Hello Yuzusan (and fellow Yuzu fans)
Here is the first part of Yuzuru's interview on the EVERY show.
The show talks about both Yuzuru and Mao but I have just worked on the parts about Yuzuru.
The first part of the show is a rundown of the season for Yuzuru until 1min 55 sec.
The second part which starts at 4min 55 sec is the in studio interview with Yuzuru. That runs until 9min 55sec. (When I get time I will translate the remaining 9 minutes of the studio interview.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhaydvxueKA
Opening Narration:
Yesterday as part of the ice show on in Nagoya yesterday the athletes all stepped onto the rink. With three gold medals shining around his neck, Gran Prix, Olympics and Worlds we see Hanyu Yuzuru.
Yuzuru: I think this was truly a luxurious season for me. But thinking about it, even in the biggest competition, the Olympics, where I got the title, there are still a lot of things to work on and improve especially in the free program. So even though it was a wonderful season, more than that it was a valuable experience for me.
Narrator: First, Hanyu performs his Swan Lake program and for the encore….of course this melody for his world record scoring short program Parisian Walkways. When Hanyu does his trademark final pose, a huge cheer goes up from the audience. Even while showing real credentials as a champion he is already turning his focus to next season.
Yuzuru: No matter that I am Olyimpic champion I want to be the type of athlete who is able to push the sport forward by improving my skating skills and technique
Announcer (man): The last competition of the year, the World Figure Skating Championships the mens single winner is Hanyu Yuzuru and the ladies singles winner is Asada Mao. Both in the mens and ladies competition our athletes are winners.
Announcer (woman): After the competition, the thing that everyone is wondering about Asado Mao is whether or not she will retire from skating. She has already said that she is in two minds (half-half) about it.
Narrator: Having become World Champion for the first time we have Hanyu Yuzuru. He came from behind to beat Machida who was in first place after the short program.
Yuzuru: There was 7 points of a gap…but at the end of my fee program I noticed that 7 points is a big gap.
Machida: I watched Hanyu’s performance on the monitor… It was a brilliant performance and I was thinking…..what will happen….then when the scores came out I thought “Ahhh”.
Narrator: This season, for the first time, Hanyu fell on the quad toe-loop in his short program. Aiming for a win from third position, Hanyu sets about his free program. He was attempting two different types of quads. The first, the quad salchow. This season, in international competitions he only landed the salchow once but he was able to land it here. And then his personal specialty jump, the quad toe, he landed that beautifully. Indeed on top of that with no major errors in this competition, he has been able to claim the titles the Grand Prix Final, the Olympics and now the World Championships. After a 12 year gap he is only the second athlete to do such a thing.
Yuzuru: Including both my feelings of frustration and happiness in this season I learned that there are still a lot of points and things to improve. I want to work really hard and do my best for next season. (1min55sec)
(4mim55secs)
Narrator: As with the Ladies Singles, it was also a Japanese man who became the winner of the mens competition.
(Cut to the studio)”Well, we are proud to welcome Hanyu Yuzuru to the studio today.”
Announcer: Congratulations! Please accept these flowers. Truly we thank you for your incredible efforts. Please take a seat.
Yuzuru: Yes.
A: Today, he has brought with him the only Sochi Olympic gold medal we have in Japan which we can see hanging in front of his chest. Is it a heavy thing?
Y: It’s very heavy. In many ways it is a very heavy medal.
A: So in your mind the medal is heavy with feeling/emotion?
Y: Yes, that's right.
A: You got gold medals in three big competitions, the GP Final, the Olympics and the World Championships. After a gap of 12 years you are only the second person in history to do such a thing. What do you think of this record?
Y: The athlete who first achieved this record was Alexi Yagudin, he was the long time rival of Pluschenko, an athlete I have admired / idolized. I feel like, in a small way, I am getting a little bit closer to the athletes I so much admire.
Announcer (lady): After you got the gold medal (Sochi) when you arrived in Japan there were huge numbers of fans waiting to cheer and welcome you home.
Y: It was amazing! I had no idea that it was going to be like that. I never thought so many people would come together like that. It was truly amazing.
Announcer (man): We can hear all the people shouting “Hanyu-kun! Hanyu-kun!” Could you hear them calling your name? <kun in Japanese means “young person” and is a term of endearment>
Y: I could hear them clearly. And this time too at the World Championships I also experienced something similar. It is something I am very thankful for.
(Announcer (grey jacket): Has anything in your daily life changed?
Y: Well yes, when I’m in Japan the rhythm of my life has changed. Going outside is now something that has to be arranged.
Announcer: At the beginning of your programs, you have a variety of facial expressions. But for every program, before you start you seem to make a sign of the cross (like a blessing). What does that cross sign mean?
Y: That’s not a sign of the cross. The first vertical line is to check my vertical body line. The two horizontal lines I draw across my body are to straighten out my upper body core…
Announcers: Really! And you do that every time?
Y: Yes, I do. Most of the time I do it without even thinking. I make the movements automatically. It is one part of my routine.
Announcer: After getting a Gold medal in the Olympics, most athletes don’t take part in the World Championships which happen so soon after. What were you thinking when you decided to participate in the World Championships?
Y: I didn’t really think about the results of the Olympics because I from the start I had made the decision that I would take part in the World Championships. So if I’m asked why I took part I can just say that I really wanted to.
Announcer: Ahh. I see. When I look at the monitor and see the TV version of Hanyu Yuzuru right in front of me it is very strange.
Y: No. no, no. I fine being on the EVERY Show very strange.
Announcer: No,no. I heard that you sometimes watch the show… Thank you so much. I hope I haven’t said a rude thing. I am very moved. This time, it seemed that the expectation that you would definitely become World Champion was very great. How was it skating under those conditions with all the pressure on you?
Y: Of course, I felt like I needed to answer the expectations to complete the season. But personally speaking, I really wanted to enjoy myself. I know that I made a mistake in the short program but moving into the free program I set my mind towards winning the competition.
Announcer: You were totally focused. Let’s look at this board. These are the scores after the short programs at the World Championships. In first place there is Machida, and there is an almost 7 point gap between you. Did you think you would be able to win with a point gap like that? Did you have confidence in your ability.
Y: Honestly speaking, a gap of 7 points…it's a jump….a high level jump like a triple axel.. its like having to do one more/extra triple axel to make up the point gap. So as you can imagine it is a difficult thing to do. But I knew if I could steel myself and land the salchow and not make any mistakes I knew I would have the ability to do it. (9mins10secs)
