Yuzuru Hanyu: 2013-14 Season

[Maria Victoria]

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

Welcome Windy. That's what's great about this thread. We share insights about Yuzuru and though we may not always agree, as in for example regarding his choice of costume, at least we come away with hopefully better understanding and appreciation of points of view different from ours.

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

No worries winterbell. False rumors will eventually die down without truth to support them. And as I said, we can use our best judgment to discern whether something said about Yuzuru is true or not and the context in which it was said. And character will eventually out.

PS. Thank you also for the information about Yuzuru's words on his elementary graduation. They only confirm that very early on he knew his life's purpose. He's really a precocious kid in more ways than one.

 

[winterbell]

No worries winterbell. False rumors will eventually die down without truth to support them. And as I said, we can use our best judgment to discern whether something said about Yuzuru is true or not and the context in which it was said.

Well, I was trying to show how strict the requirement of the senior-junior manner could be in Japan, when everything was put under microscope. But obviously that was a failed example which caused the topic offtrack too much. Those were just something exaggerated a lot by people who "hates" him. And it is so meaningless to ask them to be reasonable or satisfied. i myself never think he has a problem in personality.

 

[Hanmgse]

【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:

Wow, LOL. I don't hate the costume but definitely I wouldn't place it first

 

[Maria Victoria]

Winterbell, I appreciate how you and other Japanese fans in this thread take the time and trouble to explain cultural nuances that would have otherwise been lost on us nonJapanese fans of Yuzuru, and I understand if you thought in that desire to help us out, you caused the offtracking of this fanfest thread. No harm done.

 

[PatricksGaze]

Well, I was trying to show how strict the requirement of the senior-junior manner could be in Japan, when everything was put under microscope. But obviously that was a failed example which caused the topic offtrack too much. Those were just something exaggerated a lot by people who "hates" him. And it is so meaningless to ask them to be reasonable or satisfied. i myself never think he has a problem in personality.

Personally I'm very glad that you bring up such delicate cultural things because it does have something to do with Yuzu and we eventually happen to understand him and TJ better. I'm also very glad that we've discussed the least pleasant things concerning Hanyu that could ever appear. Because we'll probably not recall them anymore and bring them up. We've found out what's true and what's false and rebuilt our understanding of this figure skater and trust him even more now.

 

[SuzyQ]

I think this picture shows S-M relationship between Yuzuru and Nobu

http://prcm.jp/album/liwaalbum/pic/32927422

It is apparent they are enjoying.

As the new stars, aside from Shoma, Keiji and Ryuju, Sota Yamamoto (14) is promissing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJhMS9WD-xY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wr9bMhWNA8s

As Jason Brown of USA could not make his 3A stable untill when he became 17 or so, I'm expecting once Shoma Uno can have stable 3A, he will be competitive enough. His PCS was the best with level 4 for all his step sequences and spins at the J Worlds this year. Keiji and Ryuju should improve their skating skills further. I cannot see their confidence in their own skating, and it is affecting adversely to jumps, I'm afraid.

And girls! Marin Honda (12). She is expected to be the next Mao Asada, and already appearing on TV frequently. Her brother Taichi, and two sisters also do figure skating. One of the sisters, Miyu Honda (9) is popular as an actress too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ie-fcsAGZ4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkGqXBKrTIM

And, Wakaba Higuchi (13)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyoMJPHvzYc

 

[cruzceleste]

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.

Thank you Winterbell, it will be nice to know what the message saids. I know very little about kanji, but I understand than the more kanji you know the more educated you are? Am I right?

 

[winterbell]

Thank you Winterbell, it will be nice to know what the message saids. I know very little about kanji, but I understand than the more kanji you know the more educated you are? Am I right?

Yes. There is test in Japan to certificate your level of mastering Kanji, and is thought to be a very useful skill in job hunting. Some of those characters are quite complicated to write, even for some adult. It was funny that he used Hiragana to write the work "nervous", which was no more difficult than the other ones. The ones he wrote in Kanji, were all very positive, about hard working and enjoying skating, about being a winner, about appreciation.

I tried my best to translate that article into English. It was really cute, but also, not really like a sixth grade kid. Gosh, just think what I knew and what I was dong when I graduated from my elementary school.

The Moment

By Yuzuru Hanyu​

The most important thing left in my heart for my six years is skating. Things that I enjoy, things that I regret. I learnt a lot of them.

It has been five years since I started skating. At the forth year, for the first time I was recommended to the All-Japan Figure Skating Championship. In my first All-Japan Championship competition (Note: Novice group), instead of being nervous, I was very excited. "I am definitely going to win!" I thought. I practiced harder than usual.

On the competition day, it turned out that I was the first one to perform. Everyone in my club said to me, "It is very difficult to perform as the first one. But please do your best!" I answered, "I am good at perform as the first one. It is going to be ok!" That solved everyone's and my own nervous feeling.

