Latest news with #Shida
The Star
09-07-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Japan's Shida-Matsuyama to end partnership at world meet
PETALING JAYA: The World Championships in Paris from Aug 25 will be the swansong for world No. 2 pair Chiharu Shida-Nami Matsuyama after more than a decade together. The surprise announcement was made by the Japanese women's doubles pair in Kumamoto on Tuesday. Shida will team up with Arisa Igarashi, while Nami Matsuyama has yet to decide on her next step. Shida admitted that the decision may come as a shock to some, but insisted that her goal of becoming world No. 1 remains unchanged despite the change in partnership. 'Personally, while I'm satisfied with what we achieved at the Olympics, there are still some regrets. I've always had a strong desire to become the world No. 1 pair, and I'm still determined to keep competing,' said Shida, who enjoys a strong global fan following. 'Starting September, I'll be playing with a new partner, and our aim is to become the top women's doubles pair in the world.' Matsuyama, meanwhile, paid tribute to their decade-long partnership and the memories they created together. 'For the past 10 years, we always gave our best, supported by everyone around us. From close teammates to becoming the best of partners, this is a chapter I will cherish for the rest of my life,' she said. 'There are no words that can truly express my gratitude to Shida. Having her as my partner was nothing short of a blessing.' Throughout their 10-year partnership, Shida and Matsuyama enjoyed plenty of success, including a silver medal at the Asian Championships in Ningbo, China, in April. They also proved to be a tough hurdle for Malaysia's Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, having beaten the national pair in the bronze medal playoff at the Paris Olympics last year. In total, they already have 12 titles and 14 runners-up finishes under their belt on the BWF World Tour. They still have a chance to add to their tally before going their separate ways, with the Japan Open starting next Tuesday, followed by the China Open a week later.
The Mainichi
09-07-2025
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Badminton: Olympic bronze-winning pair Chiharu Shida, Nami Matsuyama to part ways
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Paris Olympic badminton women's doubles bronze medalists Chiharu Shida and Nami Matsuyama will part ways after next month's world championships in the French capital, the pair announced Tuesday. Shida, 28, plans to form a new women's doubles partnership with two-time Olympic mixed doubles bronze medalist Arisa Igarashi, while the 27-year-old Matsuyama is considering a move into mixed doubles. At a press conference in southwestern Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture, the pair spoke of how their paths diverged after claiming the bronze medal at last summer's Olympics. While Shida wanted to become "the best in the world," Matsuyama felt she had maximized her potential in the event. "I worked as hard as I could for the Olympics," Matsuyama said. "I couldn't imagine myself getting even stronger, and I didn't want to stand in the way of my partner aiming higher." They will play their last competition on home soil together at the Japan Open from July 15, before turning their attention to the world championships in Paris. "I've spent more time with Matsuyama than with my family," Shida said. "Since our last competition is in Paris, with which we have a special connection, I want to win the world championship there."
Fashion United
18-06-2025
- Business
- Fashion United
Naked Wardrobe is expanding to the UK with wholesale partner Flannels
Los Angeles-based fashion label Naked Wardrobe, founded in 2012 by three sisters Shirin, Shida, and Shideh Kaviani, to fill a gap in the solution-based basics market, is expanding to the UK through a wholesale partnership with luxury retailer Flannels. The move is described as a 'significant milestone' in the brand's international expansion strategy and will see Naked Wardrobe's cult-favourite solution-forward basics and Original Sculpted Streetwear available to consumers across the UK, in Flannel stores and online from June 20. Naked Wardrobe collection at Flannels Credits: Naked Wardrobe Flannels, which has more than 80 stores in the UK and Ireland, will launch with a curated selection of elevated basics and modern suiting designed to streamline and elevate the everyday wardrobe with versatile, foundational styles. Styles will include Naked Wardrobe's bestselling bodysuits, dresses, jumpsuits, blazers, trousers, and skirts in its signature neutral tones, featuring the brand's exclusive fabrications and sculpted silhouettes. The Naked Wardrobe styles will be available in sizes XS to XL, with prices ranging from 30 to 185 pounds. Naked Wardrobe collection at Flannels Credits: Naked Wardrobe Naked Wardrobe launching bestselling basics and ready-to-wear styles in the UK with Flannels Commenting on the expansion, Shideh, Shirin and Shida Kaviani, founders of Naked Wardrobe, said in a statement: 'Flannels has established itself as a leading destination for emerging fashion discovery and modern luxury. We share their commitment to delivering high-quality, thoughtfully designed ready-to-wear that resonates with today's consumer. 'Through this partnership, we are elated to introduce Naked Wardrobe to the UK market in a way that feels true to our brand. This expansion is a meaningful step for us, and we're looking forward to building a strong, lasting connection with shoppers across the United Kingdom.' Naked Wardrobe collection at Flannels Credits: Naked Wardrobe Naked Wardrobe launched in 2012 and became known for its sleek, form-fitting, and stretchy bodysuits, leggings and dresses, as seen on celebrities such as Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, Sophie Turner, Lori Harvey, Kylie Jenner, Jennifer Lopez, and Kim, Kourtney and Khloé Kardashian. In 2024, the LA-based brand relaunched with a new visual brand identity and product strategy, pivoting towards more elevated styles, shifting away from a fast-fashion approach of releasing weekly new arrivals to creating 'true collections'. This new elevated, evolved aesthetic focuses around its 'Sculpted Streetwear' collections, utilising innovative fabrics and advanced technologies for high-impact sculpting and maximum compression without sacrificing comfort. Naked Wardrobe collection at Flannels Credits: Naked Wardrobe Naked Wardrobe collection at Flannels Credits: Naked Wardrobe
Kyodo News
05-06-2025
- Kyodo News
Japan sees record number of stalking investigations in 2024
