Yuzuru Hanyu: 2016-17 Season

[mcq]

(My copy of Brian's book is still in the mail somewhere, I'm just scraping off of Twitter + Amazon reviews)

Since we're on the topic of sad times... fair number of fans are saying that Brian was very fuzzy in his book about what had happened to Yuzuru during Boston.

In contrast to what Shirota-san said, the Jounetsu Dairiku program, and Aoi Honoo 2, he seemed to be saying that "Yuzuru peaked at the wrong time" and kind of left it at that. I wonder why. I'm guessing it's mostly Yuzuru's fans who are buying the book... and I think everyone's interested in reading about Boston...

Update: apparently troubles at Boston included, day of SP, being locked out of his room right before the competition shuttle was about to leave, so they had to go back and forth frontdesk and room.... and missed the bus. On the day of FS, the support team got the wrong starting time for official practice, so warm up was also shortened.

But otherwise it sounds like it's going to be a good, warm read. Apparently Javi and Yuzu have different training schedules, and the evening before Yuzu's day off, Javi will invariably argue that because Yuzu has a day off, he should take a break too

Personally, I kind of disagree if Boston's problem is simplified into peaking, though I agree that peaking mid-season is one of the biggest hurdle Yuzuru has to overcome in order to perform well in the second half of the season. Boston was just that time when so many things went wrong. He had so many mental and physical burden back then; for me, his delivering a clean SP is already out of this world considering the circumstances. He came in there as the clear number 1 favorite, everyone already crowning him the WC even before the competition started. There was also the burden of his world record score; people expected him to equal or a least top that again, from both fans or non-fans. If that was not enough of a mental burden, there was also that issue with Denis which clearly rattled him. Adding to that, he was not in top shape. He already suffered from lysfranc injury (though back then they did not know it was that). Then all of these combined, there was also his long time history of peaking issue. Then those problems you mentioned about schedule and being locked out etc, which may seem trivial, but trust me, it will totally affect you when you are in a high-pressured competition. Hence, I hope he + his team learned from what happened there.

I think 2015 World was somewhat similar too, there was just too many things; his being away from practice for so long due to surgeries and injuries + burden as a reigning world and olympic champion. I hope 2017 will be a different story for him. At least he will come in as not the clear fave there.

Anywho, Javi and Yuzu are such polar opposites. One has the tendency to overtrain while the other has the tendency to not train enough

I don't speak Russian, doesn't it sound like she's being asked who's her favorite skaters and she said Anna Pogorilaya and Yuzuru Hanyu? XD Seconded, someone please please translate!

Seem so, but she was also asked what she like about him afterwards and I am curious about what her answer was.

 

[daisy616]

I've also finished reading "Team Brian II".
I agree with those people saying Brian doesn't mention Yuzu much after Nationals 2015 to Boston World.
I think he doesn't detail Lisfranc injury, nor Yuzu's suffering and recovery from it.

Brian says that he was exhausted after Shanghai World, and he thinks the reason was perhaps he couldn't do anything for Yuzu, who fought against all the hardships (injuries and sickness) alone, by himself.
Brian felt he himself was also very alone and powerless. He was extremely tired, more tired than after Sochi.
My impression is that somehow since then, Brian has wanted to avoid having close emotional connection with Yuzu, perhaps?

Brian says in the many parts of the book something like "Yuzu can control himself very well without any support from anyone", "He doesn't need any mental support", or "He is very quick to understand the meaning of training and we have never scolded him seriously (contrary to Javi)."

After the very well executed Ballad No1. in Boston, Brian told Yuzu,"You will be all fine now that you had a great performance under this circumstance". Then, Brian decided to concentrate on Javi who was panicking about his foot injury.
Of course, this can be due to Yuzu's attitude (very polite and a bit reserved). It's really difficult for many Japanese to ask for a help since we tend to think we shouldn't bother other people.
Still, I doubt Yuzu is that strong and calm enough to control himself. I'm wondering if Brian just doesn't notice it or he doesn't want to see it.

