Okay... so you think we've been through enough roller coasters so far? Think again. Somebody on twitter posted a newspaper scan from today
https://twitter.com/nekokatze7/status/557651947269140480
And according to that article Tatsuki's mother was shocked to find out he would have actually gone to Worlds if he made the Nationals podium. But he didn't so he thought he didn't deserve to go. His decision was probably strongly linked to his FS performances at both GPF and Nationals and he probably thought they disqualified him from deserving a Worlds spot.
I just want to clarify that the article does not contain actual quotes from Tatsuki so this is by no means 100% certain. At least so far.
I've been reading the posts here and I appreciate so much for all the thoughtful insights and the updates you all are posting!
Translation of his mother's quote:
"At first (I can't tell when, the beginning of the season or before the Nats?), he was saying his goal was the Worlds. He would have possibly gone to the Worlds if he had made the podium at the Nationals. Perhaps, he thought he didn't deserve to."
I'm a bit surprised that his mother doesn't even know the reason at all. I think she doesn't say that she was shocked to find out his thought but she's just guessing too. But I suppose she knows him well and her guess is close to his actual thought. Tatsuki is such a determined man who doesn't let others (the judges or JFS or whatsoever) decide what he does, and acts in a way he thinks he deserves to (I believe this is the reason he didn't get any sponsor though. It's just a rumor but he seemed to have been offered a sponsorship by the company his parents work. It's a quite well known company in Japan, which head office locates where Tatsuki is from. But he didn't accept it because it can restrict what he does, especially when his parents work there.). If what his mother says is right, I would say it's very Tatsuki.
I don't have the time to translate this all but in brief, it says:
- Tatsuki's retirement was a shocking event at the Natinals.
- Only few people including his family knew his retirement in advance and even the coach Onishi was informed on the day he announced.
- His mother supposes "At first (I can't tell when, the beginning of the season or before the Nats?), he was saying his goal was the Worlds. He would have possibly gone to the Worlds if he had made the podium at the Nationals. Perhaps, he thought he didn't deserve to."
- It seems he had decided that he would retire this season anyway.
- He had taken examination for Waseda's graduate course before SA and had qualified.
- He was a unique skater famous for interesting remarks.
- He was a late blooming athlete.
- He used to love games but he turned into an intelligent man through reading books. He entered the high school following Dai. He started to read books to spend time in the Shinkansen he used to go to his school.
- He always brought about 5 books with him during the foreign competitions.
- He was an artistic skater. For Symphony 9, he did not move for the first 20 seconds so that the music can be longer because 4:30 was too short for Symphony 9.
- Kozuka says: "He was a unique skater who could think of what others wouldn't think of."
- It was difficult for him to figure out his career after competitive career. That's why he kept on studying.
- His theme for his study is not revealed but he is determined to study for the needs of the society.
- He will attend ice shows along with his study. He is likely to continue to doctoral course.
), but I've enjoyed most of films and TV series in which Dame Smith starred such as recently her featuring in Downton Abbey. I'll post my brief review after watching the film. Thanks!
