Yuzuru Hanyu: 2014-15 Season | Page 705 | Golden Skate

Yuzuru Hanyu: 2014-15 Season

On this topic, when he was 15, he said "I'd like the softness of my skating to bring the feminine expression to mind."
He is, I think, conscious of the certain qualities that people see in him and weaves them into his skating.
From about 2:15
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8yslhtIS88
That was when he was 15. This season it was reported he wanted to bring "weight" into his POTO didn't he?
I think Yuzuru knows his strength, but that doesn't prevent him from trying to reach different style. POTO is darker and has more weight than NDP and RJ2 IMO. I wonder if that's the direction he wants to follow.
Let's wait and see his programs for next season.
........
......
....
...and his costumes. :hopelessness:
 
Well, I work in Market Research, being doing it for almost 5 years now, and I really dislike seeing my work in the place were I come to take a breath and distract. ;)

Having said that, I agree gsyzf in the definitions and use of the types of investigation and data, and I wouldn´t use figure skating to teach the difference and importance between this two concepts. Just my point of view.

Have a nice day everyone.

Hi cruzceleste! I've been teaching experimental psychology (and cognitive science as Yuzu studies:)) for more ten years at college. I think market research is mainly about doing survey (we do cover that in one of the chapters), but I might be wrong. Anyway, thanks for your suggestion.

Just to clarify, I am actually not trying to teach those (resentful;)) concepts with FS. The concepts are usually taught in a much more matter-of-fact way after showing the students how wonderful FS (without having to refer to the scores) can be.

Have a nice day.
 
Last edited:
Let's wait and see his programs for next season.
........
......
....
...and his costumes. :hopelessness:

It would be great if he continue to work with designer who made his costumes this past season. I LOVE his POTO ver. 2 costume and costume to his SP is also great fit in music.
 
Last edited:
A little off topic, but Sarah Alain was in study recording for Fantasy on Ice, according to her instagram account. Wonder if she will do some shows live as last year?
She's one of the live performers for FaOI 2015. I'm not sure she'll do DOI, but clearly FaOI.

Let's wait and see his programs for next season.
........
......
....
...and his costumes. :hopelessness:
I don't worry for the costumes. Except for the 2010-2011 LP, I think all of them fitted the programs and were very lovely. He has made great choices so far, I like that about him. :yes: I'm confident it will continue. :agree:
As long as he doesn't do like Kotvun last season... poor guy, the costumes were just a big "no". :no:

It would be great if he continue to work with designer who made his costume this past season. I LOVE his POTO ver. 2 costume and costume to his SP is also great fit in music.
Me too! By, I have a question: is it the same designer who made the 1st and 2nd POTO costumes?
 
Last edited:
I havev never seem Yuzuru´s costumes as feminine, some I will says have problem with taste but that´s about it.

Actually I have always thought that Yuzuru is the one that act the more masculine between all Japanese men.
 
On this topic, when he was 15, he said "I'd like the softness of my skating to bring the feminine expression to mind."
He is, I think, conscious of the certain qualities that people see in him and weaves them into his skating.
From about 2:15
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8yslhtIS88

Yes exactly. I don't find Yuzu feminine per se. But he definitely has attributes that are traditionally seen as more 'feminine' and he plays on it in his skating. I mean the choice of some of his costumes makes it pretty obvious ^^(I can't imagine people like Javier or Chan donning an outfit like his R&J2 or Etude ones).
He said once that what he really liked about Johnny's skating was that he was beautiful on the ice, although the term 'beautiful' might have sounded weird because he was a man (I think he said utsukusshi in Japanese). And Yuzu is not afraid of appearing 'beautiful' on ice too, which shows in fact that he is very comfortable with his physical appearance and his masculinity. Because once he is off the ice there is nothing feminine about him anyway.
I remember showing Yuzu's PW performance in Sochi to a friend of mine who didn't know him and the first thing that came to her mind was "Oh my, this guy looks like a sylph!". I think she was referring to both his slender figure and his lightness. So that's what I mean to say when I say 'feminine' (although the term may be misleading).

That was when he was 15. This season it was reported he wanted to bring "weight" into his POTO didn't he?
I think Yuzuru knows his strength, but that doesn't prevent him from trying to reach different style. POTO is darker and has more weight than NDP and RJ2 IMO. I wonder if that's the direction he wants to follow.
Let's wait and see his programs for next season.
........
......
....
...and his costumes. :hopelessness:

Yes he also wants to bring more weight to his skating, which he can do now since his body has matured. He definitely looks more masculine now, which allows him to play on other registers. Bourne said she wanted to add weight to his skating without getting rid of his natural lightness anyway. It shows how versatile he can be.
 
