Kenji’s Room Part II (2nd Tuesday)
3:25-
(k)When is the first time you’ve landed 2A?
I was in the 3rd -4th year in my elementary school days (9 or 10 years old). When I went to my first novice competition, it was crucial to get 2A. So I paid attention to 2A very much. Further, my coach Tuzuki-sensei, called king of Jump, strongly emphasized the importance of 2A. So I spend three forths of my practice time on 2A.
It seems I got 1A in much shorter period. I don’t remember when though, people around me say that.
I admit my Axel is unusual. I like axel best. Axel has something special…
I landed 2A for the first time watching my sister doing. I couldn’t make it for some time, although it seems shorter than others. My thought at that time was like I shall get the jump which my sister got….
The case is the same with 3A. Mao Asada-san came to National team training camp. She was so thin (and didn’t seem to have so much muscle). Much muscle force didn’t seem necessary. It felt like I could get 3A that way.
(k)You got it at 2nd or 3rd challenge?
I made it at the 3rd time provably. I did step-out at the 2nd time, so I was sure I could… Finally, I could make it.
But after that, I had a long period I could not get 3A. About for one year, I didn’t make it at the competitions.
7:25-
The story about Kenji-sensei’s 3A continues. He was once a single skater. He couldn’t get 3A, so he tried 4T. During the practice of 4T, he hit against the wall, so he gave up. He had the fear about 3A. Then the story moves to the episode at the ice show, he tried 1A and finally got it.
9:35-
(k)Are you trying any new jump?
I happened to land 4lz only once. I nailed it. But after that I hardly practiced about it. I had some competitions. The success ratio of 3lz-3t was too low. My first priority should be 3lz-3t.
Further, my timing of jumps differs depending on music. I rather listen to music. For example, Ballade was triple measure, and has the wide range from slow to fast parts. That was why I failed to get suitable timing at jumps, which made it difficult to make it.
4lz and 3lz are much different. Further, about something along the line of that, I can’t get 2A now. Actually, 3T is difficult very much. I have few chances to do 3T. In my case, 4T comes after 2T. I’m not good at 3T. One day, I had to do 2A at the ice show, I was about to fall forward several times… I have little sense of 2A.
11:50-
They laughed at his struggle with 2A doing funny gesture.
12:15-
(k)About Shizuka-chan. She was in the same rink as you. How did she behave towards you?
I only watched her. Actually, we had few chances to practice with the rink mate who was at the different level. Yamato-san cared me more.
13:20-
Then, the episode that Yamato-san once got into Kenji’s Room suddenly (film at a restaurant, with Daisuke-san)
14:00-
“Yamato-sensei sometimes spoke to me, like while I got massage. I have no memories that Arakawa-san or Honda-san spoke to me. Of course, there may have been, but I don’t remember since I was too young at that time. But I remember Yamato-san spoke to me or tried to kind of interfere with me… The expression “interfere” is not suitable. “Spoke to me” is the best. (lol)
(k)You were famous when you were still novice. And then, you won at Junior WC2010.
My Junior WC2010 fell on my graduation ceremony at Junior high school. I got my graduation ceremony only for me on another day. The venue was set up for the ceremony and I was there alone. I was going to be alone all the time, but when I got back to my classroom, my friends, who I like most, rushed around me, “welcome back, yuzuru!” I was happy very much. That’s the most impressive event through my school days. Many memories lay in my 3rd Junior high school student days.
(Edit: News clip about his graduation of Junior high school (English Sub.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yk2ZsHwuVAU&feature=youtu.be)
16:40-
(k)The trouble when you were junior skater.
At my first Junior WC2009, I took only 13th place. I went there alone, aiming for getting more spots (for Japan). But I failed. It was tough experience.
(k)Did you get angry with yourself?
I rather got angry with myself. My practice time was initially short. But I gained it towards the Junior WC, then, I got trouble with my back for the first time and lost even 1A 1 week before. I couldn’t even get up. In the middle of that I had to compete at Junior WC. It was so regrettable that I’d got into such a state of body and I couldn’t get my performance at all.
