Kim Yu-na /Newsis

Korean figure skating sensation Kim Yu-na was the 10th most popular sports star in Japan, the only non-Japanese to make the top 10. Hakuhodo DY Media Partners and Hakuhodo DY Sports Marketing last week announced a survey on the image of sports stars for the fourth year.

The top place went to Major League Baseball star Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners. Kim's archrival Mao Asada came in second. Japan's handsome golf prodigy Ryo Ishikawa was in third place.

The poll was conducted on 600 people in Tokyo area from March 19 to March 22, just before Kim won the 2009 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Los Angeles.