- Joined
- Sep 25, 2016
WOW!!! So happy for Sota!!!:hap57:
Sota Yamamoto
- Thread starter surimi
- Start date
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2013
"Kenji's Room" episode with Sota that was aired yesterday:
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6tgpmq
A little over 20 minutes of fun talk between Sota and Kenji Miyamoto who also does choreo for some of Sota's programs. So jealous right now of all who can speak Japanese.
Whoever does, feel most welcome to share here what's being said, because this one is a biggie and it's going to take ages for me to get through it with my teacher. And I cannot even start right away as I'm still stuck in the middle of an excerpt of a Sota-Ryuju interview that I've found online, so...
Google translate says they're talking about Sota's unusual name, his beginnings as a skater, the Kansai dialect, and what he'd do in some hypothetical situations that he randomly drew. (if he had lots of money he'd like to travel to many sites, he'd prefer someplace he wouldn't have to skate for once
, and he eats anything but dislikes 'fugi', whatever that is...) Tetsudatte kurete itadakemasen ka? - help much appreciated please? :giveup:
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6tgpmq
A little over 20 minutes of fun talk between Sota and Kenji Miyamoto who also does choreo for some of Sota's programs. So jealous right now of all who can speak Japanese.
Whoever does, feel most welcome to share here what's being said, because this one is a biggie and it's going to take ages for me to get through it with my teacher. And I cannot even start right away as I'm still stuck in the middle of an excerpt of a Sota-Ryuju interview that I've found online, so...Google translate says they're talking about Sota's unusual name, his beginnings as a skater, the Kansai dialect, and what he'd do in some hypothetical situations that he randomly drew. (if he had lots of money he'd like to travel to many sites, he'd prefer someplace he wouldn't have to skate for once
, and he eats anything but dislikes 'fugi', whatever that is...) Tetsudatte kurete itadakemasen ka? - help much appreciated please? :giveup:
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2013
Here is the transcript of the first part of Sota's interview for Kenji's Room (done by Rainbow of Planet Hanyu, posted with her permission):
K: This is the first time I see you in your own clothes, perhaps. You look really cool (laugh).
S: You really think so? Ah, just the color only (is cool). (laugh)
K: Today’s guest is Sota Yamamoto. Last year you had a really hard time with trouble after trouble.
S: Yes, indeed.
K: You broke your bone twice and had three surgeries? That’s terrible.
S: Yes, terrible (laugh)
K: And, you came back last season. Was the Chubu District Competition your first one? How was it?
S: Well, I could barely practice and my mind was not ready. I could only do single jumps and I was embarrassed to compete. I did not want to compete at that time.
K: I see.
S: I had asked many people around me if I should compete (laugh). I managed somehow. That is how it was.
K: But, you fans really cheered for you so much. Applaud, screams and such.
S: Yes, I was so grateful.
K: When you heard the audience scream, did you feel that “Oh! I came back.”? Or did you have mixed feelings?
S: Well, I was thinking “I can only do single jumps and is it OK for me to say that I came back?”
How the name “Sota” came out.
K: Your name “草太Sota” is uncommon. The kanji「草」is rarely used.
S: Certainly so, if you think about it.
K: How did your parent come up with this name?
S: They gave me an answer when I asked them that question. They had two names in mind; “Sota” or Ryota”. Then, when they saw my face when I was born, they thought “Oh yeah! He’s got “Sota” face.” (laugh) Not “Ryota”
K: But it’s the name people can easily remember, isn’t it? Do you like it?
S: Yes, it’s rare indeed and I like my name.
K: Can I call you “So-chan?” I always call you “So-chan” anyway.
S: Yes, please. (laugh)
The Reason Why He Started to Skate
K: OK, So-chan, what inspired you to skate?
S: My mother loves skating and had been enjoying watching figure skating on TV at home before I was born.
K: Oh, she loves watching, not actually skating.
S: Yes, After I was born she kept watching FS on TV and I watched together. When I was 5 or 6 year-old I saw Evgeni Plushenko winning a gold medal and thought “Wow! How cool he is!” and I told her “I want to learn to skate”
K: So you said yourself. Then, she took you to a skating rink. Didn’t make it your mother very happy?
S: Yes, But she had never thought about me skating. She just really loved watching FS and she told me that she was surprised.
K: You went to the rink and started skating, and did you get into it right away?
S: The first time I went, I saw everybody skating so smoothly and easily, and I thought “Ah, it’s easy.” And I got on the ice without holding onto the rail. I slipped and fell.
K: On your first step? (laugh)
S: Yes, I remember I fell down on my first step. That really hurt (laugh).
K: I see. You remember that.
S: Yes, That’s my first memory of skating.
What Draws him into Skating
K: You slipped and fell and it made you really feel good? What is the attraction of skating for you?
S: At the beginning I had a hard time standing even while touching the wall (laugh).
K: You couldn’t stand with hands on the wall?
S: Yes, I was touching the wall the whole time to keep me from falling. At first I thought “It’s so hard and I don’t like it.” But after a while I could do various moves and I started thinking “Ah, I’m having fun.” I don’t remember clearly though.
K: But you remember clearly you fell down the first time. You fell on your butt?
S: I do remember that clearly. It’s so painful (laugh).
In Novice Days He Often Hung out with Friends
K: Then, do you recall anything while you were a novice skater?
S: I was an elementary/middle school kid, and I remember I played with my friends a lot.
K: So your memory of being a novice skater is “having fun with your friends.” (laugh) Then, is there any particular competition that left a strong impression on you?
S: Just as I thought it would be, Japan National Novice Championship which is the most important competition among novice skaters. I usually went all out in any competition but I was particularly nervous in a good way at that completion and wanted to skate the best I could do.
K: You were nervous. But didn’t you say that you don’t get nervous usually?
S: Did I? I get nervous a lot. Japan Novice National Championship was the one when I got most nervous.
K: What happens when you get nervous?
S: When I was posing at the beginning of the program, my legs were too shaky to hold me still (laugh).
K: So much? Your knees were laughing so hard that they shook violently?
S: Yes (laugh).
Memories of Junior Days – 2012 Japan Junior National Championship 4th Place
K: What about moving up to junior competitions? Any memories?
S: I started competing at Japan Novice National Championship and ended up with the good results, which helped me enter into Japan Junior National Championship. The second time around I was able to place 4th, and it is the best results in my earlier career.
K: How did it go? Your impression?
S: Well, I lack stamina and was thinking “The length of the program is longer now and it’s tiring.”
K: That’s what impressed you the most. OK... “Hey, 30 seconds longer--What’s going on?” (laugh)
S: “Hey, More jumps--What the heck!” something like that (laugh).
K: But it’s just one more jump, isn’t it? (laugh)
S: Yes, but that one more jump was tough.
Placed 14th at Japan National Championship and Received Newcomer Award
K: And you placed 14th at Japan National Championship and was given the newcomer award. You only have one chance to get it. Were you happy?
S: But..I did not get the feeling that I was given something as prize. Did I get anything?
Nooo! You’d better say “Yes, I’m happy.” first, instead of “I didn’t get any prize goods.” (laugh)
K: How was it? I have no idea because I never got that award myself.
S: It’s not an award certificate or trophy, and after the competition at the arena I heard the announcement about the award. After all, the venue was a large Saitama Super Arena and I was happy to hear the announcement delivered to a large audience.
K: Next season, you placed 6th at Japan National and won bronze at the World Junior. Wasn’t it awesome?
S: I worked very hard (laugh).
K: So you say (laugh). You landed 3A twice? How did you feel?
S: I focused on practicing 3A, so I was happy I nailed it.
K: At practice you were doing well, too?
S: No. The success rate of my landing 3A was not good. I was doing fine with other jumps, but axel jump was the only one not stable and I was worried.
K: But you jumped clean?
S: I sort of landed clean and I was glad.
K: You raised your clenched fists?
S: I did (laugh).
He is from Kishiwada, Osaka
K: Sota-kun, you’re from Osaka, arent’you? Kishiwada in Osaka?
S: Yes, I am.
K: So that means you speak hardcore Kansai dialect, but I don’t get that vibe from you.
S: Yes, Looks like it. But I got scolded many times when I was little, at places like school.
K: Huh? What? Why did you get scolded?
S: I was fidgety.
K: Really? Were you?
S: I was scolded often because I could not stay calm and got too giddy.
K: I cannot imagine you like that now.
S: I don’t blame you. These days I’m more focused, I hope.”
K: Stay quiet?
S: Umm…I’m not consciously doing it (laugh).
K: You know, Kansai people, don’t you hate it that people expect you to be funny the moment you say you’re a “Kansai man”?
S: Right. I began skating in Osaka and moved to Nagoya when I was in the first year of junior high school. In Nagoya people around me kept telling me “You’re from Osaka so say something funny,” or “Tell us something in Kansai dialect.” I was really in trouble back then.
K: You couldn’t crack a joke at all?
S: I cannot tell jokes (laugh). I didn’t know what to do.
K: Well, then. Please tell me a joke.
S: Hmmm, I really cannot. I cannot come up with anything funny at all (laugh).
K: Do you know of anything that Kansai people relate to? Other than “Say something funny.”--like “Baaang!” (Kenji pretends to shoot him with a gun.)
S: “Wow” (pretending to get shot) But, you rushed me too much (laugh)
K: You don’t see anybody doing it on the street, though.
S: Right (laugh)
K: Are there any other thing that Kansai people share among themselves?
S: It’s not the Kansai people thing, but I often feel this personally--in Osaka I used to stand on the right side of the escalator because that’s the way it is there. (t/n to leave the other side open for people in a hurry to walk up/down)
K: Yes.
S: After moving to Nagoya I came back to Osaka a few times a year. I found myself standing on the left side of the escalator. I get a little disappointed in myself because I feel “Well, I guess I’m losing my Osaka sense.”
K: So you feel frustrated (laugh). Osaka sure has a right side rule. But at Shin Osaka Station or Airport many people from Tokyo are using the escalator there, so not everybody are from Osaka. It’s OK to be on the same side of the people in front of you.
