Kazuki Tomono | Page 292 | Golden Skate

Kazuki Tomono

I’m so happy I got to watch it live.
You're so lucky 😭 Kazuki's skate was at like 2am for me and I had to sleep, I dreamt he had flopped and scored like 68 points...When I woke up and saw the result, I was so surprised 😂

But yeah... wow. Occasionally, just occasionally, he knocks it out of the park and reminds everyone how f*cking good he actually is. Although I always liked this programme, this was the first time I watched and thought: 'this is an Olympic programme'. I think I'm not the only one who felt this, as both the Japanese and the English-speaking Olympic channel accounts posted about Kazuki too.

But well, there's still the free. I won't be watching it live either so just hoping for the best. A medal of any colour would be amazing 🙏
 
Alright 🥉 overall after the long. Kazuki really kicked butt out there. I’m so proud of him. The press conference was great when they did the fun photo and Kevin picked him up. When Kevin joked “We’re going to do pairs next year” and Kazuki laughed it warmed my heart. True sportsmanship from all three of them. That’s what it’s all about.
 
I'm relieved that he managed to get a medal, but it feels rather bittersweet... I really wanted him to finish what it's likely to be his last GP event on a high note, not crying tears of frustration (as per reports) 🥺

Still, he made a good point in the interviews, which is how far he's come. I remember his first GP bronze medal at Rostelecom 2018, back then it was treated like a HUGE achievement, there was even press waiting for him at the airport 😌 Now, the fact that a bronze medal feels frustrating, says a lot about how far he's come.

However, thanks to him, the fight for Japan's 3rd spot is still wide open. He's had the most consistent GP series, but Kao has a slightly higher SB and there's Sota still to compete. It'll boil down to Nationals... 😨
 
Well done, Kazuki! Well deserved, and I'm happy he got to medal. He's always one of my biggest faves to watch and root for. His season is headed in a good direction indeed, and I'll bet you anything he'll be going to WC, if not the OG. (y) I watched the SP yesterday, and I need to see his FS and interview now.

That said, is it really necessary to bring up Sota? It's kind of like poking a sore wound for me. Especially seeing him and Nationals mentioned in the same sentence. With a single exception, we know how his Nationals always goes. And a miracle would have to happen at Finlandia. I'll leave it at that. Yes, Kao is still a factor, especially for the OG.
 
That said, is it really necessary to bring up Sota? It's kind of like poking a sore wound for me. Especially seeing him and Nationals mentioned in the same sentence. With a single exception, we know how his Nationals always goes. And a miracle would have to happen at Finlandia. I'll leave it at that. Yes, Kao is still a factor, especially for the OG.
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to poke a sore wound 😔 I'll write my thoughts on Sota's upcoming GP on his fan fest, but it's just whilst I know he's had a lot of difficulties, I also know he had a lot of fighting spirit. I didn't count Kao and Tatsuya out before their second assignment, either, even if they struggled a lot in their first assignment. With this crop of Japanese Men, we honestly never know what's coming!

Back to Kazuki. I saw some GPF calculations somewhere else and it seems like, unless Jason gets silver in Finland, Kazuki is poised to be first alternate for GPF. I know this wouldn't be what he wanted, but if that happens, it's not too bad either, and I hope JSF takes note :pray:
 
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A post skate interview..I don't know what he said..but he cried.
 
Alright 🥉 overall after the long. Kazuki really kicked butt out there. I’m so proud of him. The press conference was great when they did the fun photo and Kevin picked him up. When Kevin joked “We’re going to do pairs next year” and Kazuki laughed it warmed my heart. True sportsmanship from all three of them. That’s what it’s all about.
I didn't know their words, their accolade felt so sincere and heartwarming! I'm sure that there's a lot of appreciation behind.
 
A post skate interview..I don't know what he said..but he cried.
Oda also posted this..w sweet words..Someone on Twitter X said..Kazuki saw his coach before medal ceremony and realized that this might be his last GP and last chance to compete overseas..
 
A post skate interview..I don't know what he said..but he cried.
Awe Kazuki go ahead and let it out.
 
