As you've probably noticed (unless you've been living under a rock), this seems to be the season for surprise retirements and/or serious injuries. We already heard that Daisuke Takahasi, who broke the record for highest combined total under the CoP last year at the Four Continents Championship, dropped out of Cup of China due to an injury, but reports are trickling in from Japan that he's dropped out of the 2008-2009 season altogether to undergo surgery to his ACL.
This is horrible news for Daisuke who, after posting that huge total last season, faltered at Worlds and seemed to have a rough summer that included a coaching change due to rival Nobunari Oda arriving at his training center in New Jersey. Sitting out the season before the Olympics is never a beneficial thing, but it's best that he rests and is fully healthy for the 09-10 season. Good luck, Daisuke!
Taking up the reins of the Japanese mens field will be countrymen Nobunari Oda, who is back this season, and Takahiko Kozuka, who, with a gold at Skate America and silver at Bompard, has cemented his place at the top of his field. Takahashi's hiatus also increases the chance that men who didn't perform at their best, such as Evan Lysacek, will have a better chance at making the Final.
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