https://ananweb.jp/news/213494/
(Please let me know if you find errors or anything unclear, I don't want to show off my stupid mistakes lol)
Kazuki Tomono’s strong point: With his jovial character, (people call him) “Naniwa’s Entertainer”
The junior skater, whom we interviewed 2 years ago with expectation for his future success, has steadily achieved results to become one of Japan’s leading skaters. We went to see Kazuki Tomono again, whose popularity is skyrocketing.
Starting to see what to do and to what extent in order to compete on the world level
“Before, I had always wanted to hear ‘Kakkoii (cool)’ for a praise, but lately I’ve revised my idea. I find it grateful even for receiving a bare mention of ‘Kawaii (cute)’ too,” says Kazuki Tomono, 20 years old, giving us a friendly smile toward the camera. It’s been 2 years since the last time we interviewed him, right before he moved up to the senior level. His cuteness hasn’t changed at all, but he has taken an incredible leap forward on ice. “To be honest, I’m surprised myself,” he revealed. In contrast to his junior days when he struggled to achieve results, the last season as his first senior year was amazing; he placed 5th at the World Championships where he appeared as an alt. This season, he got on the podium for the first time at the Russian round of the figure skating Grand Prix series. Even though he didn’t make it to the podium at All-Japan Championships, he qualifies for 4CC.
“Right now, I feel that I’m capable of ‘look-ahead skating*’. Of course, I need at least one more kind of quad jump, and much needs to be improved in my spin and skating. Compared to Yuzuru Hanyu and Shoma Uno, there are far too many things I fall short of. That said, I’m starting to see what needs to be done and to what extent, in order to compete with them. I gained more clarity in my own objective of taking part in Beijing Olympic, too.”
Note: He means potential, that he can look ahead with it.
You can see determination through his words. “The Entertainer from Naniwa” has always won hearts of the audience with his enjoyable performances, and now we see that his expressiveness stroke a chord too.
“Until now, I was only trying to bring my skating and express my emotions to the fore. But with
New Cinema Paradise, my short program this season, I think I’ve learned a different way of conveying a message or feeling, to deliver the audience various stories of love** portrayed in the movie with the music. After my performance, I was greeted by the ovation in a different atmosphere of the venue that I had never experienced before, and I realized that this was the music I had long wanted to perform to. Now, it’s my most favorite.”
Note: Literally, “Shapes of love”, I think he means “stories about love”, possibly “methods” or “ways” to show love, considering the movie theme.
The encounter with Misha Ge from Uzbekistan, the choreographer of his SP, also boosts his growth.
“He is the very skater that I aspire to be like; he can deliver many different performances, from beautiful ones to entertaining ones. Fortunately, he coaches me really enthusiastically beyond his role of choreographer, even with technical instructions like spins and steps too.”
It’s also important to spend time with friends, leaving the sport behind
Does his off-ice time affect his achievements? He’s a second year student of Faculty of Health and Sports Science, Doshisha University. As he repeats, “I’m just an average student,” he still takes trains from home to his rink and campus. For this interview today, he showed up alone in a hoodie and a cap as if he just strolled in.
“In my private life, I drop Kazuki Tomono as a skater, and value the time I spend with my university friends, like go eating Yakiniku with them and enjoy conversations. I’ll be stressed out if all I think about is skating. I get along with those who seriously strive for some achievements, like I do myself. But maybe not with those who just drift about with their student life. My university friends often tell me, ‘You’re definitely an Osakan (from Osaka) as expected,’ but I really don’t know what makes me so Osaka-ish as they say,” he laughs.
He is so slender that the cuffs of the sweatshirt (that we prepared for shooting but we didn’t mean to) make it look so ‘moe’ on him. Lo and behold, his weight is only 48kg.
He weeps as in, “Only the XS size of Japanese brands fits me~,” but once he’s on ice, he dances energetically and makes us wonder where he hid such powers. We asked him his desire for the next season.
“I want to make it to the Grand Prix Final, I seriously want to aim for a medal there, and I’d love to see myself breaking the another-dimensional 100-points scoring in SP. But before anything, the podium at 4CC.”
Kazuki Tomono: Born in Osaka on May 15, 1998. Started figure skating at age of 4, and experienced “the world (level)” for the first time at Junior Worlds at 17. That altered his state of mind, and he has made a dramatic leap forward since.
※ From “anan” 2019 Jan 30th Issue. Photo by Yoshiko Watanabe. Stylist: Taichi Sumura. Interviewed and Written by (??? only blank space!)
Always love his smile 
