I badly want to go to Japan (especially Tokyo and Sendai), and I honestly don't care about natural disasters and such (I even visited countries where safety of people was delicate because of political tensions). But what's stopping me is the price, because, unfortunately, it's expensive for me to plan a trip there (plane tickets + hotels + JR Pass, etc...)The sad thing is that Sendai is very near where the 2011 earthquake happened so many people are actually afraid of going there for holiday - people in Hong Kong at least, and a LOT of HK people visit Japan because it is so near. The guide books to Tokyo, Hokkaido etc. get updated every year, so if you were to visit a bookstore you'd see 2015 versions of loads of cities, but for Sendai they are still selling the 2011 version, produced before the earthquake, because there is no demand for more books. It's very sad
I really want to save up money for this. The most annoying thing is that if I want to do an organized tour of the country with an agency, it would cost around 4000€. Not really worth it, even if you don't have to plan everything. I'd prefer to do my own stuff and use the town guides to decide what I want to visit.I do not believe they are at risk at all, unless they are close to the actual Fukushima exclusion zone
He's quite the paradox, isn't he
I remember after the Olympics he himself said that we shouldn't expect him to just win everything from now on, because each competition will be a new challenge and he needs to be judged by what he does then and not what he did at the Olympics. But when he actually did lose a competition, he was still mad, mostly at himself, I guess. It's not like he said "well, told you that I'm still beatable, this was to be expected".
I just think that it's really hard to judge the situation based on last season. That was not a normal season. There was (and is) a lot of pressure from being the OGM. He had limited time to train because of all the ice shows and other obligations. Then he got injured. Then there was the freaky accident. Then he topped the year off by having surgery. Then he gets himself injured again. Under the circumstances, I think he handled himself really well. And it gives you an idea of what he's really made of. But that season was such an abnormality. I really have a hard time making any predictions based on last year. Quite frankly, I'm not really worried about that, but I'm approaching this matter with a mentality of "ignorance is bliss", because there's no way to really know how safe or dangerous it really is. Some say the contamination is minimal, some say it's dangerously high, some say that the published data is rubbish either way and that the government is in on it and flat out lies to the public. So unless I study nuclear-whatever and bring my own measuring kit, I don't see how I would come to learn the truth. Going to the "danger zone" is probably not the wisest idea, but other than that I guess staying there for a short period of time won't kill me.
I try not to overthink this. There are so many things out there that could potentially harm me. If I were to panic about all of them, I couldn't leave the house anymore. And if staying in Sendai for two days is going to kill me, so be it 
I can live with that
That's not rambling, that's exactly the truth. :yes: Now, seeing how he has already started training again, and the fact that the number of shows he will appear in isn't extra high, he should be in better shape than last year (if everything go right for him, of course. Just saying coz Kanako hurt herself and will no do any ice show this summer to rest and gain training time back).More than losing his title to Javi, I think Yuzu was terribly mad at himself for messing up those first two quads. He wanted a clean performance and couldn't deliver it, and somehow I'm glad he didn't win his title like that. When asked about his Olympic gold he said he wasn't completely at peace with it because of his falls, and he was actually cheering for Patrick because he didn't want to win like this. Just like here he was cheering for Javier because he knew he had chances to beat him with a clean performance. Losing to Javi eased the pain and taught him that he could actually survive it. I think it was easier for Javi to be happy for him every time Yuzu beat him because well there is no question in his mind that Yuzu is better than him. But to Yuzu it is not the same: he knew he could easily beat Javier but was betrayed by his own body, so in the end he lost to himself. I like the way how both ultimately handled the situation: Javi was aware of Yuzu's feelings of regret and didn't hold a grudge in any way: on the contrary he was extra caring with him. Ad Yuzu didn't try to hide his disappointment: he was happy for Javi but definitely wished he had won instead. And that makes them very good sportsmen and people: as Brian says this can work because they are both good people.
All this to say that more than winning (because he already has all the major titles), it's both pushing the limits and being consistent that will make Yuzu happy. But this is a paradox in itself because the more you push the limits, less chances you have to be consistent. And that's where Yuzu's genius and uniqueness lies. He will always strive for something unreachable: and this makes you feel very humble and full of respect for him. He already has written his name in the history of this sport and people didn't cease to admire him when he lost his title to Javier. Quite the contrary actually.
(Sorry for my very long rambling here
That's the issue with travelling in group: you're not free to go wherever you want to coz it's a group decision. Of course, travelling with a group of friends is great, but that has its problems as well. That's also why I'd rather go to Japan on my own and do what I feel like doing. Or with just one friend, so that it won't be a problem if one wants to go somewhere, the other will follow and not say no, no matter what.
