Sota Yamamoto

[surimi]

I am glad he's taking things step by step, and doesn't rush the 4F training. With a past injury like his, it's best for him to stick to jumps he already knows for now, and work on their stability. I am pleased to hear that this is his priority. I hope they work on both the landings and the setup/takeoff with Onishi. West Japan will be telling as to how this strategy works.

 

[rRainbow]

Part 3

--I’m looking forward to seeing your progress. Now, I would like to ask you about this season’s programs. In our last interview, you told us titles of the music you use. Please tell us how your programs are coming together. First, you said that you wanted your short program “Dark Eyes” to be a gorgeous one inspired by Sasha Cohen. Has what you imagined taken shape?
S: The music is different from Sasha Cohe’s “Dark Eyes”, but it was edited very nicely and the choreography is quite vibrant and the program came out nice. I think I can show the new side of me with this, and my body movements and facial expressions have changed a lot, so I hope the viewers will see the new “Sota Yamamoto”
--In “Dark Eyes” Sasha Cohen showed a seductive smile at the opening. Do you show such a facial expression?
S: Yes [laughter]. There are so many points where I should make a good impression on the judges and my facial expressions have to be effective almost all the time [laughter]. I thought I did what I could, but when I watch my video, I am not there yet. I think in order to sell this program I have to go for more intensity.
--”Dark Eyes” choreographed by Kenji Miyamoto sensei reminds me of the memorable performance of “Dark Eyes” (10-11 & 11-12 SP) by Tatsuki Machida. Have you watched it?
S: I’ve watched it many times in the past and after deciding on “Dark Eyes” I rewatched it. I was very impressed by it again for his stirring last steps, beautiful poses and powerful impact and so on.
--It is interesting that two skaters with different styles skate to the same music choreographed by the same choreographer.
S: Kenji sensei choreographs a program to suit each skater’s individual characteristics and skating style, so my “Dark Eyes” is completely different from his. Machida-san’s “Dark Eyes” has various poses and many energetic moves. My program has dance moves but I feel Kenji sensei sees steady posing as important. If I can accomplish that with the flow of the program I hope I will be able to show my strength.
--I see that posing varies with skaters’ characters.
S: Kenji sensei tries about three different poses for each point and picks the most effective one. I feel that he choreographs my moves after he has looked at my physique and how I move my body.
--Miyamoto sensei has worked with you since you were a junior. Has his guidance changed?
S: When I asked him for the first time to choreograph “Poeta” (15-16 SP), I struggled to learn choreography, and I was so bad at moves that he scolded me a little [laughter]. But lately he said to me “You’ve really changed, Sota-kun,” and choreography has gone smoothly. Still, some of my moves get smaller as practice goes on, although they were bigger when initially choreographed. I would like to work on the issues so that I can do the way Kenji sensei choreographed.
--What advice did Miyamoto sensei give you?
S: I should use my fingers distinctively knowing when to press my fingers together and when to spread them apart. Besides, I should show the unique Russian folk dance moves properly. When I practice the short, people around me often tell me “The short is great,” and “It’s exciting.” I’m not satisfied with my skate yet but in these moments I am glad I chose this music. I want to make this program better so that people want to see it one more time.

....to be continued

 

[rRainbow]

Part 4

--I would like to ask you about your free, “Dragon.” The program is speedy and it keeps flowing.
S: The free program came out full of spectacular and magnificent flows. The short is tough as I keep dancing, but in the free I have to keep gliding fast and it is tough too [laughter].
--It is the program that takes advantage of your style.
S: I wanted spectacular music for the free, so I picked this one. The choreography centers on skating. I hope to showcase my skating skills and I would like the viewers to feel the splendor and magnificence of the program through my performance.
--Do you have any thoughts about expressing emotions?
S: I skate imagining the scene that would fit the music, and I want to convey it clearly to the viewers. The music is the one I used when I was a novice and I want to cherish the memory, and I hope to depict the “Dragon” by the current me who has grown up and overcome many things.
--You jump kick in the step sequence. How do you do that?
S: I make three turns with a left foot and then my right foot presses the ice with the toe-pick like jumping a flip and while making half a revolution I kick my right leg high [laughter].
--For a second you are off the ice, aren’t you?
S: For a second I take off [laughter]. I have to do it in front of the judges and so close to them that my leg almost hits the fence, so it is hard on my nerves, but if I nail the move, it will be an impressive step.
--Did Miyamoto sensei, your choreographer, give you any advice on the free?
S: It has Kung Fu moves but he added them subtly here and there rather than making them too conspicuous. Although he did not express in words, I got how he felt, and I will be happy if I can capture the magnificence of the program with some elements accentuated.