Kazuki's interview by TV Asahi posted on X: https://x.com/i/status/1989961111547121705
It's the same video that was posted on Instagram, but this clip is easier to rewatch with the control settings enabled.
K:=Kazuki, I:=Interviewer

K: Well, this was my 16th Grand Prix, so I guess it's been about seven or eight years. I've carried a lot of frustration from all of those times, so today I approached it thinking, "No matter what kind of performance I give, I'm going to give it my all," while remembering all of that frustration. So yes, I have no regrets. However, I'm still frustrated with myself for not being able to perform to the best of my ability and break through my limits.

I: You mentioned it yourself just now that this is your 16th Grand Prix Series. But that also means you've been
competing at the top level for a long time. How do you feel about that?

K: Well, honestly, I kept finishing 3rd to 6th place in every single competition, other than 2nd or 1st. I kept thinking, "Today is the day I become the number one skater" (begins to tear up). I’ve been competing with that mindset. But I also had the thought that there was a possibility that this Grand Prix might be my last this time. Nevertheless, I believe that the All Japan Championships are my chance to fulfil my dream of becoming number one. I wanted to go to the GPS Finals in Japan too. This year, I'm giving it my all to achieve all my dreams. My biggest dream is to compete in the Olympics, and achieving that is my absolute priority. Honestly, my dream of being number one at the All Japan Championships isn't over yet, so that's all I'm focused on. I don't think I've ever been this frustrated before. I won't forget this feeling. No matter what situation I face from now on, I'm sure it will be an unforgettable experience as I live my life. I really pushed myself to the limit. Above all, I want to praise myself for facing this situation and fighting so hard up until now.

I: You really demonstrated an aggressive mindset, didn't you? I mean, not only did you land the quad Salchow, but you also recovered on the final triple Axel. Your determination was clear.

K: Yeah, things didn't go as planned in practice, but that's part of competition, and I think it's part of the fun. From here, I always shift up another gear. I'm glad I realized I still have a lot more to give, and that I can shift up another gear after this.

I: As in the short program, you received a lot of cheers today. Did that support help?

K: Honestly, the atmosphere in the arena was intense. It was kind of a difficult atmosphere, but even with such quiet music, the audience cheered so much. I'm incredibly happy.

I: As you mentioned, the Olympic season continues from here. What is your mindset as you pursue that dream?

K: Well, there's the Grand Prix series and each competition. I've worked hard for many of them before, but I've rarely been this prepared. The training days have been fun, though there have been some tough, challenging practices, too. I think it's about a month until the All-Japan Championships. I want to make the next month even more fulfilling.

I: Thank you for your hard work.

K: Thank you very much. (Smiles.)
 
Kazuki's interview by TV Asahi posted on X: https://x.com/i/status/1989961111547121705
It's the same video that was posted on Instagram, but this clip is easier to rewatch with the control settings enabled.
K:=Kazuki, I:=Interviewer

K: Well, this was my 16th Grand Prix, so I guess it's been about seven or eight years. I've carried a lot of frustration from all of those times, so today I approached it thinking, "No matter what kind of performance I give, I'm going to give it my all," while remembering all of that frustration. So yes, I have no regrets. However, I'm still frustrated with myself for not being able to perform to the best of my ability and break through my limits.

I: You mentioned it yourself just now that this is your 16th Grand Prix Series. But that also means you've been
competing at the top level for a long time. How do you feel about that?

K: Well, honestly, I kept finishing 3rd to 6th place in every single competition, other than 2nd or 1st. I kept thinking, "Today is the day I become the number one skater" (begins to tear up). I’ve been competing with that mindset. But I also had the thought that there was a possibility that this Grand Prix might be my last this time. Nevertheless, I believe that the All Japan Championships are my chance to fulfil my dream of becoming number one. I wanted to go to the GPS Finals in Japan too. This year, I'm giving it my all to achieve all my dreams. My biggest dream is to compete in the Olympics, and achieving that is my absolute priority. Honestly, my dream of being number one at the All Japan Championships isn't over yet, so that's all I'm focused on. I don't think I've ever been this frustrated before. I won't forget this feeling. No matter what situation I face from now on, I'm sure it will be an unforgettable experience as I live my life. I really pushed myself to the limit. Above all, I want to praise myself for facing this situation and fighting so hard up until now.

