Yuzuru Hanyu: 2013-14 Season

[Maria Victoria]

^I just clicked the link provided by mikaboo and read this what I think is a press release for the event:

He made history and drove the nation wild with excitement by becoming the first male Japanese figure skater to win an Olympic gold.

Yuzuru Hanyu, the perfectly poised teenager with all the right moves and a heart string-pulling story – a native of Sendai who was skating at his local rink when the 3/11 earthquake struck – has become Japan's favorite son, brother and boyfriend. On the latter, so much so that a female fan - with a particularly piercing voice – drew ire from his supporters after she screamed "Yuzuru, AISHITERU (I love you)!" in the quiet moment just before his short programme at the World Championship tournament in Saitama last month. The usually faultless Hanyu did have a fall during that performance, and many attributed it to a loss of concentration from the ill-timed cheer. Ever gracious and polite, Hanyu himself has brushed aside such a link.

Just 16 when the earthquake shattered his hometown three years ago, Hanyu has said he wasn't sure whether he was going to be able to continue normal life, let alone the rigours of competitive skating. His rink was damaged and closed down, and the future looked bleak. This is when many benefactors – including senior skaters like Turin Olympics gold medalist Shizuka Arakawa, but also plain local folks – raised funds and organized ice shows so that he could continue training, first in Yokohama and then in Toronto, under Canadian coach Brian Orser.

The rest is history, as they say. Coach Orser himself is a victim of the "Canadian Curse" of male figure skaters which Hanyu dealt to rival Patrick Chan in Sochi, after the Canadian looked close to the gold medal after Hanyu had two early falls in his free skate. Hanyu pulled through in the end with his artistic points, and dedicated his victory to the people of Tohoku and everyone who helped him first to survive, and then to win.

Come and meet the young man whose fans call themselves, "Yuzurists".

So we are "Yuzurists," aren't we? (unless someone in this thread comes up with a better tag).

 

[Pamigena]

^Yes, Yuzuru is unique as most skaters, as Nobunari once commented, would take it easy in exhibitions. Practicing quads under the klieg lights in exhibitions makes sense as there is only a limited number of competitions per season to stabilize one's quad if one hasn't done so before. The flip side is if Yuzuru continuously wipes out on his quad attempts, he will precisely be accused of "just" using the ice shows as practice. Glad he has succeeded enough times to keep both himself and the ice show ticketholders happy.

You really think so? I was under the impression that most people like it to just watch him/them try difficult and/or new jumps (of course it is better if they succeed, but based on what I've read so far people seem to get excited about getting to watch the attempt alone)
But maybe this impression is based on my own attitude I'd just think of those jumps in the end as a little bonus goodies and not something I'm entitled to see in perfection

 

[Maria Victoria]

I read that was the reaction of some fans in one exhibition years ago where he wiped out in his jumps and I think it was in his exhibition number and not the bonus jumps. As in competitions, there can also be off and on days for the skaters in exhibitions. Myself, I will be perfectly happy just to see him in person.

 

[jace93]

You really think so? I was under the impression that most people like it to just watch him/them try difficult and/or new jumps (of course it is better if they succeed, but based on what I've read so far people seem to get excited about getting to watch the attempt alone)
But maybe this impression is based on my own attitude I'd just think of those jumps in the end as a little bonus goodies and not something I'm entitled to see in perfection

I would think that after the novelty is gone it would become quite boring seeing someone always falling, but maybe I'm wrong

 

[mikaboo]

What kind of event is this? And isn´t it the same day as Yuzuru´s victory parade in Sendai?

Thanks for the news

Sorry for the lack of explanation. This will be a press conference by foreign correspondents in Japan.
Mao had one on the day she returned from Sochi. You can see it here to get the idea-> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfTbfr6kRCg
I tend to find most Japanese journalists ask a lot of vague and boring questions so it'll be very interesting to hear what kind of questions the foreign journalists will have for Yuzuru.
I'm guessing that if you go to the FCCJ link on the day of the press conference, it will tell you how you can watch it live.
It will probably put it up on YouTube if you miss it

You could also try this link.

