Thoughts on the Japanese tragedy and the World Figure Skating Championships

Why stop there, Joe? We might as well say that it's frivolous and heartless to be posting on a figure skating board at a time of such tragedy in a major figure skating country. That would include your own recent posts on skating as art, skating as sport, etc. (Mine too, of course.)

But the reality is, life goes on and that's a good thing, not a bad thing. And I'm pretty sure Japan will benefit more from its magnificent skaters performing at Worlds than it would by there being no Worlds. Japan's welfare is our main concern, right? Or are we more concerned about our own "noble" gestures as we sacrifice other people's careers?

Support from the world

I have been posting what figure skaters' thoughts are on the disasters in Japan, but I hope you allow me to be OTT and post a list of the countries, which have so far offered help to the government of Japan. I found the list here; the information has been collated from the press releases of Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and thus the list includes only help & support offered through diplomatic channels, not those through NGOs, etc. The list was last updated on April 8.

What I found amazing and terribly moving is that the list includes some of the poorest nations of the world, with their own tragedies - poverties, civil wars, social divides, natural disasters - some greater and longer-lasting than what Japan is facing now.

Some support is practical, especially the items from other earthquake-prone countries speak of their own experiences; some are monetary and an astonishing amount has been offered by the countries suffering from national debts; countries with advanced nuclear technology sent in some experts and specialist equipments; pot noodles coming from other Asian countries made me think of our shared culture (and dried Nori seaweed from Korea!). And, Blimey, so many blankets!!!!

This is my way of saying thank you to all those countries and their kindest hearts.

