Tatsuki Machida

[Crossover]

He didn't change the layout because he didn't want to, even if he lost everything. This is a challenge he took at the beginning of this season, to make "a program that has never been seen before". The jumps are carefully placed in time with the music and I even saw a drawing made by a fan on twitter that showed how his layout had the shape of a star if you looked at it from above. This is a layout he was perfectly capable to do in practice and his biggest challenge was to do it with an audience and this is something he valued more than medals. It was more like fighting himself rather than fighting his competitors and to be frank he's been doing this during his whole career. The ideals he set often had nothing to do with getting medals (declining his Worlds spot is proof of that) and this is one of the things that made him so different from the rest.

Even though it is painful to watch Tatsuki bombing his planed jumps in the FS segment at GPF, I feel there was still a beauty in it. He did everything possibly he could do at that time, so his struggles look to my eyes like "mankind's struggles and agony" in the grand music. Some people said the Beethoven music is not a wise choice for him with balletic style or even as a figure skating program (admittedly we don't often see Beethoven's music in figure skating), Tatsuki's choice is like he wanted to stick to his vision, so tenaciously fighting to fate rather than going easy like submitting to fate. I would probably get disappointed if my other favorite skaters don't try to add a second jump to originally planned single one or don't improvise a thing to catch up their missed points if they blow away their planned combo or other jumps, calling them "not trying hard enough". However as for Tatsuki, I didn't and just accepted the reality that he is who he is, and always ever will be. I don't know why such leniency applied to Tatsuki only, maybe because I don't want him to compromise the layout to get more points or the original layout is what I felt connected to him.

 

[ioanna]

It's already past midnight in Japan so happy 25th birthday Tatsuki! May you find peace and happiness in your new life and may you fulfill your new dreams. As for me, I'm past the point of return so I will stay your fan regardless of the bombs you drop

And a cute fanvideo to celebrate this endearing philosopher.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5f6Ie2RpgM

 

[Maria Victoria]

お誕生日おめでとうございます Tatsuki! I hope you are enjoying your first birthday in a long, long time free from the stress of competitive skating. I was very happy to learn that you will be skating in the off season ice shows not only because I will be able to see again your beautiful skating but also because I believe skating is and will always be a part of you. And this time the measure of your success will not be in terms of scores and medals but purely in the joy and pleasure your skating gives to us your audience.

It's already past midnight in Japan so happy 25th birthday Tatsuki! May you find peace and happiness in your new life and may you fulfill your new dreams. As for me, I'm past the point of return so I will stay your fan regardless of the bombs you drop

And a cute fanvideo to celebrate this endearing philosopher.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5f6Ie2RpgM

Thanks for the link ionap. Ah, I think his sudden retirement is the biggest bomb he could have dropped on us. Even if he "unretires," I would not be as surprised (or devastated).

 

[Meoima]

Even though it is painful to watch Tatsuki bombing his planed jumps in the FS segment at GPF, I feel there was still a beauty in it. He did everything possibly he could do at that time, so his struggles look to my eyes like "mankind's struggles and agony" in the grand music. Some people said the Beethoven music is not a wise choice for him with balletic style or even as a figure skating program (admittedly we don't often see Beethoven's music in figure skating), Tatsuki's choice is like he wanted to stick to his vision, so tenaciously fighting to fate rather than going easy like submitting to fate. I would probably get disappointed if my other favorite skaters don't try to add a second jump to originally planned single one or don't improvise a thing to catch up their missed points if they blow away their planned combo or other jumps, calling them "not trying hard enough". However as for Tatsuki, I didn't and just accepted the reality that he is who he is, and always ever will be. I don't know why such leniency applied to Tatsuki only, maybe because I don't want him to compromise the layout to get more points or the original layout is what I felt connected to him.

at the beginning of this season I was very critical of Tatsuki's FS. At GPF my wifi died so I couldn't know watch them live. When I saw comments saying Tatsuki didn't do well I felt like I don't want to watch. But I watched anyways and when he was in the middle of his step sequence I finally saw the beauty of it. I think what made his performance at GPF to be engaging to watch is that he never gave up. That's the spirit of Beethoven.

And: Happy Birthday Tatsuki!! may you have a very good year with yout study.

 

[Hanmgse]

Happy Birthday arty:

 

[ioanna]

at the beginning of this season I was very critical of Tatsuki's FS. At GPF my wifi died so I couldn't know watch them live. When I saw comments saying Tatsuki didn't do well I felt like I don't want to watch. But I watched anyways and when he was in the middle of his step sequence I finally saw the beauty of it. I think what made his performance at GPF to be engaging to watch is that he never gave up. That's the spirit of Beethoven.

His FS at Skate America didn't quite match the choreography with the music because he was running out of stamina so his movements looked a bit delayed. Even so I could see what he wanted to do with it and had no doubt it would become better as the season progressed. It did become better, at the expense of his jumps falling apart. I would say his FS from the National Championship was the best 9th he skated all season, regardless of the costly mistakes. His movements were perfectly timed with the music and his body, as well as expression, emanated joy.

 

[Sandpiper]

Happy birthday Tatsuki! I wish you all the best in your future endeavours, in and outside skating.

And a cute fanvideo to celebrate this endearing philosopher.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5f6Ie2RpgM

 

[Crossover]

Happy birthday Tatsuki, my dearest skater all time!

Thank you for your beautiful skating and performances.

I hope you do well in your second career. Please stay healthy and be happy!