KYODO NEWS - 4 minutes ago - 14:10 | All, Japan Japanese police investigated more than 1,300 cases of stalking in 2024, the highest since a law criminalizing the act was enacted in 2000, according to police data released Thursday. The figure is 260 cases higher than the previous year and comes as the National Police Agency has instructed forces working out of prefectural headquarters to liaise more closely with local stations to better respond to such complaints. Police put added emphasis on stalking after the May discovery of the body of Asahi Okazaki, 20, who had gone to police to report abuse from her former partner, who has since been arrested in connection with her death. The figures from the agency also showed that a record 2,415 restraining orders were issued in 2024, up 452. Police received 19,567 stalking consultations, 276 fewer than the previous year but still around the 20,000 annual mark seen recently. Of the 1,341 cases investigated for violations of the anti-stalking act, 1,108 involved activities such as following individuals or attempting to arrange an in-person meeting with the target. The remaining 233 were restraining order violations. Under Japan's anti-stalking law, individuals repeatedly committing such acts can be imprisoned for up to a year or fined up to 1 million yen ($7,000). Those ignoring police warnings or restraining orders face up to two years in prison or fines of up to 2 million yen. Separately, 1,743 stalking-related crimes were investigated in 2024 under laws such as the Penal Code. They included 378 home intrusions, 187 instances of intimidation and 122 assaults. The data also showed there were 63 rape investigations and 11 for attempted murder. To better reflect the reality of stalking issues, police revised their statistical methods in 2024 to include all relevant cases regardless of when consultation occurred. Data until 2023 included only restraining orders and investigations from cases consulted in the same year. Related coverage: Man faces police questioning after ex-girlfriend's body found in home Olympic badminton medalist Shida complains of fan stalking in China
The Independent
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Who is Chiharu Shida? The ‘badminton goddess' calling out fans for stalking
Chiharu Shida, one of Japan's most promising badminton talents, has built a reputation for her sharp reflexes, graceful footwork, and unwavering focus on the court. But in the recent weeks, the 27-year-old captured global attention for reasons that extend beyond her athletic prowess – publicly addressing the invasive fan culture that shadows many women athletes. In an Instagram post, Shida called on fans in China to stop following her and invading her personal space, describing the repeated stalking as distressing and frightening. The athlete, who won a bronze medal in women's doubles at the 2024 Paris Olympics with her long-time partner Nami Matsuyama, made the appeal in a Chinese-language Instagram post while competing at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo. 'Thank you to everyone for your continued support, but I would like to request something from all my fans,' she wrote. 'We have been stalked every time we compete in China, it has already been going on for a year and a half. Recently, we've been feeling very uncomfortable and very scared.' While Shida did not clarify who she meant by 'we', she and Matsuyama, currently ranked world number three, have a prominent fanbase across East Asia, particularly in China, where Shida is often referred to in media as the 'most beautiful badminton player' or 'badminton goddess'. She acknowledged that most supporters were respectful but warned that if the harassment continued, she would be forced to 'think of a way to handle it'. Shida also urged fans to focus on her matches, not her private life. 'Please immediately stop the stalking and similar behaviour,' she wrote. 'Finally, please focus on us in the stadium, not on our private lives. Thanks again.' The shuttler's celebrity in China surged after the Paris Olympics, where her bright demeanour and court presence captured local media attention. Her Instagram following has since soared past one million. Despite the off-court anxiety, Shida remains a spirited figure in the badminton world. In August last year, she shared lighthearted photos with Chinese rival Tan Ning on social media, showing the two mimicking animated characters Judy and Nick from Zootopia, as well as My Melody and Kuromi from the Japanese Sanrio universe. 'Although we yelled at each other on court, we are close to each other outside the court,' wrote Shida. 'She is a very interesting and cute kid.' Tan, who along with her partner Liu Shengshu defeated Shida and Matsuyama in the Olympic semifinals, reposted the images with the caption, 'you [are] cute more than me'. Despite their loss, the Japanese duo bounced back to win bronze, beating Malaysia's Pearly Tan and Muralitharan Thinaah in straight sets. On the podium, Shida was seen smiling and winking at Tan – a moment that further charmed Chinese fans, many of whom took to social media to jokingly plead for Tan not to steal their 'goddess', reported South China Morning Post. A native of Japan born in 1997, Shida first gained attention after winning a bronze at the 2014 Asian Junior Badminton Championship. Her first senior international title came at the 2016 Vietnam International, followed by a victory at the 2018 Taiwan Open. With Matsuyama, her trusted partner, Shida climbed to a career-high world ranking of number two in 2022. The duo experienced a 15-month title drought after their last win at the China Masters in November 2023. However, that dry spell ended with a dramatic victory at the prestigious All England Open in March 2025. The pair defeated compatriots Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto in a tense 83-minute final to reclaim the title they last won in 2022. 'Every year, we talk about wanting to win this tournament,' said Shida, according to Kyodo News. 'We were disappointed to finish as runners-up last year, but I'm really happy we won this time.' The pair's path back to the top wasn't easy. Matsuyama had taken a brief break at the start of the season, during which Shida played with veteran Misaki Matsutomo in a temporary pairing. The reunion paid off with a powerful comeback on the circuit. 'We were exhausted physically and emotionally and we were not in condition,' Shida said, reflecting on the period after the Olympics. 'Over the year end we really worked on strength and condition during training, and I believe that has worked for us.' Away from the court, Shida has also shown interest in exploring the world of media. When sidelined by injury during the Malaysia Open in January 2023, she tried her hand at post-match interviews, surprising teammate Akane Yamaguchi by appearing as a rookie TV reporter. 'I was more nervous behind the camera than in front of it,' she admitted, after enjoying a stint wearing the official Badminton World Federation jacket.
