Tatsuki Machida

[Crossover]

He has opened an official website! Yes, on April Fool's day, but I'm thinking it's legit...

Oh and in one entry he mentioned that he will not be receiving any gifts, letters, flowers, etc from now on since he is just a student (I hope my Japanese is not wrong). Wow, I know a lot of fans are preparing to see him in ice shows and thinking about giving him things.

You know what? I didn't believe Tatsuki opened his own website because today is April Fool's day.
I thought he is a kind of person who never makes such a site to inform his fans of his plans and whereabouts. He is such an unpredictable person indeed! As long as he performs on ice, he is still a performer, so gifts, letters and flowers by fans are tokens for their gratitude to him. I think he is unnecessarily drawing a line between him as a student, and as a performer. He can be both. However, it is a good start for us because I've never expected this. What a joy! Thank you for the undate, firal.

 

[Crossover]

Thanks ioanap as always. I'm delighted to see the photos and Tatsuki and Dakahashi's surprising visit to his farewell party. I'll comment about your post in detail later. As for the unwarranted blame directing to Tatsuki, how absurd it is. He is retired, period.

 

[Maria Victoria]

He has opened an official website! Yes, on April Fool's day, but I'm thinking it's legit...

Oh and in one entry he mentioned that he will not be receiving any gifts, letters, flowers, etc from now on since he is just a student (I hope my Japanese is not wrong). Wow, I know a lot of fans are preparing to see him in ice shows and thinking about giving him things.

I knew it wasn't an April Fool's joke when I read that Tatsuki mentioned there that he will not be receiving any gifts since he is just a student. Just like Tatsuki to go against the grain! Anyway I went to the website, and unfortunately for me, it's mainly in Japanese. I hope the kind fans who know Japanese will share with us in this thread if Tatsuki had made any noteworthy entries in his website.

Thanks firal and ionap for updates and links.

 

[Meoima]

My Japanese friend said Japan has no April fool tradition, and given Tatsuki's personality I highly doubt that he was joking. I think he means it.
Glad to see Dai-chan and Tatsuki getting so happy in the retirement, away from JSF.

 

[Maria Victoria]

Looks like Tatsuki had a farewell party at his skating club, the Rinkai Sports Center. It took place on February 25 but the club only published some pictures recently. The juniors gave him a bouquet of flowers but the most important thing was Dai Takahashi surprising him by showing up and congratulating him for his achievements. Tatsuki looks extremely touched and happy and you can tell how much he loves and respects Dai.

http://rinkai.rocket3.net/images/20150329machida/P104s.JPG
http://rinkai.rocket3.net/images/20150329machida/P108s.JPG
http://rinkai.rocket3.net/images/20150329machida/P143s.JPG
http://rinkai.rocket3.net/images/20150329machida/P147s.JPG
http://rinkai.rocket3.net/images/20150329machida/P171s.JPG
http://rinkai.rocket3.net/images/20150329machida/P165s.JPG
http://rinkai.rocket3.net/images/20150329machida/P163s.JPG
http://rinkai.rocket3.net/images/20150329machida/P181s.JPG

More pictures from the event and also from the past couple of years here.

Update: A well known website that's already been mentioned here before has published a horrible and extremely offensive article about Tatsuki, blaming him directly for Team Japan losing a spot for Worlds 2016. It's worse than the one they wrote when he retired so just a warning, in case you find it don't waste your time reading it.

I think Tatsuki will always be Daisuke's fanboy (but aren't we all the latter's fanboys and fangirls? ) I can't help but think there must be a dress code with Tatsuki and Daisuke prominent in black and all the rest in white. But lovely, lovely moment with Tatsuki looking happy and at peace. Thanks for sharing ionap.

Re the Japanese men losing one spot for next Worlds, I think that has more to do with those who competed than Tatsuki retiring and giving his replacement ample time to prepare.

Looking forward to seeing Tatsuki skate again!

 

[Sandpiper]

He has opened an official website! Yes, on April Fool's day, but I'm thinking it's legit...

Oh and in one entry he mentioned that he will not be receiving any gifts, letters, flowers, etc from now on since he is just a student (I hope my Japanese is not wrong). Wow, I know a lot of fans are preparing to see him in ice shows and thinking about giving him things.