... to be continued to the last part

 

[surimi]

Thank you! So nice to read Sota's take, and Kenji's. I have noticed he was trying to emote more. He's not a natural at seductive smiles, but he does his best ^ ^ I like that he's paying attention to being expressive with his face as well as with his skating.

 

[surimi]

Preview of the new Figure Skating Life magazine ^ ^ https://ameblo.jp/shelley39/image-12631373697-14834533652.html I am glad I can rely on Japanese skating magazines to provide some photos, no matter how small, while we're waiting for West Japan. The magazine features the talkshows that took place in the last few months. Sota's is with Taichiro. Naturally, the second half on the onsen club couldn't be missing, so you guessed right, Kazuki's and Mitsuki's talkshow is featured as well ^ ^ Sota really loves his friends, look at the bottom of the page, how he's fooling around with Taichiro And they seem to be eating with cutlery in the restaurant photo - for some reason, I thought these were practically obsolete in Japan! (okay, I guess I shouldn't be maing assumptions... here's a cookie as a token of peace if anyone was offended )

 

[rRainbow]

Part 5 (last part)

--Do you have any issues to solve?
S: Onishi sensei told me that “feeling down” is different from “thinking,” and I’ve changed my mentality and mindset. Since I learned that feeling down is to keep looking down and thinking is to look ahead trying to figure out what to do, I’ve come to think about various matters. I have become mentally stable and now eager to compete. I expect more from myself competing with a stronger mentality.
--I feel your strength in each word you speak. How are you addressing the challenges?
S: I am standing on the edge of a cliff. If you ask people who will represent Japan at the World and the Olympics, most will give the names other than my name. I feel that I won’t be able to rise up without making extraordinary efforts. I know very well that since I injured myself at the best time of my skating life, I am lagging behind. So I believe I need to change myself a lot, so much so that people will say, “Sota is doing great these days.”
--We are in the pre Olympics season. How far do you feel the Olympics is?
S: I am not in the top group, so I have to make more efforts to rise up.
--Some events are expected to be without an audience. What do you think about performing without spectators?
S: Many people around me are saying that it won’t be easy, but I don’t feel that way so much. It will give me an opportunity to focus on my performance, and in that sense it won’t be bad. In the past I had opportunities to skate in front of the judges only in test skates, so I imagine it will be like that. The only thing is, I will miss hand clapping and cheers by the audience. In fact, spectators pump me up a lot. To my fans, I hope to be able to convey something through my performance, even if through the screen.
--Thank you very much for your insightful story. Lastly, please give a message to your fans.
S: Recently I have been updating my Instagram and twitter posts little by little. I am grateful to you for your kind consideration such as reading my posts, posting your comments, and sending your drawings and messages to the recent online event. I would like to repay your support by my skating. I would appreciate your continued support this season.

...THE END

 

[rRainbow]

Copying my own post from Kazuki thread:

After the online onsen club talkshow on August 10, the boys kept talking, and the organizer published the transcript of the aftershow chat in the フィギュアスケート日本代表 2020 ファンブックmagazine, available from Amazon USA & Amazon Japan

--Summary of the first half which is mostly fluffs--
* All of them wanted to talk more.
* Sota and Kazuki sometimes started talking at the same time.
* Taichiro pointed out Kazuki had a tendency to talk for a long time.
* Taichiro and Mitsuki noticed that everyone was wearing a different pattern yukata (Japanese traditional casual summer garment made of cotton), while Kazuki and Sota didn’t notice that.
* For the next onsen trip, Sota and Mitsuki wanted to go to Arima onsen. Then Kazuki recommended Dogo onsen, and everyone agreed.

