Tatsuki Machida

[ioanna]

It is good to hear that Tatsuki is an inspirational presence to the promising youngsters of Japan. The bouquet of flowers is beautiful and considerate. Thank you for the heads up.

He really is. I'm very pleased Yuka gets a chance to skate East Of Eden at a senior competition this season, 4CC in about two weeks.

 

[Crossover]

He really is. I'm very pleased Yuka gets a chance to skate East Of Eden at a senior competition this season, 4CC in about two weeks.

I heard that she may withdraw due to her health, I don't know how serious it is, but I really hope her in a good condition. When it comes time to 4CC, if she is healthy, she will appear to skate to the music, I would probably be very sentimental for sure. In these days, everyone excite about the two biggest nationals in the world and upcoming Euros, but I feel like my heart doesn't belong to anybody. The top finishers are fabulous and have their own charms, but I can't give my absolute supports and love to anyone yet except Tatsuki. I will miss him more when the Worlds starts. Even though the ladies single discipline will be very intriguing for me to see who will be the champion, at the same time I wish this season be over soon.

 

[ioanna]

The top finishers are fabulous and have their own charms, but I can't give my absolute supports and love to anyone yet except Tatsuki. I will miss him more when the Worlds starts. Even though the ladies single discipline will be very intriguing for me to see who will be the champion, at the same time I wish this season be over soon.

Yes, it would have been easier if he retired at the end of the season but this way his absence will keep being very much obvious.

But - to keep this thread alive for at least a little bit longer, I'm going to post a couple of Tatsuki interviews from Cutting Edge 2013. The translations are made and taken from the tumblr blog ohlovesosweet.

Interest in choreography

"To approach my new programs… I studied all sorts of art. I watched a considerable amount of ballet works, went to concerts, and listened to all kinds of music. Do you know the Korean group 2NE1? I’m a really big fan of theirs! Not that long ago, I went to their Nagoya concert and it was a blast. In addition to their songs, dance, and fashion sense, I found myself taking in the stage’s lighting and setting. When you are watching them live, you don’t just pay attention to the music but also the entire atmosphere. I really love 2NE1!

I can’t say this for certain, but if possible, I want to try to choreograph my own show program. Whether I’ll become a choreographer in the future is another story. Right now, I’m interested in choreography and studying it little by little. I’m going to do my best in competitions right now so I can get invited to more shows. There’s so much body of works out there I want to know more about so one day I can create some of my own. In other words, there’s just so much art out there to touch, to see, to hear, to experience, things that just move you… effortlessly. I’m excited to try all kinds of things to get there!

I am definitely influenced by Stephane. I’ve always loved committing myself to the performance. Ever since I was little, I loved performing. But I didn’t really have interest in creating. It’s only been these past years that the interest grew. Not only Stephane, but many other choreographers has suddenly made me really want to choreograph my own programs.”

Bonus: A good memory from working on choreography with Stephane in Lausanne, Switzerland. "Stephane and I went out to eat cheese fondue together. But, it tasted different from the real thing. I thought the taste was too strong (laughs). Instead of Swiss cuisine, the two of us made takoyaki together. Stephane loves takoyaki (laughs)." (p. 53)



10 years from now

Hmm, what’s gonna happen. Before, I said I wanted to be a novelist. If there are ever any good ideas that are floating around in my head when I go to bed, I would write them down (laughs). Maybe I’ll have a family in 10 years. Whether I’ll still competing be… it’s unlikely. I mean, come on, I’ll be 32 years old! But, skating will forever be a part of my life. I’m not sure what will happen, but I will keep on skating. Even if I’m not competing, I want to continue to fully express myself in my skating.

What will skating be like in 10 years?

Skating is really exciting right now. But, I want it to be even more exciting. I love skating and don’t want this to be all that we can do. In Japan, there are a ton of sell-out shows right now. Wouldn’t it be depressing if that level of interest goes down? I want skating to last, so if this is the highest we go, that’s sad for all of us skating now. That’s why, I want it to be even better than it is now. The next generation can see the level we’re up against.

So, it’s important they keep up, not just in skating technique, but also in developing competition experience and to come to terms with all sorts of challenges down the line.


