Tatsuki Machida

[ioanna]

Thank you very much. Do you tjink is a reliable source? I think is from the area Tatsuki is or near Kansai, isn´t it?

Hiroshima is Tatsuki's hometown. I've also heard about that paper before and I'd say it's reliable.

 

[Perdita]

perdita, thank you for translating the rest of the article. It's a bit confusing since his mother assumed he would have gone to Worlds if he had made the podium but then the article claims he had already informed his family he would retire at the Nationals regardless.

As for deciding he was going to retire this season I think this information is a bit old. He did say that around Sochi but then changed his mind and told people he was planning on going further than that and this is something he said even around Skate America.

I assume that "informed in advance" just meant "before his public announcement" so it was the night before or the morning like Onishi coach was, maybe?

 

[ioanna]

I assume that "informed in advance" just meant "before his public announcement" so it was the night before or the morning like Onishi coach was, maybe?

As far as I know he told his mother he thought the time to retire was coming closer and that she should come see him at the Nationals. I assumed she found out like the rest of the people.

 

[ioanna]

Tatsuki visited the exposition room of the Kansai University on January 19th and took a pic in front of his display case.
http://www.kansai-u.ac.jp/nenshi/news/detail.php?cd=122

His hair looks like it's going back to Skate America lengths.

 

[Crossover]

Tatsuki visited the exposition room of the Kansai University on January 19th and took a pic in front of his display case.
http://www.kansai-u.ac.jp/nenshi/news/detail.php?cd=122

His hair looks like it's going back to Skate America lengths.

Thank you for the news. Tatsuki looks comfortable and moves on with his life. I'm also grateful to his university for cherishing his achievement on the exhibition hall. The earlier article about his mother's candid thought on his retirement honestly stirred my mind, and led me to keep thinking of useless suppositions like what if he had been in the podium, what if his family talked him out to stay a little longer.. what if.. I don't know whether I may still feel bitter to see competitions without his participation in World in March.

Anyway, the hairstyle suits him very well, but the suit....I'm not complaining since it's better than the paisley patterned shirts!

 

[cruzceleste]

Tatsuki visited the exposition room of the Kansai University on January 19th and took a pic in front of his display case.
http://www.kansai-u.ac.jp/nenshi/news/detail.php?cd=122

His hair looks like it's going back to Skate America lengths.

Looks like his acne has improve, maybe it was really stress related.

 

[ioanna]

The earlier article about his mother's candid thought on his retirement honestly stirred my mind, and led me to keep thinking of useless suppositions like what if he had been in the podium, what if his family talked him out to stay a little longer.. what if.. I don't know whether I may still feel bitter to see competitions without his participation in World in March.

I don't think they're useless suppositions, it's natural to wonder about these things. I still think he should have talked about his problems with his team (and maybe family) before making a life changing decision and I have no doubt his mother's quotes about going to Worlds if he had made the Nationals podium are true. I strongly disagree with his principles and actions. How can he consider himself unworthy of a Worlds spot when he missed the Nationals podium by 3 points, is an Olympian and the (still) reigning World Silver Medalist. If he doesn't deserve it then who does.

 

[ioanna]

Looks like his acne has improve, maybe it was really stress related.

I'd say he was wearing foundation again.

 

[Crossover]

I'd say he was wearing foundation again.

But didn't such the makeup work greatly, especially regarding his guyliner for competitions? Some would say makeup is too much for male figure skaters, even though skaters are also performers like actors, opera singers, and dancers on stage. Stage actors wear makeup to show clearly their facial expressions to audience in distant seats, while we see figure skating competitions mostly on TV or computer screen, so close-ups of male skaters' face with makeup could be perceived differently like "It's too much", or "Too girlish". I understand that point, but I think Tatsuki considered spectators at ice rinks in his mind, so wore makeup. As long as it suits their theme of programs and looks, I'm okay with it. I like Tatuski's makeup, and it makes his eyes deeper and more mysterious as well as covering his acne on his face.