 

[Doublemeat]

I would think that after the novelty is gone it would become quite boring seeing someone always falling, but maybe I'm wrong

Well, it's kind of a 'tradition' of Yuzu to fall on ice shows. IMO, I'd love to see him challenge himself.

 

[Interspectator]

according to the tweets that I follow for these shows, people are disappointed when there is no 'bonus jump challenge' at the end. I think they want to see him try.

 

[mikaboo]

What kind of event is this? And isn´t it the same day as Yuzuru´s victory parade in Sendai?

Thanks for the news

Forgot to answer the 2nd question. The parade is on the Saturday, April 26th.

 

[Doublemeat]

http://instagram.com/p/m7rIcBS7gL/
Someone was doing a 'peace' sign behind these twp girls.
I guess we all know who. So cute.

 

[Pamigena]

photobombing yuzustyle

 

[Maria Victoria]

^A "photobombing" peace sign

 

[cruzceleste]

Forgot to answer the 2nd question. The parade is on the Saturday, April 26th.

Thank you, for both anwers

 

[Hanmgse]

http://instagram.com/p/m7rIcBS7gL/
Someone was doing a 'peace' sign behind these twp girls.
I guess we all know who. So cute.

Hahahahah lmao

 

[littlexflower]

So we are "Yuzurists," aren't we? (unless someone in this thread comes up with a better tag).

Haha I actually laughed a little when I read this line on that website. Not a bad idea at all. But isn't only pop stars or someone in entertainment industry have fandoms named (or they even name theirs themselves)?

 

[Maria Victoria]

Oh I also laughed a little at other lines in that release besides the "Yuzurists" tag which also caused Yuzuru I think some embarrassment mixed with amusement when it was asked of him in an interview. Earlier in the thread just for fun there was a discussion about what to call Yuzuru's fans who are older than him but not of the entire fandom. Since he has played Romeo more than once, let me just borrow one famous line in that play: "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." So long as we respect and yes, love one another just as we love Yuzuru, no matter how we are called, we'll be fine.

 

[littlexflower]

Oh I also laughed a little at other lines in that release besides the "Yuzurists" tag which also caused Yuzuru I think some embarrassment mixed with amusement when it was asked of him in an interview. Earlier in the thread just for fun there was a discussion about what to call Yuzuru's fans who are older than him but not of the entire fandom. Since he has played Romeo more than once, let me just borrow one famous line in that play: "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." So long as we respect and yes, love one another just as we love Yuzuru, no matter how we are called, we'll be fine.

Well said! :thumbsup: I would be totally fine with any name that all other fans agree on or the name Yuzu may ever gives us in the future

http://rinkwatchers.tumblr.com/post/83086065106/translated-by-the-wonderous
Anyways this is the translation of the little talk between Oda and Yuzuru a couple days ago. I'm a little bit suprised when reading this:
"For example winning in Torino didn’t mean winning in Vancouver, and in between that the time had changed. And so i think it will be a different era."
Apparently he was talking about Plushenko right?

 

[Pamigena]

Oh I also laughed a little at other lines in that release besides the "Yuzurists" tag which also caused Yuzuru I think some embarrassment mixed with amusement when it was asked of him in an interview. Earlier in the thread just for fun there was a discussion about what to call Yuzuru's fans who are older than him but not of the entire fandom. Since he has played Romeo more than once, let me just borrow one famous line in that play: "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." So long as we respect and yes, love one another just as we love Yuzuru, no matter how we are called, we'll be fine.