Kenji Miyamoto on Tatsuki

“unshakeable conviction”

machida is also someone who gives 120%. he’ so committed and focused to his training. there’s no limit to how he can express the music. when he’s having trouble with the choreo, he’ll ask questions on how to get it right and i’ll give him advice about it. and then we’ll work on it. and if he’s stuck on something, he’ll ask again how to get it right and we’ll adjust it until it works. he really picks up on it fast. he’s definitely the type who pushes himself to the limits, i hope he be careful not to injure himself.

i choreographed “les demoiselles de rochefort” (2011-12 sp, 2012-13 ex) and "dark eyes" (2010-11, 2011-12 sp) for him. i love both of them but especially “dark eyes” since it suited him so well. the pacing of the piece was especially well done, swift and smooth. he practiced a lot in that area and it shows off the type of skater he is.

machida and i also talk about clothes. isn’t he always wearing bathing ape? so i pointed out to him, “you’re always wearing their clothes” and he said “well i like them” (laughs).

 

[icekiwi]

I am so pleased that this thread is still going.

I have just watched the top 3 male skaters from the 2015 US Champs and none of them are anywhere near Tatsuki's SP and LP this season both in terms of jump content and choreography. Josan has great PC skills but the jumps are not enough. Adam Rippon can jump a bit but skates on 2 feet most of the time. Joshua Farris (he is the one I like the best of the 3), struggles on his lutzts and axels - not enough flow coming out of jumps.

It is heartbreaking to see Machida retiring when he is at the peak of his game, his SP (Fantasy on violin) and his LP (Beethoven's 9th) are still my favorites of this season, all male and female combined. The Russian girls are like jumping beans but lack maturity with choreography, some of their skinny legs are a bit uncomfortable to watch.

Machida.............I am hoping you could come back. Your East of Eden and Fantasy on violin are just mersmerising. They are power + artistry on ice. Thank you for your gift to us, your figure skating fans.

 

[ioanna]

I am so pleased that this thread is still going.

I have just watched the top 3 male skaters from the 2015 US Champs and none of them are anywhere near Tatsuki's SP and LP this season both in terms of jump content and choreography. Josan has great PC skills but the jumps are not enough. Adam Rippon can jump a bit but skates on 2 feet most of the time. Joshua Farris (he is the one I like the best of the 3), struggles on his lutzts and axels - not enough flow coming out of jumps.

Jason and Joshua are both still young, they can develop their artistry with time. But I don't expect anyone to come close to Tatsuki's approach to figure skating, that was his and his alone.

 

[Crossover]

Yes, it would have been easier if he retired at the end of the season but this way his absence will keep being very much obvious.

But - to keep this thread alive for at least a little bit longer, I'm going to post a couple of Tatsuki interviews from Cutting Edge 2013. The translations are made and taken from the tumblr blog ohlovesosweet.

What a good interview it is! Thank you for the all efforts you've done to us. I'm also thankful to the translation provided by someone who has contributed to increase Tatsuki's fans all around the world. I have a load of clips and interviews that I have to read and watch through, so you will see my belated responses to old competitions of Tatsuki. Besides, he is so inspirational, I'm gonna explore anything possible related to his world of figure skating such as planing to read a Japanese novel to inspire his EX last season. As long as at least one feedback exists, I don't think the thread will be quite.

It is very interesting to know that Tatsuki is fond of the KPOP group, especially the girls in adventurous styles. They have quite a different style from his artistry, so I wonder where he's found amusements in their music. I imagined Tatsuki often goes see classical music, ballet, opera to the theatre since Japan has good infrastructures and venues to appreciate that classical arts. Not only that, the interview shows well that he doesn't mind any form and type of arts, and is willing to appreciate its own value as it is. He is quite open-minded person. I'm gonna add more of my thoughts on his interview later. Thanks, ioanap.

 

[Crossover]

I am so pleased that this thread is still going.

I have just watched the top 3 male skaters from the 2015 US Champs and none of them are anywhere near Tatsuki's SP and LP this season both in terms of jump content and choreography. Josan has great PC skills but the jumps are not enough. Adam Rippon can jump a bit but skates on 2 feet most of the time. Joshua Farris (he is the one I like the best of the 3), struggles on his lutzts and axels - not enough flow coming out of jumps.