I sometime imagined if he tries an Egyptian themed program, that eyeliner could've highlighted his look very well. We've seen many female skaters acting as Cleopatra on the ice, so why not try to act as a Pharaoh or Moses? It is my way of thinking just for a fun. Though I have to admit, I can't imagine any other male skaters applying eyeliner so naturally except Johnny Weir.

 

[cruzceleste]

I'd say he was wearing foundation again.

I don´t think so, or maybe he changed brand, I´m used to see him wearing foundation but I can always see his marks. Maybe he is using some primer to soft the skin look?

 

[ioanna]

I like Tatuski's makeup, and it makes his eyes deeper and more mysterious as well as covering his acne on his face.

I sometime imagined if he tries an Egyptian themed program, that eyeliner could've highlighted his look very well. We've seen many female skaters acting as Cleopatra on the ice, so why not try to act as a Pharaoh or Moses? It is my way of thinking just for a fun. Though I have to admit, I can't imagine any other male skaters applying eyeliner so naturally except Johnny Weir.

I think he's gotten very skilled at applying eyeliner, in fact I remember he had the best make up at Prince Ice World last summer. Here's a video with great close-ups on his face there
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcnB6YEZgXU

I expect him to create a lot of interesting exhibition programs from now on so who knows what kind of look he'll show next.

 

[Crossover]

I think he's gotten very skilled at applying eyeliner, in fact I remember he had the best make up at Prince Ice World last summer. Here's a video with great close-ups on his face there
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcnB6YEZgXU

I expect him to create a lot of interesting exhibition programs from now on so who knows what kind of look he'll show next.

Wow, by looking at the fancam, I feel like I'm facing right now and talking to him just in front of me! I see his nicely drawn eye lines and soft smiles.
Happy to know the existence of the video. Thanks ioanap again!

I have no doubt that he could make a lot of fun programs given his acting as a serious samurai in a comical twist and nerdy student as well as emotional and touching pieces.

 

[Sandpiper]

Thank you for the links and translations, everyone. I'm glad to he'll continue doing ice shows.

I hope the article's wrong and his retirement had nothing to do with "feeling unworthy." It was the Japanese Fed's choice to let Shoma concentrate on Junior Worlds--they named Kozuka to the team along with Tatsuki. And his retirement gave the spot to Mura, who placed behind him, so...? His LP wasn't even that bad; it was the layout that did him in.

I sometime imagined if he tries an Egyptian themed program, that eyeliner could've highlighted his look very well. We've seen many female skaters acting as Cleopatra on the ice, so why not try to act as a Pharaoh or Moses? It is my way of thinking just for a fun. Though I have to admit, I can't imagine any other male skaters applying eyeliner so naturally except Johnny Weir.

Maybe we'll see a program like that in an exhibition? :yay:

 

[ioanna]

I have no doubt that he could make a lot of fun programs given his acting as a serious samurai in a comical twist and nerdy student as well as emotional and touching pieces.

I know he's been very secretive about his studies so far but he did say they will be related to figure skating. So based on what I've read in his older interviews I have a feeling he is interested in starting his own show at some point - kind of like his idol and close friend Stephane Lambiel. I know he loves to direct and choreograph so who knows maybe in the future he will create his own shows and I'm pretty sure they'd be different from anything else going on in Japan at the moment. I can see him trying to bring theater and/or ballet into them and make concepts and screenplays - maybe an Egyptian show since you mentioned the pharaohs.

 

[ioanna]

I hope the article's wrong and his retirement had nothing to do with "feeling unworthy." It was the Japanese Fed's choice to let Shoma concentrate on Junior Worlds--they named Kozuka to the team along with Tatsuki. And his retirement gave the spot to Mura, who placed behind him, so...? His LP wasn't even that bad; it was the layout that did him in.

Unfortunately, this would be a very Tatsuki thing to do. The author of the article interviewed his mother and she was the one who said his goal had always been the World Championship. She believes the reason he turned down his spot can only be the fact that he didn't place on the podium - because his decision was much too abrupt.

