Shoma Uno
- Thread starter rabidline
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2021
I'm only feeling disappointed...and it's not because of Shoma. It's that to me, there isn't a must-see GP that I'm willing to travel to... (although there's some skaters I'd like to see in Texas there's also skaters I wouldn't like to see in Texas and it's Texas so...it's quite the dilemma for me) I expected to be a little sad about Shoma, but instead I was justGP assignments with no Shoma on the list. Anybody feel as bad as I do?!Must be a misprint.
over the assignments. I expected Shoma to not be there, so that could explain how I feel.Sending virtual hugs...
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2014
Thank you for your kind words.I'm only feeling disappointed...and it's not because of Shoma. It's that to me, there isn't a must-see GP that I'm willing to travel to... (although there's some skaters I'd like to see in Texas there's also skaters I wouldn't like to see in Texas and it's Texas so...it's quite the dilemma for me) I expected to be a little sad about Shoma, but instead I was just
Sending virtual hugs...
I'm SO missing the buzz and speculation about assignments, programs, choreographers, costumes, at what ice show will he debut the new programs, how is his physical condition, will he go overseas for any training or choreo. I guess it was such a big part of my life for so long that there is a real emptiness there now. And seeing it in writing now makes it real!I share the exact same feelings on the assignments.I enjoyed planning my GP trips! Probably TX would be the one I would consider the most, but partly because I have a good friend who moved there and lives the next town over from the arena. So for personal reasons more than skating reasons, I'd go there. Considering my lack of interest in the ladies overall, I am finding the U.S. ladies to be interesting and intriguing, what with the return of Alyssa and Bradie and the rise of Ava Marie. Sigh. Life goes on.
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- Joined
- Apr 17, 2021
For some reason I find myself more excited about the women this year than the men! I'm curious as to whether Kaori will continue to dominate or whether someone else will rise up. I also can't wait to see Alysa Liu return!Thank you for your kind words.
I share the exact same feelings on the assignments.I enjoyed planning my GP trips! Probably TX would be the one I would consider the most, but partly because I have a good friend who moved there and lives the next town over from the arena. So for personal reasons more than skating reasons, I'd go there. Considering my lack of interest in the ladies overall, I am finding the U.S. ladies to be interesting and intriguing, what with the return of Alyssa and Bradie and the rise of Ava Marie. Sigh. Life goes on.
Visiting a friend sounds like a good idea! I wonder if you can convince them to come see the skating with you.
I convinced a friend to go with me to the 4CC 2019 men's free program and it was totally worth it, especially since I got to see an iconic Shoma program...
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Arriba, I totally get it. I haven't even looked at the assignments. However, I am into summer athletics currently so looking forward to the Paris Olympics. I know I will support the Japanese men, Dennis and Jun. But I do want Shoma back....I know I shouldn't be selfish, though. Sending hugs to those who need it.
Air, mea tormenta at worlds. I do have a soft spot for Winter though, his Olympic Winter was one of the first competitive skates I watched.This is something prompted by 'one performance to watch forever' thread. What do you guys think was Uno's career skate?
Unfortunately, he never skated my fav program of his with a perfect execution, but I am curious what was your WOWperfect! Uno program?
I know that part of his charm was the chaotic energy, but still...
Definitely looking forward to a medal ceremony in Paris! Shoma has to be there, hope his friends make sure he goes!
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2019
My mom is the same way. It helps me that I'm crazy over Malinin and invested into Miura, but I miss Shoma Uno hugely.GP assignments with no Shoma on the list. Anybody feel as bad as I do?!
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2014
Tell mom to not give up! Hope springs eternal...I'm not a huge fan of ice shows, and I know there is no way I would travel to Asia to see an ice show. However, I immediately wrote to U.S. Stars on Ice and suggested they bring Sho on for the 2025 tour -- and if not for the whole thing, at least for some engagements...So today, I'm listening to TSL, and Dave suggested to Alissa Ciszny (whose husband Kurt is the director of Canada SOI) that Shoma should skate with Canada's Stars on Ice. She seemed to agree with him. So I have to believe there is already buzz about him. And why wouldn't there be? SOI loves World and Oly medalists.
My suggestion -- I went to the U.S. SOI web site, scroll down to CONTACT US, and suggest Shoma! I did get an answer from them, kind of a generic-y type "We will take your suggestion into consideration". I suggest you do the same with Canada SOI. It's a year away, so they have time to make it happen! Maybe the more people they hear from, the more likely they are to make it happen!!!!