I know how you feel. I grew up myself in the country that has the most nuclear plants for its size and inhabitants (19, for a total of 58 nuclear reactors), and in an area with 4 nuclear plants within a 200km radius. So, of course, lot of stupid people like to make up things, just like they do for Japan. Of course, the area where the nuclear disaster happened isn't totally safe yet, but that doesn't represent the whole land. I wish people would get their head out of their behind (sorry but that's the truth) and stop being so paranoid.Quite frankly, I'm not really worried about that, but I'm approaching this matter with a mentality of "ignorance is bliss", because there's no way to really know how safe or dangerous it really is. Some say the contamination is minimal, some say it's dangerously high, some say that the published data is rubbish either way and that the government is in on it and flat out lies to the public. So unless I study nuclear-whatever and bring my own measuring kit, I don't see how I would come to learn the truth. Going to the "danger zone" is probably not the wisest idea, but other than that I guess staying there for a short period of time won't kill me.
Heck, I've had so many x-rays in my life, I'm probably my own source of radiation. And it's not like I'm super safe at home. There are two nuclear power plants within a 200km radius. They're both old as time and one has "incidents" on a regular basis. I have a higher chance of getting blown up here. Every once in a while there are reports that wildlife and plants in the area are still highly affected by the Chernobyl disaster. That was in 1986! (and btw, we have our own "conspiracies" going on because it's being said that the government doesn't want the whole data to be published because apparently there's no reason for us to know what's going on in those regions).
Anyway
i read this just briefly and mistaken for plush(plushenko) watching yuzuru... Was surprised when its furry
Major Lolz.....this is such an off season question.
I agree but also disagree. His programs are very difficult for other people, but by his own standards POTO is not as difficult as last year's R&J in non-jump content (naturally, given the original 3 quads, and his lack of time to go back to Shae-lynn Bourne). He's still not very clean in competition with the 4T/4S free program, but he's upgrading to 4T/4S/4T+2T next season. If he starts performing 3 quad LPs cleanly, then I believe he will push for 2 quad SPs, but there is a limit to how far he can push himself technically. He gambled on his inconsistent 4S at Sochi because he was a challenger, but now he's the defender, and I don't expect to see that kind of thing in 2018. In the Olympic year I personally doubt he will push new jump-content even if he's miraculously performing his layouts perfectly ever time (and winning, of course), all of these unclean programs and discovering his technical limits now are building towards the Olympics as the final goal, that elusive OGM-repeat, where he wants to win definitively with clean performances.
Maye his intention is like this:I agree but also disagree. His programs are very difficult for other people, but by his own standards POTO is not as difficult as last year's R&J in non-jump content (naturally, given the original 3 quads, and his lack of time to go back to Shae-lynn Bourne). He's still not very clean in competition with the 4T/4S free program, but he's upgrading to 4T/4S/4T+2T next season. If he starts performing 3 quad LPs cleanly, then I believe he will push for 2 quad SPs, but there is a limit to how far he can push himself technically. He gambled on his inconsistent 4S at Sochi because he was a challenger, but now he's the defender, and I don't expect to see that kind of thing in 2018. In the Olympic year I personally doubt he will push new jump-content even if he's miraculously performing his layouts perfectly ever time (and winning, of course), all of these unclean programs and discovering his technical limits now are building towards the Olympics as the final goal, that elusive OGM-repeat, where he wants to win definitively with clean performances.
All I hope is that he gets those two clean performances, and that he does so having pushed himself both technically and artistically.
) but I agree with you, the possibility of him landing it in competition is close to none. He may want to show it off at an exhibition though. I have no idea about the 4Lo, he still says they don't plan to include it, and I think he said he wanted to do a 4S/4T SP but wanted to wait for his 4S to become more stable. His 4S this season was 2x 2S pops, 2x rotated falls, and 2x beautiful +2GOE jumpsMaye his intention is like this:
2015-2016: original layouts of this season
- SP with 3A, 4T in the second half and 3lz3T (but if you ask me i'd rather see him putting 3A as the final jump in SP).
- Lp with 4T,4S and 4T2T
2016-2017: I am not sure and I don't hope for 2 quads SP
- SP with 4Lo?
- Lp with 4Lo or 4Lz then 4S and 4T
2017-2018: same layout as the previous season to develope consistency?
Well if it's Yuzuru... Things like that could happen.
And honestly I don't hope for 4A. I don't think anyone can land it, and even if Yuzuru wants to try it... I don't think he will put it in competition.
. That's already a lot improved from last year, I think once we start seeing him land both his 4T and 4S consistently of equal quality, then I think a 4S/4T+3T/3A SP is quite likely. But I think he really does want to be the first one to land a 4Lo (while the 4Lz has already been landed 
), maybe he'll throw it in at a 4CC competition randomly and finally get his 4CC gold 
