Saitama (さいたま市, Saitama-shi^?) is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, situated in the south-east of the prefecture. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance. Being in the Greater Tokyo Area and lying 15 - 30 kilometres north of central Tokyo, many of its residents commute into Tokyo.

The city was founded on May 1, 2001, and was designated on April 1, 2003 as a government ordinance. For the histories of Urawa, Ōmiya and Yono before the merger, see Urawa-ku and Saitama, Ōmiya-ku and Saitama and Yono and Saitama, respectively.

On April 1, 2005, it merged with the city of Iwatsuki to its east, which became a new ward, Iwatsuki-ku.

The city is located 20 to 30 km north of central Tokyo, roughly at the center of the Kantō Plain. Within Saitama Prefecture, the location corresponds to the southeastern portion bordered by Ageo City, Hasuda City, and Shiraoka Town to the north; Asaka City, Kawaguchi City, Toda City, and Warabi City to the south; Koshigaya City to the east; Kasukabe City to the northeast; and Kawagoe City, Shiki City, and Fujimi City to the west.

Yuzuru Hanyū (羽生 結弦, Hanyū Yuzuru^?) (born December 7, 1994 in Sendai, Miyagi, Japan) is a Japanese figure skater. He is the 2012 World bronze medalist, the 2010 World Junior Champion, the 2011 Four Continents silver medalist, the 2009-10 Junior Grand Prix Final Champion and a two-time Japanese junior national champion.

Hanyu began skating at the age of four. He first competed nationally as a novice skater in the 2004-05 season; he skated at the 2004 Japan Novice Championships in the Novice B category, which is the lower of the two categories at the novice level, and won the gold medal in this competition. In the 2006-07 season, Hanyu competed at the 2006 Japan Novice Championships in the Novice A category and won the bronze medal. This placement earned him an invitation to compete at the 2006 Japan Junior Championships, where he placed 7th.

Hanyu competed at the 2007 Japan Novice Championships in the Novice A category and won the event. He was invited to compete in the 2007 Japan Junior Championships, where he won the bronze medal.

Mao Asada (浅田 真央, Asada Mao^?, born September 25, 1990) is a Japanese figure skater.

She is the 2010 Winter Olympic silver medalist, a two-time (2008 & 2010) World champion, a two-time (2008 & 2010) Four Continents champion, a two-time (2005–2006 & 2008–2009) Grand Prix Final champion, the 2005 World Junior champion, the 2004–2005 Junior Grand Prix Final champion and a five-time (2006–2009, 2011) Japanese national champion.

At the 2010 Winter Olympics, she became the first woman to land three triple axel jumps in the same competition.

Mao Asada was born in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan. She was named after the Japanese actress Mao Daichi. She attended Nagoya International School until the middle of 1st grade. After transferring, she graduated from Takabari Elementary School and Takabaridai Junior High. She received her high school diploma from Chukyo High School on March 15, 2009. After that, she enrolled in Chukyo University.

Her sister Mai Asada (two years older) is also a figure skater and finished 6th at the 2006 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships. She is now skating in shows.

Anna JoAnn Cappellini (born 19 February 1987 in Como) is an Italian ice dancer who competes with Luca Lanotte. They are the 2012 Italian National Champions as well as the 2007–2010 Italian silver medalists and the 2006 junior national champions. They have won four senior Grand Prix medals.

Cappellini started skating at the age of three and switched to ice dance when she was 11 or 12. She skated with Federico Bassi, Luca Lombardi, and Matteo Zanni. She and Zanni placed fifth at the 2004 World Junior Championships. The next season, they won the bronze medal at the Junior Grand Prix Final but had to withdraw from the 2005 Junior Worlds after the original dance due to Zanni's food poisoning. Their partnership ended after his father was severely injured in a car accident and he decided to stop competing.

Cappellini was partnered with Lanotte in May 2005 by the Italian skating federation. Following a strong season together on the junior circuit, Cappellini and Lanotte made their senior debut in 2006–07. They finished 8th at their first Europeans. Before their next event, Worlds, Cappellini suffered a torn labrum in her left shoulder. In the free dance at Worlds, they fell during a lift and finished 13th.

Luca Lanotte (born July 30, 1985 in Milan) is an Italian ice dancer. He competes with Anna Cappellini. They are the 2012 Italian National Champions as well as the 2007-2010 Italian silver medalists and the 2006 junior national champions. They have won four senior Grand Prix medals.

Luca Lanotte started skating at the age of seven and switched to ice dance when he was ten. His sister, Ada, was a synchronized skater. He skated with Adriana Jovino, Camilla Spelta, and Camilla Pistorello, placing ninth at Junior Worlds with Pistorello.

Lanotte was partnered with Anna Cappellini in May 2005 by the Italian skating federation. Following a strong season together on the junior circuit, Cappellini and Lanotte made their senior debut in 2006-07. They finished 8th at their first Europeans. Before their next event, Worlds, Cappellini suffered a torn labrum in her left shoulder. In the free dance at Worlds, they fell during a lift and finished 13th.

In 2007-08, they won their first Grand Prix medal, a silver at Skate Canada, moved up to seventh at Europeans, and finished in the top ten at Worlds.