Yuzu mentioned this topic mainly in three interviews:
2011 with Mai Asada:
-What type of woman is your favorite?
-Well. If I am asked "which is your favorite, a beautiful woman or a pretty woman?, I say that I like a pretty woman.I like a woman who is not so tall, and whom I want to protect.
-You said such a reliable thing though you are only 16.
-Well. Ahahaha. And I don't want to be restrained so much by my girlfriend.
-How about (female) figure skater as your girlfriend?
-Yes, I want a girl who does skating to be my girlfriend basically.
-Oh! It is unexpected. Because I never wanted it to be, absolutely.
-Ahahaha. I think that my girlfriend should better be a skater.
-I cannot see a skater as a love target. Ahahaha.
2011 with a magazine
Q: Now we come to the long awaited part, love talk with Yuzuru Hanyu! Firstly what we asked all the other skaters: Do you think being in in love is essential for figure skating?
A: Not essential. Because I want to focus on skating! Ahhh, but…hmm, hold on! This question is so difficult. Hmm, what were the others’ views on this?
Q: Among the female skaters, it seems that many of them said it was necessary? Among the younger skaters, for both guys and girls many said it wasn’t necessary.
A: Hmm, I don’t think it is that necessary. But, if I have a girlfriend, maybe I will feel more reassured. In reality I really don’t know how it would be like. I won’t know until I’ve experienced it.
Q: You won’t know until you’ve experienced it! Although you are still young, what’s your ideal relationship?
A: I think it would be great if she’s someone who’s not fixated about certain things. For example, things like “Since we are attached, you must definitely do as such for me” or “It’s not ok if we don’t meet on each other’s birthdays”. I don’t want to feel restricted by such things and neither do I want to restrict someone else like that.
Q: Between someone who is a skater and someone who is not, whom would you prefer?
A: The one who is a skater! After all, if she’s also a skater, we would be able to talk about skating and it’s also better as there will be more similarities between us. It would be difficult if she was someone with no connection to skating, like friends in school
(so friends in school are ruled out now).
Q: On the type you like, can you describe based on actresses?
A: I’ve liked Aya Ueto since some time ago. Recently I started liking Maki Horikita-chan.
Q: Imagine that you have a girlfriend who is a cute skater that resembles Maki Horikita, but you have to make a choice between skating and her. What would you do?
A: If I’m really forced to choose…I’ll choose skating.
Because our relationship would definitely be one that is connected by skating. Therefore if I give up skating, the connection between us would also disappear! (Looks like he is very determined that the girl should be a skater...)
(Translator’s note: This was published in August 2011)
(Source: twitter.com)
2013 with Yukari Nakano (rough translation based on Chinese translation):
- I am currently not in a relationship.
- Is it ok not to be in love?
- I want to (be in love) if there is a chance. But it is a bit hard because I train overseas. I am not fond of foreign girls (not very good at appreciating the looks/appearance of foreign ladies).
- How about Japanese girls?
- Japanese girls, sure! (then he went on explaining there are all foreigners at the rink and he has to speak English all the time)
- I see
- I am very grateful that people are all very nice and we get along very well. But I feel a bit sad to have to speak English all the time... Luckily, my Mom is with me, my doctor, and most of my team staff are Japanese. So I can talk with them in Japanese to relax.
- So, please find a Japanese girl to fall in love with!
- Yes, a Japanese girl!
- You must find a kind and nice girl. How about going to social events? Mao mentioned this.
- Oh, what will happen if some paparazzi come out saying Yuzuru Hanyu is dating a person from the Fuji TV if I do go to that kind of social events?
- So what kind of girls do you like? How about a news reporter?
- Do I look like those guys who are fond of news reporters? No way. And above all, I still too young for that.
So basically, to sum up, Yuzu confirmed that he was not in a relationship at least in 2013.
And the girl he is looking for is probably a Japanese, a skater, cute, not restraining him to much.