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2019
Mom really doesn't like ice shows, but I go sometimes. Will def root for Uno as a SOI participant, though I think he will stay in Japan.
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2014
I don't see him doing a long tour with all the cities, but I could see him doing a few cities. He has never been one of those skaters (like some of them are) who is into the travel , trying new foods, sightseeing etc. However, he does have to earn a living, so who knows, maybe he will participate in some shows outside Japan.
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2014
I agree. There are shows like Javi Fernandez's "Revolution on Ice" and other European shows. I think his European fans will get to see him. Will Yuna Kim do another "All That Skate" type.show? We may be in for a few surprises.
They met with Emma and Toro!
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2018
The Number magazine @Arriba627 shared above had a new interview with Shoma. It's really, really good- I hope someone will be kind enough to share any translation. I cried reading a rough translation of it already (good tears though) 
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2018
Ah, whatever. I will delete this in case I got into trouble for inaccuracies of AI translation, or if there's an issue of sharing the interview. It's just a really damn good interview.
This interview is published in this week's Number magazine. The interviewer is writer Mie Noguchi (she has covered figure skating for a while) and it was done one week after Shoma's retirement press conference, so one week after May 14.
A friend translated it using AI, I think it's quite good, so I'll share it while waiting for a proper translation.
_____________________________________________
[Retirement Interview]
Shoma Uno The Memories of Eternal Moment
"No tears of regret"
The 26-year-old who captivated Japan and the world by becoming the first Japanese man to win consecutive world championships and claiming victory six times, including four consecutive wins at the All-Japan Championships, has made a decision. He reveals his feelings with gentle, straightforward words.
Text by Mie Noguchi, Photographs by Asami Enomoto
A week has passed since the retirement press conference on a sunny afternoon in early summer. Shoma Uno (26) looked back on the day of the conference, slowly, while smiling at the sunlight streaming through the clouds, saying, "It's dazzling, isn't it? I've been living indoors, so I'm not used to it."
"I wanted to make that press conference fun, no matter what. When people hear 'retirement' and watch it online, I wanted to create an atmosphere. I raised the tone and kept the energy higher than usual," he said.
It was a talk show format with a host, and there was no solemn atmosphere at all. There were even moments where he made the audience laugh with stories of his failures. "Some of the fans may have felt sad. But I wanted to convey, 'I'm not sad,'" he said.
During the conference, he was asked about the "most memorable, treasure-like moment" in his skating career. "When I was asked that question, I reflected on everything in a flash. At first, I thought the newest memory would come to mind, but actually, the face of Stephane (Lambiel, coach) when I won the World Championships for the first time in 2022 came to mind," he said.
It was the moment when, at Kiss & Cry, Stephane rubbed Uno's back, knees, and head multiple times, and they joyfully bumped foreheads. "I'm not the type to be ecstatic even when I win, so when I saw Stephane exploding with joy next to me, I thought, 'Ah, I did something pretty amazing, I'm glad.' In fact, when I won the next year, the reaction was completely different, more like 'Well done!' and I thought, 'This is how it is for the second time, people get used to it,' so it was definitely the first time (laughs)," he said.
Going back two years from the retirement press conference, from this day that Uno describes as a "treasure," his feelings toward the competition changed.
The world was changing little by little. "When the 22-23 season started, Yuzu-kun (Yuzuru Hanyu) and Nathan Chen were not there. In that season, I had achieved good results, but I felt that 'I had been able to grow this much while pursuing something passionately', but now I don't feel like that kind of person anymore.โ
Even though I won consecutive titles at the last World Championships of the season, in the subsequent winner's interview, I also mentioned lines that hinted at turning professional, such as 'I don't feel as motivated as last year' and 'I want to participate in off-season shows to find the place I should be seeking.' "I spoke my emotions at that time. My tension was really that high. I seriously worried about what to do in the off-season."
During this period, he consulted with a senior figure. It was Mao Asada who invited him to the figure skating world when he was 5 years old. "Her first words were 'Oh, you can still definitely do it.' For me, it's very rare to consult with others. So Mao-chan didn't tell me 'you should do this,' but instead shared various thoughts and experiences from her final period of competitive life." I also went to see Mao's show and witnessed her passion. "She was facing her skating with full dedication even in a different place from competition. I realized that as skaters, the place where we can put our full effort is not only in competition." And from Mao, I received these words. "No matter which path you take, I am supporting Shoma." However, the 23-24 season was approaching amid inner conflict.