It is heartbreaking to see Machida retiring when he is at the peak of his game, his SP (Fantasy on violin) and his LP (Beethoven's 9th) are still my favorites of this season, all male and female combined. The Russian girls are like jumping beans but lack maturity with choreography, some of their skinny legs are a bit uncomfortable to watch.

Machida.............I am hoping you could come back. Your East of Eden and Fantasy on violin are just mersmerising. They are power + artistry on ice. Thank you for your gift to us, your figure skating fans.

Please visit and post often, and then you will see that this thread is not quite abandoned. Yep, Tatsuki's SP and LP this season are my No.1 programs of this season regardless of whatever disciplines too, so that's why I'm still in shock and can't get over his sudden retirement. What a talent he is. Among the top three in the men's discipline at the US Nationals, Adam Rippon kept me to remind of Tatsuki, just because of his late booming (even a year older than Tatsuki!) with the quad and his own way of artistry, so naturally I was getting to root for him among the three. However, I was also sadden by the fact that we can never Tatsuki in a competition unless he retracts his retirement.

 

[Maria Victoria]

I am so pleased that this thread is still going.

I have just watched the top 3 male skaters from the 2015 US Champs and none of them are anywhere near Tatsuki's SP and LP this season both in terms of jump content and choreography. Josan has great PC skills but the jumps are not enough. Adam Rippon can jump a bit but skates on 2 feet most of the time. Joshua Farris (he is the one I like the best of the 3), struggles on his lutzts and axels - not enough flow coming out of jumps.

It is heartbreaking to see Machida retiring when he is at the peak of his game, his SP (Fantasy on violin) and his LP (Beethoven's 9th) are still my favorites of this season, all male and female combined. The Russian girls are like jumping beans but lack maturity with choreography, some of their skinny legs are a bit uncomfortable to watch.

Machida.............I am hoping you could come back. Your East of Eden and Fantasy on violin are just mersmerising. They are power + artistry on ice. Thank you for your gift to us, your figure skating fans.

Actually I was reminded of Tatsuki when I watched Adam in this year's US Nationls. Both of them have this balletic quality in their skating. In fact I will go so far to say that Adam is the most balletic active skater right now. Like Tatsuki in the 2013 Japanese Nationals, Adam also had to fight for his place on the podium over more celebrated rivals. Both of them came up with performances that cannot be ignored (read low balled) by the judges. Indeed it is just inspirational the way they revitalized their careers.

And just a gentle reminder of the GS guideline that we can gush about our favorite skaters but not at the expense of other skaters to avoid fan wars.

Ionap, thanks as always for your informative posts. There is still life in this thread yet...

 

[Crossover]

I don't know whether the photo collection of Tatsuki's performances was introduced to here, but I just got this from Liza Tuktamysheva's fan thread.
The wonderful pictures are taken by our fellow GS member YesWay.

* Skate America 2013 http://photos.phantomkabocha.com/FigureSkating/SA2013/TatsukiMachida/index.html
* Trophee Eric Bompard 2014 http://photos.phantomkabocha.com/FigureSkating/TEB2014/TatsukiMachida/index.html
* Grand Prix Final 2014 http://photos.phantomkabocha.com/FigureSkating/GPF2014/TatsukiMachida/index.html

 

[ioanna]

^ I think YesWay posted them here at that time if I remember correctly. Very beautiful photos.

 

[ioanna]

Ionap, thanks as always for your informative posts. There is still life in this thread yet...

It's all I can do to keep it going for at least a little bit longer... since it used to be pretty empty last season and over the summer I was glad it finally started to move at the beginning of this season. Very different times in comparison to the present, when as of today it's already been a month since he retired.

 

[Crossover]

^ I think YesWay posted them here at that time if I remember correctly. Very beautiful photos.

I should've looked through this thread first, so would've not missed the real gems.
I was so excited about seeing the wonderful photos other than pictures in articles.

I love seeing the photos of Tatsuki's total engagement into his performances at SA 2013, so I'm glad to see him smile with the reward.