 

[matmuh]

happy birthday tatsuki! i hope he is really happy with the new path he chose and will be very successfull

 

[Meoima]

His FS at Skate America didn't quite match the choreography with the music because he was running out of stamina so his movements looked a bit delayed. Even so I could see what he wanted to do with it and had no doubt it would become better as the season progressed. It did become better, at the expense of his jumps falling apart. I would say his FS from the National Championship was the best 9th he skated all season, regardless of the costly mistakes. His movements were perfectly timed with the music and his body, as well as expression, emanated joy.

I agree his FS in Nationals is the best. He really felt it and made people felt it as well, I hope someone will do a fan vid of the progression of Tatsuki's sym 9. :yes:

 

[icekiwi]

If you watch the 'cute fan video', you will notice, how much he's grown into a handsome and even 'sexy' young man. Especially this last year with the longer hair for the SP 'Fantasy on Violin' he looked quite different with the 'collared' shirt and black pants - very sophisticated and elegant look. He has turned into a very good looking young man, a very eligible bachelor.

I didn't really like the dyed brown bits on his hair in his earlier younger days, now with the longer natural hair he looks so much mature and grown up - very palatable indeed. Good on you, Tatsuki. You are a late developer and now you have developed into a very handsome, sexy young man. All the best to your future. Hope you have a great birthday!!

 

[Crossover]

If you watch the 'cute fan video', you will notice, how much he's grown into a handsome and even 'sexy' young man. Especially this last year with the longer hair for the SP 'Fantasy on Violin' he looked quite different with the 'collared' shirt and black pants - very sophisticated and elegant look. He has turned into a very good looking young man, a very eligible bachelor.

I didn't really like the dyed brown bits on his hair in his earlier younger days, now with the longer natural hair he looks so much mature and grown up - very palatable indeed. Good on you, Tatsuki. You are a late developer and now you have developed into a very handsome, sexy young man. All the best to your future. Hope you have a great birthday!!

I don't like the dyed hair, but most of the competitive time, his hair was mushroom one. So I would like to say youth is good for trying anything.
Hmm..I don't know why I'm blushed at the description of Tatsuki as a SEXY young man. : He is cute, but the modifier sounds big to my ears.
I definitely love his grown hair in this season.

 

[ioanna]

I didn't really like the dyed brown bits on his hair in his earlier younger days, now with the longer natural hair he looks so much mature and grown up - very palatable indeed. Good on you, Tatsuki. You are a late developer and now you have developed into a very handsome, sexy young man.

I also noticed the way he's matured over the years and even from a season to another - maybe the long hair actually helped him appear "manlier" than he looked last season. That said, I know a lot of Japanese (and not only) women do find him very attractive. I've no idea if he is a bachelor though, he's had quite a few serious dating rumors with a fellow skater from Team Japan and while I don't usually believe rumors, in Tatsuki's case I've learned to expect anything.

 

[ioanna]

This Japanese twitter user had the surprise of her life today when she went to the DyDo Drinco Ice Arena in Tokyo and found Tatsuki practicing there. Luckily she captured a few seconds on video so we can see a glimpse of him on ice again. He looks like he's practicing a program (maybe choreographing a new one?) because he's listening to something in his earphones.
https://twitter.com/amikaa22/status/576271943814418433

His hair looks even longer than it was.

 

[Crossover]

This Japanese twitter user had the surprise of her life today when she went to the DyDo Drinco Ice Arena in Tokyo and found Tatsuki practicing there. Luckily she captured a few seconds on video so we can see a glimpse of him on ice again. He looks like he's practicing a program (maybe choreographing a new one?) because he's listening to something in his earphones.
https://twitter.com/amikaa22/status/576271943814418433

His hair looks even longer than it was.

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ioanap and the twitter user who captured the moments and uploaded the vidoe!!!!!!!

Tatsuki looks so cute with the longer hair. We will get to know what program Tatsuki was practicing eventually but I'm greedy (want to know now..). Some movements don't like his this season's programs. Ah..if he would have not retired, we probably would see many footage covered by Japanese media, but his fans in Japan sporadically feed us not to dead of starvation.

 

[yhmafan]

10 MEMORABLE MOMENTS FROM THE 2014 WORLD FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS :yes:

 

[ioanna]

Seems like the user already deleted the video. Hopefully not because I posted it here but I see no other reason hwell: Since I found it on a public twitter account I didn't think it was a problem but apologies for the inconvenience anyway.

 

[Crossover]

Seems like the user already deleted the video. Hopefully not because I posted it here but I see no other reason hwell: Since I found it on a public twitter account I didn't think it was a problem but apologies for the inconvenience anyway.

Maybe the deletion of the video is done for a security concern since Tatsuki's recent activities are not officially publicized by the media. I don't think the deletion has something to do with your post here because the twit written in Japanese was open to the public and twitter is a much better place to draw attention to his fans, not here. Therefore, no need for such a quality feeling.

 

[ioanna]

Amazing picture of Tatsuki from フィギュアスケート Life Vol.1

https://twitter.com/matome_skate/status/576525184846340096

 

[Crossover]

Amazing picture of Tatsuki from フィギュアスケート Life Vol.1

https://twitter.com/matome_skate/status/576525184846340096

Indeed, that is an amazing picture! The photo itself makes me buy the magazine. The height and posture in the air make Tatsuki look like a flying bird with no limitation. It might have been taken at MOI soon after his retirement announcement. Thanks for sharing it.