{{Short description|Annual ice show}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}} {{Infobox recurring event |name = Prince Ice World |native_name = {{lang|ja|プリンスアイスワールド}} |native_name_lang = ja |logo = 250px |logo_alt = |image = |image_size = 250px |alt = refer to caption |caption = |status = Ongoing |genre = Ice show |frequency = Annual |country = Japan |first = 1978 |founder_name = Prince Hotels, Inc. |last = 2023 |next = |attendance = |capacity = |budget = |activity = Skating exhibitions |organized = Seibu Group and Prince Hotels, Inc. |people = |sponsor = Blue Muse Co., Ltd. |website = {{URL|https://www.princeiceworld.com/}} }} '''Prince Ice World''' (プリンスアイスワールド) is the oldest ice show in Japan and was founded by Prince Hotels, Inc. in 1978. The show has a different theme each year and is known for its elaborately produced group numbers performed by the Prince Ice World company that consists of about thirty world-class skaters. National and international top skaters are invited as guests.
The show is produced by Seibu Group and Prince Hotels with Blue Muse Co., Ltd. as the official sponsor. Prince Hotels and Blue Muse are both subsidiaries of Seibu Group.
== History == Prince Ice World was the first ice show in Japan and was originally called "Viva! Ice World". It was founded by Prince Hotels, Inc. in 1978,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Seibu Group History |url=https://www.seibuholdings.co.jp/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230513025957/https://www.seibuholdings.co.jp/en/group/history/ |archive-date=2023-05-13 |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=西武ホールディングス |language=ja}}</ref> and early performances took place at Shinagawa Skate Center.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Prince Ice World in Prince Ice World {{!}} Figure Skating, Dance and Performance art Sports event – Find out deeper experience with your interests {{!}} Deep Dive JAPAN |url=https://deep-dive.jp/en/t/15/keyword/8507/amp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331035041/https://deep-dive.jp/en/t/15/amp |archive-date=2023-03-31 |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=deep-dive.jp}}</ref> The show developed into an annual event, and the first five seasons included Japanese champions Miwa Fukuhara, Nobu Sato (father of Yuka Sato), and Minoru Sano.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Holiday On Ice International: Ambassadors On Ice |url=https://www.icestagearchive.com/holiday-on-ice-international-ambassadors-on-ice/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224173446/https://www.icestagearchive.com/holiday-on-ice-international-ambassadors-on-ice/ |archive-date=2021-02-24 |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=icestagearchive.com}}</ref> In 1985, "Viva! Ice World" expanded to other Japanese cities with shows in Kyoto, Fukuoka, Nagoya and Sapporo, and finally, in 1988 "Viva! Ice World" was renamed to "Prince Ice World."<ref name=":1" />
In 1978 Shinobu Watanabe and Minoru Sano starred in the initial Prince Hotel Ice Shows. 1992 Olympic silver medalist Midori Ito starred in Prince Ice World in the 1990s with Yuka Sato and Junko Yaginuma. Fans bearing flowers and gifts flocked to see favorites Shizuka Awakawa, Takeshi Honda, Fumie Suguri, Miki Ando, Mao Asada, and Daisuke Takahashi. International guest stars through the years have included Ilia Kulik, Jozef Sabovcik, Elena Leanova Andrei Khvalko, Evgeni Pluschenko, and Alexei Yagudin.<ref name=":2" />
== Concept == The shows run for about nine days each year, featuring solo performances by invited national guest stars and international stars from overseas. Each season has its own theme with specially crafted sets and the Prince Ice World company performing in intricately designed costumes. Past themes include Hello Kitty and titles such as "Let's Enjoy Skating" and "Pop Step Dance".<ref name=":2" /> The most recent theme in 2023 was "Broadway Classics."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=プリンスアイスワールド2023–2024横浜公演特設サイト |url=https://www.piw2023.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230430150057/https://www.piw2023.com/ |archive-date=2023-04-30 |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=PIW2023横浜公演特設サイト |language=ja}}</ref>
== Audience and accessibility == The shows were televised on Fuji TV from 1993 till 2000 when Tokai Television Broadcasting purchased the media rights.<ref name=":1" /> In 2022, the performance in Yokohama was broadcast on TV Tokyo.<ref>{{Cite web |last=TVガイド |title=宇野昌磨、鍵山優真らがゲスト出演！「プリンスアイスワールド2022–2023 横浜公演」スペシャルリポート |url=https://www.tvguide.or.jp/feature/feature-1523914/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510073256/https://www.tvguide.or.jp/feature/feature-1523914/ |archive-date=2022-05-10 |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=TVガイドWeb |language=ja}}</ref>
== Cast == National top skaters performing in Prince Ice World since the show was established include:<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0" />
* {{Flag icon|JPN}} Shinobu Watanabe * {{Flag icon|JPN}} Midori Ito * {{Flag icon|JPN}} Yuka Sato * {{Flag icon|JPN}} Junko Yaginuma * {{Flag icon|JPN}}Shizuka Arakawa * {{Flag icon|JPN}}Mao Asada * {{Flag icon|JPN}}Yuzuru Hanyu * {{Flag icon|JPN}}Takeshi Honda * {{Flag icon|JPN}}Fumie Suguri * {{Flag icon|JPN}}Miki Ando * {{Flag icon|JPN}}Daisuke Takahashi * {{Flag icon|JPN}}Shoma Uno * {{Flag icon|JPN}}Miwa Fukuhara * {{Flag icon|JPN}}Nobu Sato * {{Flag icon|JPN}}Minoru Sano * {{Flag icon|JPN}}Nobunari Oda * {{Flag icon|JPN}}Keiji Tanaka * {{Flag icon|JPN}}Kana Muramoto / Daisuke Takahashi * {{Flag icon|JPN}}Yuma Kagiyama * {{Flag icon|JPN}}Marin Honda * {{Flag icon|JPN}}Wakaba Higuchi * {{Flag icon|JPN}}Kazuki Tomono * {{Flag icon|JPN}}Kao Miura * {{Flag icon|JPN}}Rion Sumiyoshi * {{Flag icon|JPN}}Ami Nakai
International guest skaters include:<ref>{{Cite web |title=出演者｜プリンスアイスワールド2019–2020 札幌公演 |url=https://gakuon.co.jp/piwsapporo/guest.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731080143/https://gakuon.co.jp/piwsapporo/guest.html |archive-date=2021-07-31 |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=gakuon.co.jp}}</ref>
* {{Flag icon|RUS}} Alexei Yagudin * {{Flag icon|RUS}} Evgeni Plushenko * {{Flag icon|CZE}} Jozef Sabovcik * {{Flag icon|US}} Nathan Chen * {{Flag icon|RUS}} Ilia Kulik * {{Flag icon|RUS}} Elena Leanova / Andrei Khvalko
== Notes and references ==
=== Citations === <references />
=== External links === *[https://www.princeiceworld.com/ Prince Ice World] (Official Website) *[https://twitter.com/princeiceworld Prince Ice World] on Twitter *[https://www.instagram.com/princeiceworld/ Prince Ice World] on Instagram
{{Ice show}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Ice shows Category:Touring performing arts Category:Annual events in Japan Category:Entertainment events in Japan