Daisuke Takahashi

[demarinis5]

^ LOL the Zoom In talk is hilarious? Dai the comedian, Loved it! There is no end to his talent!

Thanks for posting the translations.

Nice to see Anthem and Song of Christmas again with such crystal clear quality!

 

[deedee1]

It's March 16th already here so...

:hap85: Happy 31st Birthday, Daisuke!!! :hap85:

 

[synesthesia]

HAPPY 31st BIRTHDAY to my all time favourite handsome skating genius, without whose existence I most certainly wouldn't be the big FS fan, that I am today! arty:




Great skaters come and go - Dai-chan is one of a kind, one of those once in a blue moon stand-outs. An accomplished athlete and a brilliantly versatile performer, who has firmly left his mark on the sport and gone on to inspire future generations. Once he draws you into his magic spell, there's no escape. He has brought me so much joy over the years with his unique expressive abilities, his passionate, often sensual skating, his outstanding feel for so many vastly different musical styles, his attention to detail and his dedication to the performance as a seamless whole. Moreover I'm still deeply impressed by his determination, perseverance and work ethic, which helped him to come back from a potentially career-ending injury and become the first male Japanese Olympic medalist and World Champ in FS history!


There are many riches in today's competitive landscape and I have found quite a few wonderfully talented youngsters to love and root for, but I still can't help missing Dai-chan heaps and I guess that won't change for a very long time. I am so, so grateful for his decision to give an encore as a professional skater, because this has been easing the pain quite a bit.


I'm immenesly proud of him for what he has achieved since his retirement, especially during the past year and a half after he returned from NY. He took on many varied challenges and mastered them brilliantly. Even if he often felt insecure at first and acknowledged the possibility of failure, he never shied away from tackling any kind of obstacle, always managed to overcome his initial jitters and has proven time and time again that he can succeed at anything when he puts his mind to it.


May the future hold many more pleasant experiences and surprises for you, dear Dai-chan! Thank you for generously sharing so much with us, for letting us be part of your journey, for continuing to pull at our heart-strings with your gorgeous performances, for your infectious laughter and please never stop being your endearing, dorky self! :luv17:

 

[demarinis5]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAISUKE!!!! The one and only!

 

[Arriba627]

Happy Birthday to Uncle Dai! What an inspiration and a great senpai he has been to the younger skaters! Thank you Dai.

 

[Maria Victoria]

Happy Birthday to the inimitable Daisuke Takahashi! Wishing him joy and fulfillment in all his endeavors and enterprises.

 

[daphenaxa]

happy birthday Daisha. love you miss you etc. etc. hopefully he had a great day

 

[synesthesia]

^ LOL the Zoom In talk is hilarious? Dai the comedian, Loved it! There is no end to his talent!

Him and Nobu should form a stand-up comedy duo!

happy birthday Daisha. love you miss you etc. etc. hopefully he had a great day

Knowing our party-animal, he probably did.






Birthday messages from various congratulants for Dai-chan!


In honour of his birthday a fan posted snippets of baby-Dai competing as a novice/junior. (These were entirely new to me!!!):

https://twitter.com/dekoichi71/status/842388073455394816



Kana Muramoto on instagram

From the LOTF PR staff (accompanied by a steamy picture of him and Queen Meryl from the show)

Message by Randi Strong from the LOTF-cast

From the official AoI Ig-account

2016 Canadian junior champion, Sarah Tamura, on instagram




Daisuke received a delicious looking cake in shape of a 31 at work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW-ZL4Jwn4Q&feature=youtu.be

The wonderful izayukam translated a short part of the video, in which Dai gets "scolded" by his senior co-worker, Shinsho Murao.
https://twitter.com/SachikoHR/status/842351913165242368



This is from the talk, that followed the latest Spotlight episode btw - this time Dai visited the "Aqua Park Shinagawa" in Tokyo where he learned how to give cues to a dolphin: https://dai.ly/x5ew0s8






K & C published another article with different pictures from the photoshoot, during which the promo video was shot:
http://www.tvguide.or.jp/feature/kissandcry/20170316/01.html






The 2nd half of the Kateigaho interview has been translated by the amazing minotsu, who has been spoiling us with translations lately (If you're reading this: Domo arigato for all your hard work!!! :agree In this part Daisuke was interviewed about his opinion on the current fields in ladie's and men's skating in regard to the upcoming World Championships and the Olympics:

http://minotsu.tumblr.com/post/158423069858/daisukes-interview-from-kateigaho-2nd-half








Last, but most certainly not least there's a brand-new, very exciting interview about Hyoen! (Love the pictures in that article, esp. the first one. )

The first half has also been translated by minotsu.