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Algeria - $10,000,000
Sudan - $100,000
Rwanda - $100,000
Tanzania – 2,600,000TZS (approx. ¥1,400,000 or $16,500)
Equatorial Guinea - $500,000
Gabon - $1,000,000
Namibia - $1,000,000
Botswana – 1,000,000BWP (approx. ¥12,000,000 or $141, 456)
South Africa – rescue team consisting 49 members
Iran – 18t of food supply
Israel – winter coats (qty. 10,000), blankets (qty. 6000), portable toilet (qty. 150), etc, 53 medical staff
Oman - $10,000,000
Czech Republic – 5,000,000CZK (approx. ¥23,000,000 or $271,124)
Slovakia - €100,000 (approx. $144,340)
Croatia – 3,500,000HRK (approx. ¥23,000,000 or $271,124)
Slovenia - €10,000 (approx. $14,434)
Serbia – 50,000,000CSD (approx. ¥45,250,000 or $533,407)
Russia – a rescue team consisting 75 members on March 14, and further 80 members on March 16, blankets (qty. 17,200), 3.6t of water, and blankets, beddings, some drawings by children to show support from schools in Moscow
Estonia - €200,000 (approx. $288,680)
Latvia - €200,000 (approx. $288,680)
Ukraine – blankets (qty. 2000)
Georgia - $1,000,000
Azerbaijan - $1,000,000
South Korea – a rescue team consisting 5 members and 2 rescue dogs on March 12, further team of 102 on March 14, blankets (qty, 6000), 580t of water, wellington boots (qty. 4000), rubber gloves (qty. 12,000 pairs), portable generator (qty.4), ready-made meals (qty. 132,800), 225kg of dried Nori seaweed, masks (qty. 20,000), 20,000 bars of soap
China – a rescue team consisting 15 members, tents (qty. 900), blankets (qty. 2,000), battery-operated torches or lamps (qty. 200), bottled water (qty. 60,000), rubber gloves (total qty. 3,260,000 pairs), portable toilets (qty. 60), shoes (qty. 25,000 pairs), 10,000t of petrol, 10,000t of diesel oil
Hong Kong – 20,000 cans of food
Mongolia – rescue team consisting of 12 members, $1,000,000, blankets (qty. 2,500)
Thailand – 5,000,000THB (approx. ¥13,400,000 or $157,959), blankets (qty. 21,000)
Vietnam - $200,000
Cambodia - $100,000 from the government, $20,000 from Cambodian Red Cross
Laos - $90,000
Philippines – food (qty. 1,500), pot noodles (qty. 12,000), towels (qty. 1000)
Indonesia – a rescue team consisting 15, $2,000,000, blankets (qty. 10,000), bottled water (qty. 35,000)
Brunei - $1,000,000
Malaysia – a rescue team consisting 15 members, tinned food and pot noodles (qty. 2000)
Myanmar - $100,000
Singapore – a rescue team consisting 5 members and 5 rescue dogs, blankets (qty. 4,350), bottled water (qty. 20,000), emergency food supply (qty. 4,400)
Nepal – blankets (qty. 5,000)
Bhutan - $1,000,000
India – blankets (qty. 25,000), bottled water (qty. 13,000), a rescue team consisting 46 members, 10t of biscuits
Pakistan – 13.5 t of biscuits, 9t of milk, 0.75t of water
Bangladesh – blankets (qty. 2,000), wellington boots (qty. 500 pairs), rubber gloves (qty. 1,000 pairs)
Sri Lanka - $1,000,000
Kyrgyzstan – 2.5t of water
Uzbekistan – wellington boots (qty. 2,000 pairs), tents (qty. 200), blankets (qty. 2,000)
Afghanistan - $1,250,000
Australia – a rescue team consisting of 75 members and 2 dogs
New Zealand – a rescue team consisting of 52 members
East Timor - $500,000
Samoa - $100,000
Tonga – 200,000TOP (approx. ¥9,000,000 or $106 092)
USA – a rescue team consisting 144 and rescue dogs, 8 members of Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Canada – blankets (qty. 25,000), radiation measuring machines
Mexico – a rescue team consisting of 12 members and 6 dogs, 8.4t of food supply, 3.4t of sanitary goods, 6.8t of water
Brazil - $500,000
Venezuela – blankets (qty. 167), 2.8t of water, 10t of tinned food
EU – blankets (qty. 25,000), mattress (qty. 2,000), sleeping bags (qty. 300) from Denmark / Lithuania / Holland; €10,000,000 (approx. ¥1,150,000,000 or $14.4million) from EU; 16.7t of food supply, clothing (qty. 4,000), shoes (qty. 1,000 pairs) from Hungary / Slovakia / Sweden
UK – a rescue team consisting of 63 members and 2 dogs, 100t of water, items used in Fukushima Nuclear Plant site (e.g., radiation meters, protective masks, etc)
France – a rescue team consisting more than 100 members, 150t of emergency provisions such as 8,000 blankets
Germany – a rescue team consisting 43 members and 3 rescue dogs
Switzerland - a rescue team consisting 27 members and 9 rescue dogs
Holland - €1,000,000 (approx. $1.44million)
Austria - €1,000,000 (approx. $1.44million)
Finland - €500,000 (approx. $0.7million)
Ireland - €1,000,000 (approx. $1.44million)
Iceland – 10,000,000ISK (approx. ¥7,100,000 or $83,694)
Greece - €100,000 (approx. $0.14million)
Turkey – a rescue team consisting of 33 members, 18.5t of water, tinned food (qty. 68,800), blankets (qty. 5,000)

ETA; I should not have forgot to mention Chinese Taipei!!!! They have managed to have raised over $12.8million for Japan, and 90% of which comes from private donations. I am speechless...

Joesitz said:

I still think the Worlds should have been cancelled in deference to the tragedy but the screams from those who wanted a Worlds instantly with just a tear drop for Japan had to wait a whole month. How could they bear it? The tears were shoved over to Le Cafe where the parlour games are playing.

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Would you be saying that if the earthquake was elsewhere?

Mot, what an astounding list. Algeria? RWANDA??!! This is the sort of thing that reminds us of what humanity can achieve.

Joesitz said:

I still think the Worlds should have been cancelled in deference to the tragedy but the screams from those who wanted a Worlds instantly with just a tear drop for Japan had to wait a whole month. How could they bear it? The tears were shoved over to Le Cafe where the parlour games are playing.

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Joe, I am sure you are not alone in feeling like that. Even Daisuke, who has always maintained throughout the season that his aim is to win the World title back to back, now admits his ambivalence and wrote in his blog that he sometimes feels that figure skating is irrelevant in the midst of all tragedies in Japan. When he was mildly criticised for being so heavily involved in organisation of the charity gala in Kobe (he was one of the guys who first came up with the idea of the show and central to it), as it was scheduled only a few weeks before the Worlds, he replied 'the World Championships comes round every year, but this is something we have to do right now.'