Sorry, I just wrote down my personal impression. It may be very hard to read because of my clumsy English :sad21:
It would be difficult even in Japanse, because my impression is so vague and subtle.
Overall, Brian's book is very nice read. I can sense Brian is a kind, intelligent and sensible person.
Also, the Cricket Club must be a great place with very warm atomosphere.

One interesting part: When Brian scolds Yuzu, Yuzu is very upset and distressed, so usually he doesn't scold him but discuss the problem together.
On the other hand, when Brian scolds Javi, Javi argues back, gets emotional and starts to cry
Then, Brian also gets emotional and starts to cry, too :shocked:

 

[mcq]

I've also finished reading "Team Brian II".
I agree with those people saying Brian doesn't mention Yuzu much after Nationals 2015 to Boston World.
I think he doesn't detail Lisfranc injury, nor Yuzu's suffering and recovery from it.

Brian says that he was exhausted after Shanghai World, and he thinks the reason was perhaps he couldn't do anything for Yuzu, who fought against all the hardships (injuries and sickness) alone, by himself.
Brian felt he himself was also very alone and powerless. He was extremely tired, more tired than after Sochi.
My impression is that somehow since then, Brian has wanted to avoid having close emotional connection with Yuzu, perhaps?

Brian says in the many parts of the book something like "Yuzu can control himself very well without any support from anyone", "He doesn't need any mental support", or "He is very quick to understand the meaning of training and we have never scolded him seriously (contrary to Javi)."

After the very well executed Ballad No1. in Boston, Brian told Yuzu,"You will be all fine now that you had a great performance under this circumstance". Then, Brian decided to concentrate on Javi who was panicking about his foot injury.
Of course, this can be due to Yuzu's attitude (very polite and a bit reserved). It's really difficult for many Japanese to ask for a help since we tend to think we shouldn't bother other people.
Still, I doubt Yuzu is that strong and calm enough to control himself. I'm wondering if Brian just doesn't notice it or he doesn't want to see it.

Sorry, I just wrote down my personal impression. It may be very hard to read because of my clumsy English :sad21:
It would be difficult even in Japanse, because my impression is so vague and subtle.
Overall, Brian's book is very nice read. I can sense Brian is a kind, intelligent and sensible person.
Also, the Cricket Club must be a great place with very warm atomosphere.

One interesting part: When Brian scolds Yuzu, Yuzu is very upset and distressed, so usually he doesn't scold him but discuss the problem together.
On the other hand, when Brian scolds Javi, Javi argues back, gets emotional and starts to cry
Then, Brian also gets emotional and starts to cry, too :shocked:

Thank you Daisy I can understand your English very well, you should not worry It seems like an interesting book. Too bad it is only available in Japanese and the only way for us non-Japanese speaking fans to comprehend the book is by reading the translation of the japanese version (which originated from English by Brian).

Always refreshing to hear their coaching dynamics between the cricket team from themselves. One thing though, interesting how Brian thinks that Yuzu does not need mental support, because in my opinion, I think he does. Though he has very great discipline and have great mental strength, I can sense from Yuzu's interview that he is very appreciative of the time when Tracy was there to talk to him during his recovery post-Boston, and that it did help him. It would be nice if Brian finds a way to work on that. He did admit that he lacked in these kind of thing though (on Icetalk), and that this is where Tracy would step in and remind him.

 

[gladiolusc]

It is kind of upsetting that Brian didn't see Yuzu's need for mental support, actually. Especially since SP pushed everyone's expectations of him even higher, Yuzu would literally have been under an unforeseen level of pressure, great mental strength or not. I haven't read Team Brian 2, but I got similar vibes from Team Brian 1. "Yuzuru likes to be alone" "No need to worry about Yuzuru, he's got it down" "Javi is like a son, Yuzu is like me".... The ice network article where Brian mentioned how Yuzu felt left out... = =; .... and attributed that to him being away for other people's competitions. It just feels a little tone-deaf? Good that Yuzu learned to pipe up after Skate Canada though... His communication would have been part of the issue too. I can see how trying to help and not being able to help could have contributed to Brian's exhaustion after Worlds Shanghai? ? ? And led him to think that taking more of a back seat is better.... And then NHK and GPF seemed confirmation that backseat=good.... Which led to Boston Worlds? @@

I'm sure they fixed things and talked much more in depth within the team. Communication seems better, Yuzu seems more careful. Boston was such a huge lesson. I have faith in the cricket team and Yuzu right now and going forward, but I am retroactively feeling so. meh. about this Boston episode. Breathes.