S: I guess you’re right.
K: What about the moving walkway? Everybody in Kansai keeps walking all the time. But at Tokyo Station some people stand still on the left side.
S: Oh, I see. I understand.
Question Time
K: These questions used to come from the box. Anyway, go ahead!
Q: What do you want to do if you’re given one month vacation?
S: Let me see. I’ve been overseas to compete, but I’ve never traveled without bringing in my skating shoes. So I want to go out on a trip somewhere without competition schedule.
K: Where? Overseas?
S: I want to travel overseas, too.
K: Overseas? Where?
S: I can only come up with the all-too-common places.
K: Tell me! Tell me!
S: There are many countries that I’ve never visited. Perhaps Hawaii (laugh).
K: Oh, Hawaii is awesome. You have one month to enjoy so you’ll be totally tanned dark (laugh).
S: Yes (laugh). I imagine it’s such a beautiful place.
K: So you want to travel. Too bad you don’t have time now. You need to practice skating and take care of your body. You have to void the risk of injury. Next time you have time then. OK, next question.
Q: If you’re given 100 million yen what do you your money?
S: I’m not very much interested in money or so called material desire, relatively speaking. Nothing pops up in my mind. Maybe I’ll spend little by little on travels or things like that if I have time. Or else.. One hundred million yen? Things to buy? Hmmm?
K: This question is fun to ask. There’s no way anyone will give you 100 million (laugh), but people get lost for words when asked this question. And then they start thinking really hard about what to do. Did you buy anything lately?
S: Well, clothes (laugh).
K: Clothes (laugh). What kind of clothes did you buy?
S: Practice outfits. Also something to wear at college because I thought I’d have more chances to wear different clothes.
K: That reminds me that the other day you guys were in my choreography class, and you were in a good looking red outfit. Remember? I thought you looked really cool in it, but you took it off right away, didn’t you? You said “I don’t like it because it makes me stand out.” I thought “What the heck?” (laugh) Let me tell you this. I had asked you to wear red clothes so that I can easily spot you among a bunch of people. So you wore it although you hated it (laugh).
S: No, it’s not that I hated it, but yes (laugh).
K: Then you will spend 100 million yen on travels and clothes. Next question!
Q: What would you do on the last day on Earth?
S: Let me see. You know what? I would like to be in constant physical motion (laugh).
K: What do you mean by that?
S: I want to keep physically active until I get too exhausted and collapse before 24-hour time is up.
K: You’d better define activities. You can do many things such as dancing and walking?
S: I’ll be skating, too. Also, I enjoy eating so I will eat all my favorite foods till my stomach is full.
K: What are your favorite foods?
S: Too many to pick any particular favorite. All foods taste good to me.
K: Then, what foods you dislike?
S: Very few. Only “フキbutterbur(pronounced as fuki)”.
K: “Cookie”?
S: You don’t know what butterbur is?
K: I know (laugh)
S: I don’t like to eat stewed butterbur.
K: Hm…you…are…funny (laugh). Yay! You certainly are a Kansai man! You hate butterbur.
S: That’s the only food I don’t want to eat. I ate it as part of school lunch and it traumatized me.
K: Then, next question.
Q: What will you do if you become an invisible person.
S: Well, let me see. This one is hard. Do I get any benefit being invisible?
K: Of course you do (laugh).
S: I can only think of pulling a prank.
K: Prank? On who?
S: I’ll keep on tapping my friends on the shoulders, ton-ton-ton-ton (laugh)
K: You’ll tap your friends on the shoulders ton-ton-ton? You’re invisible and tap your friends on their shoulders ton-ton-ton (laugh). Unbelievable. You’re indeed a Kansai man!
K: This is the first time I see you in your own clothes, perhaps. You look really cool (laugh).
S: You really think so? Ah, just the color only (is cool). (laugh)
K: Today’s guest is Sota Yamamoto. Last year you had a really hard time with trouble after trouble.
S: Yes, indeed.
K: You broke your bone twice and had three surgeries? That’s terrible.
S: Yes, terrible (laugh)
K: And, you came back last season. Was the Chubu District Competition your first one? How was it?
S: Well, I could barely practice and my mind was not ready. I could only do single jumps and I was embarrassed to compete. I did not want to compete at that time.
K: I see.
S: I had asked many people around me if I should compete (laugh). I managed somehow. That is how it was.
K: But, you fans really cheered for you so much. Applaud, screams and such.
S: Yes, I was so grateful.
K: When you heard the audience scream, did you feel that “Oh! I came back.”? Or did you have mixed feelings?
S: Well, I was thinking “I can only do single jumps and is it OK for me to say that I came back?”
How the name “Sota” came out.
K: Your name “草太Sota” is uncommon. The kanji「草」is rarely used.
S: Certainly so, if you think about it.
K: How did your parent come up with this name?
S: They gave me an answer when I asked them that question. They had two names in mind; “Sota” or Ryota”. Then, when they saw my face when I was born, they thought “Oh yeah! He’s got “Sota” face.” (laugh) Not “Ryota”
K: But it’s the name people can easily remember, isn’t it? Do you like it?
S: Yes, it’s rare indeed and I like my name.
K: Can I call you “So-chan?” I always call you “So-chan” anyway.
S: Yes, please. (laugh)
The Reason Why He Started to Skate
K: OK, So-chan, what inspired you to skate?
S: My mother loves skating and had been enjoying watching figure skating on TV at home before I was born.
K: Oh, she loves watching, not actually skating.
S: Yes, After I was born she kept watching FS on TV and I watched together. When I was 5 or 6 year-old I saw Evgeni Plushenko winning a gold medal and thought “Wow! How cool he is!” and I told her “I want to learn to skate”
K: So you said yourself. Then, she took you to a skating rink. Didn’t make it your mother very happy?
S: Yes, But she had never thought about me skating. She just really loved watching FS and she told me that she was surprised.
K: You went to the rink and started skating, and did you get into it right away?
S: The first time I went, I saw everybody skating so smoothly and easily, and I thought “Ah, it’s easy.” And I got on the ice without holding onto the rail. I slipped and fell.
K: On your first step? (laugh)
S: Yes, I remember I fell down on my first step. That really hurt (laugh).
K: I see. You remember that.
S: Yes, That’s my first memory of skating.
What Draws him into Skating
K: You slipped and fell and it made you really feel good? What is the attraction of skating for you?
S: At the beginning I had a hard time standing even while touching the wall (laugh).
K: You couldn’t stand with hands on the wall?
S: Yes, I was touching the wall the whole time to keep me from falling. At first I thought “It’s so hard and I don’t like it.” But after a while I could do various moves and I started thinking “Ah, I’m having fun.” I don’t remember clearly though.
K: But you remember clearly you fell down the first time. You fell on your butt?
S: I do remember that clearly. It’s so painful (laugh).
In Novice Days He Often Hung out with Friends
K: Then, do you recall anything while you were a novice skater?
S: I was an elementary/middle school kid, and I remember I played with my friends a lot.
K: So your memory of being a novice skater is “having fun with your friends.” (laugh) Then, is there any particular competition that left a strong impression on you?
S: Just as I thought it would be, Japan National Novice Championship which is the most important competition among novice skaters. I usually went all out in any competition but I was particularly nervous in a good way at that completion and wanted to skate the best I could do.
K: You were nervous. But didn’t you say that you don’t get nervous usually?
S: Did I? I get nervous a lot. Japan Novice National Championship was the one when I got most nervous.
K: What happens when you get nervous?
S: When I was posing at the beginning of the program, my legs were too shaky to hold me still (laugh).
K: So much? Your knees were laughing so hard that they shook violently?
S: Yes (laugh).
Memories of Junior Days – 2012 Japan Junior National Championship 4th Place
K: What about moving up to junior competitions? Any memories?
S: I started competing at Japan Novice National Championship and ended up with the good results, which helped me enter into Japan Junior National Championship. The second time around I was able to place 4th, and it is the best results in my earlier career.
K: How did it go? Your impression?
S: Well, I lack stamina and was thinking “The length of the program is longer now and it’s tiring.”
K: That’s what impressed you the most. OK... “Hey, 30 seconds longer--What’s going on?” (laugh)
S: “Hey, More jumps--What the heck!” something like that (laugh).
K: But it’s just one more jump, isn’t it? (laugh)
S: Yes, but that one more jump was tough.
Placed 14th at Japan National Championship and Received Newcomer Award
K: And you placed 14th at Japan National Championship and was given the newcomer award. You only have one chance to get it. Were you happy?
S: But..I did not get the feeling that I was given something as prize. Did I get anything?
Nooo! You’d better say “Yes, I’m happy.” first, instead of “I didn’t get any prize goods.” (laugh)
K: How was it? I have no idea because I never got that award myself.
S: It’s not an award certificate or trophy, and after the competition at the arena I heard the announcement about the award. After all, the venue was a large Saitama Super Arena and I was happy to hear the announcement delivered to a large audience.
K: Next season, you placed 6th at Japan National and won bronze at the World Junior. Wasn’t it awesome?
S: I worked very hard (laugh).
K: So you say (laugh). You landed 3A twice? How did you feel?
S: I focused on practicing 3A, so I was happy I nailed it.
K: At practice you were doing well, too?
S: No. The success rate of my landing 3A was not good. I was doing fine with other jumps, but axel jump was the only one not stable and I was worried.
K: But you jumped clean?
S: I sort of landed clean and I was glad.
K: You raised your clenched fists?
S: I did (laugh).
He is from Kishiwada, Osaka
K: Sota-kun, you’re from Osaka, arent’you? Kishiwada in Osaka?
S: Yes, I am.
K: So that means you speak hardcore Kansai dialect, but I don’t get that vibe from you.
S: Yes, Looks like it. But I got scolded many times when I was little, at places like school.
K: Huh? What? Why did you get scolded?
S: I was fidgety.
K: Really? Were you?
S: I was scolded often because I could not stay calm and got too giddy.