The second half was about the second career choices.
Translation: (K=Kazuki, M=Mitsuki, S=Sota, T=Taichiro)
--There is another question we could not ask you because we ran out of time. This is the question Sota senshu was to ask you as a MC.
K: About our second career.
S: Okay, let’s start.
K: Please go ahead.
S: As I often tell people, I really want to be a coach. These days, when I have a specific skating problem, I wonder objectively what I would do to help the student if I were a coach, and that’s how I practice. I want to become a coach that much. Then, how about Mitsuki?
M: Recently I’ve started thinking about becoming a coach.
S: That’s good.
M: I won’t start alone, and I would start out by working for my current coach. But I’ve come to think lately that since I cannot coach how to jump, I would rather coach skating skills mainly.
T: You want to be a specialist.
S: Good idea. Next, Taichiro.
T: I want to take time away from figure skating once. I do love teaching things to people, so taking a job in which I give instructions to others is an appealing thought, but since my second career lasts longer in my life, I want to try various things rather than centering on skating. While doing so, if I keep my passion for skating in my heart, I hope to be able to come back to skating and become a coach or choreographer. That’s why I want to spend time away from skating once to experience working in other fields.
S: I have the feeling that Taichiro will do any job just fine.
K&M: Yes, yes.
S: Next, our leader!
K: Right now I’m worried so much I feel like throwing up [laughs].
S: That much?
K: It gives me a stomachache just to think about it. I am not young anymore, as I am in the 4th year of college, so I have to make a decision already after all. Of course part of me wants to take time away from skating, but as Mitsuki just said, I am getting a little interested in giving instructions. Still, I don’t have the guts to choose it as my occupation yet. But I have an idea. We talked about being a specialist just now, and considering the fact that I’ve studied training theory in the Sports Department at college and been supported by the sports club company, I might as well take advantage of them. Right now, none of the former figure skaters can instruct off ice training. All the trainers came from other sports. So, if I can give the off-ice training support to figure skaters, I will probably be in a very strong position. I’ll be glad if I can give effective support to figure skaters, after evaluating various training methods from the viewpoint of a former skater. I am most interested in workouts, so I am leaning toward that type of job.
T: Sounds great, doesn’t it?
K: Not bad, huh.
T: Awesome idea!
S: And then, you’ll go to competitions with skaters?
K: Come to think of it, that, too. As an example, I want to incorporate off-ice workouts and on-ice practice and create exercises inspired by ballet and such. Many overseas instructors are doing these things already.
T: Kazuki will be a specialist in that area?
K: Yes, yes, I want to be certified if it needs certification. I want to have an edge on others, if I want to be an instructor.
T: Considering the circumstances and environment Kazuki is in now, it is more than a dream. Rather, you should go for it, and you are ready.

....to be continued

 

[KiraraChin]

I completely see Sota as a coach, I think he will be great in motivating his students in face of adversity, drawing from his own experience

 

[surimi]

Yay, thank you! It's such an interesting read.
I am positive Sota will be an esteemed and much sought out coach. Like Kirara said about Kazuki, I hope Sota will stay competitive as long as he can and wants to. After that, I think he'll want to be on his own, unlike Mitsuki. He has his own ideas, and I think Kirara is right in that he's somewhat stubborn; he'd find it hard to follow the instructions of a superordinate coach if they differred from his own views. It makes me so glad to imagine that both Kazuki and Sota could travel the world with their charges, so we could maybe see them once in a while and give them a wave or something
hehe, Sota really respects Kazuki! Not only he remembers and quotes his obervations about skating, but now the boys universally accepted Kazuki's onsen idea, and acknowledged him as their leader, aww.

 

[KiraraChin]

Well, Kazuki is the oldest after all, although he doesn't look like it lol

I remember Sota said before that when they went to the Onsen, Kazuki was like 'let's eat ramen' and everyone followed

They do have a lovely relationship!

