Mao Asada

[gotoschool]

Perhaps Mao does indeed love the sky and flying... but I thought Aero was named after the bubbly chocolate bar...!

http://www.goldenskate.com/2008/06/asada-assumes-azimuth/

I was thinking of aero as in aerospace. Besides, Mao also went bungee jumping which I don't know many people would do so she seems to have the thrill seeking love of flight. But, it is probably just a coincidence that she liked Aero chocolate. There is a Milky Way candy bar too. The stars would have been even better aligned with that candy bar or rather maligned since the Milky Way is what stood in the way and caused the separation of the lovers in the tale. But as in the name Aero, Mao's best performances often give me the sense she is flying and landing gracefully on a frozen pond like a beautiful swan.

 

[yhmafan]

Here is some touching and memorable scenes

 

[gotoschool]

Here are a couple of videos of Mao dressed in an adorable blouse, talking about The Ice in one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1N-HfAIKHi4

and with her sister Mai in the other video where they apparently talk a lot about jump technique: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sp1Y3ojoJZY Mao is shown first jumping at about 6 minutes but then she comes on the program at 16:30

 

[musicfan80]

and with her sister Mai in the other video where they apparently talk a lot about jump technique: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sp1Y3ojoJZY Mao is shown first jumping at about 6 minutes but then she comes on the program at 16:30

Does Mai coach or work in skating/sports? I know this thread is about Mao, but Mai has always come across as someone who would be a very good coach or commentator.

 

[gotoschool]

Does Mai coach or work in skating/sports? I know this thread is about Mao, but Mai has always come across as someone who would be a very good coach or commentator.

I know that Mai reports on sports news as a journalist, but I don't know if she actually announces for live events. I agree that Mai would be a very good coach because she is so good at motivating Mao. First, Mai gave Mao a tough but constructive talk just before her Sochi LP telling her something like she had practiced her jumps so many times that there was no way she could miss and to face her next performance with confidence not discouragement. After the SP at Nationals 2015, Mao thought that her LP would be her last performance. But thanks to Mai encouragement from the stands, she was able to give a wonderful comeback performance which encouraged her to continue (besides the fact that she made the Japanese Worlds team). Also, Mao skated a great performance at Worlds 2016 in the LP once her sister arrived in Boston to cheer her on. I hope Mai will go to Mao's competitions this season. I really think Mao will skate better if Mai does.

 

[cohkaix]

Does Mai coach or work in skating/sports? I know this thread is about Mao, but Mai has always come across as someone who would be a very good coach or commentator.

Mai has been working as a sportscaster and she used to have her own sports news corner in a news program (up until very recently). She also shows up as commentator quite often in skating shows and competitions. I don't think she has a license to coach, but she did hold skating classes once in a while to kids (as Mao did when she took the year off). I remember when Mai was doing sportscast, she'd try out all kinds of sports, and seemed to be good at most of them. And I actually saw Mai skating during 'THE ICE-2014', in which she skated with Mao to Let it go. I was wondering at that time what would have happened if Mai kept on skating. She can skate as gracefully as Mao does, and with very nice spiral. From her recent post on twitter here you can tell she definitely has a quite good foundation with the basic skating skill -- that was a very nice 2A: https://twitter.com/asadamai717/status/746188658911260673
(She's practicing hard this summer for Mao's The ICE, as it's going to be the 10 year anniversary show)

 

[yhmafan]

It’s the sports news photo exhibition that is held in Tokyo right now named [The pictures which have impressed on people’s memories (for these past 40 years) and Tokyo ]
There are six Mao photo’s – her unforgettable moments- are being displayed that were taken by some photographers.

The one of the photographers Noto-san mentioned on his tweet that he was very astonished/frightened (in a good way) by the size of Mao’s sochi photo taken by himself.
Apparently that is the biggest one in the place. (He must have felt honored for that.)

Furthermore, according to fan’s report, Mao is the only one athlete among all of them that there 6 prints are on display (even 1 prints is on display for Yuzuru.)