So I clicked the figure skating section. And it says New Work Coming Soon. I read it as New York Coming Soon and and immediately went, "OMG, he's coming to an ice show in NYC and I need to book a trip, I get to see him... live... oh... that not what it said." :hopelessness:

 

[ioanna]

Don't want to raise fans' hopes up here but the Waseda University entrance ceremony is going to be held in about 6 hours. This time he is expected to attend so maybe we'll get some pictures, or why not, videos.

 

[Maria Victoria]

Don't want to raise fans' hopes up here but the Waseda University entrance ceremony is going to be held in about 6 hours. This time he is expected to attend so maybe we'll get some pictures, or why not, videos.

Oh I hope he does attend. And on a humorous note, I wonder if we will get to see a picture of Tatsuki with the Waseda bear mascot.

Thanks ionap for the update, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed as to his attendance because with Tatsuki, I have learned to expect the unexpected.

 

[Crossover]

Don't want to raise fans' hopes up here but the Waseda University entrance ceremony is going to be held in about 6 hours. This time he is expected to attend so maybe we'll get some pictures, or why not, videos.

Congratulations for the new start as a grad student!
I would not hope that there will be treats for us since when I expected something, he always went on the other way, so...

 

[firal]

My Japanese friend said Japan has no April fool tradition, and given Tatsuki's personality I highly doubt that he was joking. I think he means it.
Glad to see Dai-chan and Tatsuki getting so happy in the retirement, away from JSF.

OT and belonging in Rika's thread, but she posted on twitter yesterday that she is using Thriller as her short for next season and will be featuring zombie make-up And of course she tweeted later that it was just a joke and apologized to those who believed it. I guess a lot did...

I was surprised that he included letters into stuff that he does not want to receive...I can understand if he doesn't feel right about the monetary values of all those gifts, but I guess this is very much Tatsuki-like.

 

[Crossover]

Just as digging twits to see if there are any photos or videos for the entrance ceremony, I came to see the photo of the magazines featuring Tatsuki on their cover page.
The AERA magazine on the right and bottom is that I didn't see before.

After some research, the issue was published in February 2014 even before Sochi. AERA seems a quite notable weekly magazine in Japan and is published by Ashahi newspaper.
http://www.fujisan.co.jp/product/25/b/1039182/

I guess with his outstanding performances at Japanese Nationals 2013, the magazine paid attention to Tatsuki.
Doesn't he look so hip and charming? The chic hair, leopard patterned clothing and overall styling are all awesome, so I hope he tries that style on ice for once.

 

[Maria Victoria]

Just as digging twits to see if there are any photos or videos for the entrance ceremony, I came to see the photo of the magazines featuring Tatsuki on their cover page.
The AERA magazine on the right and bottom is that I didn't see before.

After some research, the issue was published in February 2014 even before Sochi. AERA seems a quite notable weekly magazine in Japan and is published by Ashahi newspaper.
http://www.fujisan.co.jp/product/25/b/1039182/

I guess with his outstanding performances at Japanese Nationals 2013, the magazine paid attention to Tatsuki.
Doesn't he look so hip and charming? The chic hair, leopard patterned clothing and overall styling are all awesome, so I hope he tries that style on ice for once.

Thanks for sharing! Suave is the word.
I am reminded also of one of Tatsuki's idols, Stephane Lambiel...

 

[ioanna]

No pictures or videos from the entrance ceremony either, unfortunately.

What's been the talk of Japanese fans on twitter today was a brand new interview coach Yoshinori Onishi gave for Number magazine. I've only caught bits and pieces but coach Onishi was the one who brought Dai Takahashi to Tatsuki's farewell party at Rinkai, because he knew it would make him happy. He also described Tatsuki as a skater with extraordinary expressiveness and he doesn't think there will be another man who's capable of putting forth as much emotion as he did. He says he learned a lot of things from Tatsuki and that he was happy just to be close to him all this time.

But what's probably the most important and confusing detail - apparently Tatsuki told him he intended to retire the day after the free skate, on December 27th. Onishi asked him what he planned to do in case he was chosen for the Worlds team anyway, to which Tatsuki replied "If I'm chosen, let's go together." It seems like he changed his mind overnight and really came to the final decision on the morning of December 28th, like he said.