"Number 1, Hanyu Yuzuru!" With the announcement, my performance started. I thought nothing but just got very focused and did all my best. When I realized it was already my last pose. At that moment, I got a big applause from the audiance. I cannot forget that moment even now. I was very happy. And for the first time, I thought "I want to show my appreciation to the audiance".

I learnt that "I want to show my appreciation to the audiance" from this competition. From now on, I want to learn more different things from skating.

 

[SuzyQ]

Personally I'm very glad that you bring up such delicate cultural things because it does have something to do with Yuzu and we eventually happen to understand him and TJ better. I'm also very glad that we've discussed the least pleasant things concerning Hanyu that could ever appear. Because we'll probably not recall them anymore and bring them up. We've found out what's true and what's false and rebuilt our understanding of this figure skater and trust him even more now.

Even as a Japanese, I do not see so much Senpai-Kohai tension among figure skaters in Japan. Figure skating is a special sport in a meaning, as it is not a group sport, or combat sport. It really depends on individuals. They have to fight against themselves. Of course there is a kind of rivalry, but it is purly rivalry in competition. Besides, they are childhood friends as they are together in training camps and competitions since they are very young. They are more like brothers and sisters, or at least cousins

Brothers and sisters have rivalry feeling, don't you think?

Daisuke, Nobunari, Takahiko, and other senior skaters have known Yuzuru since he was a little kid, and know his aggressiveness (not in negative meaning). It is unlikely there is any kind of bitter feeling among them. Skaters are the people who respect those who have talent and make efforts. I remember Tatsuki said he respects Yuzuru very much. Ages mean nothing to them.

One concern is the enthusiastic fans. Especially, I hear Daisuke's crazed fans sometimes go too far. Of course they are criticized severely even by other Daisuke's fans.

In any case, you don't have to worry too much. I'm sure they are doing quite well.

 

[Tommmy]

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.

 

[echotpe]

The most important thing left in my heart for my six years is skating. Things that I enjoy, things that I regret. I learnt a lot of them.

It has been five years since I started skating. At the forth year, for the first time I was recommended to the All-Japan Figure Skating Championship. In my first All-Japan Championship competition, instead of being nervous, I was very excited. "I am definitely going to win!" I thought. I practiced harder than usual.

Thank winterbell for the translation. Wow, it was quite a good composition at 11 years old. :agree:

Here is Yuzu's first junior national championship Novice B and he won!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMF04B_54nQ

 

[HanDomi]

Here is Yuzu's first junior national championship Novice B and he won!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMF04B_54nQ

He truly watched a lot of Plushenko

 

[cruzceleste]

He truly watched a lot of Plushenko

Man, there is a lot bling in that shirt

It has been five years since I started skating. At the forth year, for the first time I was recommended to the All-Japan Figure Skating Championship. In my first All-Japan Championship competition (Note: Novice group), instead of being nervous, I was very excited. "I am definitely going to win!" I thought. I practiced harder than usual.

On the competition day, it turned out that I was the first one to perform. Everyone in my club said to me, "It is very difficult to perform as the first one. But please do your best!" I answered, "I am good at perform as the first one. It is going to be ok!" That solved everyone's and my own nervous feeling.

Thank you Winterbell, he really is mentally strong. I practice swimming since 9 to 15, and I didn´t like the feeling that I got before every competition, actually I hate it. Yuzuru seems to really enjoy it.

 

[annca]

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

was this the explanation??

His FS costume looks like rose petals especially when jumping and spinning.

I think it just visualizes the lyryic of the refrain part of the original song 'What Is A Youth'.
"A rose will bloom. It then will fade. So does a youth. So does a fairest maid."

And in the original play by Shakespeare, Juliet assimilates Romeo to a rose.
"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. So Romeo would, were he not called Romeo."

it kinda helped me understand what was going on with yuzu's fp costume

 

[jimeonji]

juniors! I love talking about juniors.

As Jason Brown of USA could not make his 3A stable untill when he became 17 or so, I'm expecting once Shoma Uno can have stable 3A, he will be competitive enough. His PCS was the best with level 4 for all his step sequences and spins at the J Worlds this year. Keiji and Ryuju should improve their skating skills further. I cannot see their confidence in their own skating, and it is affecting adversely to jumps, I'm afraid.

very true about Jason Brown - and look at him now! Went to the Olympics and probably the most anticipated of the men's skaters of the coming quad. Shoma's my favorite of all the juniors (he reminds me so much of Dai, my gosh) and he was first place in PCS in the short and only beaten by Nathan in PCS by a tiny bit for the long. But as a senior contender? Not unless he stabilizes his 3a this summer, which I don't find very likely. Maybe he'll grow a bit and his jumps will get bigger and the 3a will come eventually. (and the quad, I'm not even going to think about Shoma and quads )

Besides, the senior men's field in Japan is so deep - which is the main problem for Keiji, who is too old for juniors this season and must move to seniors. However, he doesn't even have much of a chance of getting on the podium at Japanese Nationals. His 3a is there, he attempts a quad but it's very inconsistent (has he ever landed it in competition?). Podium at Japanese Nats will most likely always be Yuzuru, Tatsuki, Takahiko/Takahito, meaning Worlds spots will be pretty much decided. Maybe Keiji would be able to go to 4CC, but he'd be overshadowed by the higher ranking Japanese skaters (you are so right about his underconfidence affecting his jumps/overall skating. have you read the interview he's done with Ryuju? but I guess I'd feel the same way when this kid that's younger than me is already Olympic champion...) Yuzuru's main Japanese competition will be Tatsuki. Yuzuru was always an anomaly anyways.