 

[yhmafan]

Mao's CM collection 　①　　② These have good ones

 

[gotoschool]

Mao's CM collection 　①　　② These have good ones

Thanks yhma fan for the marvelous footage of Mao. I know that you posted this link earlier, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npYn0ahAivw

and I found one that is a bit expanded. I must admit that I was overcome with emotion while watching it. The beauty,musicality expression and attention to detail in Mao's step sequences through the years is so magical, magnetic and moving. Incomparable. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F--4i62qBGM

 

[Arriba627]

Thanks yhma fan for the marvelous footage of Mao. I know that you posted this link earlier, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npYn0ahAivw

and I found one that is a bit expanded. I must admit that I was overcome with emotion while watching it. The beauty,musicality and expression to detail in Mao's step sequences through the years is so magical, magnetic and moving. Incomparable. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F--4i62qBGM

Breathtaking. Hard to hold back the tears while watching. Especially enjoyed her Ladies in Lavender segment. So happy to have seen Mao at Worlds and can't believe I'll get to see her again at Skate America. Thx for posting this!

 

[gotoschool]

Breathtaking. Hard to hold back the tears while watching. Especially enjoyed her Ladies in Lavender segment. So happy to have seen Mao at Worlds and can't believe I'll get to see her again at Skate America. Thx for posting this!

I am happy for you that you will get to see Mao skate again.

Here is a beautiful new photo of Mao doing a change of edge arabesque in her Madame Butterfly performance at Worlds. Her expression and picturesque position show that she is totally immersed in her performance.

http://media.gettyimages.com/photos...ies-free-skate-program-of-picture-id518891558

Another one of my favorite photos from Mao's performance.

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zLHt8fsEwG4/maxresdefault.jpg

http://i.huffpost.com/gen/3497548/images/o-MAO-ASADA-facebook.jpg

And these from Cup of China: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/sp-skate-a-20151108.jpg

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6NjUBWuQBvw/maxresdefault.jpg

https://www.thestar.com/content/dam...n-to-figure-skating-grand-prix-series/mao.jpg

Exhibition

http://media.gettyimages.com/photos...tion-of-champions-program-picture-id518919156

http://blog-imgs-92.fc2.com/n/u/t/nutscopanda/160408-2-1.jpg

Here is a beautiful photo of Mao in traditional Japanese dress: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/4a/5b/09/4a5b0987834304cec08e0c702ba35930.jpg

Mao and Yuzuru: https://40.media.tumblr.com/60bc3c33f05d856719c1256dd035fd0f/tumblr_o54115iUcs1uf9g8fo3_r2_1280.png

 

[Arriba627]

I am happy for you that you will get to see Mao skate again.

Here is a beautiful new photo of Mao doing a change of edge arabesque in her Madame Butterfly performance at Worlds. Her expression and picturesque position show that she is totally immersed in her performance.

Beautiful photos! She is SO captivating! Lovely photo of her in traditional dress. Don't think I had ever seen that one of her. I'll always remember her at Worlds finishing Madame Butterfly and having a look of relief on her face, but she also seemed as if she were in a trance for a moment. Her concentration is just SO intense. I admire her so much, as I'm sure we can't even begin to understand the pressure she feels. She is a true champion in my book.

 

[yhmafan]

Thanks yhma fan for the marvelous footage of Mao. I know that you posted this link earlier, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npYn0ahAivw

and I found one that is a bit expanded. I must admit that I was overcome with emotion while watching it. The beauty,musicality expression and attention to detail in Mao's step sequences through the years is so magical, magnetic and moving. Incomparable. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F--4i62qBGM

Welcom gotoschool, honestly I always become and then :sad46: in the end when I watch the video.
I see why some skaters like Daisuke and Yuzuru praise her steps to the skies

By the way, here is another Mao and Yuzuru photo from the World EX that a fan uploaded. Both look nice here :luv17:

 

[yhmafan]

Beautiful photos! She is SO captivating! Lovely photo of her in traditional dress. Don't think I had ever seen that one of her. I'll always remember her at Worlds finishing Madame Butterfly and having a look of relief on her face, but she also seemed as if she were in a trance for a moment. Her concentration is just SO intense. I admire her so much, as I'm sure we can't even begin to understand the pressure she feels. She is a true champion in my book.

