Mao Asada

[gotoschool]

Any news of Mao and of her training?

I don't have any news about Mao's training, but I found this website interesting mainly for the comments written by Japanese people in response to a recent article about Mao's huge influence on viewership of skating in Japan. The number of comments is enormous, way over 1000, and it is fascinating to see all the different opinions many of which I agree with. I just take the comments and put them into google translate. I don't want to quote people without their permission especially in translation but it is good to see that so many people don't accept at face value Mao's scoring when determining what so many consider to be the irreplaceable and unique value of Mao's skating, which mistakes or not I have found to be far too low during her career. I am reminded of the great American writer and Noble Prize winner for Literature, William Faulkner, who happens to share the same birthday with Mao, September 25th, and is known to have a highly innovative, poetic and emotionally compelling stream of conscious writing style that reminds me in some ways of the great beauty and emotional resonance of Mao's skating. Despite his great acclaim as a classic writer whose reputation has soared over time, he received D's in freshman English at university, which just goes to show that systems often get it wrong when it comes to evaluating the quality of an artist, performer or writer, and that it often depends more on the nature of the system itself and who is doing the evaluation. Also in systems, there is the affiliation, preference and biases to consider or the pressure those giving the judgement could be put under to evaluate in a certain way. I think the comment which is by far the most popular under a copy of Mao's Sochi LP sums it up best, though her most viewed one has been removed.

Jude Robinson8 months ago
she is so painfully underrated. not enough people give her credit for her artistry and creativity. she will probably only be properly appreciated after she is gone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjEoBfmn1SU

This fits well with a magnificent quote from William Faulkner that applies to many of Mao's great performances:

The aim of every artist is to arrest motion, which is life, by artificial means and hold it fixed so that a hundred years later, when a stranger looks at it, it moves again since it is life.


Here is the article and comments link to the comments in Japanese :

http://zasshi.news.yahoo.co.jp/article?a=20170227-00000020-pseven-spo

Here is the link with only the comments which I find to be the most encouraging in their huge support and love of Mao's skating. There are a few critical comments as well though.

http://zasshi.news.yahoo.co.jp/cm/main?d=20170227-00000020-pseven-spo

 

[gotoschool]

Here is a great new high quality photo from Mao in her Rach II Sochi LP:
http://media.zenfs.com/en_US/Sports/USA_Today/20140220_jtl_usa_696-72b5ac1352104539c5cba00870e75475


and here is a great high quality photo of Mao doing a half Biellman spin in Madame Butterfly at Cup of China: http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/858...635824886272855918-AFP-546161774-77347026.JPG

Here is a super cute collage of Mao when she was a lot younger: http://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/7f/48/cafa642dca903db9c0e10fc42e91b1c1.jpg

beautiful Arsoa photo: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C55ralrU4AASnn2.jpg

Bach Cello Suite Exhibition: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C5yrKHjUsAATiO7.jpg

Finlandia Podium: http://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/30/0d/64c92f21c872cb5ae1da2b07ebafc5de.jpg

Happy moment with Coach Sato at Finlandia Trophy: http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cu2r4FfUkAAtr6l.jpg

 

[gotoschool]

Here is a magnificent ultra HD (1440) copy of Mao's Cello Suite at Skate America:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81TbYtaUXnE

JSC 2011 Ballade (1440): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=de_zQMmhDhY

 

[gotoschool]

Here is a great 1440 ultra HD copy of Mao's magnificent Madame Butterfly performance at Worlds 2016. I am beginning to see this performance as one of Mao's very best. I can't make it through without breaking into tears when Mao hits the triple flip / double loop / double loop tano, and then into the triple loop and step sequence, spread eagle and what to me is the most expressive and intricate ending pose I have ever seen. A rich tapestry of genuine melancholy woven delicately with threads of painstaking ballet that nonetheless appear effortless, as if her consummate grace were innate because it had accumulated from such a young age. To me, though athletics is the medium of expression, this transcends the empirical dimension of muscle and transports me into an ideal world of beauty where spirit is embodied in lovely fluidity: a precious rarity to be treasured forever.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvUXq2PVNNE

 

[Barb]

Here is a great 1440 ultra HD copy of Mao's magnificent Madame Butterfly performance at Worlds 2016. I am beginning to see this performance as one of Mao's very best. I can't make it through without breaking into tears when Mao hits the triple flip / double loop / double loop tano, and then into the triple loop and step sequence, spread eagle and what to me is the most expressive and intricate ending pose I have ever seen. A rich tapestry of genuine melancholy woven delicately with threads of painstaking ballet that nonetheless appear effortless, as if her consummate grace were innate because it had accumulated from such a young age. To me, though athletics is the medium of expression, this transcends the empirical dimension of muscle and transports me into an ideal world of beauty where spirit is embodied in lovely fluidity: a precious rarity to be treasured forever.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvUXq2PVNNE

Masterpiece . IMO that was The performance of the event.