Among the TEB 2014 collection, there are many photos capturing great moments in a picture frame, so it's a little hard to pick what would be my favorite photos. Especially the photos of Tatsuki holding a silver medal at the award ceremony and EX photos are really great. The postures, facial expressions, delicate arm movements, and more are all noteworthy!

 

[YesWay]

^ I think YesWay posted them here at that time if I remember correctly. Very beautiful photos.

Yes, although I don't think the 2013 Skate America photos were up at that time. I only added that gallery after he announced his retirement, a little therapy to ease the pain...

Well, they were originally uploaded to a free photobucket account, ages ago. But I shut that down after Hanyu fans discovered some of his photos there, and ate my monthly bandwidth allowance in about 1 day... LOL But i have a new site now, so I'll be re-uploading lots of old stuff. Still got a lot of GPF stuff to work through though...

 

[ioanna]

Takahito Mura spoke about Tatsuki's retirement in a recent interview. (source)

Takahito Mura: I thought Tatsuki could have stayed for longer

Asked about his thoughts on Tatsuki’s retirement, Takahito Mura recalls how he and Daisuke Murakami watched him announcing it from the side of the rink thinking: “The timing was very shocking. And honestly, I thought he could have gone on for longer than that”. Tatsuki later told him he had always regarded him as a rival that pushed him to do his best and that he wants him to work hard on his behalf from now on.

“I know you have the ability so I’ll be counting on you to carry on the years I’ve given up on and achieve the things I couldn’t." Mura says he will be motivated by those words but still wonders what Tatsuki thinks he had yet to achieve - maybe an Olympic medal? Maybe winning the World Championship? Or maybe just staying as a senior figure for Team Japan.

But he mentioned he will miss all of his retired senior team mates and that he will strive to achieve the scores both Tatsuki Machida and Yuzuru Hanyu have set early in the season.

 

[Crossover]

Takahito Mura spoke about Tatsuki's retirement in a recent interview. (source)

Takahito Mura: I thought Tatsuki could have stayed for longer

Asked about his thoughts on Tatsuki’s retirement, Takahito Mura recalls how he and Daisuke Murakami watched him announcing it from the side of the rink thinking: “The timing was very shocking. And honestly, I thought he could have gone on for longer than that”. Tatsuki later told him he had always regarded him as a rival that pushed him to do his best and that he wants him to work hard on his behalf from now on.

“I know you have the ability so I’ll be counting on you to carry on the years I’ve given up on and achieve the things I couldn’t." Mura says he will be motivated by those words but still wonders what Tatsuki thinks he had yet to achieve - maybe an Olympic medal? Maybe winning the World Championship? Or maybe just staying as a senior figure for Team Japan.

But he mentioned he will miss all of his retired senior team mates and that he will strive to achieve the scores both Tatsuki Machida and Yuzuru Hanyu have set early in the season.

Thank you for sharing the interview. As much as Mura is perplexed, I still don't understand why he threw in the towel! A world title (that should've been his last season) and 4CC title (he was silver medalist in 2010 though), or Grand Prix Final medalist all of which Tatsuki could've aimed for if he stays just one more season. I know I'm just selfish and a belatedly becoming fan who didn't know his skating until this season (why did I neglect men's discipline). Just best wishes for Mura as well since he has been replaced on behalf of Tatsuki's World spot. Mura will compete for 4CC too.

 

[Crossover]

I'm digging his photos over the web, and this might be also introduced to here, but I saw them for the first time.

The twitter cartoonist is quite good at catching the highlights of his performances.

After Tatsuki won the Skate America 2014
Tatsuki in the firebird costume after Nationals 2013

 

[ioanna]

I'm digging his photos over the web, and this might be also introduced to here, but I saw them for the first time.

The twitter cartoonist is quite good at catching the highlights of his performances.

After Tatsuki won the Skate America 2014
Tatsuki in the firebird costume after Nationals 2013

Amazing fanart!

I'll add another cute drawing of Phillip Mills creating the opening pose of Tatsuki's SP. Now I know why he held his hands like that
https://twitter.com/hinami0118/status/555711735618084864

You may also notice the heart shape in Tatsuki's hair - that is actually inspired by a real picture of him where the strands of his hair created a heart shape
http://40.media.tumblr.com/9e2e363a62bfcf011fd7eded7d9c6b5b/tumblr_ni7qkvs6kZ1r1qmqno1_1280.jpg

 

[Crossover]

Amazing fanart!