"To be honest, there were times when I was practicing but still hating jumps. Even though I knew "my heart is not here," I couldn't choose to quit. In the midst of thoughts like "I have to continue as an active athlete" and "I have to find motivation other than jumps," the phrase "aim for expression" was squeezed out. By saying it in the media, I convinced myself to think that way." When the season began and he faced young skaters in competition, he was able to analyze my own feelings more clearly.
"The feeling of 'wanting to win' naturally arose in me. However, even though I was doing the same thing, the goal had changed from 'I want to grow more because there are those better than me' to 'I want to give my best.' I realized that was a significant difference."
"I must face it with all my might." What he thought at the moment of decision.
The last season I fought through despite the pain. When asked about the most rewarding performance, surprisingly, he mentioned the NHK Trophy, where he came in second. It was a competition where he was harshly judged for under-rotating jumps and even showed a bewildered expression.
"At the NHK Trophy, I also felt regret for coming in second at the previous Cup of China, so from there, 'I can do this better' and Stephane and I worked really hard in practice, and I was able to deliver a good performance in the actual competition. However, the scores were not what I had hoped for. Stephane was really angry about that, and the next day, he cried a lot, but that was proof that something good had been achieved. Stephane explodes with emotions about things he cares about. Once again, it's a memorable competition where I felt 'I like that about him.'"
"I had made up my mind before the All-Japan Championships at the end of December. After winning the championship for the sixth time, I was honest with myself. "Normally, I would say 'a match for practice, practice for a match' after the competition, but those words didn't come out. I didn't feel the motivation to move on to the next thing. After the competition, when I told Stephane that the next World Championships would be my last, he seemed to have already sensed it and said, 'I respect your decision.'"
Reflecting on the decision he made, "Of course, I could have continued competing with the mindset of 'work.' However, I believe that I can only be true to myself when I face it with all my strength. I want to be honest with myself, and I don't think I can compete as a job out of inertia." I decided to continue my competitive career for one more battle. Since making that decision, I have been training desperately. "I tried many things. I changed my skates, and I thought about my jumps a lot. I thought through it until the end, for better or for worse."
The World Championships in Montreal, which became his last competition as an active athlete, started with a perfect performance in the short program, putting him in first place. However, there were mistakes in the free skate, and he finished in fourth place overall. He didn't announce my retirement on the spot, and there must have been regret, but he answered the interviews calmly. He maintained my usual calm demeanor with a smile. "But," Uno said, lowering his voice as he looked back on that day. "That was the only moment I shed tears in my entire competitive career..."
After the interviews were over, when he met my coach Lambiel in the hallway, his emotions overflowed all at once. We hugged, and tears naturally streamed down his cheeks. "I wasn't crying because my performance wasn't good, but because of my gratitude to Stephane. I wanted to convey that properly, so I had an interpreter help me. 'I wanted to end with a performance that would make Stephane happy. But I have no regrets about the days leading up to today.'" Stephane replied, "Your skating career doesn't end here. I'll support you so you can shine even more, so let's keep working together."
"It's amazing how fortunate I was to have a foreign coach who stuck with me, even though I'm not very sociable and can't speak English. In the end, Stephane even learned Japanese for me. I think I was blessed to have such an incredible environment," He reflected.
He arrived at the hotel room after 1 o'clock. It was a solitary night as he ended his competitive career. It was not as solemn as one might expect.
There are plenty of things on the internet that could put me in a negative mood. So, without looking at anything, I thought, 'Alright, from here on, I'm a gamer!' and played games." Of course, it wasn't just playing games. I objectively analyzed my own heart to see if I could maintain a positive mindset. "I was interested in whether I could accept myself when I had trained my best but performed poorly. And on that day, I realized, 'I really can accept myself...' So, from now on, I want to cherish not only the results but also the process equally, no matter what I do. Because that will lead to success someday."
Still only 26 years old, full of endless potential. After the summer, he will be performing in shows both domestically and internationally. "First, I want to do my best in the shows. Last year, I did 'One Piece on Ice,' where I fully embodied the character and had lines, and it was a new experience for me."
But he continued to analyze himself. "The audience's perception is everything in shows. It's a showman's skill to make something simple look difficult. But I'm not good at pretending. I'm not the type to keep a surprise or be a showman. I don't want to force myself into something that doesn't suit me, so I want to work hard with the help of those around me," he expressed.
He openly voiced my future anxieties, and he has been loved and supported by those around him.
"No matter how much I dislike it or how many failures I experience, I believe they will eventually lead to success. In the past two years, even when my heart wasn't in it, if I hadn't continued, I wouldn't have understood my feelings towards skating, and I wouldn't have met the person I am today. So, whether good or bad, everything has been good for me," he concluded.
