Yuzuru Hanyu: 2013-14 Season

[cruzceleste]

^now I'm curious about the rumors tgat you read

 

[echotpe]

【photo】four years later, Yuzu really changes little while growing up!

Junko Yaginuma, one of female skaters in group number of PIW Hachinohe ice show, posted two shots with Yuzu in comparison of PIW in 2010 and 2014. Yuzu changes little while growing up. Ms Yaginuma is also beautiful as usual. They are both good at maintaining the looks and bodies.:think:

post: http://ameblo.jp/junko-yaginuma/entry-11849809492.html
2010 at PIW Hachinohe
2014 at PIW Hachinohe

 

[makaihime]

Take rumors with a grain of salt. When he was up and coming in the senior scene, for as many new fans he gained he also gained alot of people who harbored...lets just say less than nice feelings for him. He was a major threat to other skaters and was challenging for the podium, and with him being so young and talented, it really didn't help his case. Even on this forum there were quite a few people who were constantly making distorted claims. Although they're now banned/not around these days. Unless there is reliable source (not he heard she said) or proof, its best to ignore those things and focus on the positive.

@echotpe Thank you for this~ Wow she looks amazing Her skin looks baby soft! Compared to her, Yuzu....did you eat too many oranges again? He's definitely grown up, even if its not in facial features, his presentation and aura has matured over the years which is nice to see although I do miss his childlike self. I hope we'll still get to see glimpses of it in the future like we do now

 

[Maria Victoria]

【photo】four years later, Yuzu really changes little while growing up!

Junko Yaginuma, one of female skaters in group number of PIW Hachinohe ice show, posted two shots with Yuzu in comparison of PIW in 2010 and 2014. Yuzu changes little while growing up. Ms Yaginuma is also beautiful as usual. They are both good at maintaining the looks and bodies.:think:

post: http://ameblo.jp/junko-yaginuma/entry-11849809492.html

2010 at PIW Hachinohe


2014 at PIW Hachinohe

I agree and besides the exercise they get from ice skating, their looking so good must also be in genes. Thanks for the links echotpe!

@makaihime: ITA. As fans it's best to be discerning about what to believe regarding what's written or said about Yuzuru and use the good judgment God has given us. Based on what we have ourselves personally observed about him, I think we can have a pretty good idea of his character.

 

[PatricksGaze]

I think the main reason why people would hate Yuzu is his fearless, direct, eccentric, passionate and spontaneous personality. Because of these traits some people like to distort the impression of him calling him showing-off boy, actor and so on. I was caught up by this logic once but started to observe him. By analyzing his personality I figured out he's extremely unusual character with natural extraordinary traits. He's simply unbelievable kid with his own world and strong bond with the audience

 

[Maria Victoria]

I think the main reason why people would hate Yuzu is his fearless, direct, eccentric, passionate and spontaneous personality. Because of these traits some people like to distort the impression of him calling him showing-off boy, actor and so on. I was caught up by this logic once but started to observe him. By analyzing his personality I figured out he's extremely unusual character with natural extraordinary traits. He's simply unbelievable kid with his own world and strong bond with the audience

Yes, I remember you asking questions in this thread about his character which is certainly better than just blindly accepting the say-so of others.

Yuzuru is not perfect, but for someone so young (not even legally an adult in his country), he is for me indisputably a mensch. There is something admirable (and enviable) at how very early on he knew what he wanted to be (the best skater in the world) and then direct all his passion and energy to the fulfillment of that goal. How often have we heard the phrase "he gave everything he had" said of him? Then there is also his high sense of responsibility (to his family, to his beloved Sendai, to his country) which tempers, shall we say for want of a better term, the egocentric tendency any elite athlete is prone to. I also love how he challenges himself by, using the metaphor of JFK re putting a man on the moon, throwing his cap over the wall and trying with all his might and main to follow. (I think Yuzuru used the wall metaphor himself.) I can easily understand why such a person could evoke strong feelings in others, either admiration or, as you put it, "hate." For me, he is a class act and what's great is that I think the best is yet to come.

 

[echotpe]

【survey】Which Yuzu’s costume you most favorite? Well, R&J 2 is ranked top 1!

