Taiga Nishino

is a Japanese figure skater. He is the 2026 World Junior bronze medalist, a two-time ISU Junior Grand Prix medalist, and a two-time Japanese junior national medalist.

Personal life Nishino was born on 16 October 2009 in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. His hobbies include cooking, shopping and napping.

Career Early career Nishino began skating at age five, inspired by his older sister and watching Yuzuru Hanyu's Parisienne Walkways short program at the 2014 Winter Olympics. His first coach was Eri Kikkawa.

Nishino debuted as a basic novice skater at the 2019–20 Japan Championships, winning the silver medal and winning bronze the following year. He subsequently went on to win silver on the advanced novice level and finished twelfth on the junior level at the 2022–23 Japan Championships.

In December, Nishino competed at the 2024–25 Japan Championships, where he placed twelfth overall. He went on to compete at 2025 JGP Poland, winning the silver medal. With these results, Nishino qualified for the 2025–26 Junior Grand Prix Final.

The following month, he competed at the 2025–26 Junior Grand Prix Final in Nagoya, Japan, placing fifth overall. Two weeks later, Nishino competed on the senior level at the 2025–26 Japan Championships, finishing in eleventh place overall.

Selected to compete at the 2026 World Junior Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, Nishino placed fourth in the short program and second in the free skate to win the bronze medal overall behind Rio Nakata and Seo Min-kyu as well as scoring personal bests in all competition segments.

Programs Season Short program Free skating Exhibition 2026–2027 Piano Concerto In C Minor, 'Rhapsody In Blue' Part II The Four Seasons Spring 2 Summer 3 Autumn 2 Winter 1 Hitokiri Battosai ~Killing Sword~ 2025–2026 I Want You Back Eleanor Rigby

Carmina Burana O Fortuna Primo Vere: Veris Leta Facies - Omnia Sol Temperat - Ecce Gratum 2022–2023