Part 2
--Is there any part of your choreography or expression that you have revised for performing again this season?
K: This time, I focused on the uninterrupted flow until the end. From beginning to end, I skated all the way, which I couldn't do before. I think I've been able to show my own skating, which I haven't done before.
--Tomono senshu's personality is more expressed than before.
K: I've been able to show my own skating, so I think I've been able to make it my own, in collaboration with Misha in choreography.
--Do you have your own ideas in it?
K: I requested him, "I've been practicing skating very hard, so I want to create a flow. I guess it was Misha's idea as well. I think the program incorporates both of our thoughts.
--How was it to brush up the choreography remotely?
K: Since I experienced last year that communication is more difficult than face-to-face choreography, I didn't want to compromise this time and had the lesson online after thorough discussion. So this time, I had no problems, and I think I was able to make good short and free programs.
--What exactly was the procedure for Misha's remote choreography?
K: First of all, Misha sent me a video of the choreography in the first half, middle, and second half, and then I practiced it and then adjusted the details online. I would tell Misha what I felt was a little difficult to do or what I wanted to do, and Misha would respond to it. I was also able to understand his pace, so it went very smoothly.
--Did you do the same for the free skate? What did Misha say when you told him you wanted to skate to "La La Land"?
K: "It's perfect for you! It's a song just for you!” That's what he said. Originally, Misha had uploaded a video of "La La Land" that he had choreographed himself on his Instagram, and when I saw it, I thought, "He can do this kind of choreography! I want to skate to 'La La Land'." When I told Misha that, he was very happy.
--Since then, many skaters have skated to "La La Land." What kind of feelings have you had for this song?
K: Well, I had wanted to do it for a long time, and I thought that now would be the right time. This is the Olympic season, and I thought it was the most appropriate time to express this song in my own way. Up to the middle of the program, there are a lot of jazz parts, and the atmosphere is stylish and mature, but at the end, my personality is on full display, which I think is the best part of this program. I think that's what I like about this program.
--It was very exciting at the ice show.
K: I was confident that I would absolutely do well, and that there was no way it wouldn't suit me. I thought it was my ideal program, so I was happy to feel the audience's reaction at the ice show, and it gave me more confidence. I've had a strong desire to skate to "La La Land" for years and to complete it as my own program. That's how much I like it, and I think it's a better program than anyone else's. I hope the audience and the judges will be able to see this through my performance.
- to be cont'd -
--Is there any part of your choreography or expression that you have revised for performing again this season?
K: This time, I focused on the uninterrupted flow until the end. From beginning to end, I skated all the way, which I couldn't do before. I think I've been able to show my own skating, which I haven't done before.
--Tomono senshu's personality is more expressed than before.
K: I've been able to show my own skating, so I think I've been able to make it my own, in collaboration with Misha in choreography.
--Do you have your own ideas in it?
K: I requested him, "I've been practicing skating very hard, so I want to create a flow. I guess it was Misha's idea as well. I think the program incorporates both of our thoughts.
--How was it to brush up the choreography remotely?
K: Since I experienced last year that communication is more difficult than face-to-face choreography, I didn't want to compromise this time and had the lesson online after thorough discussion. So this time, I had no problems, and I think I was able to make good short and free programs.
--What exactly was the procedure for Misha's remote choreography?
K: First of all, Misha sent me a video of the choreography in the first half, middle, and second half, and then I practiced it and then adjusted the details online. I would tell Misha what I felt was a little difficult to do or what I wanted to do, and Misha would respond to it. I was also able to understand his pace, so it went very smoothly.
--Did you do the same for the free skate? What did Misha say when you told him you wanted to skate to "La La Land"?
K: "It's perfect for you! It's a song just for you!” That's what he said. Originally, Misha had uploaded a video of "La La Land" that he had choreographed himself on his Instagram, and when I saw it, I thought, "He can do this kind of choreography! I want to skate to 'La La Land'." When I told Misha that, he was very happy.
--Since then, many skaters have skated to "La La Land." What kind of feelings have you had for this song?
K: Well, I had wanted to do it for a long time, and I thought that now would be the right time. This is the Olympic season, and I thought it was the most appropriate time to express this song in my own way. Up to the middle of the program, there are a lot of jazz parts, and the atmosphere is stylish and mature, but at the end, my personality is on full display, which I think is the best part of this program. I think that's what I like about this program.
--It was very exciting at the ice show.
K: I was confident that I would absolutely do well, and that there was no way it wouldn't suit me. I thought it was my ideal program, so I was happy to feel the audience's reaction at the ice show, and it gave me more confidence. I've had a strong desire to skate to "La La Land" for years and to complete it as my own program. That's how much I like it, and I think it's a better program than anyone else's. I hope the audience and the judges will be able to see this through my performance.
- to be cont'd -
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I think that's probably one of the reasons his landings seem a bit wild at the moment. By the way, both he and Kaori participated in Kinki just after JO, and neither of them were satisfied with their performances (both took pics in 'seiza' position), makes me think that his blip at Kinki was partly due to the fact that back-to-back competitions are hard! Maybe he should have gotten an exemption from regionals like some of the others.
