Big in Japan: Ice skater Janet Lynn's return to Rockford will be livestreamed in Japan

Cheap Trick was one of the first bands to make it Big in Japan, becoming known as the “American Beatles” after their 1978 live album Cheap Trick at Budokan went multi-platinum.

Becoming Big in Japan soon became a musical term, with bands like The Runaways — making it bigger there than in their home country.

But Cheap Trick wasn’t the first Rockford star to make it Big in Japan. Janet Lynn did it six years earlier. And she remains big 51 years after winning the bronze medal in figure skating at the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sappora, Japan.

When Lynn makes a rare return to Rockford for a speech and question and answer session from 10 a.m. to noon on June 10 at Midway Village, her talk will be carried via livestream in Japan by long-time figure skating writer Jack Gallagher at Japan-Forward.com.

More: How to see Janet Lynn when Olympic figure skater returns to Rockford

Lynn was known for her grace and style as well as her athleticism, even popularizing her “bob” hairstyle.

“The Sapporo Olympics marked the first time Japan had hosted the Winter Games. At that time, the level of Japanese figure skating was nowhere near what it is today with Japan being a world power,” Gallagher said, explaining Lynn’s immense popularity at the time. “The Japanese fans liked Janet's skating style and her hair style.”

And her personality. A sweet smile after falling on a sit spin touched Japanese hearts.

“As she got up, she smiled, and this moment became etched in time," Gallagher said. "I think most people watching would have thought that Janet would have frowned and been upset after falling, but she did the opposite.”

Janet Lynn is remembered, even today, as one of the greatest skaters of all time. But she sometimes slips through the cracks because the rules at that time heavily counted compulsory figures, skating round circles in private sessions before a judge, a part of the competition that was eliminated not long after Lynn retired. That kept her from winning an Olympic or World title.

But Japanese fans saw her and don’t forget her greatness.

“Japan is a country that respects tradition and remembers iconic moments,” Gallagher said. “Even though Janet was not Japanese, it was her reaction to this huge moment on the world stage that fascinated Japanese fans. People over 60 who watched the Sapporo Games remember Janet to this day. Janet was featured on the cover of books and magazines after the Sapporo Games and you can still find these on auction sites."

Lynn retired from competition in 1973 when she turned pro and became the highest-paid women’s athlete in the world. The first World Professional Figure Skating Championships were in Tokyo. Gallagher once asked skating legend and tour organizer Dick Button why.

“Because the Japanese wanted to see Janet Lynn,” Button replied.

They saw Lynn win the title that year (she also won in 1983). They will finally get to see her again. And so will Rockford.

Lynn won five straight U.S. titles but can get overlooked a tad in her own country because she came between U.S. legends Peggy Flemming and Dorothy Hamill. But Lynn will always be huge in Rockford and Big in Japan.

“Even though she was a great champion in her day, her name still resonates far more in Japan than in the U.S.,” Gallagher said.

Contact: mtrowbridge@rrstar.com, @matttrowbridge or 815-987-1383. Matt Trowbridge has covered sports for the Rockford Register Star for over 30 years, after previous stints in North Dakota, Delaware, Vermont and Iowa City.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Why Rockford Olympian Janet Lynn still a star in Japan 51 years later