This is Sota at age 14. Here's an excerpt from Sota interview by “Figure Skating Days”vol.18.
The interview was done around April 2014 after his Junior debut season (2013-2014).
https://ameblo.jp/kmn-psn/entry-12235561864.html
He finished 11th at JGPF, 6th at Japan Junior Nationals, 14th at Japan Nationals, 1st at All Japan Middle School Championships.
Translation:
Note: I skipped the paragraphs about how he started skating and moved to Nagoya, since these are the same old stories. The remarks inside (← ) are the actual results achieved, which were added by the blogger.
From admiration to aspiration
-- How did you feel when you watched Yuzuru Hanyu senshu win the gold medal at Sochi Olympics?
I could not watch him live because I went to bed early to be ready for the morning practice. I learned the result before leaving home. I was really happy. I want to train hard to achieve the goal of going to PeongChang Olympics together with Hanyu senshu in four years.
-- So you will work hard chasing behind Hanyu senshu.
I have been admiring Hanyu senshu for some time. When I move up to the senior circuit I will be competing with seniors including Hanyu senshu. I will turn my admiration into aspiration and would like to keep doing my best so that I will be able to compete with him on the same stage.
-- What type of skater do you think you are?
I think I am good at skating skills and I can pick up speed. I use my speed in jump take-off. But in the free I get exhausted in the second half and lose speed. This is the issue I need to tackle. Without enough speed my jump take-off is not good at all. I jog every morning from 5 o’clock to increase my stamina so that I can skate without losing steam in the second half. Also I want to work on expressions more, because there’s a part of me that still feels a little embarrassed.
-- I get the impression that you take things very seriously. Do you think you are like that?
Skating is on my mind all the time. Even while I wait for the traffic light to turn on my way to school, I hum the program song or do some exercises such as one foot standing or stretching.
-- What kind of song do you hum?
I often watch the free program of Hanyu senshu and I hum the tune of Romeo and Juliet. I would like to skate to Romeo and Juliet some day.
-- Looking back on your first junior season of 13-14, what are your thoughts on the season?
In the free when I failed jumps in the first half it affected my skate in the second half as well, and as a result my points dropped each time. Thanks to the points carried over from the short I held onto the top group overall. That’s how I competed at each event throughout the season. I entered the free at my first Japan Nationals fired up to go for my best skate of the season. But I made mistakes again and I felt frustrated.
-- How did you feel about the big stage where you competed with top skaters in Japan?
I was in the third group in the free. I was in the same group as Takahito Mura senshu and Kento Nakamura senshu. During the official practice and 6-minute warmup I was overwhelmed by their presence and I kept avoiding them. I could not help noticing their kicking into the ice because the sound was so powerful and I ended up watching them jump. I could not concentrate.
The Olympics is the final goal.
-- You want to start off the new season with good results at junior GPS.
I want to train to be in top form to get good evaluation so that I can get two assignments for sure. (←accomplished) My goals next season are to win a medal at Japan Junior Nationals (←accomplished), participate in Japan Nationals (←accomplished), and go to the Junior Worlds (←accomplished). I am in the third year of middle school, and Hanyu senshu won the gold medal at Junior Worlds in his third year of middle school. I have to do my best as well (←bronze meal).
-- Then you will have to make yourself known to the world as a rising star following Hanyu senshu.
My strengths are speed and jumps and it would be great if I could get recognition for executing high-quality jumps.
What is your dream as a skater?
As long as I skate my ultimate goal is the Olympics. My final goal is not only going to the Olympics but also to win the gold medal.
-- Aside from skating what is your dream?
After I retire from skating I want to go back to Osaka to be with my grandparents. My grandparents saw me off when I left for Nagoya. While we are far away from each other they have been supporting me in many ways. If I can get a medal at the Olympics in the future, I want to put my medal on them.
-- Next season what do you want your fans to pay attention to?
I would like them to watch me land clean jumps throughout the free program.(←accomplished) As for triple Axel I am going to challenge landing one in the short and two in the free. (←accomplished in mid-season)
The interview was done around April 2014 after his Junior debut season (2013-2014).
https://ameblo.jp/kmn-psn/entry-12235561864.html
He finished 11th at JGPF, 6th at Japan Junior Nationals, 14th at Japan Nationals, 1st at All Japan Middle School Championships.