There is an interesting survey to ask 100 persons vote for their favorites in Yuzu’s costumes. 99% of respondents are females.

post: http://kisshug.biz/yuzuru/826.html
results: https://questant.jp/q/MPIO0VZW/result#all

Top 5 favorites are:
R&J 2(23%)
Étude in D# Minor, Op. 8 no.12 (19%)
Parisian walkway (18%)
R&J 1.0 (17%)
White legend (9%)

Top 5 of respondents’ age:
45-49 (21%)
40-44 & 50-54 (16%)
30-34 & 35-59 (12%)

Yuzu, you’re really a national favorite son and brother!:think:

 

[Maria Victoria]

【survey】Which Yuzu’s costume you most favorite? Well, R&J 2 is ranked top 1!

Yuzu, you’re really a favorite National Son and Brother!:think:

You chose your headlng well echotpe! And from a fan auntie, favorite nephew as well!

 

[foruiz]

Wow, with that R&J2 costume getting the top spot, he must be very well loved indeed!

 

[Pamigena]

Top 5 of respondents’ age:
45-49 (21%)
40-44 & 50-54 (16%)
30-34 & 35-59 (12%)

Gender:
Female: 99%
Male: 1%

oh, come on, this is obviously a fake! that caaaaaan't be true, I won't believe it!

 

[mikaboo]

Can't believe R&J 2 costume is popular

2 bear cubs at Noboribetsu Bear Park were named "Sochi" and "Yuzuru".
http://www.hokkaido-nl.jp/detail.cgi?id=19823 The one on the right is Yuzuru.
http://www.bearpark.jp/topics/2014/index.htm
Those 2 names were chosen from the 400 names that park visitors were asked to come up with.

 

[Pamigena]

if any of you feel like getting a little emotional....
report about Yuzuru and Sashida Fumiya (amongst other things)
with subtitles
(as always big thanks to nonchan for her efforts)

http://nonchan1023.tumblr.com/post/86184124618/translations-here-you-go-this-is-a-special

 

[Maria Victoria]

Can't believe R&J 2 costume is popular

I think it's the Olympic (GPF, Worlds) gold medal effect, "halo marking," to quote Chris Howarth.

2 bear cubs at Noboribetsu Bear Park were named "Sochi" and "Yuzuru".
http://www.hokkaido-nl.jp/detail.cgi?id=19823 The one on the right is Yuzuru.
http://www.bearpark.jp/topics/2014/index.htm
Those 2 names were chosen from the 400 names that park visitors were asked to come up with.

So besides Winnie, the Waseda mascot, yet another bear associated with Yuzuru! His patronus?

PS. Thanks to all those who posted links!

 

[echotpe]

Can't believe R&J 2 costume is popular

Well, I ever wonder why NTT Docomo adopted a shot of R&J 2 in their new commercial rather than any one of Parisian Walkway? It should be assessed in popularity or favorites from target audience. So I am willing to accept it as a result.

 

[HanDomi]

Well you know, actually R&J2 costume isn't that bad as some of you think I think in many areas it is very beatifull costume. It is very soft, sensitive. You can look this way. R&J 1 costume was more dramatic side story. R&J2 is pure beatifull love feeling side. I saw somewhere on other forum a explanation of this costume related to Romeo and Juliet story which can really change your mind thinking about this costume, but I don't remember where

 

[Meoima]

【survey】Which Yuzu’s costume you most favorite? Well, R&J 2 is ranked top 1!
There is an interesting survey to ask 100 persons vote for their favorites in Yuzu’s costumes. 99% of respondents are
Top 5 of respondents’ age:
45-49 (21%)
40-44 & 50-54 (16%)
30-34 & 35-59 (12%)
Yuzu, you’re really a national favorite son and brother!:think:

These 100 aunties did that so they can see my crying! I know it!
Poor the favorite son/nephew!

 

[Maria Victoria]

@HanDomi, actually, I'm very interested to read that explanation so if you remember please post the link. There's also this beautiful post by phaeljones in this thread which I read when still lurking not only about the costume but about Yuzuru's character. It was written early last season after Skate Canada, and I think it's worth reproducing here for those who may not have yet read it:

