The First Skate | Jul 5, 2025

[Magill]

Xebio Arena sends its love
reminding us it is only 5 days to the show.
No news from the eye of the storm.
From public exchange between Yuzu and Miya on their official accounts, and later comments from Miya, we know though that while Yuzu wanted very much to join his friend in Tokyo over the weekend for his little celebrations, he could not do so, and they just talked online only, as he was too busy to travel. We can just imagine what he might be busy with a week before the show!!!
Miya is the singer who sang Raison to which Yuzu skated at FaOI 2022 and they have been great friends ever since, resulting in Yuzu skating to another of Miya's songs, Last Ambient, last year.

 

[Magill]

The large number of applications for the very limited number of tickets for the First Skate did not go unnoticed by the Japanese press.
Here's from Tokyo-sports.

羽生結弦出演のアイスショーのチケット抽選に想定外の応募　仙台市の担当者は「すごい数字」 | 東スポWEB

フィギュアスケート男子で五輪２連覇を達成したプロスケーター・羽生結弦（３０）の〝反響ぶり〟には...

www.tokyo-sports.co.jp

 

[TallyT]

They had 31,000 applications for tickets in the two rounds of the lottery, despite the first round only being for the surrounding district. Thirty-one thousand.

 

[Magill]

They had 31,000 applications for tickets in the two rounds of the lottery, despite the first round only being for the surrounding district. Thirty-one thousand.

And for how many seats? 2500?

 

[Magill]

Here's another article, by TBS News this time.
Actually fans know it was 3 minutes not 30 but anyway....

羽生結弦さんら出演のアイスショー　チケット一般抽選に予定座席数の“20倍超”約2万件の応募あり増席も　仙台市アリーナ開館記念イベント | TBS NEWS DIG (1ページ)

プロスケーターの羽生結弦さんらが出演して今月5日に開催される仙台市太白区のゼビオアリーナ仙台のリニューアルオープンを記念したアイスショーについて、すでに完売したチケットの一般抽選には当初予定していた… (1ページ)

newsdig.tbs.co.jp

 

[Magill]

Heier Japan and AQUA join the First Skate waiting fever with congratulatory posters at the Sendai Station II!

 

[DizzyFrenchie]

There's a bad news though (even if it was more expected with each day passing): this fan asked the Sendai municipal team, who answered them that there wouldn't be any live broadcast:
https://x.com/sakurano1104/status/1939910651306262822?ref_url=

 

[Magill]

There's a bad news though (even if it was more expected with each day passing): this fan asked the Sendai municipal team, who answered them that there wouldn't be any live broadcast:
https://x.com/sakurano1104/status/1939910651306262822?ref_url=

That's unusual. Copyrights, copyrights.... I wonder what he's / they're going to skate to then which made obtaining rights so difficult (and/or expensive)..
Well, whatever it is, we'll soon know more...

 

[DizzyFrenchie]

That's unusual. Copyrights, copyrights.... I wonder what he's / they're going to skate to then which made obtaining rights so difficult (and/or expensive)..
Well, whatever it is, we'll soon know more...

I really hope that there will be cameras recording the whole event, so that all these matters can be sorted out in the future.

 

[Magill]

I really hope that there will be cameras recording the whole event, so that all these matters can be sorted out in the future.

Actually it makes me appreciate even more the top notch level of accessibility we usually get from Yuzu for ice stories which he has total control of. It must take so much effort - and money - to ensure this quality of service, global livestreaming, RL subtitles for the livestreams, audio guide translations for those watching live at the venues, it is always sooo considerate of him.
We'll see what happens here in a few days....

 

[Magill]

As those lucky winners who managed to get tickets for Saturday set off for Sendai, here's a link to Visit Japan's guide around the city designed specifically with figure skating fans in mind

For those who might find it useful, for those who enjoy mind travelling with the help of online tools, and for those just curious
After all, this is the city believed to be the birthplace of Japanese FS, where they can show you where it all started some 130 years ago, the famous Goshikinuma Pond in Aobayama Park, where a missionary started to teach first Japanese kids to skate. It is almost magical that this is also the home city to both - and the only, as for now - Japanese FS OGMs - Shizuka Arakawa and Yuzuru Hanyu.

https://visitjapan-vegetarian.com/a-guide-to-a-pilgrimage-to-hanyu-yuzurus-hometown-sendai/

 

[Magill]

Now, this is truly intriguing...
I don't want to raise anyone's hopes too high (including myself) but what could be possibly meant by this....???