 

[gotoschool]

Here are more great ultra HD copies of some of Mao's fabulous performances

Jupiter and Encore 2011 at Cup of Russia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNDl_RO1uUk

2008 Worlds Fantasy for Violin SP no commentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMtJ_0yTKtc

2013 Swan Lake Worlds no commentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCHdQFKDzlA

Worlds LP 2008 Fantasie Impromptu no commentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSCpgt79JMc

 

[sallycinnamon]

Here is a great 1440 ultra HD copy of Mao's magnificent Madame Butterfly performance at Worlds 2016. I am beginning to see this performance as one of Mao's very best. I can't make it through without breaking into tears when Mao hits the triple flip / double loop / double loop tano, and then into the triple loop and step sequence, spread eagle and what to me is the most expressive and intricate ending pose I have ever seen. A rich tapestry of genuine melancholy woven delicately with threads of painstaking ballet that nonetheless appear effortless, as if her consummate grace were innate because it had accumulated from such a young age. To me, though athletics is the medium of expression, this transcends the empirical dimension of muscle and transports me into an ideal world of beauty where spirit is embodied in lovely fluidity: a precious rarity to be treasured forever.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvUXq2PVNNE

Thanks for posting. It's my favourite long program of Mao. Absolutely gorgeous

 

[gotoschool]

Here are the best versions of Mao's Rach II at Sochi I can find without an actual direct recording of the event, which were posted just a couple of days ago. I have already said how much I love this performance many times. It is an archetype of beauty, grandeur, athletic elegance, forcefulness and emotional resonance. The versions claim to be 4K but to be honest they lack the clarity a bit of the ones I posted above. Still, these are the best versions on youtube and they have rich and deep color.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Hob5DEkR9U no commentary I think this is the best version

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69Q1XxNrdTg Tarasova commentary

and an outstanding copy of Mao's Rach II at Worlds which is almost as great: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGFt2H3WKoU

Here is an outstanding version of Mao's 2007 Worlds LP, one of my favorites from Mao and so emotional: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiTzRinN4_c

Here is a great copy of Mao's snazzy and jazzy Sing Sing performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5JtZRJvIO0

Dream Girls 2008 another great copy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz5rSr0noJg

 

[gotoschool]

Thanks for posting. It's my favourite long program of Mao. Absolutely gorgeous

Your welcome sallycinnamon.

Thank you @gotoschool for all of the work you do in Mao's thread! Makes me miss her even more!

Your welcome too demarinis5

 

[gotoschool]

Here is a great fan cam of Mao's Mary Poppins from Cup of China. Such a great dancer and charismatic performer : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4KNl8cxz_g

 

[gotoschool]

Photos recently posted of Mao:

http://d3ncwv2e9zpfbf.cloudfront.net/23983722.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C6c6dT-VAAE5IGy.jpg

http://c8.alamy.com/comp/E54YDK/whi...2014-mao-asada-july-20-2014-figure-E54YDK.jpg

https://media.glamour.com/photos/56...imit/entertainment-2014-02-mao-asada-main.jpg

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/0e/95/8d/0e958db81073c82e233be4eb303f59d4.jpg

http://d1.yimg.com/sr/imgv1/1/8328df78-44b3-3c47-84e4-ae71009e7b5b

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/7e/5f/82/7e5f821365e27aa90c52fa79fca58a1c.jpg

http://c8.alamy.com/comp/F5PWXA/bei...ada-jpn-figure-skating-audi-cup-of-F5PWXA.jpg

http://c8.alamy.com/comp/ECXCR9/mao...e-skating-christmas-on-ice-2014-at-ECXCR9.jpg

https://fthmb.tqn.com/YCgfPznYaDs6M...453726847-resize-56a2ea993df78cf7727b2faa.jpg

http://c8.alamy.com/comp/EY6Y1F/sap...sada-figure-skating-lotte-presents-EY6Y1F.jpg

 

[gotoschool]

Really Happy to find this one just posted: Mao's Worlds Bells of Moscow 1080. One of my favorites, though it is not quite as sharp a picture as I would like, it is still a very good copy . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUUYRb2mAns

Here is a great copy of Mao's Scheherazade SP from Cup of Russia 2011:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tukACEW3DMI

It appears that quite a few video posters on youtube are missing Mao terribly a lot (like me) and want people to watch her past performances in the best possible quality to bring back the wonderful memories. In the last couple of weeks, this is the most HD and ultra HD videos I have ever seen posted.

