thank you for the info. I took a look at the article without running it through translate and saw 4-4 and got really confused. It seems that he is still pushing himself technically despite being on the older side. He definitely has a very strong desire to win - and I hope he does! I hope he makes this season his season.
Narrator: Machida says that something new is waiting for him in book stores.
Machida(at a book store): First of all I hang around the section for newly published books. I watch the rankings as well. When I found a book with a cover which gives me a big impact, I can't pass by without picking it up. For example, the cover on this book looks quite interesting, it has an impact.(The book's title is ’Illness without any parasitic worm’ and its cover has something which looks like a big worm on it). I love space and the depth of the ocean. I love the world where lots of mysteries are left unsolved.
Narrator: Sometimes books give him inspirations for new pieces. For example, he choreographed an ex program by himself inspired by a best-selling novel 'Byakuyako' by Keigo Higashino. Machida played the role of a young man who was tossed about by the fate. He did everything by himself- choreography, costumes, bloody red painting on his hand, and even lighting plan, to fully express the world in 'Byakuyako'. Also he skated East of Eden in the last season inspired by the novel. It became one of his best programs. What kind of programs will he skate in this season? Nobunari Oda interviews with him.
Machida(in the press conference for GPS): My short program is to Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra, and long program to Symphony No. 9 by Beethoven.
Narrator: Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra is well known as the music Mao Asada skated to when she won the first title in Worlds(2007-2008). And Symphony No. 9 by Beethoven is know to everyone.
Machida: Although both of the musics are already very popular, I want to own them.
Nobu(as a interviewer): In what process did you pick these musics?
Machida: I've wanted to skate to these musics for long. I was not confident enough to use them till last season. But I came to feel I can use them in this season.
Nobu: Did the experiences in the Olympic season give you lots of confidence?
Machida: Well, yes. And also I have more confidence in the certain field that I can express than before. I feel I can use these musics within the field.
Narrator: Although he announced the musics, he keeps his programs totally in secret so far. Windows in the rink are covered with curtains and screens.
Machida(at the rink): In a sense it's still the preparatory period. I don't want the half-finished pieces to be public. I have strong wishes to make debuts of the finished programs on the official stage.
Nobu: Do you challenge anything in your new programs?
Machida: Like you did some challenges such as unique entrances into jumps and better air positions in jumps when you were competitive skater, I'll go on the same way. I want to improve and give originality to the elements.
Narrator(showing his training at the rink): This is his daily routine. But if you look his training closely, you'll see some tips of his new programs. The key is the unique movements during the entrance into jumps such as jumping up immediately after difficult turns, and jumping up immediately after the difficult position to keep balance.
Oda's comment during the training clip: His strategy is push up the quality in both of his jumps and the programs themselves. He'll be able to receive higher PCS, especially in TR.
Narrator: His strategy is to receive higher GOEs and PCS marks by adding unique transitions. But this strategy has big risks as well.
Machida(somewhere outside of the rink): Everything I wished to have is packed in the new program. On one hand I felt like "Wow, it's a great piece" after finishing the choreography, I was very satisfied with the wonderful piece.But, on the other hand, I regretted like "Why I didn't leave room to keep my stamina?"
Narrator: Machida says his new program is an ideal one which has everything he wished to do. But it's the tough one to skate all through. Why does he want to skate such tough program? The reason is the presence of the Olympic gold medalist Yuzuru Hanyu who is younger than him by five years.
Nobu: What means the presence of Hanyu to you?
Machida: He always tries to push the boundaries of himself or even this sport. That's why I respect him so much. And he gives me inspirations to do my best.
Narration: Hanyu accomplished the grand-slam including OGM in the last season. He has a plan to include three quads in his new LP. He never satisfied with winning the crown and never stop improving his skating. Machida has been inspired by Hanyu a lot. Machida has never beaten Hanyu. However, he won silver in his first appearance at Worlds in the last season. The distance of the scores between Machida and Hanyu was only 0.33. He reached the point very close to Hanyu at last. In the press conference for GPS Machida said an unexpected phrase "I will knock him down!" :revenge:
Hanyu: I was told "I will knock you down" by him. :lol: Actually we are in good relationships. My take is that we are inspiring to each other and push ourselves up to the higher level.
Machida: When "knock" of "knock down" came out of my mouth, I thought "Oh, gosh! This phrase must be too much," but it was too late to stop, and I let myself go with the whole phrase.:saint: Well, I don't deny the fact that I have a thought in myself that I want to beat him. I aim at winning {the Worlds} if he leaves a room. I'll do my best to overwhelm him.
Narration: (the review of the strategies of Machida and Hanyu in this season)
Machida: There is no room left for me to get another quad in my arsenal. In the different way[from Hanyu]
I set very high hurdles in myself. I'll do my best to achieve my goals. It would be great if people see me achieving the goals.
Machida with Shibs