The experiences at that time were useful to me. At that time, I made some excuses, like “I had a backpain.”, “I had a sprain.” I thought those inside my heart as well as I said those to people around me.. From the experiences, I learned that I shall never make an excuse.
Great skaters rarely make excuses, like injury, rink.. Those are pointless and some skaters can make it in any circumstances. For example, Asada-sensyu got skating with her bone broken. She never conveyed that to media.
(k)When you won at 2010 Junior WC.
I got much practice after the fail at previous year’s Junior WC (2009). The Junior WC(2010) was in the Olympic season, and some Senior skaters came to Junior WC to get more points. I wanted to defeat the Senior level skaters. At that time, Denis Ten competed in Senior WC. I wanted to beat such a skater. I remember that I tried Junior WC with that thought.
At that time, I didn’t mind the spots of Junior WC for Japan. That season I never lost at Junior competitions including JGS. Still, I could not bring good performances in both SP and FP. I was not good at SP. In many cases I failed at SP and nailed at FP. At the Junior WC as well, I took 3rd place at SP, and took 1st at FP landing 3A. It was my winning pattern.
At that competition, it felt like I was not so conscious of the Junior WC. It was like SP at the Olympic. The feeling was like “However big the competition is, it is just one competition and I’m OK since I’ve won until now”
(k)You got enough confidence.
I ended my Junior season without leaving any regret.
21:30-
Kanako’s episode at Junior WC 2010 with film. She lost stomach for having a herring. Yuzu said he would never eat such a food before competition (lol).
22:50-
Lotte CM
24:20-
(k)The difference between Junior and Senior
First, at GPS before 4TT, I rather felt how hard it was. The period when I realized the toughness of Senior may have been shorter than others, but I felt it much more.
My first Senior competition was NHK cup. I put 4T into my layout for the first time and made it. It was at Nagoya. I somewhat forgot myself for the success, thinking I could get 4T. However, my success ratio of 4T was extremely low at that time. I could only get it several times in one month. In that situation, I made it at NHK, Nagoya. It changed my feelings about my practice, and as a result, I ended up in a failure at the next competition. Then I realized the difficulty with senior. I practiced hard, but couldn’t make it.. I repeated the cycle. Then 4CC (2011) came.
(k)Were you happy about 4CC?
I was happy about 4CC. About success with 4T, I didn’t forget myself as in NHK cup. I felt my efforts rewarded enough, and I could move forward next season.
4CC was the start for me to go forward aiming for higher level.
(k)Which is the most memorable competition for you?
It’s not Olympic of all competitions. It’s my first National novice competition (He won at 04 National Novice B).
I got excited very much at my first National novice competition. I never got nervous. I just had fun in my competition. At that time, I practiced so much and little expected any mistake. I was only 4th grade elementary school boy, but I was sure I shall win.
That time was old scoring system (6.0). I watched (senior) competitions like WC or GPS, and 5 points or more was the score of those skaters. Nevertheless I got 5.2 point at presentation by only one judge. I well remember how happy I was about that….I was so surprised and thought I could compete in WC, though I was only elementary school boy.
(k)You have built up many things since you were an elementary school boy.
Yes. My life plan has hardly changed since then. My life is going as I planned. When I watched Salt Lake Olympic, I was just 7 years old or so, I decided to take Gold at Olympics. My life plan was I would win at Olympic at the age of 19 and I would go to another Olympic and win again. I shall take Gold twice. If I take it twice, it would be a legend. I’ve thought that way.
The problem was not whether I could take it or not. Not whether I could do, but I just had much stronger will to take Gold than anyone else.
Another Gold at PyeongChang. I shall aim for it absolutely. Not doing so doesn’t make sense to me. It (Gold at PyeongChang) is the biggest reason why I continue to compete.