Fandom names can be tricky for both sides I guess
(I must admit I don't really like the word Yuzurist, but again, that's just me )
I've once seen an interview with Benedict Cumberbatch where he states that he doesn't really like it that some of his fans call themselves 'Cumberbitches' (because it's A, bad wordplay and B, demeaning)... I don't know if anybody has told him about the Cumber-Cookies... you know, because together they would form a Cumber-Batch that one I find actually kinda clever and cute.

 

[echotpe]

I tend to find most Japanese journalists ask a lot of vague and boring questions so it'll be very interesting to hear what kind of questions the foreign journalists will have for Yuzuru.
I'm guessing that if you go to the FCCJ link on the day of the press conference, it will tell you how you can watch it live.
It will probably put it up on YouTube if you miss it

Highly recommendation to watch the FCCJ press conference. One reason is the bilingual (English/Japanese) interpreter is excellent if she is invited again.

Besides, the Japanese journalists are members of FCCJ. So we will watch the questions from both foreign and local reporters.

Actually in Mao’s FCCJ conference this late February, I observed two major pieces of quotes are from local reporters. One is Mao’s “half-half” statement on her retirement and another is her response to “former Prime Minister Mori criticized on her fall on SP”. So just do not expect too much from non-Japanese journalists.

 

[Maria Victoria]

Well said! :thumbsup: I would be totally fine with any name that all other fans agree on or the name Yuzu may ever gives us in the future

http://rinkwatchers.tumblr.com/post/83086065106/translated-by-the-wonderous
Anyways this is the translation of the little talk between Oda and Yuzuru a couple days ago. I'm a little bit suprised when reading this:
"For example winning in Torino didn’t mean winning in Vancouver, and in between that the time had changed. And so i think it will be a different era."
Apparently he was talking about Plushenko right?

I think Yuzuru was talking about the difficulty of repeating as Olympic champion in general. There is no such thing as an automatic repeat as Olympic champion even for such great a skater as Evgeni Plushenko who won gold in Torino and silver in Vancouver. (Of course props to any Olympic champion who persevered for another four years to defend one's title.) Yuzuru knows fully well what he himself must do to win again in Pyeongchang.

And speaking of Evgeni Plushenko, I'd like to share this link to this video I found in daily motion after visiting the site following Esopian's link tothe SOI videos there: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1dfc5h_from-plushenko-to-hanyu_lifestyle.

The uploader Tokiomate titled it "From Plushenko to Hanyu" with this blurb: "Hanyu was longing to skate on the same ice rink with Plushenko since he was a kid.
And now, his dream came true, but Hanyu had no way of knowing this would be the first and the last chance..."

The video is a little dated as it was done right after Yuzuru won Olympic gold and it is in Japanese, but I think it is worth watching for us non Japanese Yuzuru fans. It has footage of Yuzuru acting like us (starstruck fans) watching Evgeni Plushenko both during practice (3:23) and at the latter's Team LP performance (3:51), in the latter clapping and leaning forward (the only one in Team Japan to do so), evidently anxious for his idol.

It showed different camera angles of Yuzuru's Olympic SP and LP skate from the ones we have seen in the CBC, NBC, BBC, Eurosport coverage, including multiple camera angles of his gorgeous Ina Bauer (11:01). And the end, with the camera zooming in on his hand clenching into a fist on the ice and his finally looking up from his closing pose, was so right. It showed Yuzuru at his best: fighting and giving his all even through his fears and doubts that it may not be enough. In the end though it was.

 

[Yuzusan]

Hi,

According to the administrator, I create an additional topic concerning Yuzuru Hanyu. The previous topic of Hanyu is the most active topic with more 300 pages, and it won't be stop regarding the amazing growing success of him. Thus, a lot of people asked to create a new topic where we can regroup all media (Pics, Video, Translations) of our great skater.

So I invite all contributors of Hanyu's topic to put any videos, pics, translations if they have it, in order to avoid the pollution of the Hanyu's main topic.

Sorry for new users who try to find all media that have been posted before in the flow of the 300 pages, but we will try to put the majority of them into this topic.