K: I cannot imagine you like that now.
S: I don’t blame you. These days I’m more focused, I hope.”
K: Stay quiet?
S: Umm…I’m not consciously doing it (laugh).
K: You know, Kansai people, don’t you hate it that people expect you to be funny the moment you say you’re a “Kansai man”?
S: Right. I began skating in Osaka and moved to Nagoya when I was in the first year of junior high school. In Nagoya people around me kept telling me “You’re from Osaka so say something funny,” or “Tell us something in Kansai dialect.” I was really in trouble back then.
K: You couldn’t crack a joke at all?
S: I cannot tell jokes (laugh). I didn’t know what to do.
K: Well, then. Please tell me a joke.
S: Hmmm, I really cannot. I cannot come up with anything funny at all (laugh).
K: Do you know of anything that Kansai people relate to? Other than “Say something funny.”--like “Baaang!” (Kenji pretends to shoot him with a gun.)
S: “Wow” (pretending to get shot) But, you rushed me too much (laugh)
K: You don’t see anybody doing it on the street, though.
S: Right (laugh)
K: Are there any other thing that Kansai people share among themselves?
S: It’s not the Kansai people thing, but I often feel this personally--in Osaka I used to stand on the right side of the escalator because that’s the way it is there. (t/n to leave the other side open for people in a hurry to walk up/down)
K: Yes.
S: After moving to Nagoya I came back to Osaka a few times a year. I found myself standing on the left side of the escalator. I get a little disappointed in myself because I feel “Well, I guess I’m losing my Osaka sense.”
K: So you feel frustrated (laugh). Osaka sure has a right side rule. But at Shin Osaka Station or Airport many people from Tokyo are using the escalator there, so not everybody are from Osaka. It’s OK to be on the same side of the people in front of you.
S: I guess you’re right.
K: What about the moving walkway? Everybody in Kansai keeps walking all the time. But at Tokyo Station some people stand still on the left side.
S: Oh, I see. I understand.
Question Time
K: These questions used to come from the box. Anyway, go ahead!
Q: What do you want to do if you’re given one month vacation?
S: Let me see. I’ve been overseas to compete, but I’ve never traveled without bringing in my skating shoes. So I want to go out on a trip somewhere without competition schedule.
K: Where? Overseas?
S: I want to travel overseas, too.
K: Overseas? Where?
S: I can only come up with the all-too-common places.
K: Tell me! Tell me!
S: There are many countries that I’ve never visited. Perhaps Hawaii (laugh).
K: Oh, Hawaii is awesome. You have one month to enjoy so you’ll be totally tanned dark (laugh).
S: Yes (laugh). I imagine it’s such a beautiful place.
K: So you want to travel. Too bad you don’t have time now. You need to practice skating and take care of your body. You have to void the risk of injury. Next time you have time then. OK, next question.
Q: If you’re given 100 million yen what do you your money?
S: I’m not very much interested in money or so called material desire, relatively speaking. Nothing pops up in my mind. Maybe I’ll spend little by little on travels or things like that if I have time. Or else.. One hundred million yen? Things to buy? Hmmm?
K: This question is fun to ask. There’s no way anyone will give you 100 million (laugh), but people get lost for words when asked this question. And then they start thinking really hard about what to do. Did you buy anything lately?
S: Well, clothes (laugh).
K: Clothes (laugh). What kind of clothes did you buy?
S: Practice outfits. Also something to wear at college because I thought I’d have more chances to wear different clothes.
K: That reminds me that the other day you guys were in my choreography class, and you were in a good looking red outfit. Remember? I thought you looked really cool in it, but you took it off right away, didn’t you? You said “I don’t like it because it makes me stand out.” I thought “What the heck?” (laugh) Let me tell you this. I had asked you to wear red clothes so that I can easily spot you among a bunch of people. So you wore it although you hated it (laugh).
S: No, it’s not that I hated it, but yes (laugh).
K: Then you will spend 100 million yen on travels and clothes. Next question!
Q: What would you do on the last day on Earth?
S: Let me see. You know what? I would like to be in constant physical motion (laugh).
K: What do you mean by that?
S: I want to keep physically active until I get too exhausted and collapse before 24-hour time is up.
K: You’d better define activities. You can do many things such as dancing and walking?
S: I’ll be skating, too. Also, I enjoy eating so I will eat all my favorite foods till my stomach is full.
K: What are your favorite foods?
S: Too many to pick any particular favorite. All foods taste good to me.
K: Then, what foods you dislike?
S: Very few. Only “フキbutterbur(pronounced as fuki)”.
K: “Cookie”?
S: You don’t know what butterbur is?
K: I know (laugh)
S: I don’t like to eat stewed butterbur.
K: Hm…you…are…funny (laugh). Yay! You certainly are a Kansai man! You hate butterbur.
S: That’s the only food I don’t want to eat. I ate it as part of school lunch and it traumatized me.
K: Then, next question.
Q: What will you do if you become an invisible person.
S: Well, let me see. This one is hard. Do I get any benefit being invisible?
K: Of course you do (laugh).
S: I can only think of pulling a prank.
K: Prank? On who?
S: I’ll keep on tapping my friends on the shoulders, ton-ton-ton-ton (laugh)
K: You’ll tap your friends on the shoulders ton-ton-ton? You’re invisible and tap your friends on their shoulders ton-ton-ton (laugh). Unbelievable. You’re indeed a Kansai man!
Yayy, Sota got NHK! So happy!!!
I thought I saw Sota's name on the roster at the link (for NHK) - but now it's gone? Or am I blind?? Does anybody know what happened? He won the Challenger, the 2018 CS Asian Open Figure Skating Trophy that was held from August 1 to August 5 in Bangkok, Thailand, according to his Wikipedia entry.
https://www.ifsmagazine.com/2018-grand-prix-assignments/
Hi Tyche, here is the official homepage of NHK Trophy. I believe Sota is IN!:thumbsup:
Home
Competitors
GO Sota!!
Home
Competitors
GO Sota!!
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2013
Part 2 of Sota's TV interview was aired today:
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6tt265
Here's the original Japanese written transcript, until we get a proper translation from someone:
https://www.jsports.co.jp/press/article/N2018091809440406.html
It appears Sota learns Chinese (and English, which he find very difficult, lol) at university, wants to continue skating as long as he's able to, and wants to become a 'スケートの先生' - teacher of skating, um, is that the same as coach?
@ Tyche, I should bill you for hair dye, I'm going to need it with all the hair that surely turned grey on my head after reading your first message.
JK, good to hear he's still listed for his assignments. I'm hoping he doesn't train excessively and remains there! 
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6tt265
Here's the original Japanese written transcript, until we get a proper translation from someone:
https://www.jsports.co.jp/press/article/N2018091809440406.html
It appears Sota learns Chinese (and English, which he find very difficult, lol) at university, wants to continue skating as long as he's able to, and wants to become a 'スケートの先生' - teacher of skating, um, is that the same as coach?
@ Tyche, I should bill you for hair dye, I'm going to need it with all the hair that surely turned grey on my head after reading your first message.
JK, good to hear he's still listed for his assignments. I'm hoping he doesn't train excessively and remains there! 
- Joined
- May 5, 2018
Digging up Kazuki's insta, I found this lovely picture of Sota!
https://www.instagram.com/p/vbF2oeC4L5/?hl=en&taken-by=k0515ki
The pic is almost 4 years old, and it's amazing Sota hasn't changed a thing
https://www.instagram.com/p/vbF2oeC4L5/?hl=en&taken-by=k0515ki
The pic is almost 4 years old, and it's amazing Sota hasn't changed a thing
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2013
No problem, I was just joking.
Part 3 of Sota's interview for Kenji's Room was aired today, but first I'd like to share this nice translation of part 2 that was done by Rainbow of Planet Hanyu.
Q: If you were reborn, what would you pick as your occupation?
S: What’s been on my mind for a long time and it’s something I can say because I’m not there yet, is being a skating coach. That’s the only one I can say right away.
K: Oh Yeah? But don’t you have any other sports in mind?
S: Baseball. I’m not good at it but I love playing baseball, so that one would be OK.
K: Baseball player? I see. Then next question.
Q: What is your favorite sport?
S: Well, Skating comes to mind first.
K: Oh, you love skating.
S: Yes I love it.
K: Of course. Of course you do. But I didn’t think about it. I sort of thought that you would give me something usual such as baseball. What do you love in skating? (laugh).
S: Ummm…What inspired me to skate is it is cool and fun, so I continue skating. Ummm…in what way? Well, actually when I see figure skating footage I get fascinated because it is really amazing and cool.
K: Hmm, amazing, cool. Uh oh? Is it only me? Expecting something other than skating? (laugh). Weird.
S: I am sorry (laugh).
K: No, you are totally cool.
Q: What will you be doing 10 years from now.
S: In 10 years how old will I be? 28? Umm..I love skating and I want to continue skating until it becomes too much burden to me. Skaters older than age 23 are or used to be active, so right now I want to keep skating at that age.
K: As an active player?
S: Yes, as an athlete to compete. That’s what I am thinking for now.
K: It’s great, though. Till age 28, or maybe even till age 30, something like that?
S: Yes, if possible.
K: Fantastic! You want to continue competing. I think it’s wonderful.
Q: Who would be a celebrity of your choice if you could trade places for one day.
S: Hmm…I don’t watch TV very much. I sort of don’t want to be a celebrity that seems busy.
K: Huh? Celebrity appears to be busy? All celebs are famous and busy, don’t they? (laugh)
S: I think you’re right (laugh). One person popped in my mind is Shohei Otani. He’s a celebrity, isn’t he? (laugh)
K: I suppose so (laugh). Do you want to throw a ball?
S: He’s been in the spotlight particularly these days. He is playing baseball overseas and such.
K: What would you want to do if you became him?
S: Everybody is saying he is “kakkoii”(cool), so I want to be cool like him (laugh).
K: So you want girls to think you’re hot!
S: Nooo, It’s not like that (laugh). I mean…not like popular with girls.