Even as a self-proclaimed Daisuke-uber, I am now not sure what to expect from him in Moscow, but if he falters because of how he feels about figure skating right now, I won't be disappointed. I know he is a very emotional and sensitive person and that is what makes him such an enchanting performer and I love him for it. I am also a little worried about Miki, who is the first Japanese skater to appear in a charity gala after the quake, and another skater known for being almost painfully sensitive and emotional. (Oh, my beloved headcases...)

Perhaps Japanese should expect more from Nobunari Oda instead, at least he has set his mind for the Worlds - he declined an invitation to appear in the charity gala and left for training in Canada instead.

And we don't know who can help more - the World Champion from Japan who gives delight and hope to the afflicted, or someone who raises tons of money for the good cause and show his sincere sympathies, but fails to deliver the medal expected of him.

We'll just never know what is the right thing to do in the given circumstances, or even whether such thing as the right answer ever exists.


PS. Of course, Daisuke may still be able to deliver, even if his heart is not 100% in it. Last year, he was so burnt out after the Olys, he didn't even want to go to the Worlds. He said he could not concentrate on practice and training, but once showed up, he gave the best performance of the season in Turin with all level 4s in spins and step sequences. (Mind you, although it was the best performance technically, I still prefer his Olympic performance - you can feel how emotionally involved he was at the Olys, which for me is the key ingredient of a good performance!)

ImaginaryPogue said:

Would you be saying that if the earthquake was elsewhere?

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I agreed with the crash of the Sabena Flight to cancel the competition.

With regard to the Japan Worlds, Although it did not affect the skaters directly, I can believe that their expectations were broken. There is a next year.

mot said:

USA – a rescue team consisting 144 and rescue dogs, 8 members of Nuclear Regulatory Commission

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USA gets dissed again? This list, wherever it came from, is impressive but rather lacking. The USA contribution has been huge, with large numbers of personnel and/or equipment from Yokota AFB, Yokosuka, Okinawa being brought to bear on the affected area. (Including getting Sendai Airport back on its feet at least for relief/cargo/rescue flights.)

And I agree with those who say life must go on, and cancelling the World Championships outright was not a proper way to "pay homage" to the Japanese tragedy. I suspect very few non-Japanese who take the cancellation-out-of-respect position have emotions that run that deep, to me, it comes across as non-involved bystanders posturing for effect.

bigsisjiejie said:

USA gets dissed again? This list, wherever it came from, is impressive but rather lacking. The USA contribution has been huge, with large numbers of personnel and/or equipment from Yokota AFB, Yokosuka, Okinawa being brought to bear on the affected area. (Including getting Sendai Airport back on its feet at least for relief/cargo/rescue flights.)

And I agree with those who say life must go on, and cancelling the World Championships outright was not a proper way to "pay homage" to the Japanese tragedy. I suspect very few non-Japanese who take the cancellation-out-of-respect position have emotions that run that deep, to me, it comes across as non-involved bystanders posturing for effect.

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A more charitable interpretation of mot's post would say that he/she didn't intend the list to be exhaustive. From the looks of it, the list includes only government-funded donations/contribution. He/she omitted the millions of dollars raised by non-government institutions, private charities and private individuals in the US, and the millions more spend by the US military in assisting the relief operations around the affected areas. But I don't think it's meant to "diss" anyone.

bigsisjiejie said:

USA gets dissed again? This list, wherever it came from, is impressive but rather lacking. The USA contribution has been huge, with large numbers of personnel and/or equipment from Yokota AFB, Yokosuka, Okinawa being brought to bear on the affected area. (Including getting Sendai Airport back on its feet at least for relief/cargo/rescue flights.)

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I am terribly sorry to have upset you and possibly others, albeit involuntarily. The US force's generous and valuable contributions at all fronts of rescue and support operations have been widely reported in Japan via both mass and social media. I have a number of times come across with gratitude expressed via twitter too.