 

[Katie J]

It is kind of upsetting that Brian didn't see Yuzu's need for mental support, actually.

If we agree about Hanyu being introvert type I would say ( being introvert myself): You are very difficult to read for another person. If an introvert doesnt say anything he is maybe really OK, centered. But maybe it could be the other way round, he is boiling inside and needing comfort and really quick feeling lonely if the person of trust isn't having time enough to dig out the real mental state he is in, and the strange thing is that introverts doesnt blurt out with saying: I NEED HELP! They talk even less. And sometimes the introvert doesnt even know if he can handle the situation alone or not, and just says in order not to dig up the problem more so it really gets overwhelming: All OK. Plus the japanese courtesy not to heap problems on other persons.

 

[mcq]

It is kind of upsetting that Brian didn't see Yuzu's need for mental support, actually. Especially since SP pushed everyone's expectations of him even higher, Yuzu would literally have been under an unforeseen level of pressure, great mental strength or not. I haven't read Team Brian 2, but I got similar vibes from Team Brian 1. "Yuzuru likes to be alone" "No need to worry about Yuzuru, he's got it down" "Javi is like a son, Yuzu is like me".... The ice network article where Brian mentioned how Yuzu felt left out... = =; .... and attributed that to him being away for other people's competitions. It just feels a little tone-deaf? Good that Yuzu learned to pipe up after Skate Canada though... His communication would have been part of the issue too. I can see how trying to help and not being able to help could have contributed to Brian's exhaustion after Worlds Shanghai? ? ? And led him to think that taking more of a back seat is better.... And then NHK and GPF seemed confirmation that backseat=good.... Which led to Boston Worlds? @@

I'm sure they fixed things and talked much more in depth within the team. Communication seems better, Yuzu seems more careful. Boston was such a huge lesson. I have faith in the cricket team and Yuzu right now and going forward, but I am retroactively feeling so. meh. about this Boston episode. Breathes.

It's a cultural issue too, though. Like daisy said, maybe the Japanese don't want to bother other people with their problem. This is the exact same reason that led to Mao Asada and Rafael Arutyunyan's breakup. Mao did not tell him back then about her mother's illness which led her to ask Rafael to move to Japan with J. Buttle. It cultivated at 2008 4cc/worlds, he felt like he is being played (and there is also lack of communication) thus the breakup. Only much later he learned about Mao and her mother's condition, and he stated how regretful he was about how things turned out back then, that had he knew he would have agreed to stay in Japan. It was unfortunate but I understand that the situation was complicated for both.

Regarding to yuzu and CC, they have to meet halfway. He needs to be more open about his feelings and condition, while CC team maybe need to not assume that everything is fine just because he said nothing.

 

[gladiolusc]

Point taken, daisy and mcq. Sorry I don't mean at all to imply it's all on Brian. I don't think that at all. It's clear that communication was a big big hurdle on both ends. Yuzu is stubborn and headstrong and does his own thing. Taking more of a backseat and giving Yuzu space would have seemed like a great idea when he was bringing in big scores at NHK and GPF. Maybe even Yuzu thought that somewhat. So Boston just turned into a huge lesson for everyone involved. I still feel exasperated though... I just disagree with the idea that an injured Yuzuru who lacked training at that point doesn't need much mental support. =o=

From Aoi Honoo II translated by Angelic Yuzuru

He had planned to go to Toronto at the end of January but because of the pain, he only went back there at the end of February. It started to get better bit by bit with treatment in Toronto.

“ ‘My own happiness, it’s in skating’, ‘Skating is the only joy’, there were times when I thought to that extent. At the start of January, my foot was in pain, and added to that, there were false news reports which made me rather distrustful of people. Because of this situation, I was very happy that I could skate in a show. Skating is something done only by my own will. It is a place where no one else can interfere. At that time, I thought about many things. As such, it’s a program with deep meaning for me, ‘Requiem of Heaven and Earth’.”

