Otar Japaridze was born in Tbilisi, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union. His father, Irakli Japaridze, is the president of the Georgian Figure Skating Federation.
Career
Japaridze competed in single skating until the age of 15 and then switched to ice dancing. From 2002 through 2004, he competed with Marina Sheltsina. They were the 2004 Georgian national champions.
In the 2007–2008 season, Japaridze competed with American ice dancer Isabella Tobias for Georgia.
In May 2009, Japaridze teamed up with American Allison Reed to compete for Georgia; they trained in Mount Laurel, New Jersey with coach and choreographer Evgeni Platov. At the 2009 Nebelhorn Trophy, they qualified a spot for Georgia for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Reed received a Georgian passport in January 2010, allowing them to compete at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Reed and Japaridze split following the 2010-11 season.
In February 2012, Japaridze teamed up with Russian ice dancer Angelina Telegina to compete for Georgia.