 

[surimi]

Kazuki is the brains of that group. What he says will be done. hehe

 

[rRainbow]

Last part of the onsen club aftershow chat:

S: You can get support from Central Sports (t/n: Kazuki’s sponsor).
T: You can belong to a sports club and can be a gym trainer as well.
K: Of course I have a dream of going to the Olympic as a skater, but besides that, I thought it would be cool to go to the Olympics as an instructor.
S: You’ve got a point. It is another dream to become sensei and go to the Olympics with your students.
K: Right. Also, as an alternative, I can be a staff trainer of the support group. I know figure skating, and recently I started to hope that I can become someone who can give support to skaters in whatever small way I can. But I did some digging and found out that if the job is in the medical field, it is a bit hard to get properly certified and licensed…. Therefore, I get sick to my stomach debating what to do.
T: I know, but you should go for it, in my opinion.
K: Sounds good. I enjoy working out myself.
T: Sometimes my trainer gives me advice that makes a whole lot of sense and enlightening.
K: Yeah, right, exactly!
T: If these words come from experienced skaters, they will be more convincing.
K: And more detailed. For example, if someone has trouble getting on the inside edge, after evaluating his body type and form, I will be able to recommend a specific training menu.
T: What’s more, you will be able to take in different ways to use muscles in other sports, and make use of them in figure skating. Kazuki, I want you to start soon.
K: I think that’s an interesting idea.
S: What are you waiting for? Retire already [laughter].
M: Retire, Retire! [laughter]
S: Next year. You’re almost there [laughter].
K: Maybe I’d better consult with the Federation officials [laughter]. Anyway, enough of this topic.
--You have a wonderful vision of your future! Speaking of becoming an instructor, what about a choreographer?
M: [shaking his head].
K: Ummm
T: I want to try!
S: I can imagine Taichiro being a choreographer.
K: I might have told Taichiro before that choreography is really hard because you have to have expertise in various areas.
M&S: Yes, yes.
T: Although it is hard, you get to put together programs you love, watch them from the outside and brush them up some more. In doing so, there are so many things to think about, but yeah, it sounds like fun.
K: I choreographed for about five skaters of the college skating club. It sure was fun.
T: I want to choreograph for at least one skater while I am an active skater.
K: Seriously? While you are actively competing?
T: For my junior club members or novice junior girls.
K: Gala numbers or retirement programs for graduating seniors. Come to think of it, people like Kohei Yoshino are cool.
M: Kohei-kun is a good choreographer.
K: He has charisma.
T: He has come this far in this field.
K: It would be great if I could do choreography, coaching and everything, but it would be tough.
T: As an alternative, you might want to form a team.
K: But when you do it as your job, I bet it will be absolutely difficult. People will definitely get into a fight [laughter].
T: Of course they will. Professional work is no easy task.
K: You’re right.
M: I can see the difficulty.
S: Yes.
--Everybody, Thank you very much for sharing your valuable story.
Everyone: Thank you very much.
S: We talked a lot.
K: We really talked a lot. It was a nice talk show.
M: It sure was.
T: It was super fun!
--Thank you very much. I do hope to have another talk show with you.
Everyone: Please, please.
K: Maybe after the season is over.
S: I had a good time. Please do it again.
T: Thank you very much.
M: Thank you very much.
K: Well, everybody, see you around!

---The End --

 

[surimi]

for the translation! It was fun to read. lol at Sota and Mitsuki joking about Kazuki retiring. They'll need to try hard to defeat Kazuki first.

 

[rRainbow]