K: You are kakkoii.
S: Eh? Not at all. Kenji sensei is more kakkoii.
K: Don’t be silly. Otani, the pitcher Shohei Otani. Do you want to play baseball? Let’s play baseball next time.
S: Thank you, but I’m not good at it.
K: Next question.
Q : What era do you want to go with a Time Machine.
S: Ummm..When I was little I used to say “I love dinosaurs” (laugh). I want to go back to that era.
K: Jurassic period?
S: Hehehe
K: Cretaceous period?
S: Yes.
K: Really?
S: Yes, I wish I could see live dinosaurs with my own eyes.
K: I tell you what, me too. Yaay! (high five) (laugh) Oh, yeah. Good. Next time I will buy you a dinosaur souvenir, dinosaur model like the one they sell at freeway rest area. I hope you will be looking forward to it.
S: Thank you very much.
Q: What kind of girl are you attracted to?
S: I don’t have any ideal girl, but I prefer someone not hyper.
K: You like quiet girls?
S: I mean…not exactly quiet.
K: You don’t like quiet girls, but you don’t like noisy ones either?
S: I guess so. It’s OK to be bubbly when having a good time, but goofing around all the time is a bit too much for me.
K: You prefer someone sensible and can be quiet depending on the situation?
S: Yes, someone with common sense.
K: Anything else? Physical appearance?
S: Umm.. appearance? Did all of the guests come up with the answers?
K: They did. They did. There’s one person who gave me physical features only.
S: Who is that person? (laugh)
K: Someone called Keiji Tanaka!
S: Hahaha. Let me see. Looks? Someone shapely perhaps. Only vaguely though.
K: You don’t pay attention to faces very much.
S: I guess…if you say so, yes.
K: OK, I got it (laugh).
College Life
K: Sota-kun, you’re in your first year at university. You told me before that you ended up choosing difficult classes. How are you doing?
S: Yes I did, but I cannot go back. I somehow manage to go to classes. I took quizzes several times. Also mid-term exam is coming up and I’m trying to get decent scores.
K: What are the classes you’re taking?
S: I’m taking several. The one I’m struggling with is English.
K: English? That’s normal (to have a hard time with it). Say, you said you’re taking one more foreign language class, didn’t you?
S: Yes, There’re many English classes but I chose the difficult one. Also, I’m taking Chinese as a second foreign language.
K: How come you’re learning Chinese?
S: I thought it would be the easiest because it’s made up of Chinese characters (laugh).
K: Chinese character, Huh (laugh). You thought it the easiest and everybody told you it is super hard, right?
S: I was told that’s the toughest one to learn (laugh). These are the subjects off the top of my head. My major is sports science and it helps me a little because some of my studies have something to do with sports. But there are also the subjects that are “THE・勉強(study)” to me.
K: “THE・勉強”？ I never heard of that word (laugh). Are you enjoying study?
S: No, Not at all (laugh).
K: Then, you’re not having fun at college?
S: As part of sports science study I have a physical training class. That’s where you lift serious weights.
K: (touching Sota’s slender bicep) You lift heavy weights?
S: People are telling me that I’m gaining muscle (laugh).
K: Small and strong muscles though.
S: Buuut, I don’t understand.
K: You should say “Yes” (laugh). Anyway, you enjoy spending time together with close friends, don’t you?
S: Since I started college I have more people to chat with, but I’m not sure whether I can say they are my friends.
K: No, No, you have to call them your friends (laugh). Or they will think “Huh? I thought I was Sota’s friend.”You get it?
S: Oh well, I have many people to talk to now anyway.
K: 100 people?
S: No, about 30.
K: Wow, amazing!
S: But there are so many students at college campus.
K: So many - and everybody knows that (laugh).
Genius Type Jumper?
K: This is just a same old question, but when did you land double axel?
S: I was a 4th grader at elementary school in autumn or winter. Latter half (of school year).
K: 4th grader is rather young?
S: I don’t know. But my usual coach was away for his other students’ competition and I was practicing on my own and it was the first time I nailed it. Then my coach came back and told me to jump, and I jumped it clean. He went “When did you learn that jump?”I have these memories.
K: I remember reading a magazine article where you said “I’m a genius type jumper.” Is that true?
S: Yes, I said that (laugh).
K: Back then did you think “I’m certainly amazing.”?
S: Well, it was in the past. I was trying to land more difficult jumps better than anyone else, and I was somehow doing OK. In that sense I was feeling like I could jump OK.
K: So you didn’t struggle for a long time to learn landing jumps, and you could land jumps when you were not expected to be ready?
S: Hmmm.. But I had a really hard time with a 3A.
K: When did you land a 3A?
S: 2nd year at middle school, I guess.
K: Middle school 2nd year? You were very young because only 4 years from landing a 2A when you’re a 4th grader.
S: But only at practice. I could later land a 3A in a competition when I was in the 3rd year of middle school.
Figure Skating is a “Sport of Feeling.”
K: Are there any tips to master jumps?--from a viewpoint of a genius? (laugh)
S: Ummm…I’m not a genius (laugh). But everybody says that it’s timing.
K: Timing? Which timing?
S: What I’m doing myself, or rather thinking is … Ummm.. But I’m not sure. Well skating relies on your senses so I may not be able to come up with anything specific.
K: You’re different because you’re genius (laugh).
S: Everybody is saying that though. I think it’s the “sport of feeling.”
K: “Sport of feeling” is a cool phrase.
S: But someone else was saying that.
K: Somebody else? Who said that?
S: Is it OK for me to tell you (laugh)? Lots of people are saying that, and one guy close to me is Kazuki Tomono.
K: Tomono (laugh). Well, then, I will start saying it perhaps.
Close Friends
K: Are you friends with anyone in the same age group?
S: Not many. I hardly ever have any male skaters in my age group. Among someone Kenji sensei knows, then Mai Mihara who is a female skater.
K: I know her awfully well! I know everybody! (laugh)
S: But I can come up with only a few skaters. Do you know石塚玲雄(Reo Ishizuka)?
K: I do! I choreographed for him.
S: Really? I rarely see him but whenever I see him we have a chat.
K: Then who are you friends with?
S: I wonder I told you before? 山隈太一朗 (Taichiro Yamakuma).
K: Taichiro-kun. Oh, the good looking guy who looks like an European actor? (laugh)
S: Yes, that’s him. He has been at the same competition as mine since we were little like notice days. He beat me many times. There were times that we practiced at the same rink and we spent a lot of time together.
K: What do you guys talk about?
S: Recently, Ummm… too stupid and silly to remember. We went out to eat.
K: Eat out? What do you usually eat? You mind my questions? (laugh)
S: No, No (laugh). Taichiro comes over to Chukyo National Training Center in Nagoya on weekend, so we eat Karaage set meal at a Chinese diner nearby.
K: Taichiro eats Karaage meal set (laugh).
S: He was eating it saying “price-performance ratio is gooood.” (laugh)
K: I don’t know what to say (laugh).
2015 World Junior Championship with Shoma Uno
K: You were at the same World Junior? Any memories?
S: We were competing at the same competitions at junior level including the Worlds, and he inspired me a lot. Shoma was able to land jumps that I could not such as quads and his 3A was stable while mine was not. I was motivated to land these jumps. Throughout the seasons I was chasing the goal. That’s one of the reasons why I achieved good results.
K: Shoma was an important person? After all you must have felt that you didn’t want to lose, haven’t you? “I want to copy his technique” or something like that.
S: Yes.
K: Anyhow you gained confidence standing on the world championship podium?
S: Yes, but I was not aiming for that. I was simply happy anyway when it’s over.
K: thinking “I’m a genius after all”? (laugh).
S: No, No, Absolutely not (laugh).
K: That’s just what you used to say when you were little (laugh). When you get older you realize that there are difficult things that remain difficult.
S: Yes.
Breaking Ankle during Great Season
K: And during the next season you won a gold medal at Lillehammer Youth Olympics?
S: Yes, barely.
K: Amazing. But you broke your ankle in that season? Do you remember the incident?
S: Yes, I do remember.
K: It’s the first time you had a serious injury? Were you surprised?
S: Rather than being surprised it hurt too much.
K: At the rink?
S: Yes, at practice.
K: Ah, I see. Then, you couldn’t move? You went to a hospital right away?
S: Yes, my coach helped me go up from the rink. It hurt a lot to take off my boots. Every little move hurt, and I needed help to take them off eventually. I was carried to a car. It was terrible.
K: Then, you suffered from stress fracture in summer?
S: I injured the same spot.
K: Are you OK now?
S: Right now it’s not worsening.
- Joined
- May 5, 2018
Thank you Surimi for the translation! I didn't know Sota-kun was a genius
BTW, crosspost from Kazuki's FF: https://www.instagram.com/p/BoL_DOlBqst/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=tqub2o1wv51f
They are such a cute duo!
BTW, crosspost from Kazuki's FF: https://www.instagram.com/p/BoL_DOlBqst/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=tqub2o1wv51f
They are such a cute duo!
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2013
3rd and last part of Sota's interview for Kenji's Room. As always, big thanks to Rainbow for the translation.
SP [Air on the G string] for This Season
K: How are your SP and LP programs this season?
S: The type of music used for SP is very different from the one for LP, and also different from last season. To me they are new kind. Especially, this is my first experience skating to that type of SP music. I feel challenged but I am pushing myself to improve my skating to a higher level to be able to skate beautifully and carefully. My SP music is [Air on the G string].
K: Why did you pick [Air on the G string]?
S: I chose this music after spending a lot of time myself and going over my mother’s suggestions as well in the selection process. When the first time I listened to it as a music piece I thought “This music is difficult to skate to because it does not have a climax.” But after being choreographed to it I realized that there are many parts where I could go for beautiful expression. I cannot rely on the power of the music because it is not dramatic, so I need to make every movement and skating really beautiful to make my performance appealing. This is the point I keep in mind in skating.
K: When the music is reaching the climax the audience star clapping their hands and you get excited, but this music is sort of flat. Therefore, I want you to do the performance that captivates your audience.