I myself was wondering why this did not appear in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' press release regarding the offers received from the foreign countries. The only explanation I can come up with is that it was Japanese government who requested the help of the US force on March 12. The press releases include those help and support voluntarily offered.

Also as I clarified at the beginning of the above post, the list includes only help and support offered through diplomatic channels, and excludes numerous others done through charities, NGOs (Red Cross, MSF, Salvation Army, etc), international organisations (NATO, World Bank, IAEA, UNICEF, WHO, etc), and of course private contributions.

Please understand the list cannot be exhaustive for above reasons as well as human error by the source (secondary) I relied on; by going to the primary source (Ministry of Foreign Affairs' press releases), I have found out that Uruguay - 4,600 cans of cone beef - was missed out too.

The reason why I posted the list is simply to show the width of the support and not to praise or 'diss' certain countries in the list or excluded from it. And I deeply regret if it did something else other than what I had originally intended.

That's how I took the list. Everyone knows that there's an American ship sitting off the coast of Japan doing what it can. The function this list serves is as you say, showing the breadth of support. I'm still having gooseflesh over Rwanda. Gabon. Cambodia. And the Cambodian Red Cross....

I read a report about the Western expatriates living in Japan, from the U.S., Australia, and so forth, who have formed an ad-hoc rescue group and are ferrying supplies to the area. One guy in that group actually bought a geiger counter, so he can test not only the rescuers but the victims as he passes through with bedding, food, and supplies. Can you imagine the peace of mind it gives for parents to know that their children are not making the machine tick?

mot said:

I am terribly sorry to have upset you and possibly others, albeit involuntarily. The US force's generous and valuable contributions at all fronts of rescue and support operations have been widely reported in Japan via both mass and social media. I have a number of times come across with gratitude expressed via twitter too.

I myself was wondering why this did not appear in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' press release regarding the offers received from the foreign countries. The only explanation I can come up with is that it was Japanese government who requested the help of the US force on March 12. The press releases include those help and support voluntarily offered.

Also as I clarified at the beginning of the above post, the list includes only help and support offered through diplomatic channels, and excludes numerous others done through charities, NGOs (Red Cross, MSF, Salvation Army, etc), international organisations (NATO, World Bank, IAEA, UNICEF, WHO, etc), and of course private contributions.

Please understand the list cannot be exhaustive for above reasons as well as human error by the source (secondary) I relied on; by going to the primary source (Ministry of Foreign Affairs' press releases), I have found out that Uruguay - 4,600 cans of cone beef - was missed out too.

The reason why I posted the list is simply to show the width of the support and not to praise or 'diss' certain countries in the list or excluded from it. And I deeply regret if it did something else other than what I had originally intended.

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Mot, thank you for all your time and efforts in translating articles for us all the time! I do not feel you owe anyone an apology; and I understood that list not to be a complete list. And, as one who has family with close ties to the U.S. military, two of whom are stationed in Japan, I certainly do not feel that it "dissed" anyone.

Daisuke Takahashi interview after the charity gala in Kobe, April 9

Thank you...Olympia and chloepoco

Now back to skating and skaters. Here is Daisuke's interview with the college newspaper after the charity gala on April 9.

http://www.boom-sports.com/archives/51976784.html

(translation by me)

"I just wanted to help"

- Tell us how the gala has come about.

D: A few days after the earthquake, when no one knew what was going to happen to the World Championships, some people including (Takeshi) Honda-sensei (one of Daisuke's coaches) contacted me to discuss whether we could hold a charity event. We were lucky that Port Island Skating Centre was available for hire at the right time and its skating club offered their support too.

- How do you think the gala went?

D: To be honest, we were not sure how many people would come to see the show, but so many people turned up and gave a round of applause to all performances. I am also glad that there was nobody got injured during the show.*

- The Worlds is only a few weeks away...

D: There were debates about whether it was right to hold the charity gala today, but this is what we skaters can do to help. The World Championships comes round every year. No matter what I was told, I really wanted to do something to help. I am glad I was part of the show.

- How did you feel today?

D: I skated my SP of the season; it is a fun programme, and I hope it helped people to cheer up a bit.

- What was your reaction when you first heard about the disaster?