 

[Crossover]

Thanks for sharing! Suave is the word.
I am reminded also of one of Tatsuki's idols, Stephane Lambiel...

Yes, I'm also reminded of Lambiel's unique fashion sense as you mention him.
http://www.usfsa.org/content/events/200506/worlds/action/lambiel-qual2.jpg

 

[Crossover]

No pictures or videos from the entrance ceremony either, unfortunately.

What's been the talk of Japanese fans on twitter today was a brand new interview coach Yoshinori Onishi gave for Number magazine. I've only caught bits and pieces but coach Onishi was the one who brought Dai Takahashi to Tatsuki's farewell party at Rinkai, because he knew it would make him happy. He also described Tatsuki as a skater with extraordinary expressiveness and he doesn't think there will be another man who's capable of putting forth as much emotion as he did. He says he learned a lot of things from Tatsuki and that he was happy just to be close to him all this time.

But what's probably the most important and confusing detail - apparently Tatsuki told him he intended to retire the day after the free skate, on December 27th. Onishi asked him what he planned to do in case he was chosen for the Worlds team anyway, to which Tatsuki replied "If I'm chosen, let's go together." It seems like he changed his mind overnight and really came to the final decision on the morning of December 28th, like he said.

What a thoughtful gift from Coach Onishi to invite Dakahashi for Tatsuki. His high evaluation on Tatsuki is also warming my heart. I hope they keeps in touch with each other.

As for his change on mind, he might have thought that he has no future as a competitive skater even if he was chosen for the World team. I'm not sure though.

 

[Khoai]

Good for him to have a good retirement. People might think I am harsh but in my opinion most skaters should retire at the age of 22-24. Unless you were Carolina who had no competition in her home country. If he tried to go for the next Olympic he would have to struggle a lot with injuries like Takahashi. That would be sad for his fans to watch.

 

[Crossover]

Good for him to have a good retirement. People might think I am harsh but in my opinion most skaters should retire at the age of 22-24. Unless you were Carolina who had no competition in her home country. If he tried to go for the next Olympic he would have to struggle a lot with injuries like Takahashi. That would be sad for his fans to watch.

Tatsuki had said many times that Sochi will be his first and last Olympics ever and this season will be his last as a competitive skater. His fans including myself were glad that he could perhaps consider proceeding his career to 2018 in an interview, but his retirement AFTER this season was expected, not in the middle of the season.

Besides, I think the decision over retirement is up to skaters' determination and their body condition not just to their age. Male skaters have a more longevity than female skaters for about 3-4 more years, so most skaters retiring at the age of 22-24 is well.. just your opinion, not reflecting the reality. If skaters are prone to be injured and recovery process are too much to bear or accomplish enough in figure skating and find a better future in other fields, then retiring in even 10s and early 20s is not uncommon from all disciplines. Moreover, we never know of how future will be especially in this sport; too unpredictable.

 

[Khoai]

Tatsuki had said many times that Sochi will be his first and last Olympics ever and this season will be his last as a competitive skater. His fans including myself were glad that he could perhaps consider proceeding his career to 2018 in an interview, but his retirement AFTER this season was expected.

I know, that is why I said good for him. Retire when you are still relatively healthy. He still have more than 60 years of his life so no need to do too much harm to his health. Best wishes for him in his second life.

 

[ioanna]

Good for him to have a good retirement. People might think I am harsh but in my opinion most skaters should retire at the age of 22-24. Unless you were Carolina who had no competition in her home country. If he tried to go for the next Olympic he would have to struggle a lot with injuries like Takahashi. That would be sad for his fans to watch.

Nobody expected him to continue until the next Olympics but a mid Olympic cycle retirement a la Jeff Buttle was what we wished for. He was a late bloomer and only managed to achieve success last season, after skating for 20 years. He had a distinctive skating style and brought new things to the sport, at least that's what I like to believe. He was also improving from competition to competition and had it not been for external factors I have no doubt his season would have gone as smooth as Skate America. But it was the right decision for him, because he is one of the most intellectual skaters I've seen and has a lot of big plans for his life.

 

[solani]

I have respect for his (certainly difficult) decision to quit during the season. I just hope for him that he will never regret it. And I miss him for selfish reasons. I have the feeling, that we only got a glimpse of what he's capable of.