S: Yes.
K: It’s not a dramatic piece that reaches a climax exciting the audience, but I choreographed it so that the audience would be enthralled by it. Let’s refine it some more and make it better. I think you did it very beautifully the last time.
S: Thank you. I understand.
FP [Nobunaga Concerto] for this Season
K: What about your FP?
S: My FP is [Nobunaga Concerto]. The last half is the main part and I really love the cut. I asked (Kenji) sensei to work on the last half with it. I left the first half cut to sensei.
K: You picked that music because you love warriors in the Sengoku period in the first place?
S: No, having searched all over I was simply moved by this music.
Main Point of This Season
K: Is there anything you pay attention to in SP and FP?
S: There is a big difference between the tones of SP and FP music. Melody is different from each other. I keep telling myself to work hard to present varied interpretations and skating between the two programs.
K: Well, I see you change the way you push forward and also your foot placements depending on which music you skate to. I think they are quite different.
S: Yes.
K: Is there any particular move in SP that left you a strong impression?--a move that you really want the audience to see?
S: Ummm…
K: Nothing at all!? (laugh)
S: It’s the other way round. There are so many beautiful moves and poses (laugh)
K: I do have one. When I choreographed the program I thought that move was very beautiful, and I can see the image in my mind right away (laugh).
S: Towards the end of the step sequence, the music ascends subtly and I make a pose that looks like praying.
K: Oh, that one.
S: Well, it is near the ending and one of the dramatic high points. It is just my subjective opinion though.
K: Me too! It is not the only one though. But that’s the one most impressive. Can you do it now?
S: Ahh?! (standing up) Umm..I should be doing Ina Bauer to do that move….
K: No, it’s Spread Eagles (laugh)
S: Spread Eagle, hmm. Like…this…?
K: Wow! Then, what about impressive FP move?
S: Oh?!(sitting down) Let me think about it.
K: You must have one (laugh)
S: Ummm… Memorable move …
K: In my opinion it is this? (gesture of drawing a sward off sheath)
S: Ah, that was the first one popped up in my mind.
K: Then you should have said that (laugh).
S: (standing up) The music has Japanese flair and the choreography has many movements that suggest using a sword such as sward-drawing move in step sequence. I think that move is cool.
Inside the Bag
K: I know it’ s sudden, but can you show me what you have in your bag? It’s heavy.
S: Yes, nothing unusual. This is my training outfits. I had a practice today. My wallet,seets to wipe my sweat off my body, and a charger.
K: (looking at an animal charm attached to a USB cable) What is this? It’s kind of cute.
S: Yes, someone gave it to me. It’s from a fan. Then, a headphone, an earphone, a smartphone.
K: Then, can I see your headphone? Oh, this is a good quality one.
S: Yes, Bluetooth ready headphone. Bluetooth headphones have to be recharged, but this one comes with a connection cord so I can use it even when the battery is dead.
K: I have one similar to this one. Huh? Didn’t you say that you lost your headphone?
S: No, earphone. I lost an earphone.
K: I see. Then, what is this in this earphone case?
S: There used to be a brand earphone that came with the same brand case. But I lost it so I now have a different brand earphone in it (laugh).
K: This is just an ordinary one (laugh). You are not particular about earphone?
S: Well, when I buy an earphone I tested out many earphones at the shop, and decide on the one I like.
K: I see. What do you listen to with your earphone or headphone?
S: What do I listen to? Umm... Something other than music…
K: Rakugo (Japanese traditional comic storytelling)? (laugh)
S: No(laugh). I use one of these when I watch Youtube and other videos.
K: Oh, not the music. You watch video clips. What are your favorite genres when you listen to music?
S: The way I listen to music is always odd (laugh).
K: You listen to weird music only?
S: Let me see…It’s not like that I listen to particular artists’ music. I like to listen to a variety of music which I may be able to skate to.
K: Ummm. I got it. I got it.
S: Ah? Really?
K: Yes. Then, what are your favorite items among all of these?
S: I have many things that my fans gave me. (touching the sweat wiping sheets) I don’t buy these things.
K: You were surprised like, “What the heck is this for?”
S: Now that I have these sheets I find them pretty useful to me. I can wipe off my sweat right away. This is a gift I was given. This is also a gift. This is a gift too….
K: You cherish the gifts you received?
S: Yes, I do.
K: Very well. It is thoughtful of you.
Strong / Weak Elements
K: What are your strong elements?
S: Nothing special. On rare occasions some people tell me that I am an all-round skater.
K: You are pretty good at spins though.
S: But when I think of other skaters who are better at spins than I am, it makes me feel that I am not a good spinner. So, perhaps I don’t have any specific strength.
K: So you say “I can do everything.”?
S: Hmmmm…I wish I could say that (laugh).
K: How about the weaknesses?
S: I have never been good at interpretation. These days I am consciously working hard to improve it. When I started out I was not good at all.
K: You are better now.
S: Right now when I give it my best shot, I get to be so-so.
K: For real, you are doing just fine. Okay then. Who do you look up to? Do you have any idol skaters?
S: There are so many great skaters. When I watch them being cool or skate with great techniques I want to take in their qualities. There are so many good examples to follow by watching. It’s Hanyu senshu--lately I’m telling people it’s Hanyu senshu, so he is one of my role models.
K: He is amazing-People’s Honor Award and all.
S: Yes, amazing.
Preferred TV Camera Angle
S: When FS competition is televised and you see camerawork on TV. Did you ever think “If I were the cameraman I would place the camera here,” or “I want to watch this event from this angle.”?
S: At the last Japan Nationals where I was in I watched some scenes looking down on an angle showing a large part of the audience, and I though these scenes were beautiful.
K: I see. You want to be on camera from a distance and from above?
S: It’s not that I want to be viewed like that. In these scenes I could see the ambience of the arena and the mood of the audience so I felt these scenes were beautiful.
K: Oh, now I see. Everybody has different preference. Some people told me before that they wanted the TV cameras placed right besides Judges’ eyes. They thought it would be interesting to know what part of the skater in performance the judges are watching.
S: Oh, I see. It makes sense.
K: We can see “That judge is not watching the performance!” or “Now he’s looking down at his coffee cup!” It won’t happen anyway (laugh). I see they worry about what these judges are watching though.
Routine before Competition
K: What is your routine before competition such as particular behavior to bring luck?
S: I take a hot shower one hour before I leave for competition.
K: Morning practice or official practice? So after you come back to the hotel from practice and before you leave for competition?
S: That’s right. I don’t take a shower before practice.
K: You take a shower one hour before competition. What happens then?
S: I feel warm (laugh).
K: You feel warm? You should do warm-ups instead. Warm-ups (laugh). Do you take a shower instead of warm-ups?
S: No, actually I did well at one competition and that was the first time I took a shower before going out to compete. Since then I make it a habit.
K: What made you decide to take a shower at that time? Did you sweat a lot?
S: Let me see… Why did I do that? … Perhaps, after a practice it’s a long wait (laugh)
K: So you had time to kill (laugh).
S: Killing my time? I don’t remember very well.
K: Actually different people do different things. Some people take a very hot shower while some others soak in the lukewarm bath for 30 minutes—to energize body and stimulate blood circulation and things like that. So you continue to do this routine?
S: Yes I do - before competition.
K: What will you do if you don’t get hot water when you’re overseas?
S: I won’t have a choice but to give up (laugh).
K: You’ll give up. I see (laugh).
Measurement by KENJI
K: Since you’re the first guest of this season I want you to see me do this because I’ve become very flexible. Figure skaters need to be flexible and me too, as a choreographer.... Can you measure how much I can bend forward? (giving Sota a ruler)
S: Yes.
K: Here I go! (bends forward on a stand while cheating with bent knees)
S: (noticing Kenji is cheating) Wow! I was surprised! I thought you were incredibly flexible!
K: Hahaha (doing this time correctly)
S: Let’s see. About negative 0.3cm.
K: 0.3cm! Yay! I broke my records. Look! I made positive 2cm the last time. Right now I made 0.3cm. Yeah, that’s how we do!
S: Well, then the bigger the minus number the better.
K: Yeah, you’ve got it. The best one so far made 31. You hear me 31. Kana Muramoto made negative 31cm. Among men one (Kazuki Tomono) hit negative 18cm.
(Sota bend forward)
Wow…. Negative 31cm! Flexible!
S: Hehehe
K: Isn’t this crazy? You may be able to go down even further if you take off your shoes.
S: Well (starting to take off his shoes)
K: You must have bent your knees!
S: What?!
K: You did bend your knees, didn’t you! I didn’t check your knees.
S: No (laugh)
K: Please go ahead.
S: Yes (bend forward again).
K: You reached further down from 30cm by about 2cm! You made about negative 32cm. Incredible!
(applauded by the staff)
*past skaters’ scores*
Sota Yamamoto -32cm Kaori Sakamoto -23cm
Kana Muramoto -31cm Kazuki Tomono -18cm
Mai Mihara -29cm Chris Reed -15cm
Wakaba Higuchi -28cm Aru Tateno -10.5cm
Rikako Fukase -25cm KENJI -0.3cm
Goal
K: Last of all tell me what your goal is.
S: This season is starting and I want to bring up my performance to a higher level. I do believe that I won’t be able to achieve good results unless I improve my spins, skating, interpretation, jumps and everything else. I would like to do the best I can while giving a careful attention to details.
K: Good Luck. We are all rooting for you!
S: Thank you very much. I’ll do my best.
K: Here you are a gift to you from this program (giving him a custom design [KENJI’s room] shopping bag.
S: Thank you very much.
K: Try putting it on your shoulder? That looks really good on you. Go to the events with it from now.
S: Yes (laugh).
K: You said yes. (laugh)
S: It is helpful. I appreciate it very much.
K: It helps you. I’m glad to hear that. I’m happy that I can be helpful (laugh). Today’s guest was Sota Yamamoto. Thank you for today.
S: Thank you very much.
