Tatsuki Machida

[Sandpiper]

There are multiple sources citing the same info and I think it's true. Just a day or two before Skate America he took a couple of important exams at the university and he was also tired then but I guess things got worse for the past month and a half. He stated that he is not afraid of the National Championship and that he took the GPF failure as a challenge.

Thanks for the info. I can't believe he manages to study and skate at the same time. Hopefully things have calmed down and he'll be able to focus on Nationals. I guess the only "comfort," if there is one, is how the other guys are inconsistent as well.

 

[Maria Victoria]

Hmm, if the report is reliable, and he actually considered withdrawing... Now I'm a little worried if he'll be ready come Nationals. He doesn't need to be perfect but I don't think he could afford another bomb (he'll probably be on the World team, but more bombs will really hurt his momentum).

Yes, I'm a little worried too about Tatsuki. Hopefully, the academic concerns ionap reported will have already been settled and that Tatsuki "timshels" Nationals.

 

[ioanna]

I previously posted this in Daisuke's thread but I think it also belongs here. Tatsuki's letter to Daisuke (via Quadruple2015 magazine, translation by ohlovesosweet)

To Takahashi Daisuke,

Congratulations on your twenty year-long competitive skating career. In regards to Japanese men’s skating, Takahashi-san is the one, true pioneer. So many of your juniors, myself included, can dream bigger because of you. Takahashi-san, you have devoted everything, your body and soul, to open those roads. I do not believe the path you treaded were simple, and for that, my gratitude and respect for you have no bounds. I continue in pursuit of my own skating so I can be like you, someone who opened brand new paths within the sport.

I do not believe there is anyone else like you with the strength and purity to make their dreams and goals come true. With your incredible talent and abilities, I wholeheartedly pray for the seedlings of the brand new chapter in your life to grow. I hope opportunities for us to appear together in many ice shows together come around.

Thank you for all your support now and in the future.

2014/10/30
Machida Tatsuki

Also, a Japanese fan got Tatsuki's SP and FS music cuts of this season
Fantasy For Violin & Orchestra
Symphony no 9

 

[Maria Victoria]

I previously posted this in Daisuke's thread but I think it also belongs here. Tatsuki's letter to Daisuke (via Quadruple2015 magazine, translation by ohlovesosweet)



Also, a Japanese fan got Tatsuki's SP and FS music cuts of this season
Fantasy For Violin & Orchestra
Symphony no 9

Thanks ionap for the links. I hope Daisuke gets to personally speak words of encouragement and support to Tatsuki. Tatsuki may be too shy to approach him.

 

[ioanna]

Thanks ionap for the links. I hope Daisuke gets to personally speak words of encouragement and support to Tatsuki. Tatsuki may be too shy to approach him.

The quote that stood out from the letter was "I continue in pursuit of my own skating so I can be like you, someone who opened brand new paths within the sport." May this be a sign that he plans on sticking around for longer than this season or the next? I personally think he is opening a brand new type of skating and that he has so much more to offer, and so much more to do for the sport. Sure, he will not be pushing any technical boundaries as he is only getting older, but maybe for that reason his skating is still needed. He's doing something new, he's doing something that's his alone.

After giving some thought to his performances this past GP season, I'm finally inclined to believe this is not one of his old low-self-esteem meltdowns and think of it as a consequence of his sleep deprived, exhausted state. Aside for a couple of minor stumbles, his SP has been clean so far and he's landed every jump. But right now neither his mind nor his body are able to deliver the kind of effort his FS demands. His post SP press conference quotes said it all: "It was a bit hard mentally and physically for me (...) but I was able to pull out a performance I can be proud of", meaning he was expecting his performance here to not be good - the reason why to me he didn't seem that beaten up in the kiss & cry after the FS.

Do I think he can come back to his real potential? Yes. Mao Asada's incredible FS in Sochi (and third Worlds win) only happened after a disastrous skate in the SP. Do I think he will come back in time for Nationals? Unfortunately, I'm hesitant on this one.

In the meanwhile, here are some nice screencaps from the Japanese broadcast of the GPF where he's actually smiling and looking at peace with himself. (source)
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B4vFdTjCYAAXo1n.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B4u6Ri6CYAAXCyT.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B4vLqIuCQAAXXt0.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B4zwrmECMAAJpwL.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B4zwCZhCQAAbUrr.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B4u7lQaCEAEaM5D.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B4u7lRmCYAUYKPc.jpg

 

[Crossover]

Although Tatsuki imploded yesterday, I wasn't disappointed much because I'm believing in his ability and potentials.
People have good and bad days and he had a bad day. Ironically I was moved by his struggling through the free program.
The agony on his face and postures were well matched to the symphony no. 9 and made me think of the music's theme more.

 

[Alba]

Well here's a first answer to the nightmare of a FS Tatsuki performed the other day. He is soon to graduate Kansai University and has been extremely busy for the entire autumn writing his dissertation. His thesis is due next month and his schedule got hectic (he barely gets any sleep and he's been trying to find a way to study and train at the same time).

That's a weird coincidence.
Yulia passed the trial exam in Russian language, and in January has other exams.
She wants to try to pass exams for two years and graduate.