D: I invited the media to a practice session on that day and it happened in the middle of it. At first, I could not believe it was real even when I was watching it all on TV, but it started to sink in as the days went by. I got very depressed. But then I thought there was no point in being just depressed. I know it will be a long time before the recovery and reconstruction of the stricken regions are completed, so I don't want to stop here and would like to be involved in charity if there are more opportunities. Figure skating is popular in Japan, so we should be able to help.

- Are you ready for the Worlds? How's your condition, compared to a month ago?

D: I felt as if I was suspended in the mid-air, not knowing what was going to happen to the Worlds. I cannot tell how I am going to be (in Moscow). I had some rest and now I am 50% of what I should be. I should work hard as if the new season was just about to start. I've got another couple of weeks, so it should be OK. I'll do as much as I can till then.

- How was your performance today?

D: It's been a while since I last skated in front of the audience, so I felt nervous. I need to work more on finer details to win though...



A picture of Daisuke making a speech after the finale; http://livedoor.2.blogimg.jp/boomsports/imgs/f/c/fc667d8c.jpg

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* translator's note - Daisuke was worried about the audience safety and referred to it especially at the opening ceremony, asking them not lean over the the upper gallery balustrade, which was rather low.

thank you for all the translations, mot. daisuke is so lovable! i am almost at the point where i cannot read any more about daisuke because then i will be too nervous watching him skate ^_^

i read that he received mild criticism for his focus on the gala rather than preparing for worlds exclusively, and that surprised me greatly. it's just not understandable to me how he can be criticized for this, just as i won't criticize oda for going to canada to train rather than performing in the gala.

Yuzuru Hanyu's back to school

I think this one's for Treeloving and other fans of Yuzuru Hanyu.

http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/p-sp-tp0-20110415-761468.html

(Translated by me)

Yuzuru Hanyu, who won the silver medal at the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in February, attended the ceremony to mark the beginning of the new academic year at Tohoku High School in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture on April 14. He's now in the second year of the high school and saw his classmates for the first time since the earthquake. 'I am relieved that the life is back to normal, to a small extent.'

He was practicing at the ice rink in Sendai when the earthquake struck. They first gathered in the middle of the ice in pitch dark, then escaped with their skates still on. 'I didn't even have time to put blade guards on, but what could we do?', he recalls clearly. His family home in Sendai city was also damaged, so the family of 4 spent 4 days in the evacuation centre.

He was wondering whether it's the right time for him to continue skating, but he was convinced that it is when he saw Tohoku High School's baseball team play at the Spring National High School Tournament, doing their best; 'I felt I should do the same. Figure skating is all I have got.' His home rink is now closed for indefinite period. He is planning to go to Hachinohe in Aomori Prefecture and Yokohama in Kanagawa Pref. in order to practice and appear in the ice shows. 'I would like to give a performance that gives hope to those who watch.'

His latest pic. with school uniform on; http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/img/sp-yg-110415-3-ns300.jpg

mot said:

I think this one's for Treeloving and other fans of Yuzuru Hanyu.

http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/p-sp-tp0-20110415-761468.html

(Translated by me)

Yuzuru Hanyu, who won the silver medal at the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in February, attended the ceremony to mark the beginning of the new academic year at Tohoku High School in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture on April 14. He's now in the second year of the high school and saw his classmates for the first time since the earthquake. 'I am relieved that the life is back to normal, to a small extent.'

He was practicing at the ice rink in Sendai when the earthquake struck. They first gathered in the middle of the ice in pitch dark, then escaped with their skates still on. 'I didn't even have time to put blade guards on, but what could we do?', he recalls clearly. His family home in Sendai city was also damaged, so the family of 4 spent 4 days in the evacuation centre.

He was wondering whether it's the right time for him to continue skating, but he was convinced that it is when he saw Tohoku High School's baseball team play at the Spring National High School Tournament, doing their best; 'I felt I should do the same. Figure skating is all I have got.' His home rink is now closed for indefinite period. He is planning to go to Hachinohe in Aomori Prefecture and Yokohama in Kanagawa Pref. in order to practice and appear in the ice shows. 'I would like to give a performance that gives hope to those who watch.'