 

[firal]

Thanks for the posting and the translation of that article. I think it might be a combination of "not worthy" and "well it would be great if I can have the last dance at home" when he woke up that morning. I guess we will never really know.

 

[ioanna]

Somebody posted this video on twitter and I thought it was very interesting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvyjjSdwBTs

It's a news report that was broadcasted on January 20th 2014 as part of the preparation for the Sochi Olympics and I noticed when the reporter arrived at the rink Tatsuki was practicing at, he was skating on Fantasy For Violin & Orchestra. It seems like he had already decided his music for this season, but nobody payed much attention at that time

Then they showed some footage from August 2010 when Tatsuki was a guest on the same show and he cooked what looked like his own original recipe of soba. He called it "Never Give Up" and the meaning behind the name was his determination to make it to the Sochi Olympics no matter how difficult the road to it might get.

 

[Crossover]

Maybe we'll see a program like that in an exhibition? :yay:

Yap, although Tatsuki seems a shy person off-ice, we've seen he can transform himself to a very different character on the ice depending on themes, so I just hope some fun exhibitions from him someday.

Somebody posted this video on twitter and I thought it was very interesting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvyjjSdwBTs

It's a news report that was broadcasted on January 20th 2014 as part of the preparation for the Sochi Olympics and I noticed when the reporter arrived at the rink Tatsuki was practicing at, he was skating on Fantasy For Violin & Orchestra. It seems like he had already decided his music for this season, but nobody payed much attention at that time

Then they showed some footage from August 2010 when Tatsuki was a guest on the same show and he cooked what looked like his own original recipe of soba. He called it "Never Give Up" and the meaning behind the name was his determination to make it to the Sochi Olympics no matter how difficult the road to it might get.

I don't know what exactly was in his mind on practicing the program because his priority was of course to prepare himself to polish and revise his programs for Sochi, so he might've had a very little time to prepare for his next season yet. Perhaps, he practiced it for exhibition purposes like showing it in Sochi because the music piece is so personally attached to him, so he may want to share it with people all around the world in the big stage. The East of Eden Celebration program is a simplified version of his SP last season, and I think he could've tested a reversed version of this season's SP first to the public. If the reporter would've a little hunch, well, he could've asked about why he performed to the music that is not his programs'. Regardless, Tatsuki is a very intriguing and mysterious skater in my viewpoint. We would never know until he reveals his thought. The later footage is a cute and sweet side of Tatsuki; he could be a thoughtful husband and father to her family.

 

[ioanna]

Yesterday Miyu Nakashio won the Japanese National High School Championships and cited Tatsuki as her inspiration. She mentioned she's been training with him ever since she started skating in Hiroshima and has always looked up to him. He is also the reason why she feels encouraged to give her best and make it to the Olympics.

Today Miyu received a bouquet of flowers from Tatsuki and posted a picture of it on her instagram. She wrote "I have a great senior... I am a very happy person"
http://instagram.com/p/yTWqMVlM8v/

Miyu Nakashio competed at the Junior Grand Prix Final along with Wakaba Higuchi and Yuka Nagai (who is also a fan of Tatsuki and chose East Of Eden as her SP this season after watching him at the 2014 World Championship).

 

[Crossover]

Yesterday Miyu Nakashio won the Japanese National High School Championships and cited Tatsuki as her inspiration. She mentioned she's been training with him ever since she started skating in Hiroshima and has always looked up to him. He is also the reason why she feels encouraged to give her best and make it to the Olympics.

Today Miyu received a bouquet of flowers from Tatsuki and posted a picture of it on her instagram. She wrote "I have a great senior... I am a very happy person"
http://instagram.com/p/yTWqMVlM8v/

Miyu Nakashio competed at the Junior Grand Prix Final along with Wakaba Higuchi and Yuka Nagai (who is also a fan of Tatsuki and chose East Of Eden as her SP this season after watching him at the 2014 World Championship).

It is good to hear that Tatsuki is an inspirational presence to the promising youngsters of Japan. The bouquet of flowers is beautiful and considerate. Thank you for the heads up.