Yuzuru Hanyu: 2014-15 Season | Page 216 | Golden Skate

Yuzuru Hanyu: 2014-15 Season

StitchMonkey said:
I am not sure they really care. They may want to have a new young star to send and have Hanyu make them money by being a celebrity.
They guy should really just go take a year to be hedonistic and enjoy life then he can decide what role he wants skating to fulfill in his life.
To be completely honest I don't think the Olympics really wants repeat gold medalists anymore. That seems to be the trend we are seeing, so sending Hanyu back may not be that high up on their priorities. Realistically, Japan in four years will have other contenders, I mean it is not like they *need* Hanyu in the sense they have several other skaters that should be pretty safe bets to keep three spots and worlds. He is not their only option (which is something both he and his country mates should be proud of).
So they may just want to strike while the iron is hot and make as much money as they can while they can.
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To be frankly it's not easy to find skaters with the same star quality as Yuzuru. He might be not their only option but without him I doubt that they can fill the arena Like they are doing now. NHk tickets were sold out within 3 minutes. CoC during Yuzuru's FS and Kiss&Cry moment obtained 31,8% rating in Japan TV, even higher than World at Saitama.

I don't dismiss other young skaters' talents from Japan. But Yuzuru is very unique when it comes to star quality. To be fair I don't think Japan fans care much about medals in the next Olympic, you know. They will just support their skaters no matter what. Mao is a huge idol in Japan, but she didn't land on World podium every year. In 2012 it's Akiko who won the medal at Worlds, yet Mao has been still the bigger figure. Many Japanese FS fans love Jeremy Abbot despite his poor performances at world stage. Attraction is very difficult to explain.

Anyways, It's not that easy for Yuzuru or any other Japanese skater to medal at the next Olympic despite how talented/ hard working they might be. It's not possible to tell how he will do when it's needed. But even if he just does well or even very well, it's still not guaranteed for him at all. Don't forget it is going to be in Korea. We all know nationalism might do a lot in those occasions.

I am not that delusional to believe that he will win the next Olympic no matter what. But being an Olympian twice is his dream and I hope JSF don't take him fro granted. He needs to be at the next Olympic because that's his dream.
 
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StitchMonkey said:
He is not their only option (which is something both he and his country mates should be proud of).
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He is the biggest newsmaker so far. Especially after CoC. He is HUGE! He can sell anything in hours, even plastic bags filled with air. No other teammate currently can produce this kind of magic sales. So he is trapped in this golden cage unfortunately.
I don't know- I want him to win another Olympics, simply because he is the biggest talent since Plushenko to me. But the road to that Olympics would be a tough one. It is already.
 
Meoima said:
Don't forget it is going to be in Korea. We all know nationalism might do a lot in those occasions.
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That is very true. I've heard they might go for a Canadian or American as a winner, if the strong contender is available from one of these countries. And if the local is not competitive enough. Anyways- that is just a gossip, don't take it too seriously.
 
Meoima said:
To be frankly it's not easy to find skaters with the same star quality as Yuzuru. He might be not their only option but without him I doubt that they can fill the arena Like they are doing now. NHk tickets were sold out within 3 minutes. CoC during Yuzuru's FS and Kiss&Cry moment obtained 31,8% rating in Japan TV, even higher than World at Saitama.
I don't dismiss other young skaters' talents from Japan. But Yuzuru is very unique when it comes to star quality. To be fair I don't think Japan fans care much about medals in the next Olympic, you know.
It's not that easy for Yuzuru or any other Japanese skater to medal at the next Olympic despite how talented they might be. Don't forget it is going to be in Korea. We all know nationalism might do a lot in those occasions.
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But that is kinda the problem. For as good as a skaters as he is, he is almost more of a star. At what point is he more profitable to. . . someone. . . in a role other than competitor? If he were to become something of Japan's Johnny Weir and be sorta the host of the events, some people would still tune in to see him for instance. Sadly, they don't really need to preserve is health to make money off him. He could (if he wanted to) likely retire from competition and still be a star.
 
StitchMonkey said:
But that is kinda the problem. For as good as a skaters as he is, he is almost more of a star. At what point is he more profitable to. . . someone. . . in a role other than competitor? If he were to become something of Japan's Johnny Weir and be sorta the host of the events, some people would still tune in to see him for instance. Sadly, they don't really need to preserve is health to make money off him. He could (if he wanted to) likely retire from competition and still be a star.
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I don´t think the same logic could apply. As I can see, Japan people admired hard work, ethics and winning. Right now Yuzuru is kind of a poster kid for everything the Japanese people admired (just look at sport manga, I swear Yuzuru could a character in any of those). But if he were to retired people will not look as much to him as they do now. Just look at Shizuka, she is respected, but she is nowhere as popular as Mao.