I: You really demonstrated an aggressive mindset, didn't you? I mean, not only did you land the quad Salchow, but you also recovered on the final triple Axel. Your determination was clear.

K: Yeah, things didn't go as planned in practice, but that's part of competition, and I think it's part of the fun. From here, I always shift up another gear. I'm glad I realized I still have a lot more to give, and that I can shift up another gear after this.

I: As in the short program, you received a lot of cheers today. Did that support help?

K: Honestly, the atmosphere in the arena was intense. It was kind of a difficult atmosphere, but even with such quiet music, the audience cheered so much. I'm incredibly happy.

I: As you mentioned, the Olympic season continues from here. What is your mindset as you pursue that dream?

K: Well, there's the Grand Prix series and each competition. I've worked hard for many of them before, but I've rarely been this prepared. The training days have been fun, though there have been some tough, challenging practices, too. I think it's about a month until the All-Japan Championships. I want to make the next month even more fulfilling.

I: Thank you for your hard work.

K: Thank you very much. (Smiles.)
TY so much for the translation.
 
Kazuki's interview by TV Asahi posted on X: https://x.com/i/status/1989961111547121705
It's the same video that was posted on Instagram, but this clip is easier to rewatch with the control settings enabled.
K:=Kazuki, I:=Interviewer

K: Well, this was my 16th Grand Prix, so I guess it's been about seven or eight years. I've carried a lot of frustration from all of those times, so today I approached it thinking, "No matter what kind of performance I give, I'm going to give it my all," while remembering all of that frustration. So yes, I have no regrets. However, I'm still frustrated with myself for not being able to perform to the best of my ability and break through my limits.

I: You mentioned it yourself just now that this is your 16th Grand Prix Series. But that also means you've been
competing at the top level for a long time. How do you feel about that?

K: Well, honestly, I kept finishing 3rd to 6th place in every single competition, other than 2nd or 1st. I kept thinking, "Today is the day I become the number one skater" (begins to tear up). I’ve been competing with that mindset. But I also had the thought that there was a possibility that this Grand Prix might be my last this time. Nevertheless, I believe that the All Japan Championships are my chance to fulfil my dream of becoming number one. I wanted to go to the GPS Finals in Japan too. This year, I'm giving it my all to achieve all my dreams. My biggest dream is to compete in the Olympics, and achieving that is my absolute priority. Honestly, my dream of being number one at the All Japan Championships isn't over yet, so that's all I'm focused on. I don't think I've ever been this frustrated before. I won't forget this feeling. No matter what situation I face from now on, I'm sure it will be an unforgettable experience as I live my life. I really pushed myself to the limit. Above all, I want to praise myself for facing this situation and fighting so hard up until now.

I: You really demonstrated an aggressive mindset, didn't you? I mean, not only did you land the quad Salchow, but you also recovered on the final triple Axel. Your determination was clear.

K: Yeah, things didn't go as planned in practice, but that's part of competition, and I think it's part of the fun. From here, I always shift up another gear. I'm glad I realized I still have a lot more to give, and that I can shift up another gear after this.

I: As in the short program, you received a lot of cheers today. Did that support help?

K: Honestly, the atmosphere in the arena was intense. It was kind of a difficult atmosphere, but even with such quiet music, the audience cheered so much. I'm incredibly happy.

I: As you mentioned, the Olympic season continues from here. What is your mindset as you pursue that dream?

K: Well, there's the Grand Prix series and each competition. I've worked hard for many of them before, but I've rarely been this prepared. The training days have been fun, though there have been some tough, challenging practices, too. I think it's about a month until the All-Japan Championships. I want to make the next month even more fulfilling.

I: Thank you for your hard work.

K: Thank you very much. (Smiles.)
Thanks for the translation. He made me cry! 😭
 
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