Turns out Dai is good at drawing as well! (Yeah, surprisingly he doesn't think so himself. Is there anything he can't do?) Can't wait to see his pony-tail in action! I was already a huge fan of his "chonmage", so I'm sure he's going to look awesome and dangerously hot with it!



A creative mind on twitter is already imagining what he's going to look like!

https://twitter.com/minminimum/status/841979016731025409


More stunning fan-art:

http://minotsu.tumblr.com/post/158491172138/若輔さんで牛若丸-daisuke-as-ushiwaka-maru




This show is sounding more and more intriguing! Seems likes it's going to be a hella lavish production: Projection mapping, Wire fu, Sword fights, Pony-tails, Drum Tao are going to provide live performances (if I'm getting this right?) and Vogue Japan is involved in the visual art direction. Awesome!!! Can't wait for the publication of PR material from the production and for the preview performance on the 25th!






Edit: New Dai-insta! The birthday boy received even more cakes. Did he eat them all?

https://www.instagram.com/p/BRvfhZJD1iW/

 

[deedee1]

now I can't take my eyes off synesthesia's new avataaaaaa. It's 2:45am here I don't think I feel like sleeping anytime soon...

 

[deedee1]

Today's LOTF talk-show
part 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=0zhnIHBQS1Q
part2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBjiH9wnY8g

 

[daphenaxa]

now I can't take my eyes off synesthesia's new avataaaaaa. It's 2:45am here I don't think I feel like sleeping anytime soon...

Agreed. It should be illegal to be so sexy

 

[MaiKatze]

Just rewatched this.

Unbelievable that he was only 21 at that time. When it comes to audience projection not one skater has come close to this since Daisuke. He was just so brilliant and I miss him so much.

 

[deedee1]

Just rewatched this.

Unbelievable that he was only 21 at that time. When it comes to audience projection not one skater has come close to this since Daisuke. He was just so brilliant and I miss him so much.

except one little thing: I always try to close my eyes btwn 0:25-0:30 for 5 seconds.

This for you from Archives 2007-08, MaiKatze. http://www.goldenskate.com/forum/showthread.php?17816-Men-SP

ETA] I remember Dai got only level 1 for his 2nd step sq and Nikolai barked at tech specialist Petrenko who was coaching Johnny back then.

 

[MaiKatze]

except one little thing: I always try to close my eyes btwn 0:25-0:30 for 5 seconds.

This for you from Archives 2007-08, MaiKatze. http://www.goldenskate.com/forum/showthread.php?17816-Men-SP

Ha, very interesting! I wasn't following Men's figure skating at that point so unfortunately I wasn't in the loop back then, I missed so many of great Daisuke years. Just watching the Björk Ex and at 22 he's so mature. So masculine. I can't describe it, he just has that wow effect, that special something I cannot seem to find in anyone else. My love for Shoma, for example, is very different to that of Daisuke.

 

[Crossover]

Just rewatched this.

Unbelievable that he was only 21 at that time. When it comes to audience projection not one skater has come close to this since Daisuke. He was just so brilliant and I miss him so much.

It was certainly an electrifying program. I don't know how many times I've rewatched it, especially 4CC performance. He made me feel like the fan girls in the venue at 4CC gone crazy and screaming all way through the performance. He was such a rock star with the program! None ever comes close to Daiuske's musicality and dancing abilities, none! even though I also love many other skaters whose strength are quite different. The step sequences are to die for and I miss his charisma on the ice. It is pitiful that the importance of step sequences in men's skating is diminished these days. Although I love quad battles, I can't ever fall in love with skaters whose steps are week. Daisuke's steps were so powerful and captivating that I can't overcome ever.