Translation:
Note: I skipped the paragraphs about how he started skating and moved to Nagoya, since these are the same old stories. The remarks inside (← ) are the actual results achieved, which were added by the blogger.
From admiration to aspiration
-- How did you feel when you watched Yuzuru Hanyu senshu win the gold medal at Sochi Olympics?
I could not watch him live because I went to bed early to be ready for the morning practice. I learned the result before leaving home. I was really happy. I want to train hard to achieve the goal of going to PeongChang Olympics together with Hanyu senshu in four years.
-- So you will work hard chasing behind Hanyu senshu.
I have been admiring Hanyu senshu for some time. When I move up to the senior circuit I will be competing with seniors including Hanyu senshu. I will turn my admiration into aspiration and would like to keep doing my best so that I will be able to compete with him on the same stage.
-- What type of skater do you think you are?
I think I am good at skating skills and I can pick up speed. I use my speed in jump take-off. But in the free I get exhausted in the second half and lose speed. This is the issue I need to tackle. Without enough speed my jump take-off is not good at all. I jog every morning from 5 o’clock to increase my stamina so that I can skate without losing steam in the second half. Also I want to work on expressions more, because there’s a part of me that still feels a little embarrassed.
-- I get the impression that you take things very seriously. Do you think you are like that?
Skating is on my mind all the time. Even while I wait for the traffic light to turn on my way to school, I hum the program song or do some exercises such as one foot standing or stretching.
-- What kind of song do you hum?
I often watch the free program of Hanyu senshu and I hum the tune of Romeo and Juliet. I would like to skate to Romeo and Juliet some day.
-- Looking back on your first junior season of 13-14, what are your thoughts on the season?
In the free when I failed jumps in the first half it affected my skate in the second half as well, and as a result my points dropped each time. Thanks to the points carried over from the short I held onto the top group overall. That’s how I competed at each event throughout the season. I entered the free at my first Japan Nationals fired up to go for my best skate of the season. But I made mistakes again and I felt frustrated.
-- How did you feel about the big stage where you competed with top skaters in Japan?
I was in the third group in the free. I was in the same group as Takahito Mura senshu and Kento Nakamura senshu. During the official practice and 6-minute warmup I was overwhelmed by their presence and I kept avoiding them. I could not help noticing their kicking into the ice because the sound was so powerful and I ended up watching them jump. I could not concentrate.
The Olympics is the final goal.
-- You want to start off the new season with good results at junior GPS.
I want to train to be in top form to get good evaluation so that I can get two assignments for sure. (←accomplished) My goals next season are to win a medal at Japan Junior Nationals (←accomplished), participate in Japan Nationals (←accomplished), and go to the Junior Worlds (←accomplished). I am in the third year of middle school, and Hanyu senshu won the gold medal at Junior Worlds in his third year of middle school. I have to do my best as well (←bronze meal).
-- Then you will have to make yourself known to the world as a rising star following Hanyu senshu.
My strengths are speed and jumps and it would be great if I could get recognition for executing high-quality jumps.
What is your dream as a skater?
As long as I skate my ultimate goal is the Olympics. My final goal is not only going to the Olympics but also to win the gold medal.
-- Aside from skating what is your dream?
After I retire from skating I want to go back to Osaka to be with my grandparents. My grandparents saw me off when I left for Nagoya. While we are far away from each other they have been supporting me in many ways. If I can get a medal at the Olympics in the future, I want to put my medal on them.
-- Next season what do you want your fans to pay attention to?
I would like them to watch me land clean jumps throughout the free program.(←accomplished) As for triple Axel I am going to challenge landing one in the short and two in the free. (←accomplished in mid-season)
And no, this is the first time he's worked with Camerlengo. So far he's had Japanese choreographers - Kenji Miyamoto, Akiko Suzuki, Yuko Hongo.
But, seeing as this program has received positive feedback as well, maybe Sota can reach out to people who haven't cared for his skating so far this way, and make new fans. Who knows.
I found especially the bits about coach Nagakubo very interesting, and the part where he says he's started to use his own intuition in addition to listening to the coaches' advice. And lol at Sota freely admitting he doesn't enjoy studying, he's been like that forever, hasn't he? ^ ^ 