フィギュアスケートLife Vol.22 features online talk shows.
Among other shows, the first 2 pages of Sota x Taichiro online talk show (July 12) script was shown by the publisher as sample pages. https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71b01gzDm8L.jpg
Translaton:
--Well, I would like to invite the guest you have been waiting to see. For this talk show, he updated his SNS for the first time in 3 years. Here’s Sota Yamamoto senshu.
S: Hello everyone! Thank you very much for having me.
--Thank you for coming. You updated your SNS for the first time in 3 years and your fans must have been really surprised. What prompted you to do that?
S: Well [laughter], I have a twitter account too, and Taichiro promoted this show by his tweet and I was really looking forward to this event. Since this is my first talk show appearance, I updated my Instagram to promote this show in my Insta story.
--Thank you very much. I understand you are going to sing for us in this show [putting him on the spot].
S: No, no, no, no! Well, looks like many people are expecting me to sing, but I would like to respectfully decline this time [laughs].
--Now, I would like you to introduce one more guest to us.
S: Sure. He is not only my rival but also my very close, or rather, my best friend. Here’s Taichiro Yamakuma senshu! Please!
T: Hello, my name is Taichiro Yamakuma. Nice to see you!
--Thank you for joining us. How was Yamamoto senshu’s introduction?
T: He did a lot differently from when we rehearsed. He was funnier at that time, so he caught me off guard.
S: Ahhahahaha!
--So it was not exciting?
T: You are about to hear more fun stories.
S: Don’t raise the bar. Everybody raises the bar.
--Well, let’s go over the topics. First, please tell us how you two met for the first time.
S: When I was in elementary school I trained in Osaka and he was in Kobe, right?
Y: Yeah, yeah, yeah
S: We sometimes practiced at Rinkai during the summer, and met at competitions, but I hardly ever had a chance to talk to him. I talked to him for the first time at Nobeyama Youth Development Camp. We were roommates and we did activities together, so I wanted to talk to him. Perhaps I was the one who built up the courage to start a conversation with him.
--Yamakuma senshu, how was your impression of him at that time?
S: Back then, his personality didn’t give me a strong impression. But as we grew closer, he is such a free spirit and so much fun to be around.
S: [laughter]
T: When we were novice, we had the fondest memories at Nobeyama.
--Can you tell us a story?
S: Umm, a lot of .....As Taichiro kindly said …..kindly [laughter]
T: “kindly said” [laughter]
S: I got stiff and polite [laughter]. I have vivid memories of Nobeyama. As an example of just a silly trivia, we had one ball in our room, and we all started a discussion to decide on either playing dodgeball or a game of hitting a paper ghost with the ball. I was one of the few who were for the ghost game. Only I and Ichigo Santo who was my age insisted on the ghost game, but the talk ended as everyone else started playing dodgeball and we were sulking. I have many memories like that.
--You two are college students now. Do you interact with each other the same way?
S: Someone told me that when I was depressed (due to injury) and stopped talkiing to anyone for a little while, Taichiro seemed to have felt strongly a barrier between us. He asked me later, “Did I do anything to you?”
T: [laughter]
S: But we didn’t change. We have been good friends all the time.
T: I don’t usually keep in touch with him very often, and when we met at competitions we used to spend fun time together. But one time I met him for the first time in a while, Sota was not yet cheerful.
S: Not yet cheerful [laughter]
T: He said “Hey, Taichiro,” but his face was still not smiling. I kept wondering if I did anything wrong to him. Rather than feeling a barrier, I thought he disliked me. About a year later I met Sota and he said, “Oh, Taichiro” [in an excited voice] and I knew he was back to himself.
S: You got relieved [laughter].
T: Yes, I breathed a sigh of relief [laughter].
--I understand that the photo on the screen now was taken around that time.
S: This photo of three of us was taken when I was in the 1st year in high school and Taichiro was in the 3rd year in middle school. Kazuki took this selfie. Aren’t your eyes a little more swollen than usual? [laughter]
T: Ahhahahaha!
--We have received a request from Tomono senshu that we show him the recording of this show later.
S: He is teasing us as usual [laughter].

…To be continued

 

[surimi]

hehe, what a fun read. I didn't know Taichiro was from Kobe. And I totally wouldn't recognize him in that restaurant photo!
I can vividly imagine a sulking novice Sota at the training camp. ^ ^ I actually think Sota has more than one best friend, as he's in touch wit Kazuki too, quite often from what he says in interviews.
Anyhow, in the interview it caught my eye that Sota used the form こんちは. Is that slang? Or normal? Or Osaka dialect?

 

[rRainbow]

I didn't know Taichiro was from Kobe

Kobe is not very far from Nishinomiya and Taichiro used to be coached by Hayashi at Nishinomiya rink until Taichiro moved to Tokyo to go to Meiji University.

Anyhow, in the interview it caught my eye that Sota used the form こんちは. Is that slang? Or normal? Or Osaka dialect?