Sota after the Interview
“I had previously talked a lot with him about skating during choreography sessions before. This time he asked me many personal questions and I am glad I got to talk about various things. I have never talked so much with KENJI sensei before, and I really had fun with him in that room.”
THE END
--------
Video of the episode:
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6u8uzi
--------
Good luck to Sota at Finlandia! I'll be cheering for him.
SP [Air on the G string] for This Season
K: How are your SP and LP programs this season?
S: The type of music used for SP is very different from the one for LP, and also different from last season. To me they are new kind. Especially, this is my first experience skating to that type of SP music. I feel challenged but I am pushing myself to improve my skating to a higher level to be able to skate beautifully and carefully. My SP music is [Air on the G string].
K: Why did you pick [Air on the G string]?
S: I chose this music after spending a lot of time myself and going over my mother’s suggestions as well in the selection process. When the first time I listened to it as a music piece I thought “This music is difficult to skate to because it does not have a climax.” But after being choreographed to it I realized that there are many parts where I could go for beautiful expression. I cannot rely on the power of the music because it is not dramatic, so I need to make every movement and skating really beautiful to make my performance appealing. This is the point I keep in mind in skating.
K: When the music is reaching the climax the audience star clapping their hands and you get excited, but this music is sort of flat. Therefore, I want you to do the performance that captivates your audience.
S: Yes.
K: It’s not a dramatic piece that reaches a climax exciting the audience, but I choreographed it so that the audience would be enthralled by it. Let’s refine it some more and make it better. I think you did it very beautifully the last time.
S: Thank you. I understand.
FP [Nobunaga Concerto] for this Season
K: What about your FP?
S: My FP is [Nobunaga Concerto]. The last half is the main part and I really love the cut. I asked (Kenji) sensei to work on the last half with it. I left the first half cut to sensei.
K: You picked that music because you love warriors in the Sengoku period in the first place?
S: No, having searched all over I was simply moved by this music.
Main Point of This Season
K: Is there anything you pay attention to in SP and FP?
S: There is a big difference between the tones of SP and FP music. Melody is different from each other. I keep telling myself to work hard to present varied interpretations and skating between the two programs.
K: Well, I see you change the way you push forward and also your foot placements depending on which music you skate to. I think they are quite different.
S: Yes.
K: Is there any particular move in SP that left you a strong impression?--a move that you really want the audience to see?
S: Ummm…
K: Nothing at all!? (laugh)
S: It’s the other way round. There are so many beautiful moves and poses (laugh)
K: I do have one. When I choreographed the program I thought that move was very beautiful, and I can see the image in my mind right away (laugh).
S: Towards the end of the step sequence, the music ascends subtly and I make a pose that looks like praying.
K: Oh, that one.
S: Well, it is near the ending and one of the dramatic high points. It is just my subjective opinion though.
K: Me too! It is not the only one though. But that’s the one most impressive. Can you do it now?
S: Ahh?! (standing up) Umm..I should be doing Ina Bauer to do that move….
K: No, it’s Spread Eagles (laugh)
S: Spread Eagle, hmm. Like…this…?
K: Wow! Then, what about impressive FP move?
S: Oh?!(sitting down) Let me think about it.
K: You must have one (laugh)
S: Ummm… Memorable move …
K: In my opinion it is this? (gesture of drawing a sward off sheath)
S: Ah, that was the first one popped up in my mind.
K: Then you should have said that (laugh).
S: (standing up) The music has Japanese flair and the choreography has many movements that suggest using a sword such as sward-drawing move in step sequence. I think that move is cool.
Inside the Bag
K: I know it’ s sudden, but can you show me what you have in your bag? It’s heavy.
S: Yes, nothing unusual. This is my training outfits. I had a practice today. My wallet,seets to wipe my sweat off my body, and a charger.
K: (looking at an animal charm attached to a USB cable) What is this? It’s kind of cute.
S: Yes, someone gave it to me. It’s from a fan. Then, a headphone, an earphone, a smartphone.
K: Then, can I see your headphone? Oh, this is a good quality one.
S: Yes, Bluetooth ready headphone. Bluetooth headphones have to be recharged, but this one comes with a connection cord so I can use it even when the battery is dead.
K: I have one similar to this one. Huh? Didn’t you say that you lost your headphone?
S: No, earphone. I lost an earphone.
K: I see. Then, what is this in this earphone case?
S: There used to be a brand earphone that came with the same brand case. But I lost it so I now have a different brand earphone in it (laugh).
K: This is just an ordinary one (laugh). You are not particular about earphone?
S: Well, when I buy an earphone I tested out many earphones at the shop, and decide on the one I like.
K: I see. What do you listen to with your earphone or headphone?
S: What do I listen to? Umm... Something other than music…
K: Rakugo (Japanese traditional comic storytelling)? (laugh)
S: No(laugh). I use one of these when I watch Youtube and other videos.
K: Oh, not the music. You watch video clips. What are your favorite genres when you listen to music?
S: The way I listen to music is always odd (laugh).
K: You listen to weird music only?
S: Let me see…It’s not like that I listen to particular artists’ music. I like to listen to a variety of music which I may be able to skate to.
K: Ummm. I got it. I got it.
S: Ah? Really?
K: Yes. Then, what are your favorite items among all of these?
S: I have many things that my fans gave me. (touching the sweat wiping sheets) I don’t buy these things.
K: You were surprised like, “What the heck is this for?”
S: Now that I have these sheets I find them pretty useful to me. I can wipe off my sweat right away. This is a gift I was given. This is also a gift. This is a gift too….
K: You cherish the gifts you received?
S: Yes, I do.
K: Very well. It is thoughtful of you.
Strong / Weak Elements
K: What are your strong elements?
S: Nothing special. On rare occasions some people tell me that I am an all-round skater.
K: You are pretty good at spins though.
S: But when I think of other skaters who are better at spins than I am, it makes me feel that I am not a good spinner. So, perhaps I don’t have any specific strength.
K: So you say “I can do everything.”?
S: Hmmmm…I wish I could say that (laugh).
K: How about the weaknesses?
S: I have never been good at interpretation. These days I am consciously working hard to improve it. When I started out I was not good at all.
K: You are better now.
S: Right now when I give it my best shot, I get to be so-so.
K: For real, you are doing just fine. Okay then. Who do you look up to? Do you have any idol skaters?
S: There are so many great skaters. When I watch them being cool or skate with great techniques I want to take in their qualities. There are so many good examples to follow by watching. It’s Hanyu senshu--lately I’m telling people it’s Hanyu senshu, so he is one of my role models.
K: He is amazing-People’s Honor Award and all.
S: Yes, amazing.
Preferred TV Camera Angle
S: When FS competition is televised and you see camerawork on TV. Did you ever think “If I were the cameraman I would place the camera here,” or “I want to watch this event from this angle.”?
S: At the last Japan Nationals where I was in I watched some scenes looking down on an angle showing a large part of the audience, and I though these scenes were beautiful.
K: I see. You want to be on camera from a distance and from above?
S: It’s not that I want to be viewed like that. In these scenes I could see the ambience of the arena and the mood of the audience so I felt these scenes were beautiful.
K: Oh, now I see. Everybody has different preference. Some people told me before that they wanted the TV cameras placed right besides Judges’ eyes. They thought it would be interesting to know what part of the skater in performance the judges are watching.
S: Oh, I see. It makes sense.
K: We can see “That judge is not watching the performance!” or “Now he’s looking down at his coffee cup!” It won’t happen anyway (laugh). I see they worry about what these judges are watching though.
Routine before Competition
K: What is your routine before competition such as particular behavior to bring luck?
S: I take a hot shower one hour before I leave for competition.
K: Morning practice or official practice? So after you come back to the hotel from practice and before you leave for competition?
S: That’s right. I don’t take a shower before practice.
K: You take a shower one hour before competition. What happens then?
S: I feel warm (laugh).
K: You feel warm? You should do warm-ups instead. Warm-ups (laugh). Do you take a shower instead of warm-ups?
S: No, actually I did well at one competition and that was the first time I took a shower before going out to compete. Since then I make it a habit.
K: What made you decide to take a shower at that time? Did you sweat a lot?
S: Let me see… Why did I do that? … Perhaps, after a practice it’s a long wait (laugh)
K: So you had time to kill (laugh).
S: Killing my time? I don’t remember very well.
K: Actually different people do different things. Some people take a very hot shower while some others soak in the lukewarm bath for 30 minutes—to energize body and stimulate blood circulation and things like that. So you continue to do this routine?
S: Yes I do - before competition.
K: What will you do if you don’t get hot water when you’re overseas?
S: I won’t have a choice but to give up (laugh).
K: You’ll give up. I see (laugh).
Measurement by KENJI
K: Since you’re the first guest of this season I want you to see me do this because I’ve become very flexible. Figure skaters need to be flexible and me too, as a choreographer.... Can you measure how much I can bend forward? (giving Sota a ruler)
S: Yes.
K: Here I go! (bends forward on a stand while cheating with bent knees)
S: (noticing Kenji is cheating) Wow! I was surprised! I thought you were incredibly flexible!
K: Hahaha (doing this time correctly)
S: Let’s see. About negative 0.3cm.
K: 0.3cm! Yay! I broke my records. Look! I made positive 2cm the last time. Right now I made 0.3cm. Yeah, that’s how we do!
S: Well, then the bigger the minus number the better.
K: Yeah, you’ve got it. The best one so far made 31. You hear me 31. Kana Muramoto made negative 31cm. Among men one (Kazuki Tomono) hit negative 18cm.
(Sota bend forward)
Wow…. Negative 31cm! Flexible!
S: Hehehe
K: Isn’t this crazy? You may be able to go down even further if you take off your shoes.
S: Well (starting to take off his shoes)
K: You must have bent your knees!
S: What?!
K: You did bend your knees, didn’t you! I didn’t check your knees.
S: No (laugh)
K: Please go ahead.
S: Yes (bend forward again).
K: You reached further down from 30cm by about 2cm! You made about negative 32cm. Incredible!
