Two more IG stories from Kazuki yesterday:
Also, the recent interview with Nikkan Premium is available for free for a brief period of time, so I'll post the DeepL translation here:
友野一希（25＝大阪・上野芝スケートクラブ）がショートプログラム（SP）6位発進から大逆転優勝を飾りました。フリーで184・14点をマークし、合計252・63点。3位となった織田信成とともに、団体優勝に導きました。昨年末の全日本選手権では合計271・52点で6位。前年であれば2位相当の得点でしたが、今季はハイレベルな争いとなり、4大陸選手権と世界選手権の代表に届きませんでした。26年2月のミラノ・コルティナダンベッツォオ五輪まで、ちょうど2年。代表入りを逃したことで生まれた時間を、前向きに捉えようとしています。現地発でお届けします。 -...
www.nikkansports.com
Figure Skating: National Sports Festival (former National Athletic Meet) Winter Games>◇ January 28-31◇ Nepia Ice Arena, Hokkaido◇ Adult Men's
Short Program (SP): 68.49 points (6th)
-You also had a jump fall. How do you feel looking back?
TOMONO: My physical condition was not stable for about 2 weeks at the beginning of the year, and I thought I finally got back to it this past week, but I still had some things that I hadn't finalized. But I still felt that I hadn't fully mastered some things. 6-minute practice sessions were not so bad, but I was nervous at the end, and I felt that my practice came out in the competition. I regret that I did not practice enough to overcome the nerves. In the FS, I would like to put this frustration to use. I am not in bad shape, so I could realize how difficult it is to compete in the real competition, and I think it was a good competition.
-Did you feel sick at the beginning of the year, or was it a cold?
Tomono: It was the flu and a few other things (laughs).
-Did you not get much practice?
Tomono: Hmmm, but that's just an excuse. I think it was partly because I was very weak after the All-Japan Tournament. However, other players had already had their matches, so if I had a big match after this, I think I would not have adjusted well enough, so I would like to take good care of myself.
- A lot of time has passed since the All-Japan Championships a month ago. How do you look back now?
TOMONO: It was the best competition ever in my skating life. I think I gave my all, and I am very happy to have such a competition in my skating life. I am happy to be able to compete in this Japan Men's team, and in such a wonderful group of skaters. This time, I was No.6, but I hope to win the next time, to get stronger and stronger, starting from this competition.
Two years until the Milan Cortina d'Ampezzo Olympics
-How do you see this time?
Tomono: For me, I wanted to have more time to get stronger. Considering that there are only two years left until the Olympics, now is the best time for me to do so, and having time to make myself stronger will be very important and critical for me. I feel it is a very good opportunity. I myself have been running for the past two years, so I wanted time to stop and warm myself up, so I see it as a positive thing.
-When you say "kept running," do you mean that you, Tomono, needed to keep putting forth your best effort as the level of the other competitors was rising?
Tomono: That was part of it, and also because I had a lot of competitions. I was invited to participate in the World Championships and many shows. It was difficult for me to practice myself for months at a time, so I think that having that time is very valuable. I have been able to step up little by little, but I wanted to change myself drastically, so having that time is a positive thing for me.
-In May of this year, you will turn 26 years old. Although there is a push from younger people, do you feel that there is still room for growth?
Tomono: I think other athletes are just starting, and I myself feel that my body is at its most active now. I feel that my jump height and skating skills are getting better and better, so the more I move, the stronger I will get. I think I am getting better at managing my body. I think I can evolve if I keep up my physical maintenance. Even Oda (Nobunari) is jumping (laughs). He always gives me courage. I know he went through a lot last year at the National Athletics Championships, as well as this year's competition, but I could see that he never gave up, and he worked very hard, and it showed in his performance. Last year, he sometimes got tired in the second half of the competition, but this year, he did not get tired at all. I learned a lot from watching that. I think people will say, "Oda, at your age..." But when I see how he has grown so much, I think I can still do it, too.
Free: 184.14 points (1st place)
-How is your condition?
TOMONO: Today, I think I got back much better. Yesterday, I was so stiff, so I had nothing to be afraid of anymore, so I was very relaxed.
-There was a moment of relief in the kiss & cry.
Tomono: I had not been adjusting well, and my physical condition has not been so good for a while, but I thought there was no point for me to continue to compete unless I could win in such a situation. I think I was able to perform well, because I had been in shambles in the short program.
-How do you feel about the competition as a whole?
Tomono: I think this national sport is a page from my youth, and it is a precious opportunity for me in figure skating as a team competition, so I will enjoy it, and cheer for the rest of the men's and women's teams as well. I think cheering is a part of the team competition, so I will do my best.
- Have you had any changes in your mindset after the All-Japan Championships?
Tomono: It was very difficult for me to adjust, but I was glad that I could make up my mind and go all out, because I thought it didn't matter much anymore.
-Has the level of perfection of your free skate improved?
TOMONO: I think I could do 4-3(quad-triple toeloop), which I couldn't do in All-Japan, is a step forward. It was more difficult to score iat Kokutai than in All-Japan, but I could get such a high score, that gave me a lot of confidence in myself. （I think my performance was one of the best I have ever done at Kokutai).
This month, a trip to the Netherlands
- The Challenge Cup (Tilburg, Holland, 22-25 February) is coming up in the near future. How do you want to end the season?
Tomono: I have made only one no-miss in the short event so far this season, so I would like to aim for a higher level of perfection.
-It is a little early, but what do you have in mind for next season?
Tomono: That's right. We have a lot of time, so I want to improve dramatically. I have been waiting for this time to come. The Olympics are only two years away. I think this is the perfect opportunity. I hope I can improve my skills.
-What do you want to do now to improve dramatically?
Tomono: I think jumping is the only way. I want to improve my overall level, of course, but especially my jumps.
-What are your issues in Free Skate at the moment?
TOMONO: All of them. Spins, steps. Compared to the top skaters, I think I still have a long way to go, and there is no end to skating, so I hope to push harder.
)
("Cut my fingers off" by Ethan Bortnick)
:
) Habanera directly transitions into/is the intro to Dai’s flamenco-style solo “Flame to the moth”, so he always joined in at the end.
Go win that 
, Kazuki!
