Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara announce engagement

Japanese figure skating pair Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, popularly known as ‘Riku-Ryu’, announced their engagement on August 23. The couple shared the news via social media, posting photos of Kihara proposing on the ice. In a joint statement, they expressed that through both happy and difficult times, they have become ‘irreplaceable and indispensable’ to one another.

The pair achieved historic success in the sport, most notably winning Japan’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in figure skating pairs at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games. Their victory was marked by a dramatic comeback in the free program after a fifth-place standing in the short program. They also achieved a ‘Golden Slam,’ winning the Olympics, World Championships, Four Continents Championships, and Grand Prix Final.

After retiring from competitive skating in April 2026, the duo has transitioned into professional activities, including producing ice shows and exploring coaching opportunities to support the development of pair skating in Japan.