(applauded by the staff)
*past skaters’ scores*
Sota Yamamoto -32cm Kaori Sakamoto -23cm
Kana Muramoto -31cm Kazuki Tomono -18cm
Mai Mihara -29cm Chris Reed -15cm
Wakaba Higuchi -28cm Aru Tateno -10.5cm
Rikako Fukase -25cm KENJI -0.3cm
Goal
K: Last of all tell me what your goal is.
S: This season is starting and I want to bring up my performance to a higher level. I do believe that I won’t be able to achieve good results unless I improve my spins, skating, interpretation, jumps and everything else. I would like to do the best I can while giving a careful attention to details.
K: Good Luck. We are all rooting for you!
S: Thank you very much. I’ll do my best.
K: Here you are a gift to you from this program (giving him a custom design [KENJI’s room] shopping bag.
S: Thank you very much.
K: Try putting it on your shoulder? That looks really good on you. Go to the events with it from now.
S: Yes (laugh).
K: You said yes. (laugh)
S: It is helpful. I appreciate it very much.
K: It helps you. I’m glad to hear that. I’m happy that I can be helpful (laugh). Today’s guest was Sota Yamamoto. Thank you for today.
S: Thank you very much.
Sota after the Interview
“I had previously talked a lot with him about skating during choreography sessions before. This time he asked me many personal questions and I am glad I got to talk about various things. I have never talked so much with KENJI sensei before, and I really had fun with him in that room.”
THE END
--------
Video of the episode:
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6u8uzi
--------
Good luck to Sota at Finlandia! I'll be cheering for him.
- Joined
- Dec 25, 2012
https://yukirin1408.tumblr.com/post/178754972958/a-small-goal-and-a-big-step Recent long interview was translated with lots of good information about how he's been doing recently.
- Joined
- May 5, 2018
Sota TV appearance alert! A TV show on 20/10 showing him learning how to drive 
https://twitter.com/hitsuji_one/status/1052507795872870401?s=19
https://twitter.com/hitsuji_one/status/1052507795872870401?s=19
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2013
Thanks Kirara! I didn't catch that one. :]
But here I come bearing gifts, as penitent as a big Sota fan who hasn't been in here since before Finlandia can be.
- Sota's FP at Finlandia: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6uzveu
- Lots of gorgeous (and downloadable!!!) photos of Sota's programs at Finlandia on this site (possibly by a Japanese fan):
http://photos.phantomkabocha.com/FigureSkating/Finlandia2018/SotaYamamoto/index.html
- some fun photos of the Team Japan boys enjoying Finland (undownloadable :sad4: ) on Ryuichi's blog:
https://ameblo.jp/ryuichi-miu/entry-12410884155.html
- apparently there was a small gala in Howa Sportsland on Sunday where a number of Howa skaters appeared (seems Rika wasn't there though, as she's relocating
). Here's a nice photo of Sota with his buddies (Ryuju and Tatsuya, I don't recognize the third boy) enjoying a break during the show (if google translate got it right) -
https://stat.ameba.jp/user_images/20181015/17/kmn-psn/27/3b/j/o1080116814284745259.jpg?caw=800
- there's an interview with Sota in 'Figure Skating Life' magazine #15, for those who can buy and read it.
---
ahem!
*clears throat*
Now, my feedback on Finlandia: It was worth it a hundred times to travel there! I've reaffirmed that I love watching FS live. Better still when one can travel with someone close who shares one's passion and has the same favorites! Bliss. Everything was quite expensive, from hotel to tickets to food and even my banners (can't write recognizable kanji, had to have them made). But it was well-spent money; I don't regret it. I could only see Sota's FS and his FS practice, and liked both. He's just as good as he appears on TV, and quite fast. And he's slender and fragile in person.
I'm content he's finally receiving some decent PCS (in the FS, although it's still what he was receiving in juniors if I'm not mistaken, so still a joke), and he keeps upgrading his technical arsenal from competition to competition. The limit in Asian Open was a 3A, now he was attempting a 3A-2T combo (turnout but it worked), and one additional 3A (singled). I do hope he's taking things slow without hurry, because according to one of his earlier interviews, he plans to tackle quads when he's performed 3A... I do hope to see him healthy throughout the season. Aseranaide kudasai, don't hasten please. The choreo is also improved; the entry into the first spin looked a bit empty in Thailand, but now there's a high kick and a spread eagle, and together with the spin it looks marvellous.
And one very important point to conclude with (kidding but I have to get it off my chest): I wish whoever was messing with Sota's eyebrows would stop it, for crying out loud! What is it with men on Team Japan plucking a part of their eyebrows and drawing fake ones? It should be criminal to mess up their looks like that. It's spreading like plague among my favorites- Keiji down, Ryuichi down, now Sota, and I'm not sure about Kazuki and Yuzuru. Ryuju is my last beacon of hope of seeing a guy with natural looks. One who doesn't look like a model, an actor, or a victim of someone trying to create a mini-yuzuru. =_= It's a sad scene when Sota's eyebrows are no wider than his lady coach's, and not one I'd care to see again.
OK, rant over. I hope to be back in a couple of days with a translation of the FS Life interview that a very kind soul may do for me.
But here I come bearing gifts, as penitent as a big Sota fan who hasn't been in here since before Finlandia can be.
- Sota's FP at Finlandia: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6uzveu
- Lots of gorgeous (and downloadable!!!) photos of Sota's programs at Finlandia on this site (possibly by a Japanese fan):
http://photos.phantomkabocha.com/FigureSkating/Finlandia2018/SotaYamamoto/index.html
- some fun photos of the Team Japan boys enjoying Finland (undownloadable :sad4: ) on Ryuichi's blog:
https://ameblo.jp/ryuichi-miu/entry-12410884155.html
- apparently there was a small gala in Howa Sportsland on Sunday where a number of Howa skaters appeared (seems Rika wasn't there though, as she's relocating
). Here's a nice photo of Sota with his buddies (Ryuju and Tatsuya, I don't recognize the third boy) enjoying a break during the show (if google translate got it right) -https://stat.ameba.jp/user_images/20181015/17/kmn-psn/27/3b/j/o1080116814284745259.jpg?caw=800
- there's an interview with Sota in 'Figure Skating Life' magazine #15, for those who can buy and read it.
---
ahem!
*clears throat*
Now, my feedback on Finlandia: It was worth it a hundred times to travel there! I've reaffirmed that I love watching FS live. Better still when one can travel with someone close who shares one's passion and has the same favorites! Bliss. Everything was quite expensive, from hotel to tickets to food and even my banners (can't write recognizable kanji, had to have them made). But it was well-spent money; I don't regret it. I could only see Sota's FS and his FS practice, and liked both. He's just as good as he appears on TV, and quite fast. And he's slender and fragile in person.
I'm content he's finally receiving some decent PCS (in the FS, although it's still what he was receiving in juniors if I'm not mistaken, so still a joke), and he keeps upgrading his technical arsenal from competition to competition. The limit in Asian Open was a 3A, now he was attempting a 3A-2T combo (turnout but it worked), and one additional 3A (singled). I do hope he's taking things slow without hurry, because according to one of his earlier interviews, he plans to tackle quads when he's performed 3A... I do hope to see him healthy throughout the season. Aseranaide kudasai, don't hasten please. The choreo is also improved; the entry into the first spin looked a bit empty in Thailand, but now there's a high kick and a spread eagle, and together with the spin it looks marvellous.
And one very important point to conclude with (kidding but I have to get it off my chest): I wish whoever was messing with Sota's eyebrows would stop it, for crying out loud! What is it with men on Team Japan plucking a part of their eyebrows and drawing fake ones? It should be criminal to mess up their looks like that. It's spreading like plague among my favorites- Keiji down, Ryuichi down, now Sota, and I'm not sure about Kazuki and Yuzuru. Ryuju is my last beacon of hope of seeing a guy with natural looks. One who doesn't look like a model, an actor, or a victim of someone trying to create a mini-yuzuru. =_= It's a sad scene when Sota's eyebrows are no wider than his lady coach's, and not one I'd care to see again.
OK, rant over. I hope to be back in a couple of days with a translation of the FS Life interview that a very kind soul may do for me.
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2013
This is all that's to be found online of Sota's Figure Skating Life 15 magazine interview. Translation done by Rainbow of Planet Hanyu, thank you as always.
The part about Sota almost having forgotten how to interact with other skaters is just so sad. :[
Looking Back Last Season
- Looking back the last season now, what are your thoughts?
... At first I had a lot of feeling of hesitation, but gradually it went away and I feel now it’s the season I enjoyed....
- Does that mean that you hesitated because you were still not at the level (you are comfortable with)?
That is true and also the fact that I have been alone for such a long time, I mean there were many times when I was by myself so I felt uneasy being with other people. I was wondering how to interact with others (laugh). Feeling that way I wondered how to go about competing. These were my thoughts and feelings that made me hesitant a little.
Change in This Season (excerpt)
- Has there been a change in your mindset?
... I feel like my mindset this year is back to the one I felt 2 or 3 years ago ... I feel I can do more and more.
- In a good way?
In a good way (laugh). I think I am facing competitions and practice with that kind of thought.
- After you got your jumps back are you absorbed in jumps?
Umm, huhu, that's right (laugh). Since I started practicing the axel jumps, the jump practice time has increased.
- When did you start practicing axel jumps?
Well, maybe around July. I started off with practicing the double axel jump and I had been doing that jump nearly 100 times during the period.
Asian Open (excerpt)
- How was the competition under new rules?
It had not sunk in yet until I did my short program and I skated as before without thinking much, and then I realized that this was so different. When I did free program I kept these (new rules) in my mind....
- What kind of jump is the ideal one that gets +5?
After all, considering the past trend so far, I would say Hanyu senshu. It is amazing to see him jump with your own eyes, isn’t it?
- The distance of his axel jump.
Ridiculously big (laugh)
Short Program
- "Air on the G String" I think it is a very beautiful program. I was moved when I saw you skate to it at Nagano show.
