following the 2018 rostelecom cup, they moved to train in japan (coached by rie arikawa) in order for koleto to meet a residency requirement for a future citizenship application. at the 2018–19 japanese championships, they won the event after placing first in both segments. they placed ninth at the 2019 four continents championships after placing ninth in both segments. komatsubara/koleto represented japan at their first world championships, held in saitama, where they placed twenty-first in the rhythm dance, missing the free dance by one ordinal.