So, finally back here in this thread! I think I'll start by posting a couple of articles about Sota - of course, none of them is free to read, but I'm sharing autotranslations of what's visible:
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Mainichi:
Sota Yamamoto: "I feel lonely..." after Shoma Uno's retirement from the rink, 5th GP
On the 17th, one day after the free skating competition, Sota Yamamoto (Chukyo University), who placed 4th in the 5th Grand Prix (GP) series in Finland, gave an interview. He talked about his enthusiasm for the next competition, the All Japan Championships, and his thoughts on Yuma Kagiyama (Oriental Bio, Chukyo University), who won this competition and who he practices with regularly. The main points he spoke about are as follows:
Yuma Kagiyama and I are hooked on "fizzy drinks..."
A night has passed, how are you now?
To be honest, my condition wasn't very good after I came here, and I was thinking about how to handle the really bad conditions, but I made some mistakes in the short program, and I couldn't do anything in the free program or in the official practice. I think it was a big gain that I was able to switch my mindset and go to the actual competition. It was something I hadn't been able to do before, so I think it was an area I was able to overcome. I want to practice again as soon as I get back, with the challenges and gains I felt this time, towards the (next) All Japan Championships.
Young players such as Miura (Kao), Kagiyama, and Sato (Shun) are showing great momentum. How do you feel about this?
I don't really care about age because we're competing in the same sport, whether we're younger, the same age, or older. I think of them as both rivals and friends, and we compete together and raise our level together. I think I've been able to grow so much because of the high level of Japanese athletes, and I've been able to work hard while competing with everyone. The next competition will be the All Japan Championships, so I hope to do my best when I get back.
Now that you are older, how do you plan your career going forward?
To be honest, I haven't really decided on "this is definitely the time". I want to do my best until I'm satisfied with my body and push myself to the limit, but I have set the Olympics (Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo) next year as one of my goals, so for now I'm thinking that I'd like to put all my effort into that.
You have known Shoma Uno for a long time. What did you think of the way he ended his competitive career?
I'm sure he could definitely go to the next Olympics if he really wanted to, but it's already been two. He's competed in Pyeongchang (2018) and Beijing (2022), and those eight years alone are incredible. And he's been competing at the top ever since, so even watching from the outside, I really felt that Shoma has done enough in his own way, and I really respect the way he continues to compete at the top. I don't know... I'd like to emulate him, but I think it's really amazing and not easy to achieve.
However, we usually practiced together at Chukyo (the university's rink), but this year I no longer have the opportunity to practice with Shoma as an active skater, which is a different scene from before, and I felt a little lonely. But with Yumachi (Kagiyama) and other things, we're able to work hard together at Chukyo in a different relationship, so I really feel very blessed.
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'Samishii' is also used for missing someone, so the text might rather be saying Sota misses Shoma rather than feels lonely; but I'm not sure.
Great for Sota to speak so confidently, and to brush aside mentions of his age. I agree with him, he hasn't peaked yet in terms of artistry and jump consistency.
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Nikkan:
[Souta Yamamoto's words] What he feels after finishing 4th in two consecutive races: "It's not time to give up"
Yamamoto Sota (24, Chukyo University), who was in 4th place in the short program (SP), aimed for a higher ranking, and finished in 4th place with 167.48 points in the free program and 249.91 points in total. This is his 4th place, following his 4th place in Skate Canada, the second competition. Despite his regrets, such as falling on the triple axel (3 1/2 rotations), he took a positive attitude, as he was able to switch both his body and mind from the poor morning practice that day. In "Words of Yamamoto Sota," he also talked about the presence of his fellow student Matsuike Rino (Chukyo University), who was with him in both GP competitions this season.
- After the performance
Although the results of this season's Grand Prix series were disappointing, I was already in the worst condition in the morning of this competition. I felt that it was going to be a really tough competition, but after practice I was able to change my mindset and somehow I was able to go into the competition with a positive attitude. I made a few mistakes, but I think I've grown in the way that I was able to change my mindset from the worst condition. I'd like to go back and practice hard so that I can perform better.
- Did you feel any discomfort with your shoes?
Everyone has been in a situation like that. I think that everyone will be in the same condition at the actual event, so I don't think I can use that as an excuse. I hope I can practice hard when I get back.
[paid article from here]
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I think it's worth more than a medal that Sota is able to reset his mind, all by himself. He's still fighting doubts, lack of confidence and negative thoughts when he's not in shape, but he's getting increasingly better at mastering such lows. It's very heartwarming for a fan to hear Sota speak like that.
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hehe, I tried the salmon soup too (it was the #1 meal I was looking forward to trying for the 1st time), but I wasn't as satisfied as Sota. Not my cup of tea. But a couple of other meals made up for it :]
I'd say the music suits him! What a fun gala that could be 
His skating looks great, and I like the camera angles! The SP music is not my cup of tea, especially not for Sota, but Sota's skating makes everything better ^ ^
And good luck on the axel, though the 4S looked much better than most attempts in trainings. 
I completely agree that Sota has been doing a great job in managing his mental state! The way he turned things around in the free was great - even if the judges pretended not to see it 
And it contains 
talk!)
I focused so much on editing Sumitada's first name as Google Translate gave me 'Sumishi', I didn't notice this one.