Powerful skating and a fighting/competitive spirit -- not strictly masculine
Gentleness, sensitivity, flexibility -- not only feminine
Huge, powerful jumps, with a beautiful tight air position and unbelievably soft landings -- not masculine nor feminine
Floating, airy, and effortless quality across the ice -- not only feminine
Quads and biellmanns, 3A+combos and the best layback ina bauer of the field -- :cool:
Costumes -- :laugh::eek::love: his costumes change in style in accordance with the music regardless of feminine/masculine

It's not a negative at all to acknowledge his both traditionally masculine and feminine qualities. IMO he's definitely androgynous, or perhaps "genderless", in that there are no regards for traditionally accepted boundaries on what one can or cannot do based on their gender. It goes beyond appearance, but his unique and slender lines and his youthful face allows for a different type of expression than say, Elvis Stojko. Hanyu is altogether a very special package in body and spirit, and I think his willingness to embrace his own unique features and not try to stifle or over-compensate for his own "femininity" is what makes him so compelling.

There's also the separate issue of what is feminine and masculine anyway? Someone who is an aggressive competitor, fights through all odds, who is confident in their own abilities and likes to challenge themselves technically? Are you sure you're not talking about Mao Asada? ;)
 
Last edited:
Powerful skating and a fighting/competitive spirit -- not strictly masculine
Gentleness, sensitivity, flexibility -- not only feminine
Huge, powerful jumps, with a beautiful tight air position and unbelievably soft landings -- not masculine nor feminine
Floating, airy, and effortless quality across the ice -- not only feminine
Quads and biellmanns, 3A+combos and the best layback ina bauer of the field --
Costumes -- :laugh::eek::love: his costumes change in style in accordance with the music regardless of feminine/masculine

It's not a negative at all to acknowledge his both traditionally masculine and feminine qualities. IMO he's definitely androgynous, or perhaps "genderless", in that there are no regards for traditionally accepted boundaries on what one can or cannot do based on their gender. It goes beyond appearance, but his unique and slender lines and his youthful face allows for a different type of expression than say, Elvis Stojko. Hanyu is altogether a very special package in body and spirit, and I think his willingness to embrace his own unique features and not try to stifle or over-compensate for his own "femininity" is what makes him so compelling.

There's also the separate issue of what is feminine and masculine anyway? Someone who is an aggressive competitor, fights through all odds, who is confident in their own abilities and likes to challenge themselves technically? Are you sure you're not talking about Mao Asada? ;)

:agree:I could not have said it better.

The gender issue (what is feminine, what is masculine?) is a very complex and fascinating topic anyway. And the fact that Hanyu has us talk about it so much is a proof in itself that he is "genderless" in the end as you say, because there is no clearcut answer.
 
I also can't believe that being slender and with a beautiful face automatically makes a man/boy feminine! (I guess people say he is kinda feminine mostly based on his appearances and skating style?) otherwise, he is totally masculine (or at most borderline boyish, but definitely not feminine both on ice and off ice!)

Why are you implying that people here automatically associate slenderness and beautiful face with feminity? There's nothing "automatic" about it, as far as I understand the comments, because these traits are only a part of why many perceive cartain androgyny in Yuzuru. Coupled with other factors (costumes, elegance of movement, lightness) they lead some people to that conclusion. By the way, androgyny mixes the feminine with masculine so nobody is trying to diminish Yuzuru's traditionally masculine traits like speed, power or, i don't know, stubborness.

This is beside the point, but what we are discussing here is rooted in stereotypical views on masculinity and feminity, and please, let's be real, a beautiful face and slight body IS stereotypically associated with feminity, not masculinity.

And for chrissake, what's so wrong with a man posessing a few traits that are stereotypically feminine that we have to vehemently deny that they are stereotypically feminine?

I'm speaking, of course, from a western culture point of view, just to be clear. So if someone is "not seeing it", I'm trying to explain what it is exactly that others do see. It's basically something that escapes stereotypes.
 
Well, people have different definitions and perceptions regarding femininity/ masculinity. We can share our views and feelings on it, but I think we can hardly persuade anybody in this regard because it is all about personal feelings. In my eyes, Yuzu is a man and that's it. But I am fine with people seeing him as whatever they see him.
 
Nam just posted a new pic... see who's back where he belongs! :biggrin:

I had to take a double look as Yuzuru looked older, more mature as he should anyway considering the storms he had weathered the past season. Thank you for the link.

On another note, there seems to be quite a presence of Asian skaters in the TCC. :)

Going back to the previous discussion, gender refers to social constructs of what constitutes masculinity/femininity and thus can change or evolve as opposed to sex (male or female) which is biologically determined as to whether one has male or female reproductive organs (there are outliers here too). So I think the discussion is basically one on gender and not sex as Yuzuru is unquestionably a man. ;)

ETA: Yes, I agree the second picture posted by Nam is a better shot.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top