Exclusive interview with Mr. Machida "I hope the "Ice Dance Renaissance Era" will be visited by Daisuke Takahashi as a detonator"
The new ice show “Ice Explosion 2020” was held at KOSÉ Shin-Yokohama Skate Center on January 10-12. Top skaters from around the world, including chairman Daisuke Takahashi, created an energetic and unique show as the name of "explosion", and thrived the crowd.
"Figure skating ICE EXPLOSION 2020 [Uncut Complete Edition]", which will be aired on March 8 (2:00 pm) at BS TV Tokyo / BS TV Tokyo 4K, will all be broadcast with a special commentary by Tatsuki Machida.
We interviewed Machida, who finished recording the commentary, about the highlights of "Ice Explosion 2020"!
── What are the highlights of the new ice show “Ice Explosion 2020”?
"This time, I was impressed by Takahashi's concept of "retirement in single competition" and "starting into an ice dance competition", a celebration of the two. One of the highlights is how the ice show will be developed, and couple skaters (teams) account for more than 50% of the performers in this show. Single skaters have been used in ice shows in Japan until now. Although the show was formed on the basis of this, this time, in a sense, the couple is the main show, so that is also a unique part unique to “Ice Explosion 2020”. If you focus on the differences between the couple competitions, I think you can enjoy the show more. ''
── The first section, "The Phoenix'', which was the last program of Takahashi's single competition, was revived as a collaboration number by Takahashi, Eladj Balde, Hirokazu Kobayashi, Yuta Onuma, Misha Ge.
"The performers want to dance "The Phoenix" and have a tingling sensation. In that sense, it's been a celebration party. I think it's a very cozy and hearty/cordial ice show. "
── What are the highlights of the collaboration number?
"First of all, there is a collaboration between Takahashi and Misha who adapted Sheryl Murakami's on-land choreography on ice, and it seems that it was very meaningful that the choreographer and the skater performed together. In addition, Balde, Kobayashi, and Onuma dance together.They are really the dancers and lively “The Showman,” so we're going to work with these skaters. I think that it was a blissful moment for Takahashi to be able to dance The Phoenix, and the audience is also excited. ''
── In the second part, three ice-dancing couples from the performance “Beauty and the Beast Medley” include Meryl Davis & Charlie White, Tanith Belbin & Ben Agosto, and Kana Muramoto & Takahashi co-starred.
“If the last part of the first part was “The Last Moment of a Single” in “The Phoenix”, the second part would have been “Takahashi who came to the world of ice dancing.” In the performance of “Beauty and the Beast Medley,” it was impressive that Meryl, Charlie, Tanith and Ben warmly welcomed the couple of Muramoto and Takahashi. I think Muramoto and Takahashi are a fun team from the perspective of those who have fought/competed in the world of ice dancing (themselves). Not only the Muramoto-Takahashi team, but also in Japan, enthusiastic and young people are gaining abilities. Now that the ice dance culture is booming, I'm really looking forward to seeing how Muramoto and Takahashi go into it. ''
── What are the highlights of "Movie" Beauty and the Beast "Medley?
"Meryl and Tanith dressed up Takahashi, Charlie and Ben escorted Muramoto, and they said they were going to do their best. The scene. It was very impressive. "
── Takahashi displayed birds in the new program “9000 Days”.
"Takahashi's 25-year career as a skater is about 9000 days, but I felt that he was skating and that various memories were coming back. We also recall the various achievements of Takahashi. In the finale's commentary, I and Mr. Itagaki (actual commentary: Ryusuke Itagaki announcer) said, "I'm talking about what you like the most,'' and reminiscing, "I've had something like that, there's something like that, ''so I hope you'll enjoy it.
── Please tell us other recommended performances of Machida-san.
"Everything was great, but the strongest one is my recommendation," Crazy Little Thing Called Love "by Caitlin Weaver & Andrew Poget. Watch a narrative, fresh American youth romantic comedy First of all, the choreography of Kurt Browning, who is making the most of their goodness, is really skillful, and the performance of the two artists who express that choreography is tremendous. I think it's a wonderful performance. ''
── The group numbers were also substantial, such as “Request for Tears-Dancing Hero” and “Roundtable Rival”.
"I think the fact that the members of the Prince Ice World team (Mr. Kobayashi, Mr. Onuma, Ms. Akane Seo, Ms. Kiki Nakanishi) appeared in the group number was very large. I think they did an exquisite job like a lubricant that creates a sense of unity when skating.The strength is that they instantly switch between the leading role and the supporting role, and the behavior and expression appropriate to the time and place I think that it can be done, but this time the technology as a professional skater was shimmering. ''
── This was also Takahashi's first chair performance. How was Takahashi as chairman?
"I think Chairman Daisuke Takahashi's greatest strength is probably his "humanity that is loved by everyone." I think even if the skaters in the same set have different ideas, what makes them feel like "I can make one big thing with this person" is still Takahashi's personality. "
── What do you expect from Takahashi as an ice dancer?
"It is certain that the media value of ice dance in Japan has been increasing as Takahashi turned to ice dance. Young ice dancers are now growing up, and it will be even more interesting from now on. Ice dance has a long history in Japan, and ancestors have pioneered the ice dance culture in Japan. There's nothing more wonderful, I really hope that something like the "Ice Dance Renaissance Age" will happen, which will help the ancestors bloom their seeds. "
── The last question. This time it was a commentary on a new ice show, but did the combination with the famous Itagaki announcer evolve?
"I think the combination of the two is more natural and stronger. There are many couple skaters this time, so this program will be a" beginner of a couple competition "for viewers. I want to do it, and I am taking on the challenge of commentary, which is an introduction to pair and ice dance competitions. I want you to pay attention too. ''
“Figure Skating ICE EXPLOSION 2020 [Uncut Complete Edition]”, which allows you to enjoy the charm of “Ice Explosion 2020” with Machida's commentary, will be broadcast from 2:00 pm on March 8th. Please take a look!
arty:
, they should make an ice show in that theme and the Phoenix. The audience went totally wild during the Phoenix with Misha, Elage, Hirokazu and Yuta, I thought that the ceiling of the ice rink might fall. 
Dai let the other boys to skate some parts of the program and jumped only 3Lz, which was very smooth. I again realized how physically demanding the program was, and what a crazy idea to skate the entire program by himself! But he WAS the phoenix.
(yes, I'm saying this with utter fondness :luv17
: It really is a joint effort by the many, incredible Dai (and now also KanaDai!) fans that kindly share news, translations, videos etc. with all of us via various channels. I see Dai's ff as an archive where we gather the updates that can be found scattered around the web. So let me join you in thanking everyone, who contributes anything. From comments or small snippets to translated articles and personal reports, everything is appreciated! 
