Atom x Kanspo Collaboration Project
Figure Skating Danshi Special Session
Kinki Danshi's Daily Life ~Off-season~ Part 4
http://doshisha-atom.net/web/result.php?no=2164
PHOTO: What is that pose...?
ーWhat do you want to try for a challenge in the next season?
N: Umm... Well, I couldn't attempt any quads (in competition) during this season. So, first, I want to have one in a program for competitions. I want to give it a go in the next season, hopefully from the first competition onwards.
ーAccording to Honda-san, you're very close to landing it (a quad).
N: I feel like I'm already landing it. [laugh]
H: Yeah, you're landing it (as I saw it). [laugh]
N: I'm almost there. I just need... what is it, some kind of a spark for it, and I can make it just fine, I think.
T: My jumps have been stable so far and gave me good scores, so I want to focus on raising the basic levels of the foundation part for PCS (Program Components), including expressions, skating, as well as spins. And quads. I want to acquire different kinds of quads, to be competitive on the world's top stage.
ーSo, toe-loop for the next...?
T: Toe-loop, maybe. Well, (will try it) while having fun. Toe-loop is the most likely one, but I want to attempt other jumps too, while having fun.
H: Since I'm switching my environment in April, I need to raise overall levels. But my first priority out of all is to do a successful 4T in competition. And I'm willing to actively attempt another quad if possible.
ーBy another quad (you mean which)...?
H: I've already started trying Salchow lately. I occasionally tried it before too, but I'm feeling better with it now, and I want to try hard to work on it to catch up with other skaters.
PHOTO: Asked about the next season, their expression turned serious at once.
ーAny music genre you want to use for the next season's programs?
N: None, because I'm leaving it all up to my choreographers and coaches. I think what they suggest are what suits me, so... It's about my taste in the end, but I'll just say yes if I find it (what's suggested by them) fine.
ーYou're changing your free program this year...?
N: I'm changing my Free.
H: You used it (the last free program) for 2 years?
N: I did for 2 years.
H: Well, it's being cut to 4 mins...
T: You have to change it anyways.
ーWhat is your opinion about Free program being shortened to 4 minutes?
N: I wonder what it will be like...
T: Tougher?
N: Only one jump less.
H: I bet it'll be definitely tough. It's hard to recover.
T: You'll have to cram all in. With one less jump...
H: Each jump carries more weight.
T: Besides, the range of GOE gets expanded too.
N: But it's not settled yet, is it?
T: Right, but I guess the time is coming that demands the high quality of each big guns, well, probably not just jumps, but the qualities of each and every element.
PHOTO: The three looking into their phones for some reason...
ーWe've derailed a bit. (Back on topic,) any genres that you want to try in the next season, if you have any.
T: I'm the same with Shu-kun, I do suggest some myself too but most of the time they decide mine. This season's West Side (Story) and Zigeunerweisen, both of them too were brought by the choreo's sensei and my coach Taijin Hiraike sensei. What I really want to use the most is jazz.
ーAhh! That sounds fitting...
T: I do want to use some 'oshare' {fashionable, mode, fancy...} music. And also, something very deep and somber one, like people would give an unexpected cry of "Wait, that one?", to the contrary. [laugh] I do want to use such a piece, but I'm afraid maybe I'm not up to it yet technically. So, that leaves me to say, I want to use a number that is effective to show the best in me for sure.
H: I haven't decided yet, but I'm planning to change both Short and Free. I want to have new programs that are not something I've done before, but basically I leave them up to the choreographers, and then I'll talk with them, giving my ideas/opinions (to decide).
ーYou haven't chosen music yet, right?
H: The (ISU) rules aren't settled yet in the first place.
T: We can't decide even if we want to. Even if you do decide, you can't do the choreo yet.
H: Especially this new season, (we don't know) to what degree the rules change. Well, there are rumors, but nothing set in stone yet, and it's hard. I hear that it's almost settled that Men's Free will be cut into 4 mins.
T: It is (settled). I saw it. For now, we just need to keep in touch with choreographers.
N: For now, really, just practicing elements and such.
※ The interview session took place in early April (in 2018).
[企画・構成:宮西美紅(関大スポーツ編集局)、名倉幸 写真:川田翼]
～Their favorite photo～
We got their most favorite photos out of their smartphone library!
☆Nakamura-san
His beloved dog, Ron-kun
☆Tomono-san
At 2018 Milan World
☆Honda-san
At Kansai Free, with Ryoichi Yuasa (Kansai Univ graduate)
【Editorial postscript】
This project started in December, last year. It all started in the media waiting room at All Japan National Figure Skating Championships. We have seen the three being very close in block competitions and student competitions, and that triggered the two of us in charge of this project, who knew each other well in person, and started elaborating a plan together, thinking "It will be very interesting if we can do it!" The actual interview session took place in early April, and the first release was on May 7th; it became the biggest project for the longest period that the two had never experienced before. Thank you very much to all of you who read "Kinki Danshi's Daily Life ~Off-Season~". There is nothing that makes us happier if we get to deliver their actual profiles both as 3 male skaters from Kinki area and also as those who live "nichijou (mundane everyday life {unlike fancy and unrealistic lives of celebrities})", to as many of you as possible, through this project. By the way, notice that the title says "Off-Season". Perhaps we'll have a continuation of the project after the season starts...? We don't know that yet, but as student journalists, we are hoping to be able to witness the season filled with their smiles.
by 名倉幸(同志社スポーツアトム編集局/Doshisha Atom) and 宮西美紅(関大スポーツ編集局/Kandai Sports)
(I'm sorry but I do not know the accurate reading of their names, I can guess but don't want to make a mistake, just putting their kanji names here.)
The end of the first series.
The highlight is about their coaches for me! (Hamada, Raf, and Hiraike)
Only "Tomo" part is correct... ugh (I only google-read it, so not sure about the content, but still... I can read names lol)
enough with ramen for now.
