Takeshi Honda: From Ice to Canvas Early Life and Skating Career Takeshi Honda was born on March 23, 1981, in Kōriyama, Fukushima, Japan. He initially pursued short track speed skating with his brother at the age of six before transitioning to figure skating at nine. His dedication led him to Sendai for training under Hiroshi Nagakubo at twelve. In December 1997, Honda moved to Simsbury, Connecticut, to train with Galina Zmievskaya, and later to Barrie, Ontario, Canada, working with Doug Leigh. Represented Japan at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, finishing 15th. Became the inaugural…