I didn't expect him to blame his performance on mental or physical problems. Such is the character of Japanese figure skaters. But I'm sad to read he basically thinks he's not good enough for the FP he prepared this season, because I still think he is. This right here is a hint at least part of the problem is mental - if he doesn't trust himself enough to do it, he'll never do it.

He had a great skate at SA. I don't think he is saying I'm not good enough, but that the program is very difficult to skate. I think he meant it was too big for him in this competition.
However, the FP is indeed very difficult because of the choice of the music.
The 9th Symphony is universally considered to be among Beethoven's greatest works, and by some even the greatest piece of music ever written.
I think it's one of the most difficult piece of music to interpret. It overpowers you, and it's very tricky because if something goes wrong it can totally fall apart.
You have to be perfect and skate as big as the music, and that music it's HUGE!

I can see him with Beethoven, but for me Eroica would've been the perfect choice for him. The 1st movement gets darker and deeper, while the 2nd movement is Oh God, so touching.

Anyway, nothing it's lost. It's just the GPF, not the most important competition of the season. Cheer up.

 

[ioanna]

That's a weird coincidence.
Yulia passed the trial exam in Russian language, and in January has other exams.
She wants to try to pass exams for two years and graduate.

Wow, too many coincidences between Tatsuki and Julia lately. So many that whenever they skated at the same competition I would jokingly predict Tatsuki's results based on Julia's performances but I didn't expect they would turn out so right.

I agree, it was bold of him to choose Symphony no 9 and I can understand why some people haven't warmed up to the program but I think the day he's going to skate it clean, with power and speed, it's going to be a real treat. The thing with Tatsuki is that he has a history of bombing and ruining competitions in the past so that is why some of his fans (myself included) could not help feeling worried about him. Not to mention, the Japanese Nationals are getting close and the men's event is going to be a bloodbath.

 

[Alba]

Wow, too many coincidences between Tatsuki and Julia lately. So many that whenever they skated at the same competition I would jokingly predict Tatsuki's results based on Julia's performances but I didn't expect they would turn out so right.

Ah, so you're mastering the art of jinxing now. I see.
Seriously though, that's freaking weird.

I agree, it was bold of him to choose Symphony no 9 and I can understand why some people haven't warmed up to the program but I think the day he's going to skate it clean, with power and speed, it's going to be a real treat.

That's true.

The thing with Tatsuki is that he has a history of bombing and ruining competitions in the past so that is why some of his fans (myself included) could not help feeling worried about him. Not to mention, the Japanese Nationals are getting close and the men's event is going to be a bloodbath.

That's natural, for us fans. It's going to be a bloodbath indeed. Like the girls in Russia. Actually these are the two nationals, and competitions till Euros, which I'm more interested.
I hope there are streamings for Japanese television, right?

 

[ioanna]

Ah, so you're mastering the art of jinxing now. I see.
Seriously though, that's freaking weird.

Haha, I really wish I didn't
The bad feeling I had after watching Julia's FS at the GPF a couple of hours before Tatsuki's FS has to be the saddest so far.

I hope there are streamings for Japanese television, right?

I'm not sure if it's gonna be broadcasted live (I know it was last year as far as I remember) but there will certainly be some videos.

 

[Alba]

If it was last year then I'm sure it will be this year also.
I mean I can't believe that they will not broadcast FS nationals live.

...and Machida better be good here, because the Russian nationals starts on 24th.

 

[ioanna]

...and Machida better be good here, because the Russian nationals starts on 24th.

Japanese Nationals also start on the 24th The following week will be a tough one.

 

[Alba]

Japanese Nationals also start on the 24th The following week will be a tough one.

Oh god, really? I thought Japanese Nationals starts on the 20th.

 

[alia jackson]

Is the guy that was with Machida after his FS his coach? He looked so stern and doesn't offer him a pat/hug or something at least :disapp:

 

[ioanna]

Is the guy that was with Machida after his FS his coach? He looked so stern and doesn't offer him a pat/hug or something at least :disapp:

Yes, it's his coach, Yoshinori Onishi. He is usually very supportive and does hug him but I guess this time they were both too stunned to react in a specific way.

 

[ioanna]

Here is Tatsuki's SP from Teledeporte with commentary by the Spanish journalist Paloma del Rio.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ek5bPIJyhhw

She seems to be a huge admirer of Tatsuki so I will translate some of the things she's said. First she mentioned that he got a haircut and that it was a good thing because his previous hairstyle was a bit too much. "Another young man with a huge potential. He won Skate America, was second at Trophee Eric Bompard. Fantasy For Violin And Orchestra - it's wonderful. Wonderful. (2:23) What an interpretation. (3:19) Bravo! (she even starts clapping) Bravo! His interpretation is way above average. Machida's interpretation is amazing. This is a fantasy of violin and orchestra. Amazing. Amazing. He interpreted and lived it. He is so elegant and he lives the program to the fullest. Genius. Genius Machida."