 

[MaiKatze]

It was certainly an electrifying program. I don't know how many times I've rewatched it, especially 4CC performance. He made me feel like the fan girls in the venue at 4CC gone crazy and screaming all way through the performance. He was such a rock star with the program! None ever comes close to Daiuske's musicality and dancing abilities, none! even though I also love many other skaters whose strength are quite different. The step sequences are to die for and I miss his charisma on the ice. It is pitiful that the importance of step sequences in men's skating is diminished these days. Although I love quad battles, I can't ever fall in love with skaters whose steps are week. Daisuke's steps were so powerful and captivating that I can't overcome ever.

The emphasis on quads is horrible. A skater like Daisuke wouldn't have had a chance these days. How many great skaters do we miss because of the quad hype? I'm so happy that Shoma wants to concentrate on being an artistic skater first. I'm glad to have seen so many great Daisuke programs. In the end I remember them and not the ones with many quads. I think Quads are great live, for that wow effect, but too many just make a program look empty and the artistic component always suffers.

 

[mikeko666]

Just rewatched this.

Unbelievable that he was only 21 at that time. When it comes to audience projection not one skater has come close to this since Daisuke. He was just so brilliant and I miss him so much.

I was even more captivated by this purple octopus back then.

 

[synesthesia]

I was even more captivated by this purple octopus back then.

Purple octopus? Going by that description I thought you were referring to his R&J FS (which is my guilty pleasure program of his :scard8

Just watching the Björk Ex and at 22 he's so mature. So masculine. I can't describe it, he just has that wow effect, that special something I cannot seem to find in anyone else.

I'm feeling hot and cold at once watching "Bachelorette" - such a masterpiece! Dai was brilliant at capturing the otherworldly, haunting mood of it. He had so many programs, that I just can't see anyone else doing justice (incl. Cyber Swan of course). He's such a master of creating an atmosphere - really changing the air around him and of the entire room when he's on his game. And I agree that he already had this gift/special something very early on. Reportedly Nagamitsu-sensei was enamoured with his innate musical sensibility and interpretive skills right from the very first time she worked with him and by the age of 19 his natural talent had developed into such a spellbinding force, that it was impossible to look away when he was on the ice. Even, if you don't like his style or choreography, he just draws you in with his charisma. And I feel that what he has can't be achieved through conscious efforts, it's completely organic with him. :luv17:





Btw. I've been digging through the archives lately and found your wonderfully detailed WTT 2012 reports, deedee! I've been a Dai-chan fan since 2010, but wasn't a GS member back then. Reliving the competition and Daisuke's fabulous performances through your live reports has been a real joy!

 

[synesthesia]

Dai arrived in Helsinki yesterday! (looking relaxed and youthful)

https://twitter.com/helsinki_2017/status/846383666695671809

Today's LOTF talk-show
part 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=0zhnIHBQS1Q
part2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBjiH9wnY8g

Thx deedee! He's as gorgeous and charming as ever. Now we have a partial translation of the talk:

https://minotsu.tumblr.com/post/158762018773/daisuke-takahashi-the-innermost-secrets-for-love

now I can't take my eyes off synesthesia's new avataaaaaa. It's 2:45am here I don't think I feel like sleeping anytime soon...

Agreed. It should be illegal to be so sexy

Ok girls, brace yourselves! Let's faint together in 3...2...1....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoPfGmYqQ54


Dai's handling of the sword looks already pretty skillful (apart from that one moment when he dropped it ) and his Kabuki movements seem to be coming together nicely. Maybe he just needs to let go of his inner dancer/fluid style a little bit for this? His head-roll there looks very cool, but it's kinda different from what Somegoro-san showed him.

And of course that make-up + hair styling is killer! Wouldn't mind, if he grew his hair and wore a long pony-tail for real. He's so attractive with it! Maybe one or two of his current employers wouldn't be too thrilled though...




Edit:

Translation of Dai's latest Step!Step!Step! column:

https://flapper-dai.tumblr.com/post/158925981551/joy-of-figure-skating-an-article-from-nihon

Some interesting insights into his skating-style related tastes there. I had a good chuckle at his words about Kaetlyn.

 

[mikeko666]

Purple octopus? Going by that description I thought you were referring to his R&J FS (which is my guilty pleasure program of his :scard8

Kenji said he made the Bachelorette program imagining a purple octopus . He gets inspirations for his programs from non-human creatures at zoos and aquariums.