No, no, no, it's a beautiful program if I skate to it properly, but if I underperform, this program really gets me into a serious trouble (laugh).
Do you watch the videos of your skating?
I do. I watched the one (in Nagano) where I fell on the jump in an extremely embarrassing way (laugh)....
- How about the videos of the competition?
I have not watched it yet. Hehehe
- You’re laughing. You do not have time to watch it yet?
No, I thought it was so terrible and not worth watching (laugh).
- Lol. How did you work on choreography?
... Even now I record the video of my skating during each practice. I’m trying to polish my program thinking “I should be able to make this move more beautiful" and such every time I practice with the music. But it is quite difficult....
Free Program
Music Selection (excerpt)
- Did you select the music after you watched the drama?
I did not watch the drama, I went through YouTube and found the song and I bought an album ... I’m not very familiar with currently popular artists. I only listen to odd songs (laugh).
- Odd songs? (laugh).
Because I really loved Pokemon it’s my hobby these days to listen to these theme songs thinking nostalgic (laugh)....
Costume Change (excerpt)
- What kind of image did you give to the designer?
What kind of things did I tell her? Oh, I asked her to add flowing ruffles to the one for the short program ... I'm thinking about how to make my program look more beautiful.
Off-Ice and Campus Life (excerpts)
- I heard you took difficult classes in the previous interview.
Hahaha, yes, I do not miss any of my classes. I go to college diligently but ... the test results do not reflect my efforts.
Message to fans
Thank you for always supporting me. The Asian Open is over, and I was able to compete keeping in mind the joyful feeling of last season and deep appreciation to my fans.
The part about Sota almost having forgotten how to interact with other skaters is just so sad. :[
Looking Back Last Season
- Looking back the last season now, what are your thoughts?
... At first I had a lot of feeling of hesitation, but gradually it went away and I feel now it’s the season I enjoyed....
- Does that mean that you hesitated because you were still not at the level (you are comfortable with)?
That is true and also the fact that I have been alone for such a long time, I mean there were many times when I was by myself so I felt uneasy being with other people. I was wondering how to interact with others (laugh). Feeling that way I wondered how to go about competing. These were my thoughts and feelings that made me hesitant a little.
Change in This Season (excerpt)
- Has there been a change in your mindset?
... I feel like my mindset this year is back to the one I felt 2 or 3 years ago ... I feel I can do more and more.
- In a good way?
In a good way (laugh). I think I am facing competitions and practice with that kind of thought.
- After you got your jumps back are you absorbed in jumps?
Umm, huhu, that's right (laugh). Since I started practicing the axel jumps, the jump practice time has increased.
- When did you start practicing axel jumps?
Well, maybe around July. I started off with practicing the double axel jump and I had been doing that jump nearly 100 times during the period.
Asian Open (excerpt)
- How was the competition under new rules?
It had not sunk in yet until I did my short program and I skated as before without thinking much, and then I realized that this was so different. When I did free program I kept these (new rules) in my mind....
- What kind of jump is the ideal one that gets +5?
After all, considering the past trend so far, I would say Hanyu senshu. It is amazing to see him jump with your own eyes, isn’t it?
- The distance of his axel jump.
Ridiculously big (laugh)
Short Program
- "Air on the G String" I think it is a very beautiful program. I was moved when I saw you skate to it at Nagano show.
No, no, no, it's a beautiful program if I skate to it properly, but if I underperform, this program really gets me into a serious trouble (laugh).
Do you watch the videos of your skating?
I do. I watched the one (in Nagano) where I fell on the jump in an extremely embarrassing way (laugh)....
- How about the videos of the competition?
I have not watched it yet. Hehehe
- You’re laughing. You do not have time to watch it yet?
No, I thought it was so terrible and not worth watching (laugh).
- Lol. How did you work on choreography?
... Even now I record the video of my skating during each practice. I’m trying to polish my program thinking “I should be able to make this move more beautiful" and such every time I practice with the music. But it is quite difficult....
Free Program
Music Selection (excerpt)
- Did you select the music after you watched the drama?
I did not watch the drama, I went through YouTube and found the song and I bought an album ... I’m not very familiar with currently popular artists. I only listen to odd songs (laugh).
- Odd songs? (laugh).
Because I really loved Pokemon it’s my hobby these days to listen to these theme songs thinking nostalgic (laugh)....
Costume Change (excerpt)
- What kind of image did you give to the designer?
What kind of things did I tell her? Oh, I asked her to add flowing ruffles to the one for the short program ... I'm thinking about how to make my program look more beautiful.
Off-Ice and Campus Life (excerpts)
- I heard you took difficult classes in the previous interview.
Hahaha, yes, I do not miss any of my classes. I go to college diligently but ... the test results do not reflect my efforts.
Message to fans
Thank you for always supporting me. The Asian Open is over, and I was able to compete keeping in mind the joyful feeling of last season and deep appreciation to my fans.
- Joined
- May 5, 2018
Thanks for all the updates, Surimi! :agree:
- Joined
- May 5, 2018
Guuuuuuys, look what I found! 
The footage of the TV programme I mentioned before!!!! Sadly, I don't speak Japanese, so can't provide a translation...
https://twitter.com/japaneseperson/status/1053552421396336640?s=19
https://twitter.com/japaneseperson/status/1053553235934425088?s=19
https://twitter.com/japaneseperson/status/1053555823513751554?s=19
The footage of the TV programme I mentioned before!!!! Sadly, I don't speak Japanese, so can't provide a translation...
https://twitter.com/japaneseperson/status/1053552421396336640?s=19
https://twitter.com/japaneseperson/status/1053553235934425088?s=19
https://twitter.com/japaneseperson/status/1053555823513751554?s=19
Translation of video clips
Hi, this is my first post, so I'm hoping it works.
Re above videos, here's my translations in the order of video clips. There are parts that was not very clear as Sota speaks so soft. I repeated these parts many times and tried my best to interpret what he said.
Sota Yamamoto entered the local Chukyo University in April this year. He is 18 years old and will compete at the Grand Prix series the first time. The road to this event was never smooth. He stood on the podium of junior international competitions alongside Shoma Uno and would become one of the next generation leading skaters. With not only a triple axel but also a quad jump under his belt, he was on his way to be a top level skater. However he fell when landing triple axel jump. “I heard my bone breaking sound in the right ankle.” He broke his right ankle again during practice two years ago when he was moving up to seniors, and underwent three surgeries. "I had to put up with … pain… Honestly I felt stuck." He had to withdraw from the Grand Prix series where he was going to make a senior debut. He could not even be on ice. Still he kept a passion in his heart. “I could not get rid of the desire that I wanted to skate so much, to skate again. I think this desire has been helping me work hard."
And last year after a year and a half, he returned to the rink in competition. Relishing the joy of skating he made a comeback. What he is working on now is building a body to prevent injury from recurring--strengthening the lower body and improving the overall skating qualify. “My skating changes as well and in that sense everything is going in the right direction.” The first competition of this season is starting. "I thought that I had to raise the difficulty level a little by little, so I felt that first of all I had to overcome a challenge of the triple axel." He was determined to do a triple axel, the cause of the fracture, for the first time after he returned to competition. "These days I’m telling myself I shouldn’t be afraid or I would be ashamed of myself."
For senior top skaters it is now nothing special to land a triple axel jump. More than anything he should not be defeated by his old self. He landed it for the first time in three seasons and received positive GOE too. He saw a sign of a comeback by overcoming fear. “I finally feel that I took a step forward. I think I should get better so that I could win over myself.” Between busy training he came to a driving school. "I think I have to be more independent. I don’t think about skating while driving and I’m taking it easy." At the age of 18 he is moving on fast to make a comeback. He is heading to the Grand Prix series that he could not go two years ago. "I think my skating at the beginning of the season is a little bit off, so I will be happy if I can deliver good performances that I’m satisfied with.”
Hi, this is my first post, so I'm hoping it works.
Re above videos, here's my translations in the order of video clips. There are parts that was not very clear as Sota speaks so soft. I repeated these parts many times and tried my best to interpret what he said.
Sota Yamamoto entered the local Chukyo University in April this year. He is 18 years old and will compete at the Grand Prix series the first time. The road to this event was never smooth. He stood on the podium of junior international competitions alongside Shoma Uno and would become one of the next generation leading skaters. With not only a triple axel but also a quad jump under his belt, he was on his way to be a top level skater. However he fell when landing triple axel jump. “I heard my bone breaking sound in the right ankle.” He broke his right ankle again during practice two years ago when he was moving up to seniors, and underwent three surgeries. "I had to put up with … pain… Honestly I felt stuck." He had to withdraw from the Grand Prix series where he was going to make a senior debut. He could not even be on ice. Still he kept a passion in his heart. “I could not get rid of the desire that I wanted to skate so much, to skate again. I think this desire has been helping me work hard."
And last year after a year and a half, he returned to the rink in competition. Relishing the joy of skating he made a comeback. What he is working on now is building a body to prevent injury from recurring--strengthening the lower body and improving the overall skating qualify. “My skating changes as well and in that sense everything is going in the right direction.” The first competition of this season is starting. "I thought that I had to raise the difficulty level a little by little, so I felt that first of all I had to overcome a challenge of the triple axel." He was determined to do a triple axel, the cause of the fracture, for the first time after he returned to competition. "These days I’m telling myself I shouldn’t be afraid or I would be ashamed of myself."
For senior top skaters it is now nothing special to land a triple axel jump. More than anything he should not be defeated by his old self. He landed it for the first time in three seasons and received positive GOE too. He saw a sign of a comeback by overcoming fear. “I finally feel that I took a step forward. I think I should get better so that I could win over myself.” Between busy training he came to a driving school. "I think I have to be more independent. I don’t think about skating while driving and I’m taking it easy." At the age of 18 he is moving on fast to make a comeback. He is heading to the Grand Prix series that he could not go two years ago. "I think my skating at the beginning of the season is a little bit off, so I will be happy if I can deliver good performances that I’m satisfied with.”
