Figure Skating Pair 'Rikura-Ryu' Announces Engagement

Japanese figure skating stars Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, affectionately known as 'Rikura-Ryu', have announced their engagement, bringing more joy to fans after their recent retirement from competition.

The beloved pair, who captured gold at the Milan Winter Olympics earlier this year, marking a historic first for a Japanese team in the Olympic pairs figure skating event, had announced their retirement from competitive skating on April 17. Their decision sparked considerable discussion among fans and the figure skating community.

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Whether in happy times or difficult times, we have spent much time together, supporting each other to reach today. Before we knew it, we had become irreplaceable, indispensable presences to each other.

However, the 'Rikura-Ryu' duo has now delivered exciting personal news. Both Miura and Kihara independently posted on their social media accounts on May 23 to announce their engagement. The posts included heartwarming photos of Kihara proposing to Miura on the ice, radiating happiness.

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Now that we can finally report this to everyone, we are truly happy. From now on, we will continue to support each other, be ourselves as always, and move forward step by step. We would be very happy if everyone could continue to warmly support us in the future.

In their joint statement, Miura and Kihara expressed their deep connection, stating, "Whether in happy times or difficult times, we have spent much time together, supporting each other to reach today. Before we knew it, we had become irreplaceable, indispensable presences to each other." They conveyed their joy in sharing the news, adding, "Now that we can finally report this to everyone, we are truly happy. From now on, we will continue to support each other, be ourselves as always, and move forward step by step. We would be very happy if everyone could continue to warmly support us in the future."

The announcement was particularly poignant as it followed Miura's birthday message to Kihara on "X" (formerly Twitter) the previous day, where she wished him a happy birthday and expressed her desire for him to continue being his "serious, cautious, optimistic, and always smiling 'elementary school student Kihara Ryuichi'." The couple chose to reveal their engagement the day after Kihara's birthday, adding an extra layer of celebration to the happy occasion.

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From now on, continue to be that serious, cautious, optimistic, and always smiling 'elementary school student Kihara Ryuichi'!