こんちは (konchiwa) is a variant of こんにちは (konnichiwa) and a casual way of saying good afternoon or hello. It is widely used across Japan.

 

[rRainbow]

..continued from last translation..

--And this looks to be (Sota lying on his back over Yamakuma senshu) at JISS (National Sports Science Center).
S: It was 2 years later, wasn't it? I was in my 2nd, rather, 3rd year of high school and Taichiro was in 2nd. Every spring JISS tests skaters’ physical fitness, and this photo was taken at that time. That was when I still could not practice much. I look just fine in this photo though [laughter].
T: You were probably okay back then. Your mentality was getting back on track.
--I see you two are good friends. What do you like or respect about each other?
S: I have never said this, so I’m super embarrassed to say [laughter] that Taichiro moves really beautifully and as he is muscular and tall, each one of his poses is beautiful and impressive. Since he was a little kid his skating has given me an image of the scene he is in, and I have always longed for such skating since I was little, and there was a time when I imitated him.
T: You went through a time when you did that?
S: I guess it was when I was a novice. I didn’t tell you this but I tried to copy your pose and so on [laughter].
T: Wow, you’re kidding me!
--Yamakuma senshu, what do you think of Yamamoto senshu?
T: Sota is, as a person, I mean, he really lives his life freely [laughter].
S: You said that for the second time [laughter].
T: I envy his spontaneous spirit very much. He enjoys himself on many occasions, and when I am with him I can relax and be myself. I love his personality too. When it comes to skating, he looks gorgeous even when he is just gliding, I mean, he moves everyone just by gliding. His crossover skating alone is impressive. I don’t think there are many other skaters who can do crossovers like he does, and I always enjoy watching him skate. Besides, he is one of a kind. These are easily coming to my mind. After all, I totally respect him when it comes to skating. His skating is always a joy to watch and I learn from watching him.

... to be continued

 

[KiraraChin]

Thank you, rRainbow, for your translations!
I must say I was shocked when Sota said Taichiro is his best friend, I always thought that was Kazuki.
Sota, how could you!

 

[rRainbow]

Last part

Each Other’s Favorite Programs

--Next, about the favorite programs of each other, I understand that Yamamoto senshu’s favorite programs of Yamakuma senshu are “Star Wars” and “La La Land.”
S: Also, “Kill Bill” in his second year of novice A. I suppose “Star Wars” was in his first year of novice A.
T: Yeah.
S: Look, we were competing alongside those days, and these two were cool in terms of programs themselves and costumes. Then, “La La Land” was the free program when Taichiro went to the Japanese Nationals for the first time after trying so hard. I didn’t get to see him skate live, but I watched him skate later, and it was a fantastic program, and his skate was captivating in practice too. It may be partly because I’ve watched the movie; I get fascinated by the program.
T: I understand Yamamoto senshu’s favorite program of Yamamoto senshu is last season’s free “In this Shirt.”
T: When I saw it for the first time, I felt it was perfect for Sota.
S: Are you sure?
T: For real, it is such a perfect match for him that people can identify Sota Yamamoto with it, and I think it is one of his greatest. As I said just before, his gliding alone draws people in, and the program enhances his charm to the fullest. Each one of his poses is very beautiful.
S: [cocking his head to one side with a grin of embarrassment]
T: You don’t have to cock your head [laughter].
S: Nooo, nuh-uh, Taichiro’s poses are more beautiful [laughter].
T: Not true, not true.

… End of sneak peek

 

[surimi]

Thanks a lot for the translation, I enjoyed each part!
I agree with Sota re. Taichiro's La La Land. It's the only program of his that I've seen that stuck in my memory. But I can't agree with Taichiro re. Sota's best program. For me 'Shatsu' was the other way round: the one which fit Sota the least. If I rewatch, it's just for Sota himself (his after-program reactions especially), the step sequence and the poses. And judging by the relatively cool reception of that program by international fans, I am not alone with this opinion. The music is bland and whiny, and that sucks much of the charm out of the program for me. Same issue as I have with the dulled part of 'Dragon', actually. Sota was born for splendid music.