His latest pic. with school uniform on; http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/img/sp-yg-110415-3-ns300.jpg

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:thumbsup: Thank you so much for this news mot.

Sad to know that his house got damage.

Yuzuru has to practise in the town almost 300 kilometers away from home!!!, hope it will not affect his performance much.

Anyway, it good to see him to be quite positive and confident, that is already a reward for fan.

skfan said:

thank you for all the translations, mot. daisuke is so lovable! i am almost at the point where i cannot read any more about daisuke because then i will be too nervous watching him skate ^_^

i read that he received mild criticism for his focus on the gala rather than preparing for worlds exclusively, and that surprised me greatly. it's just not understandable to me how he can be criticized for this, just as i won't criticize oda for going to canada to train rather than performing in the gala.

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I'm so agree with you skfan, I even admire Daisuke more that he focus on gala and helping people, this means more than medal or good skating performance to me.

I thought I couldn't admire Daisuke any more after his gutsy performance in Vancouver, but my regard for him has grown once more. Obviously he is both a good skater and a good man. Thanks so much for your translation work, mot, as well as the translation of Hanyu's account.

Another article about Yuzuru

Thanks for reading and your continuous interests in Japanese skaters and their stories since the earthquake.

Here is another article about Yuzuru. It’s long and some information is repetition of the previously translated materials, but it includes more details of his movements since the earthquake and how he has been feeling. I also wonder who in foreign country has invited him to practice there…



For the Stricken Areas, A Dance of Courage; 16 year-old Figure Skater, Yuzuru Hanyu

(translated by me)

‘I was on the ice. I could barely remain standing. When the shake subsided a little, we went outside. I still had my skates on and forgot to put on the blade guards.’

March 11, when the earthquake struck, Yuzuru Hanyu, who won the World Junior title last year and the silver medal at the Four Continents Championships this year, was practising in Ice Rink Sendai.

Once stepping on the ground not covered by rubber or soft fabric, the blades get damaged and you won’t be able to use them again. It is a long-term habit to put the guards on when stepping outside, but he forgot about it then.

The skaters, who were at the rink, including Yuzuru and his coach Nanami Abe, all survived. But when they went back to the rink later, the ice melted and was covered in water. They were informed of the damaged pipework, but not much more. The rink is now inaccessible. Yuzuru’s home, located close to the rink, was also affected. Without electricity, gas and water supplies at home, he and his family spent 4 days in the evacuation centre.

‘They provided water and food for us there. I realized that we were supported by many people.’ They moved back home once electricity supply was reconnected, but it was only this month that gas supply was resumed.

Once settled down a little, skaters felt they should start skating again, but they had no ice to skate on. Ice Rink Sendai was the only all-year round rink not only for the skaters in Miyagi Prefecture, but also for those in surrounding Akita, Iwate and Yamagata Prefectures. They had no means of transport to go to rinks afar. Some rinks in Kanto region (around Tokyo) are also affected by the earthquake.

Kasamatsu ice rink in Ibaraki Prefecture is part collapsed and closed for indefinite period. Parts of walls and ceiling have collapsed at Jingu Gaien in Tokyo; they are carrying out checks and repairs and hoping to reopen in June. Aqua Rink Chiba (Chiba Prefecture) was finally reopened in April 9.

10 days after the earthquake, Yuzuru went to Yokohama with his mother on the highway bus. He first bought new boots and blades, to replace the ones damaged during the evacuation, and began practicing in Yokohama. On April 4, the rink in Hachinohe (Aomori Prefecture) reopened as the electricity shortage was overcome, and 30 skaters coached by Nanami Abe, including Yuzuru, held a training camp there. Once the camp was over, he moved once again to Yokohama.

Moving from one rink to another, he felt unmotivated and often could not bring himself to show up even time was booked for him in the morning and evening. It was said that he locked himself up in the hotel room when not practising.

The change came when he saw Tohoku High School’s baseball team play in National Tournament on March 28. The team lost 0-7 to Nichidai-Ogaki, but watching his classmate on TV gave him energy.

He still experiences ups and downs; he became depressed when he heard about yet another blackout in Sendai due to aftershocks.

