instead of alpine skiing?
Actually, there is an episode that explains this.

"I thought racing was cool and I wanted to try it, but it seemed like it would hurt to get hit by a pole and the speed was scary. So I decided to just do basic skiing (laughs)."

I was a little hesitant about alpine skiing, so I decided to enter the world of basic skiing, but it was as if I was being led to do so

12Old analyst

Kanae's growth since joining the Aomori Rossignol team has been incredible. She improves dramatically with each skate. Just by receiving advice from her coach, her technique has improved

Behind this lies Kanare's incredible abilities: her strong analytical skills, her ability to think logically and put it into words. Add to that her cheerful and easygoing personality and her open-minded mentality that allows her to absorb anything, and you have the best of both worlds

--What is the appeal of basic skiing to you, Kanae?

"There's no end to it. I strive to improve my technique and express beauty. Every year my skating technique changes, and I have many goals to improve to. Also, the fun part is the 'analysis'. It's so much fun to find problems in my skating and be able to improve them. Then, when I practice what my coach tells me to do and overcome them, I think the sense of accomplishment is even more satisfying. When I watch videos of my skating and think, 'I've changed!' I do a fist pump (laughs)."

I was drawn in by the gap between the carefree smile on his face as he spoke and the mindset of an athlete stoically pursuing the improvement of his skills

Pursuing beauty and honing strengths

--What are the strengths of your skating?　

"I guess it's turning using the flex of the board. And sharp edging."

What do you usually pay attention to when training?

"My coach keeps telling me the same thing over and over: 'Inward lean angle, inward lean angle' (laughs). How close can I get to the snow surface by deepening my inward lean angle? I think that's one of my challenges to make it look good.
Actually, my coach sent me off on a training trip (laughs). Since last season, I've been joining the Hirosaki University alpine team on and off, and now I'm racing with university students."

It's amazing that an elementary school student like him is allowed to join the pole practice of his university's ski club

“Recently, the techniques used in racing have been incorporated into the technical selections, and there are many skaters in the adult All-Japan competitions who have a background in racing, and there are also skaters in the All-Japan Junior competitions who have come from racing. I think that the techniques, such as edge angle and turn entry, are becoming more racing-oriented. I also think that the visual style is becoming more racing-oriented

So I think that in terms of fundamentals and racing technique, they are surprisingly similar. The obvious difference is beauty or speed. I think that in the technical competition, they are looking for beauty above all else."

It is certainly said that the evaluation criteria for the technical competition are now centered on alpine techniques, thanks to the skiing of Ryu Takeda, a six-time reigning champion and former FIS World Cup participant. It seems that the
junior technical competition is following this trend. Ryu Takeda himself has said, "I always tell the juniors, 'You won't get good at the basics unless you do alpine skiing!'"

In other words, Kanae is practicing poles in order to ski more beautifully in basic skiing

1"I can win" in the event

Last season, Kanae Kanae had her first big stage experience. She competed in the elementary school division of the 9th All Japan Junior Technical Championships, held at Sugadaira Ski Resort from March 28th to 30th, 2025, for third to sixth graders. We asked her about what it was like

"It was my first big competition, so I was actually quite nervous. But when I got to the start, I kind of let it all out, in a good way. I think that's how I was able to show my true potential. I think I'm pretty strong in real competitions. My condition was improving too. After the first event, I thought, 'I can win now.'"

The first event was "Tight Turns and Rhythm Changes." Despite poor visibility due to thick fog, she made sharp turns with sharp edges and came down at high speed. Her powerful skating was hard to believe coming from an elementary school girl, and the judges awarded her 85 and 86 points one after another. The audience erupted in excitement at this high score, which was her first time receiving such a high score

Here is the video of her skating. Maniwa Kanarei (bib 313) appears from around 18:45

"But in the second event, a tight turn, I messed up completely right before the finish line. The snow was softer than I expected, and my skis started to slip. I didn't get much points, but I thought it would have been cooler if I'd been able to ski properly all the way to the end. I mean, it would have been a little annoying if people thought I'd messed up even though I came in first place."

His pursuit of perfection is what makes him a top athlete. Despite making some small mistakes, he came in first in all three events and achieved the overall victory with overwhelming strength that surpassed the others

In fact, Kanarei was in the fifth grade and wondered whether to compete in the Junior Technical Championships, but decided to postpone it for a year because "I wasn't yet strong enough." In just one season, Kanarei has improved her level remarkably. We asked her what she thought was the biggest improvement she made last season

"I think I improved a lot during the three days I spent in Nagano for the Junior Technical Championships. Coming to the national tournament, I was inspired by the people around me, and by experiencing a tournament, I think I got used to the environment of a crucial match, and in a good way, I think I was able to improve by being absorbed in it."

He even calmly analyzed how the intense tension of a tournament helps players grow

I can't stop loving you

Kanare says she watches and analyzes videos of various top athletes in order to improve

"Since I'm on the Aomori Rossignol team, of courseRossignol's YouTube channel, and videos of Ryu Takeda and Nana Yanaga (laughs). I also often watch videos of Mirai Kuriyama and Shun Okumura. I watch YouTube videos of almost all of the top athletes in Japan."

The athlete I want to be like is Nana Miyanaga, who came in first in the last technical competition. She's good at everything. She uses her lower body well, and her hips don't move. Her ankles are also very flexible, and she uses her joints incredibly well. She's also a master of both basic and alpine skiing, which I think is amazing

My favorite skier is Miku Kuriyama. Her inward lean angle is just amazing, and her edging is deep, which I admire. Her skis return incredibly well, and her quick transitions are so cool. This is something that is unique to female skiers, but their hip joints and joints are so flexible, and I think both Nana Yanagi and Miku Kuriyama are really good at using their joints

...And the analysis continues like this

It is certain that Kanae's analytical ability has been put to good use in her rapid growth and improvement of her skills. In addition, her intellectual curiosity. When asked what she is into besides skiing..

Thanks to Team Karen

Her growth to this point could not have been achieved through her passion and hard work alone. The presence of her parents, especially her mother, who have always been by her side and supported her, has been immense.
Almost every day during the season, her mother drives Kana Rei to Hyakusawa Ski Resort around 8 a.m., a 40-minute drive each way, and waits for her there until around 9 p.m., when the night skiing ends. What incredible devotion.

It was a truly warm and heartwarming sight to see such a family. There is no doubt that it is "Team Karen" that is supporting Kanare's super kid-like behavior

Curiosity gives you wings

Skiing was so much fun, so captivating, that before she knew it, she was skiing faster and more beautifully than anyone else.
The driving force behind it all was an insatiable curiosity and a passion for what she loved.
A super kid poised to soar into the future—Kanare Maniwa.

The story of her unknown adventure has only just begun.