I'll add another cute drawing of Phillip Mills creating the opening pose of Tatsuki's SP. Now I know why he held his hands like that
https://twitter.com/hinami0118/status/555711735618084864

You may also notice the heart shape in Tatsuki's hair - that is actually inspired by a real picture of him where the strands of his hair created a heart shape
http://40.media.tumblr.com/9e2e363a62bfcf011fd7eded7d9c6b5b/tumblr_ni7qkvs6kZ1r1qmqno1_1280.jpg

Priceless, what a cute and funny fanart it is!!!! :thumbsup:
For a few seconds, I wondered why Tatsuki cried and his hair on the top of the head is in a heart shape. The second photo makes sense to me.

I really like their bond when Tatsuki was with Mills after he finished his performance at World 2014, and Skate America 2014.
I felt he really trusts and reveres Mills. I believe Tatsuki was a good muse to Mills since their aspiration to incorporate beautiful balletic movements into figure skating would be the same.

 

[icekiwi]

I have just watched Tatsuki's 2014 worlds's SP 'East of Eden' and 2014 SA 'Fantasy on Violin'. Listen to how the British guys and Kurt Browning's team gushing over his 4T-3T and 3A. The height and flow out of those jumps. Kurt said that Tatsuki's 3A is so high with so much spring in them, literally a couple of feet of the ground that he could have jumped out of the camera frame. So many male skaers would love to have his skating skills and especially those jumps - so secure and so much GOE +s.

Watching his past competition performances further adds my heartache why he retires. Just when he finally hit the mark - athleticism (powerful jumps) + artisitry (ability to do broad expansive balletic moves with ease).

I have been put into such a dilemma, I don't want to watch his skating cos' I kept thinking why he retires and then at the same time I love watching cos' of the beauty of his skating. This aching heart of mind can't be comforted. I appreciate all of the fans support here - I love the fanart of Mills and Tatsuki - so cute - it very much speaks about their relationship. Mills had a concept and Tatsuki is able to portray his heart and soul in it with all its demamding physical requirements.

Thank you all.

 

[ioanna]

I have been put into such a dilemma, I don't want to watch his skating cos' I kept thinking why he retires and then at the same time I love watching cos' of the beauty of his skating. This aching heart of mind can't be comforted.

I think everyone here is in the same situation - we want to watch his skating but at the same time it still brings bitterness no matter how hard we try to enjoy it. And we, his fans, are not the only ones who think he should have stayed for just a little bit longer; as shown by the interview above, Takahito Mura thinks the same thing, and even Daisuke Takahashi could only show a bitter smile when reporters asked his opinion.

In my eyes, Tatsuki was the most complete male skater this season. He may not have had the biggest TES, he may not have had the best spins and he may not have been the fastest skater but his technical arsenal was still enough to match his artistry in a combination that's very rare. I think about Daisuke Takahashi and realize his technical peak came much earlier than his artistic peak - but unfortunately the reason here was the injury. He was landing 2 quads in the FS during 2007-2008 but his best performed programs came after Vancouver - at the price of his quad.

But Tatsuki was lucky enough to develop his expression and jumps at the same time and this was all in a single year. In 2013 he moved his training location back to Japan and that is when he learned a brand new technique for his quad, one that even brought him powerful 4T-3T combinations. He already had a great 3A and 3Lz so those were easy to polish. From placing 9th at the 2012 Nationals, he won his GP events, shattered his previous personal bests and landed 20+ quads during the 2013-2014 season.

As memorable as his Worlds SP was I felt like this season he finally found himself and came into his own as a skater. His level of sophistication and finish in his performance were unmatched. He had so much detail in his movements but always managed to articulate them clearly. I've read live reports from Tatsuki fans who said the way his body expression translated to the audience was unique and incredibly special and that the videos on YouTube did him little justice. His small 162 cm frame could fill the biggest arenas and no matter how much people disagreed / will keep disagreeing on his style, his presence had a strong impact in a very short time.