 

[gotoschool]

Here is a really beautiful copy of Mao's Caprice exhibition at the Vancouver Olympics that was recently posted: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxK-r_hjI-Y

 

[gotoschool]

The 4K parade of Mao's past skates continues to amaze. Well actually 1440

Trophy de France SP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKFAHMX1wJM

4CC Mary Poppins

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw3TgIlewR8

 

[solar]

Thanks for finding all the videos! It's nice to look back on old programs. I loved her Marry/Mao Poppins exhibition!

 

[gotoschool]

Here is the latest 4K video of Mao's performances (Mao's Skate America LP) with that great choreograhic and step sequence : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4NcLBelXUY

I wish Mao the best in her quest for happiness including my dearest hope that she succeeds in her dream of being on the Olympic team in 2018. But whatever happens, she will always be my favorite skater and her placement and scores are completely separate from the immense admiration I have for her and her skating. For me, she transcends the scoring system and offers a rare vision of ideal beauty and a wonderful spirit world that helps me forget the problems of daily life for a moment, while at others she seems to dramatize the conflicts I face and purge the negative emotion in a cathartic moment of release. She helps me see how beautiful, inspirational and genuine things in this world can truly be but never reveals the true source of her mystery, so her artistry continues to captivate me endlessly, like trying to unravel a rich tapestry embroidered with a brilliant rainbow of emotions, which reflects the full spectrum of experience. This spiritual gift can't be quantified and, therefore, is worth infinitely more to me than any score.

 

[mary01]

I miss Mao soo much, figure skating wihout her feels soo empty and un-exciting to watch, no 3A to lok forward too, no beautiful spirals and spins noo amazing stsq, this skater is irreplaceable and will always be, but i still cling to the hope that she will stay a bit longer and we will get to enjoy watchng her skills and beautiful skating for a bit longer

 

[Barb]

well, and what do you think about the mess with the possible lost of the 3rd spot with Satoko´s injury.
The federation is soooo stupid. They knew that Satoko was injured, the last news about Mao was that she was feeling better. The Federation decided ignore her not giving her a spot for 4cc and they don´t put her even as a replacement. Now is very late, Mao is not prepared and it would look terrible ignore to Kanako who is the alternate. No doubt, Satoko will compete injured, she will not withdraw .

 

[Barb]

Did you see this doll? I want it!!! https://www.instagram.com/p/BRvg2gBAFHr/?taken-by=yuzu.anmitu

 

[nolangoh]

well, and what do you think about the mess with the possible lost of the 3rd spot with Satoko´s injury.
The federation is soooo stupid. They knew that Satoko was injured, the last news about Mao was that she was feeling better. The Federation decided ignore her not giving her a spot for 4cc and they don´t put her even as a replacement. Now is very late, Mao is not prepared and it would look terrible ignore to Kanako who is the alternate. No doubt, Satoko will compete injured, she will not withdraw .

I totally feel the same. Like I absolutely admire and support Satoko and I wish her the best in Helsinki (i mean, there has to be at least one time that she perform her FS as a tribute to Carrie Fisher, right?). But the constant picking and bullying on her and the placements of the other two skaters are actually worrying. The unfair scoring towards Satoko in Boston still makes me angry, Mai and Wakaba still don't have the "spark" or "fame" to get enough PCS from the judges.

And there are three Russian ladies + three American ladies + two Canadian ladies + Carolina + Elizabet + Laurine + Zijun, and the three of them who will be the top 15. If we assume Satoko will finish at worst 5th (like last year), then either one has to finish no lower than 8th, which is not THAT difficult for them, but they really need to perform their absolutely best (and probably need some "help" from other skaters).

But just in case, in case Japan loses a spot, they can send someone to earn one place through a Senior B event right?