Reaching this understanding has come from facing himself honestly. Whether in competition or as a professional, with this mindset, he can continue moving forward.
The honest 26-year-old has learned the best way to live from skating and is stepping forward with a gentle smile.
This interview is published in this week's Number magazine. The interviewer is writer Mie Noguchi (she has covered figure skating for a while) and it was done one week after Shoma's retirement press conference, so one week after May 14.
A friend translated it using AI, I think it's quite good, so I'll share it while waiting for a proper translation.
_____________________________________________
[Retirement Interview]
Shoma Uno The Memories of Eternal Moment
"No tears of regret"
The 26-year-old who captivated Japan and the world by becoming the first Japanese man to win consecutive world championships and claiming victory six times, including four consecutive wins at the All-Japan Championships, has made a decision. He reveals his feelings with gentle, straightforward words.
Text by Mie Noguchi, Photographs by Asami Enomoto
A week has passed since the retirement press conference on a sunny afternoon in early summer. Shoma Uno (26) looked back on the day of the conference, slowly, while smiling at the sunlight streaming through the clouds, saying, "It's dazzling, isn't it? I've been living indoors, so I'm not used to it."
"I wanted to make that press conference fun, no matter what. When people hear 'retirement' and watch it online, I wanted to create an atmosphere. I raised the tone and kept the energy higher than usual," he said.
It was a talk show format with a host, and there was no solemn atmosphere at all. There were even moments where he made the audience laugh with stories of his failures. "Some of the fans may have felt sad. But I wanted to convey, 'I'm not sad,'" he said.
During the conference, he was asked about the "most memorable, treasure-like moment" in his skating career. "When I was asked that question, I reflected on everything in a flash. At first, I thought the newest memory would come to mind, but actually, the face of Stephane (Lambiel, coach) when I won the World Championships for the first time in 2022 came to mind," he said.
It was the moment when, at Kiss & Cry, Stephane rubbed Uno's back, knees, and head multiple times, and they joyfully bumped foreheads. "I'm not the type to be ecstatic even when I win, so when I saw Stephane exploding with joy next to me, I thought, 'Ah, I did something pretty amazing, I'm glad.' In fact, when I won the next year, the reaction was completely different, more like 'Well done!' and I thought, 'This is how it is for the second time, people get used to it,' so it was definitely the first time (laughs)," he said.
Going back two years from the retirement press conference, from this day that Uno describes as a "treasure," his feelings toward the competition changed.
The world was changing little by little. "When the 22-23 season started, Yuzu-kun (Yuzuru Hanyu) and Nathan Chen were not there. In that season, I had achieved good results, but I felt that 'I had been able to grow this much while pursuing something passionately', but now I don't feel like that kind of person anymore.โ
Even though I won consecutive titles at the last World Championships of the season, in the subsequent winner's interview, I also mentioned lines that hinted at turning professional, such as 'I don't feel as motivated as last year' and 'I want to participate in off-season shows to find the place I should be seeking.' "I spoke my emotions at that time. My tension was really that high. I seriously worried about what to do in the off-season."
During this period, he consulted with a senior figure. It was Mao Asada who invited him to the figure skating world when he was 5 years old. "Her first words were 'Oh, you can still definitely do it.' For me, it's very rare to consult with others. So Mao-chan didn't tell me 'you should do this,' but instead shared various thoughts and experiences from her final period of competitive life." I also went to see Mao's show and witnessed her passion. "She was facing her skating with full dedication even in a different place from competition. I realized that as skaters, the place where we can put our full effort is not only in competition." And from Mao, I received these words. "No matter which path you take, I am supporting Shoma." However, the 23-24 season was approaching amid inner conflict.
"To be honest, there were times when I was practicing but still hating jumps. Even though I knew "my heart is not here," I couldn't choose to quit. In the midst of thoughts like "I have to continue as an active athlete" and "I have to find motivation other than jumps," the phrase "aim for expression" was squeezed out. By saying it in the media, I convinced myself to think that way." When the season began and he faced young skaters in competition, he was able to analyze my own feelings more clearly.
"The feeling of 'wanting to win' naturally arose in me. However, even though I was doing the same thing, the goal had changed from 'I want to grow more because there are those better than me' to 'I want to give my best.' I realized that was a significant difference."
"I must face it with all my might." What he thought at the moment of decision.
The last season I fought through despite the pain. When asked about the most rewarding performance, surprisingly, he mentioned the NHK Trophy, where he came in second. It was a competition where he was harshly judged for under-rotating jumps and even showed a bewildered expression.