 

[Sandpiper]

I'm glad he got the haircut because it lets me see his eyes better (as I've said before, my biggest issue with him in the past was the whole "head down" thing. But he's improved so much that he made me a fan at SA despite the voluminous hair). But... maybe, in retrospect, he should've kept the hair? I mean, he skated better with it... I'm superstitious about these things (I'll probably be shaking with nervousness if Liza changes her dress for Nationals). And a few people were saying he looked diva-ish with the hair rofl... but maybe that's what he needs right now. A bit of inner diva.

When I heard he was going to skate to Symphony No.9, I thought I'd hate it. It's one of those "overplayed in life" pieces (along with William Tell Overture) that I thought no one should skate to. But something about the choreography, and Tatsuki's genuine, personal connection with the music, really made it work. In that sense, I understand why he chose such a difficult and thankless jump layout--the second axel and lutz were delayed so late because that's what fit the music.

Perhaps this is part of what he's talking about in his message to Daisuke, about "opening brand new paths within the sport." And perhaps this is why he feels like he's unworthy of the program--not that he can't skate a FS, but that he wasn't able to pull off this particular FS, which was more personal project than COP-point-getter.

Just my extrapolation, of course, but the way the program was set up, and Tatsuki's comments about it, made me think he seemed to be building an art piece more than just grabbing points to win.

 

[ioanna]

He's definitely seeing his programs more like art pieces rather than point getters. In fact I kind of wish he could choreograph his own competitive program one day because I absolutely love the EX programs he made for himself. The interview with JC Berlot in Bordeaux was very informative on the way he sees his own skating and the things that inspire him and he was very generous with the information he revealed.

Tatsuki has always been a diva, regardless of the haircut. He comes off as arrogant to a lot of people - and I can understand why - but he has always been this way. I've seen numerous comments on how his programs seem forced and rehearsed but his skating is really reflecting the way he is. He really is a "dramatic" person He is in love with opera, theater and ballet. He's had numerous different haircuts and he used to dye red and blonde highlights. He used to wear earrings and he likes to wear eyeliner. He did all these things while he was still just one of those numerous skaters in the Team Japan "pack" and few things have changed since then. He's just a very passionate and (according to people who have talked to him) incredibly intelligent person. One would think he's inapproachable but he's very sweet and polite to people.

This is actually related to the "skaters' personalities" thread in The Edge but I've always found "Diva Machida" to be a very fascinating individual. He's like that quirky weird kid at the back of the class who's always holding a book and doesn't really talk to anybody. But he actually stands out in the group in that way - whether he's sympathized or not. Since I've gotten used to him being like that, the quirkiness that some may find annoying is actually endearing to me. Just look at this post SP picture from the GPF
http://40.media.tumblr.com/8459f30540cfb2d3849246a91e1ba3cb/tumblr_nghp6ivCXS1tzdqszo2_r1_1280.jpg

He's standing there resting his hand on his hip. Some people may say "wow, he's so full of himself" but I actually laughed at him and I'm still laughing looking at the pic now and all I can think is "that pose is so typical Tatsuki" I mean he even does a 3Lo with his hands on his hips as we've seen the other day. It is a huge paradox, but he doesn't rehearse any of this, not even his "overly dramatic" programs. It's authentic.

 

[Sandpiper]

Huh, Tatsuki never came across as a diva to me. Maybe a bit rehearsed/dramatic on the bows after his programs, but never full of himself or arrogant. Then again, pretty much no figure skater comes across as a diva to me, compared to what we have in other sports. I mean, seriously, all we have are a few side-eyes, a dramatic bow and haircut, a "sonogram" comment, and a few "I don't like my marks" "I do like my marks." Thank goodness we do have some exciting divas (in a good way) on the ice, because off-ice everyone's actually pretty tame.

I love that picture. If I'd known nothing about figure skating and someone just showed me the pic, I'd immediately be drawn to the guy with the hand on his hip. (Sorry, Yuzuru, sorry Kovtun ) But really, it's just a pose. *shrugs*

 

[ioanna]

Huh, Tatsuki never came across as a diva to me. Maybe a bit rehearsed/dramatic on the bows after his programs, but never full of himself or arrogant. Then again, pretty much no figure skater comes across as a diva to me, compared to what we have in other sports. I mean, seriously, all we have are a few side-eyes, a dramatic bow and haircut, a "sonogram" comment, and a few "I don't like my marks" "I do like my marks." Thank goodness we do have some exciting divas (in a good way) on the ice, because off-ice everyone's actually pretty tame.

I love that picture. If I'd known nothing about figure skating and someone just showed me the pic, I'd immediately be drawn to the guy with the hand on his hip. (Sorry, Yuzuru, sorry Kovtun ) But really, it's just a pose. *shrugs*

A lot of people mistake his dramatic antics for arrogance but yes, I would call him a bit of a diva. His way of expressing himself is as dramatic as his bows - he often talks with metaphors and he takes everything very seriously. Japanese fans often have trouble trying to understand what he wanted to say Media also likes to paint him as an eccentric guy and he's commonly known as the "philosophy prince". Funny that a guy like this doesn't have an "it-factor" in some people's view. But what's the ideal recipe for an "it-factor" anyway.