Jason's interview in two parts from The Answer, a Japanese media outlet, dated November 9 and taken after the NHK Trophy. It is in Japanese and I came across it through Yuzu fans, as he talks about Yuzuru there, and warmly as always. Still also about many other topics and a few other skaters, and his goals and plans. I thought it would be interesting for you here.
This is the tweet with the photo leading to the second part of the interview followed by links to both and a machine translation with some parts aligned by Japanese speakers (may be not perfect though)
フィギュアスケートのグランプリ（GP）シリーズ第4戦・NHK杯は8日、東京・代々木第一体育館で男子ショートプログラム（SP）が行われた。3季ぶりにGPシリーズに参戦している29歳のジェイソン・ブラウン（米国）が演技後にインタビューに応じ、日本への愛や羽生結弦さん、宇野昌磨さんから学んだことを明かしてくれた。前後編でお届けする前編では「日本を愛する理由」について。（取材：THE ANSWER編集部・宮内 宏哉）
the-ans.jp
フィギュアスケートのグランプリ（GP）シリーズ第4戦・NHK杯は8日、東京・代々木第一体育館で男子ショートプログラム（SP）が行われた。3季ぶりにGPシリーズに参戦している29歳のジェイソン・ブラウン（米国）が演技後にインタビューに応じ、日本への愛や羽生結弦さん、宇野昌磨さんから学んだことを明かしてくれた。前後編でお届けする後編では「日本選手から学んだこと」について。（取材：THE ANSWER編集部・宮内 宏哉）
the-ans.jp
Sukiyaki, tuna mayo, respect for Japan people
Brown who is returning to the GP after three seasons "Why I love Japan"
2024.11.09
Interview Part 1 "Why I Love Japan"
―In the NHK Cup, SP, you have finished in 10th place with 77.08 points. Looking back on today's performance.
I wish I could skate better, but I was happy to perform in front of the Japanese audience, so in that sense it's fulfilling......!
―You have participated in the GP series for the first time in three seasons. How did you feel when you were selected to participate in the NHK Cup?
I was really excited! I'm getting back to feel the competitions and the program is slipping, but I think it's a real privilege to be able to compete in Japan.
―Many Japan fans were cheering with American flags in their hands. What was the atmosphere like at the venue?
It's incomparable! My first tournament in Japan was here in Yoyogi. The 2015 NHK Trophy. I'm also happy that I'm still competing and I'm happy that I can do what I love on the ice. So I tell myself not to take it for granted.
―You have been studying Japanese for quite some time, and even posting in Japanese on SNS. Why did you decide to learn Japanese?
In my first Junior Grand Prix season, when I competed in Karuizawa (JGPSBC Cup in 2010), I really liked Karuizawa. The next time I came to Japan, I thought that if I could speak a little Japanese, I would be able to communicate with my fans. A lot have been self-taught. I studied from books, I studied at a college for a couple of years, and I also studied with a private tutor."
―Please tell us about your favorite part of Japanese culture and your favorite food.
Wow...... (There are too many things to like) Sohad. Sukiyaki, tuna mayo onigiri ....... But my favorite is the culture that during skating competitions, the audience has a lot of respect and love for the competitors. No matter who the competitor is, there is always someone to support him in good times and bad times. Even when it's a bad skate, it gives me the strength to skate until the end, which I feel why the fans in Japan are so amazing."
―Fans in Japan have been waiting for your performance. What do you want to communicate to them?
I want them to know how much I love this sport, and I want them to feel from my skating the gratitude I have for them. I'm grateful to be able to participate in competitions and perform here. I hope they know I'm doing it for them.
The "Behind the Scenes" of Yuzuru Hanyu
Jason Brown Learns "Determination" and "Equanimity" from His Friends in Japan
2024.11.09
Interview Part 2 "What I learned from the Japanese skaters"
―What is your impression of Yuma Kagiyama from your point of view of beautiful skating?
I'm a big fan of Yuma!! I think he brings a lot to the sport and [coach] Carolina [Kostner] and he are both working towards beauty. He's maturing and getting better and better, so I'm looking forward to watching him as a fan.
―For this tournament, Keiji Tanaka and Satoko Miyahara, who you know well, are the official ambassadors, and Rika Hongo is the tournament reporter.
(pointing to Ms. Miyahara, who was nearby) Hey, look at me! (
laughs) Keiji and Rika! It's interesting because they're all in new roles. The people I've worked with have become coaches and media people.
―Yuzuru Hanyu and Shoma Uno, who have participated in the tournament together with you, have also left the competition, but what are your thoughts on the two of them?
I've grown up with them in the sport, so when I see them grow in the sport and professionally outside of the sport, it's amazing and I think they're good ambassadors for the sport. I think Yuzuru is an inspiration to a lot of people and I've trained with him, and every time when I was in Japan I saw him, he worked harder than anyone else, so I've learned a lot.
――What did you learn from both Mr. Hanyu and Mr. Uno?
The biggest thing I've learned from Yuzuru is determination, I saw how hard he has practiced. He has an incredible determination not to leave the ice until he has achieved what he wanted to achieve today. He approaches practice with that much passion and drive. I think it is wonderful. When he went to competitions, it looked like everything was so easy for him, and I thought, 'Because it is him, he does it easily, without any problems, and without mistakes,' but when I saw the incredible amount of practice that goes on behind the scenes, I really understood why he has become such a star.
Shoma is always calm. No matter how bad things happen, whether it's a practice or a competition, he’s going to practice flat. Positive, calm and composed. I thought it was amazing that nothing would shake him.
― What are your plans for this season? Is the schedule of the competition hard?
It would be nice if I could skate the program properly every time, but I haven't been able to do that. But I feel like I'm getting a good response in the process. It's not a clean start, but the original goal was to start early and get yourself back on track in the midst of bumps. I want to be able to compete with a finished product, so I want to give 100% after fully experiencing the competition. I'm going to do my best!
――What are your goals for the future?
I want to get into the programme and make sure it is what I want it to be, and being able to do it in competitions will be a plus for me in the second half of the season. Just keep going. I want to learn from the program at every competition. In the second half of the season, we're going to be like, 'OK, we can do it'.
(THE ANSWER Editorial Department, Hiroya Miyauchi)
and I love the quote from Tracy:
www.instagram.com