"At the NHK Trophy, I also felt regret for coming in second at the previous Cup of China, so from there, 'I can do this better' and Stephane and I worked really hard in practice, and I was able to deliver a good performance in the actual competition. However, the scores were not what I had hoped for. Stephane was really angry about that, and the next day, he cried a lot, but that was proof that something good had been achieved. Stephane explodes with emotions about things he cares about. Once again, it's a memorable competition where I felt 'I like that about him.'"
"I had made up my mind before the All-Japan Championships at the end of December. After winning the championship for the sixth time, I was honest with myself. "Normally, I would say 'a match for practice, practice for a match' after the competition, but those words didn't come out. I didn't feel the motivation to move on to the next thing. After the competition, when I told Stephane that the next World Championships would be my last, he seemed to have already sensed it and said, 'I respect your decision.'"
Reflecting on the decision he made, "Of course, I could have continued competing with the mindset of 'work.' However, I believe that I can only be true to myself when I face it with all my strength. I want to be honest with myself, and I don't think I can compete as a job out of inertia." I decided to continue my competitive career for one more battle. Since making that decision, I have been training desperately. "I tried many things. I changed my skates, and I thought about my jumps a lot. I thought through it until the end, for better or for worse."
The World Championships in Montreal, which became his last competition as an active athlete, started with a perfect performance in the short program, putting him in first place. However, there were mistakes in the free skate, and he finished in fourth place overall. He didn't announce my retirement on the spot, and there must have been regret, but he answered the interviews calmly. He maintained my usual calm demeanor with a smile. "But," Uno said, lowering his voice as he looked back on that day. "That was the only moment I shed tears in my entire competitive career..."
After the interviews were over, when he met my coach Lambiel in the hallway, his emotions overflowed all at once. We hugged, and tears naturally streamed down his cheeks. "I wasn't crying because my performance wasn't good, but because of my gratitude to Stephane. I wanted to convey that properly, so I had an interpreter help me. 'I wanted to end with a performance that would make Stephane happy. But I have no regrets about the days leading up to today.'" Stephane replied, "Your skating career doesn't end here. I'll support you so you can shine even more, so let's keep working together."
"It's amazing how fortunate I was to have a foreign coach who stuck with me, even though I'm not very sociable and can't speak English. In the end, Stephane even learned Japanese for me. I think I was blessed to have such an incredible environment," He reflected.
He arrived at the hotel room after 1 o'clock. It was a solitary night as he ended his competitive career. It was not as solemn as one might expect.
There are plenty of things on the internet that could put me in a negative mood. So, without looking at anything, I thought, 'Alright, from here on, I'm a gamer!' and played games." Of course, it wasn't just playing games. I objectively analyzed my own heart to see if I could maintain a positive mindset. "I was interested in whether I could accept myself when I had trained my best but performed poorly. And on that day, I realized, 'I really can accept myself...' So, from now on, I want to cherish not only the results but also the process equally, no matter what I do. Because that will lead to success someday."
Still only 26 years old, full of endless potential. After the summer, he will be performing in shows both domestically and internationally. "First, I want to do my best in the shows. Last year, I did 'One Piece on Ice,' where I fully embodied the character and had lines, and it was a new experience for me."
But he continued to analyze himself. "The audience's perception is everything in shows. It's a showman's skill to make something simple look difficult. But I'm not good at pretending. I'm not the type to keep a surprise or be a showman. I don't want to force myself into something that doesn't suit me, so I want to work hard with the help of those around me," he expressed.
He openly voiced my future anxieties, and he has been loved and supported by those around him.
"No matter how much I dislike it or how many failures I experience, I believe they will eventually lead to success. In the past two years, even when my heart wasn't in it, if I hadn't continued, I wouldn't have understood my feelings towards skating, and I wouldn't have met the person I am today. So, whether good or bad, everything has been good for me," he concluded.
Reaching this understanding has come from facing himself honestly. Whether in competition or as a professional, with this mindset, he can continue moving forward.
The honest 26-year-old has learned the best way to live from skating and is stepping forward with a gentle smile.
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2014
Sho is talking about the package deal that is being offered to travel to Switzerland for the Shompery ice show. The price that is mentioned (820,000 yen) seems super expensive! (around $5,150 USD). Of course, it's a long flight from Japan, and Switzerland is super expensive. I would expect more European than Japanese fans to be there. But I love seeing him talk about it anyway!!! For anyone who can afford these package deals, they're usually pretty nice where you sit back and the organizer does the work!