And girls! Marin Honda (12). She is expected to be the next Mao Asada, and already appearing on TV frequently. Her brother Taichi, and two sisters also do figure skating. One of the sisters, Miyu Honda (9) is popular as an actress too!

oh, I love Marin a lot. I've been trying to not get emotionally attached to a novice skater. I'm so excited for her. And she has a true lutz, if I'm not remembering incorrectly! Already kind of landing 3-3s! Of course, there's Satoko - I'm really counting on her to fill up the Japanese ladies' field, now without Mao and Akiko. Kanako as well. But I'm afraid that the Russian ladies will dominate the international stage, and if not the Russians, the US ladies as well.
I'll need to watch the videos you've linked when I get home!!

 

[PatricksGaze]

In any case, you don't have to worry too much. I'm sure they are doing quite well.

Thank you very much for understanding!
Really, these people are mature enough to be able to maintain the sweetest relationships while being rivals and colleagues and they sure are warm and responsible people with strong personalities. They showed their cooperation and team spirit in Sochi.

 

[Yuzusan]

I just noticed something when comparing Olympics to Worlds (and other skates)
For all programs except for Olympics FS, he does the usual crouch, slap boards, and push back while still down.

Olympics FS, after Orser says "one section at a time", Yuzu just ambles off to center rink. Hmm.

Just impressive work Channah ! Thanks ! It is so touching to see his admiration for Akikawa...

I'm just watching a video where there is a mix of different scene about Yuzuru before, during and after winning the gold medal at Olympics. It also shows backstage and at the end a friendly hug between Ten en Yuzu ! So adorable : http://telly.com/1HTK7N3
What words Yuzu said during his different interview ? All sequences of the video are vibrant. The quality is good.

I think after the SP, he was very tired and not with his full capacity for FS (I read that on forum, or interview I didn't remember), and I noticed the same thing as you. Habit's gestures before a performance are very important for athletes.

I see that you quoted my message cause the video is also interesting for you Sure.

 

[Esopian]

Thank you Winterbell, he really is mentally strong. I practice swimming since 9 to 15, and I didn´t like the feeling that I got before every competition, actually I hate it. Yuzuru seems to really enjoy it.

I was a competitive swimmer once too, and the feeling of going to competitions is like a million butterflies flying around in your stomach!

I freaked out a lot before swim meets and got nervous a few days before the competition. So I really admire how Yuzuru's been going to competitions his whole life, how nerve-wracking is that? I don't think I could live by just going to competitions ... they're really scary. Swimming is good as leisure, but for speed it's a whole other story. That's my opinion on competitions.

 

[Hanmgse]

I was a competitive swimmer once too, and the feeling of going to competitions is like a million butterflies flying around in your stomach!

I freaked out a lot before swim meets and got nervous a few days before the competition. So I really admire how Yuzuru's been going to competitions his whole life, how nerve-wracking is that? I don't think I could live by just going to competitions ... they're really scary. Swimming is good as leisure, but for speed it's a whole other story. That's my opinion on competitions.

Very interesting ^^. I haven't compete like that but every time I have to play the piano in public I get sooo nervous mostly when I'm among the last and I have to wait so much (I get even more nervous if the students before me make mistakes) but when the teacher finally calls my name and I sit down on the piano I just forget about everything and focus on my song. It's such a nice feeling ><. I too admire how Yuzuru deals with the presure and the nervousness, he has had bad skates but he manages to keep going and force himself to do it better next time

 

[Pamigena]

Very interesting ^^. I haven't compete like that but every time I have to play the piano in public I get sooo nervous mostly when I'm among the last and I have to wait so much (I get even more nervous if the students before me make mistakes) but when the teacher finally calls my name and I sit down on the piano I just forget about everything and focus on my song. It's such a nice feeling ><. I too admire how Yuzuru deals with the presure and the nervousness, he has had bad skates but he manages to keep going and force himself to do it better next time

if I may offer a third opinion ^^
piano recitals - horror. hated that, almost died every time. nothing nice about that.
volleyball tournament - what do I care. I just go out there and play.
I guess with me it's a group-thing playing with a team, I always felt sort of 'protected', if that makes any sense. but being alone out there in the spotlight... hated it (thank God my recital days are behind me)