Posted by a Sendai City Council Member:
"Finally, tomorrow, Sendai City Arena will open.
Great news for those who got tickets and those who didn’t for the ice show *The First Skate*, featuring Yuzuru Hanyu, Takeshi Honda, Akiko Suzuki, and Rika Hongo...!
Released today at 12 PM!
Stay tuned for new information!"

 

[Magill]

YESSS!!!! It's here!!
I'm not sure what it means exactly but I understand there will be a paid stream, it seems not live but archived, but it will be there!
Details to be announced soon!!!!
Machine translation of the post from the angel disguised as a Sendai City Council Member, the same as above:
"【Ice Show Recording Distribution Confirmed!】
The paid recording distribution of the ice show *The First Skate*, featuring Yuzuru Hanyu, Takeshi Honda, Akiko Suzuki, and Rika Hongo, has been confirmed!Details such as the distribution date will be announced later on the website or official SNS. We sincerely thank all the performers who made adjustments, the staff at Xebio Arena, and the people of Sendai City for their tremendous efforts!"

 

[TallyT]

Now, this is truly intriguing...
I don't want to raise anyone's hopes too high (including myself) but what could be possibly meant by this....???

Posted by a Sendai City Council Member:
"Finally, tomorrow, Sendai City Arena will open.
Great news for those who got tickets and those who didn’t for the ice show *The First Skate*, featuring Yuzuru Hanyu, Takeshi Honda, Akiko Suzuki, and Rika Hongo...!
Released today at 12 PM!
Stay tuned for new information!"

Love the picture, it's a beautiful rink!

 

[TallyT]

YESSS!!!! It's here!!
I'm not sure what it means exactly but I understand there will be a paid stream, it seems not live but archived, but it will be there!
Details to be announced soon!!!!
Machine translation of the post from the angel disguised as a Sendai City Council Member, the same as above:
"【Ice Show Recording Distribution Confirmed!】
The paid recording distribution of the ice show *The First Skate*, featuring Yuzuru Hanyu, Takeshi Honda, Akiko Suzuki, and Rika Hongo, has been confirmed!Details such as the distribution date will be announced later on the website or official SNS. We sincerely thank all the performers who made adjustments, the staff at Xebio Arena, and the people of Sendai City for their tremendous efforts!"

Yes yes yes yes !!!!!!!!!!! I am sooooo happy!!!!!



And I just got an email that my parcel from Japan - the GUCCI one - is being sent!!!

 

[Wynter]

There will be a segment covering the First Skate in local TV (6th and 7th July).

https://x.com/chiffon8397/status/1941061644064625071?t=lirndgeP4Jvk01oM2772OQ&s=19

NHK News Coverage. Yappei cannot wait to see Yuzu. The writing on Yappei's forehead: "Yuzu Love". LOL so cute.

https://x.com/yuzu127sendai1/status/1941071824273678830

Guriri is excited.



Haier and AQUA sent flowers to Yuzuru Hanyu "sama".

https://x.com/starfishh127/status/1941069103198072982

I read tweets saying some photographer uncles will be there tomorrow, so we'll get some photos.

 

[TallyT]

There will be a segment covering the First Skate in local TV (6th and 7th July).

https://x.com/chiffon8397/status/1941061644064625071?t=lirndgeP4Jvk01oM2772OQ&s=19

NHK News Coverage. Yappei cannot wait to see Yuzu. The writing on Yappei's forehead: "Yuzu Love". LOL so cute.

https://x.com/yuzu127sendai1/status/1941071824273678830

Guriri is excited.



Haier and AQUA sent flowers to Yuzuru Hanyu "sama".

https://x.com/starfishh127/status/1941069103198072982

I read tweets saying some photographer uncles will be there tomorrow, so we'll get some photos.

The f lowers are beautiful, and of ourse the uncles would want to be there

 

[TallyT]

Japanese TV are our friends, local stations as well as NHK will be reporting... with footage!

 

[TallyT]

PS - and what's the odds on the national papers running the story and pictures? They know what sells...

 

[Magill]

The f lowers are beautiful, and of course the uncles would want to be there

The flowers are beautiful, and the colours are so carefully selected and in tune !
I dare a guess: YuzuruBlue - Haier, YuzuruBlue mixed with white - AQUA



But it seems there are more flowers sent in already.
Here's from the official Arena's SNS:
Any news on who these are from?
Or are they from the Arena for the 4 skaters and the choreographer?
Anyone can decipher the notes, please?