I think the JSF have very little to do with Yuzuru´s decision to compete in NHK, is Yuzuru who wants to win.
 
StitchMonkey said:
But that is kinda the problem. For as good as a skaters as he is, he is almost more of a star. At what point is he more profitable to. . . someone. . . in a role other than competitor? If he were to become something of Japan's Johnny Weir and be sorta the host of the events, some people would still tune in to see him for instance. Sadly, they don't really need to preserve is health to make money off him. He could (if he wanted to) likely retire from competition and still be a star.
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If I guess it right (and some speculation from some news and the way JSF work), JSF would rather see Yuzuru/Mao/Dai stay competitive for long. Rumor has it that if Mao retired, she can even earn 10 times of she is earning right now. They say some companies sponsor JSF because of Mao, so I guess the same thing might also happen to Yuzuru now. If star skaters retire so early, JSF might struggle to find new sponsors and deals. Not to mention who would buy the tickets for ice competitions in Japan without Yuzuru/Dai/Mao?
Japan Open's tickets had to be on sales and yet I can see a lot of blank seats despite Plushy, David&White, Javi, Elena Radionova, Patrick Chan...being there. JSF need huge Japanese star skaters in competition to fill the arena.
 
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Yes, it's all very vague. Brian Orser is now in Japan and says Hanyu and he have been in communication and he's been training for the past 10 days. So, he really WANTS to go to NHK. I just hope if he's not ready, someone will help him make the right descision for his career and his health. -But if he is ready, then I hope he can perform without being too fearful of the ice -without lingering trauma.
 
Newbiespectator said:
Yes, it's all very vague. Brian Orser is now in Japan and says Hanyu and he have been in communication and he's been training for the past 10 days. So, he really WANTS to go to NHK. I just hope if he's not ready, someone will help him make the right descision for his career and his health. -But if he is ready, then I hope he can perform without being too fearful of the ice -without lingering trauma.
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I'm inclined to think he will go. Though, part of me is a bit concerned for his health. It seems like he's trying to run at all cylinders. I was worried before the collision.

I'm hoping Orser will put some sense into him. He can come back and wow everyone at Japanese Nationals. I really think he needs some rest!
 
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Mrs. P said:
Boy, this is as bad as LeBron James' decision special a few years ago. Actually, this probably merits his own special!
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:rofl:

Deep down I think I expected this - wishing him all the best if he goes through with it. I think it's going to be an experience for him over the next four years learning to pace himself and manage the expectations he places on his body.
 
pitterpatter said:
:rofl:

Deep down I think I expected this - wishing him all the best if he goes through with it. I think it's going to be an experience for him over the next four years learning to pace himself and manage the expectations he places on his body.
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No joke. He's never one to hold back, that's for sure. I hope he does figure it out, cause the last think I want is a burnt out Hanyu come 2018.
 
Nam just tweeted that he is excited to see how Hanyu-san will perform this weekend...I think most people are thinking it's a go for him at this point.

Yes, not surprising at all that he had started training already for quite some time. Orser has a book out in Japan now called Team Brian (only available in Japanese). He talked about the difference between Javier and Hanyu-san and said that for Javier you have to tell him to do it again otherwise he won't do it a second time, whereas for Hanyu-san you have to tell him to stop otherwise he will just keep on doing it. I thought that's very telling about their personality.

If he decides to go out and skate, I will look forward to the performance and nothing more or less.
 
It might be too much to ask for, but I'm hoping the JSF does the right, human thing. Even if they don't need Yuzuru at the next Olympics, even if they could make money off him either way, I hope they realize he's already done much for skating in Japan and they should always put his health first. At this point, I don't think Yuzuru can quite bring himself to say no... So we're likely in for him competing at NHK, and a gazillion ice shows over the next summer. (Perhaps more promotion is needed for retired/on hiatus skaters, to not overwork the current competitors? People like Mao, Dai, Miki, Shizuka, ect. not to mention foreign stars).

Alba said:
Yuzulia as Romeo & Juliet : https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B3THiuDCEAAqN73.jpg:large

:laugh2:
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Thank you, Alba. It's lovely. We Yuzuru fans definitely need something light-hearted right now.
 
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