What gave him a chance to smile was cheer from the audience. On April 9, he shared the ice with other skaters, such as Daisuke Takahashi and Shizuka Arakawa, for the charity ice show in Kobe.

Nowadays, Nagoya is perceived as a Mecca of figure skating, but Sendai was another centre of Japan’s figure skating around the time of 1998 Nagano Olympics. Some skaters who were based in Sendai in those days now belong to Kansai University Skating Club; Takeshi Honda (from Fukushima Pref.) and Yamato Tamura (from Aomori Pref.) are both alumni of Tohoku High School and coach at Kansai University. It was Sendai where Daisuke Takahashi first met his long-term coach Utako Nagamitsu.

It was those people now based at Kansai University and a few others, who first came up with the idea of and realized the charity show in Kobe. 2700 tickets, including those for stand-up only, were sold and over ¥13million was collected as cash donations and by charity auctions held on the day.

Kobe was a victim of the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995. Seeing Kobe now, Yuzuru could not believe it was the city once destroyed by the earthquake. ‘I felt mortified watching my home town getting destroyed, but now I believe we could rebuild it if we put our efforts together.’

He skated the programme he is used to skating, ‘White Legend’, this season’s SP, and ‘Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini*’ from last season for encore. (*the original article is erroneous and thus corrected by the translator). He gave all he had and his heartfelt performance brought the audience to their feet. Nanami Abe, his coach, said of his performance ‘moving and brought me to tears.’

Yuzuru went back to Seindai to attend the ceremony to mark the beginning of new academic year at school, but he is going to be in Hachinohe from the 18th. From May onwards, he’ll be in Yokohama, Hachinohe, Yokohama again, Kanazawa, then Tokyo… He’s appearing in ice shows in those cities and planning to ask for the use of rinks there before the shows to practice. ‘Figure skating is all I have got and can do. I am hoping to show my perseverance and give courage to as many people as possible.’

Yuzuru is one of the elite athletes classified so specially by the JSF, so he could have an access to use of National Training Centre (Chukyo University Ice Arena). And the sports club in Nagoya, where coach Hiroshi Nagakubo is based, is making special arrangement for him to use their rink. (Nagakubo used to be based in Sendai.) Some connection outside Japan is also offering him an opportunity to practice abroad. However, he has no intention of moving his base from Sendai.

‘All I want to do now is to skate, and pour whatever I feel now into skating.’ He said, once it is done, he’ll then think of what to do in the future.

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Original article in Japanese in Nihon Keizai Shinbun Newspaper online:
Part 1 - http://www.nikkei.com/sports/column...E3E2E2E2E2E2E2;p=9694E3E0E2E6E0E2E3E2EAEAE2E2

Part 2 - http://www.nikkei.com/sports/column...2E2E2E2E2;df=2;p=9694E3E0E2E6E0E2E3E2EAEAE2E2

Part 3 - http://www.nikkei.com/sports/column...2E2E2E2E2;df=3;p=9694E3E0E2E6E0E2E3E2EAEAE2E2

Olympia said:

I thought I couldn't admire Daisuke any more after his gutsy performance in Vancouver, but my regard for him has grown once more. Obviously he is both a good skater and a good man. Thanks so much for your translation work, mot, as well as the translation of Hanyu's account.

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Olympia, this is a promotional piece about the documentary about Daisuke and Nobu to be aired in a week time; and according to it, Daisuke in person went about making arrangements for the show; booking the venue, inviting skaters, and even sitting on each seat to decide on categorisation and prices for different seats. (It makes me smile that the piece refers to him wearing a business suit when doing all these things. )

The production team followed Daisuke and Nobu for a year, since the end of the last season, it says. They had very different endings last season but both had difficulties of their own throughout this one, though different in nature. Of course, based outside Japan, I cannot watch it on TV, but hope to catch it on Youtube or by other means. (And Nobu's baby is soooooooooo cute! I cannot wait to see more of him!)

Thank you mot for the translations. Nobu's baby is beautiful, look at that smile of his.

mot, thank you SO much for all your hard work on the translations.
They add much to my understanding of the current situation in Japan.

May I join the chorus of praise for Shizuka?
I am awed by her strength, maturity, ability to recognize what would be most helpful; and then, to do that!