Lifestyle Mar. 06, 2010 - 05:41AM JST ( 14 )

OSAKA —

Ice skating rinks in Japan are enjoying renewed popularity thanks to the Vancouver Winter Olympics. In Osaka, in particular, ice skating rink operators say numbers have been up, attributing it to heightened interest brought about by Olympic skaters such as silver medalist Mao Asada and gold medalist Kim Yu-na.

The number of skaters this winter at Hirakata Park and Furitsukadoma Sports Center is much higher than the last two years, say rink operators. Another factor, they said, was the success of speedskater Keiichiro Nagashima who won the silver medal and figure skater Daisuke Takahashi who won the bronze medal.

On the weekend after the women’s figure skating competition, the number of skaters surpassed 2,300, a 30% increase over last year at this time.

“Usually, numbers are down from the end of February, but when Nagashima won the silver medal, we saw more people coming, and then after Kim and Mao performed, we saw a bigger increase,” said an official at Naniwa Sports Center in Osaka.

To celebrate Asada’s silver medal, the center held a free skating session one afternoon last week. In the waiting line were many elementary school and middle school students. “I think the accomplishment of Japanese skaters at the Winter Games have had a big impact on the kids,” said the center official. “I think the great turnout will continue until the end of winter.”

The same scenes were repeated at Furitsurinkai Sports Center in Takaishi City and Uenoshiba Green Club in Sakai City in the Kansai.

At Hirakata Park’s Skate Arena Ice Square, 62,859 people had visited the rink as of Feb 28, about 80% more than last year.

News reports