Hi Arriba, I am glad you are interested in Mao in traditional dress, here is the part of my collection of photos that Mao wearing traditional clothes.

https://65.media.tumblr.com/702ef2d967927470a5bebec187354f49/tumblr_oanq1f6rz51vucczao1_1280.png
https://66.media.tumblr.com/12fe074127b67dba1ab4160a210db37a/tumblr_oanq22qfjP1vucczao1_1280.png
https://66.media.tumblr.com/48388ca5dd9af37a248b5e959e181ed5/tumblr_oanq0rXDd61vucczao2_1280.png
https://65.media.tumblr.com/97e0bb51de22a431536a2ea6169760fd/tumblr_oanq0rXDd61vucczao1_1280.png


And In the video, Mao is dancing Kyo-mai (traditional Kyoto dance), she looks nervous a bit but understandably the difference between it and performing on the ice.

Hope you like them

 

[Arriba627]

Hi Arriba, I am glad you are interested in Mao in traditional dress, here is the part of my collection of photos that Mao wearing traditional clothes.

https://65.media.tumblr.com/702ef2d967927470a5bebec187354f49/tumblr_oanq1f6rz51vucczao1_1280.png
https://66.media.tumblr.com/12fe074127b67dba1ab4160a210db37a/tumblr_oanq22qfjP1vucczao1_1280.png
https://66.media.tumblr.com/48388ca5dd9af37a248b5e959e181ed5/tumblr_oanq0rXDd61vucczao2_1280.png
https://65.media.tumblr.com/97e0bb51de22a431536a2ea6169760fd/tumblr_oanq0rXDd61vucczao1_1280.png


And In the video, Mao is dancing Kyo-mai (traditional Kyoto dance), she looks nervous a bit but understandably the difference between it and performing on the ice.

Hope you like them

Gorgeous photos! Mao is stunning, as always. I saw a short video a few weeks ago about designing, drawing, and dyeing the fabric for kimonos. It was just amazing to watch...How about that makeup she wears for the dance. I probably wouldn't have recognized her! Very beautiful though - at first I thought the song was Sakura...Is that her dog in that one photo?

 

[yhmafan]

Gorgeous photos! Mao is stunning, as always. I saw a short video a few weeks ago about designing, drawing, and dyeing the fabric for kimonos. It was just amazing to watch...How about that makeup she wears for the dance. I probably wouldn't have recognized her! Very beautiful though - at first I thought the song was Sakura...Is that her dog in that one photo?

haha it could be weird make-up for foreign people even more and as for the dog, (you have sharp eyes) I believed it’s her dog Aero but not sure

 

[gotoschool]

Here is a high quality video clip of Mao's 2014 Mao's Worlds Exhibition and encore which was just posted https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-A1zgV5N78

I like the way Mao's costume compliments her skin color in this performance. It's sunny optimism and lightheartedness are also a fascinating contrast to the tragic melancholy and epic redemption of her Rach II LP from the same season. In addition to Mao's consummate skills in ballet, I think it is Mao's ability to display this incredible emotional range by portraying such contrasting characters so naturally in Protean transformations that makes her such a great and versatile artist.

There are several other high quality ones at this address which were recently posted (the first four after the one I posted):
https://www.youtube.com/results?sp=EgIIAw==&q=Mao+Asada

 

[yhmafan]

Here are some fanart etc.

The fans expecting that Mao’s new SP costume would be like these. :dance:

Mao smiling

Nobu could not save himself from being emotional.

 

[Arriba627]

Here are some fanart etc.

The fans expecting that Mao’s new SP costume would be like these. :dance:

Mao smiling

Nobu could not save himself from being emotional.

Can't wait to see her new costumes for this. Was hoping to see Nobu cry but couldn't get the link to play. :sad4:

 

[gotoschool]

Here are some fanart etc.

The fans expecting that Mao’s new SP costume would be like these. :dance:

Mao smiling

Nobu could not save himself from being emotional.

Thanks so much yhma fan. If it is possible, I think Mao looks too beautiful in the first link you gave to her possible SP costume. I really hope this is it. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CoOBSIJVYAEZl7q.jpg:large.

I have to admit to my embarrassment that I often react with tears like Nobu when I watch Mao's performances.