Regarding the costume, I actually like it. Aesthetically. But that aside: (As noted in another thread by an another contributor to this site,) it looks to be very much in line with the skating tradition of Russian men skaters who have taken inspiration from the ballet. Yuzuru Hanyu has always admired and taken a lot of his inspiration from Russian skaters. This costume is in line with doing that. It is also a wonderful personal, symbolic and literal statement of thanks to the great skater Johnny Weir (who he personally asked to design it), one of the two skaters in particular (the other being Plushenko) who Yuzuru Hanyu has separated out as inspirations to his skating. But to me, when I see him, knowing who he is, wearing this, it says that this a person who never forgets his friends, never backs down from defending them, and never turns his back on what has made him great (and he is great both in spirit and skating). When I read and see the criticism, some of which is fair opinion, but some of which really has a vile manifestation of intolerance, I also see standing against that someone who graceful in soul, who doesn't back down and has a spirit that cannot be broken. I see a skater wearing a costume that few others could wear or would dare wear even if they wanted to. I also see a lot of the fortitude that carries over into his skating. It isn't just his skating that puts Yuzuru above the pack, it is Yuzuru that puts his skating above the pack.

I am not making the above statements lightly or as a fan who only sees things through rose-coloured glasses. (I don't see things through rose-coloured glasses.) I have always tried to look at his skating (both exes and competitions) critically. Over time though, I have come to realize that everything this person does I am not going to understand because he is of the type who pushes the envelope. What he does is what accords to his principles. And what kind of struck me, when in the summer I went back through youtube and I was looking at older skater videos of several of the skaters, was that the fearlessness Hanyu displays in just standing his ground and doing what he does is what the great ones do and what also makes them great in our minds, more or less but more than less, not just over time but over a long time. He has qualities that are very special.

Life is not a straight trajectory. It is really a test of character. On both competition nights in this tournament, we saw an 18 year old man stand tall and never stop trying even when the switch wouldn't turn on. We all know that he can skate brilliantly when he is on, but really you don't really know a person's character until you see them experience defeat. His character held strong last night. This is not the first time either. As well, in the 2013 Worlds, he came back with one the grittiest and gnarliest and kind of beautiful in its own way skates for the fs. He didn't win, but he sure did not wilt. Time and time again, where there have been situations where other skaters would and have gone off on the rails (no names will be given here out of deference to principles of decency), he has not. I, for one, would be very pleased if he did not change his costume.

Regarding the skating mistakes, I so agree that it is better to get them out of the way here now than later. He seems, when he is at his best, to skate for the purpose of skating. He connects to something out of this world. He goes somewhere else and brings it to us. On Saturday and Friday, in trying to connect to his skate with his spirit, he just couldn't get out of St. John, poor soul. And that held him into a prison of tension. Meeting an enemy of this kind (ie the pressure) is not the biggest battle he has fought. I have faith that, over time, he will in those situations find a way to just ignore the pressure, plug into his skate, enjoy his skate and be his best.

 

[cruzceleste]

Can't believe R&J 2 costume is popular

2 bear cubs at Noboribetsu Bear Park were named "Sochi" and "Yuzuru".
http://www.hokkaido-nl.jp/detail.cgi?id=19823 The one on the right is Yuzuru.
http://www.bearpark.jp/topics/2014/index.htm
Those 2 names were chosen from the 400 names that park visitors were asked to come up with.

Well, that's cute

 

[Windy]

There's also this beautiful post by phaeljones in this thread which I read when still lurking not only about the costume but about Yuzuru's character. It was written early last season after Skate Canada, and I think it's worth reproducing here for those who may not have yet read it:

Thank you very much, that's such a touching writing. Making me emotional all of sudden :')

 

[winterbell]

Me too. I guess that came from fandom or rather anti-fans. I did hear some bad rumors about his personality or reputation. But I am pretty sure that these rumors are spread by those anti-fans of Yuzu and they have no base. Yet, none of the bad rumors that I heard is about his attitude towards seniors. So I am curious to know what might that be.

I deleted them because they were neither accurate nor appropriate for here. My fault to bring those things up. I apologize.
---------------

Yuzu's words on his graduation album of his elementary school .
http://ww4.sinaimg.cn/mw1024/6b317035jw1egjqmm8l5rj20f60latc7.jpg
http://ww2.sinaimg.cn/mw1024/6b317035jw1egjqmok0wtj20pu0madla.jpg

It is really interesting to read those. It was mainly about what he learnt during his first Japan National Championship competition. He just graduated from elementary school but he wrote a lot of difficult Kanji for his age. And I found those Kanji very interesting: 優勝 (champion) 無我夢中 (feverishly)　練習 (practice)　精一杯 (to the utmost)　観客(audience) 感謝(appreciation) 瞬間 (moment). I feel somehow he showed his character there. He has been "pushing hard" from that moment.