But I'll also say that Brian wouldn't have been able to talk about this whole issue in great detail without dragging Yuzuru's team (ANA or JSF) in. So that could have made for fuzzy language in the book, and also accounts for the differences in Shirota-san's report vs Brian's recounting.

Whatever it is, seems like according to staff list at the end of the book, Yuzuru still doesn't have a conditioning person in the Cricket Team, meaning ANA still does it for Yuzu. Hopefully not only Yuzu and Cricket, but also Cricket and ANA are communicating better about Yuzuru's health.

 

[daisy616]

Thank you for your kind words, mcq

Yes, Brian is fair enough to admit in the book that Yuzu and Javi talk to Tracy (not Brian )when they have problems.
According to him, Tracy has her own three children who are about the ages of the skaters, and she can understand younger ones' problems.
She can advise them from mother’s point of view.

I really don't want to criticize Brian here. I fully understand from the book that he is always trying to do his best.
He was astonished at Yuzu's performance at GPF2014, NHK 2015, and GPF2015. He even says "I respected Yuzu."
His description of how he felt when he saw Ballad no.1 and Seimei at NHK is very lovely.
I think Yuzu is genious and a very complicated person, it's sometimes hard for ordinary people to understand him?

In fairness, Brian's words to Yuzu after SP in Boston is "I am looking at you. You are fine because you are doing great under this circumstance."
It must have been difficult for Yuzu to answer "I'm not fine at all.", but maybe he should have.

Brian says the talk about 4lo and the whole package after Skate Canada 2016 is the only real thorough discussion he and Yuzu have had so far.
It seems like Yuzu is a quiet person when he is in Toronto.

Thank you Daisy I can understand your English very well, you should not worry It seems like an interesting book. Too bad it is only available in Japanese and the only way for us non-Japanese speaking fans to comprehend the book is by reading the translation of the japanese version (which originated from English by Brian).

Always refreshing to hear their coaching dynamics between the cricket team from themselves. One thing though, interesting how Brian thinks that Yuzu does not need mental support, because in my opinion, I think he does. Though he has very great discipline and have great mental strength, I can sense from Yuzu's interview that he is very appreciative of the time when Tracy was there to talk to him during his recovery post-Boston, and that it did help him. It would be nice if Brian finds a way to work on that. He did admit that he lacked in these kind of thing though (on Icetalk), and that this is where Tracy would step in and remind him.

 

[unico]

*copying from my facebook post*

I just thought I'd leave this here for you guys.
http://www.sbnation.com/2017/2/4/14...me-show-prince-2007-purple-rain-retrospective

This is the 10th anniversary of Prince's Super Bowl halftime show (the most watched television event in the US, and his performance was one of the best ever), and he kicked it off with none other than Let's Go Crazy. For those of you who may not know how big of a deal that song is to his legacy, this further shows why Yuzu skating to it really is something special. I'm a huge fan of Prince over here so I'm getting all kinds of feels right now. Hoping this is good vibes for Yuzu through the rest of the season! #PowerOfThePurple

Wonderful read, thank you!

I love the sense of challenge and positivity with this season's programs. Watching him try the 4Lo in all its iterations (knee-slide 4Lo<<, leaning-tower-of-4Lo, perfect spread eagle-4Lo-spread eagle in practices) is not frustrating to me, it's exciting and uplifting and makes me think he still has unlimited potential. On the topic of Boston (I also can't bring myself to watch his FS), Yuzuru seems to have taken all the despair, regrets, and pain from last season and channeled it into his strength to rise above and go further It's really all told in Let's Go Crazy's lyrics:

And if de-elevator tries to bring you down
Go crazy (punch a higher floor!)

Don't let anything bring you down, keep fighting and keep inspiring! Thank you for these wise words, Prince.

 

[kiches]

It is kind of upsetting that Brian didn't see Yuzu's need for mental support, actually. Especially since SP pushed everyone's expectations of him even higher, Yuzu would literally have been under an unforeseen level of pressure, great mental strength or not. I haven't read Team Brian 2, but I got similar vibes from Team Brian 1. "Yuzuru likes to be alone" "No need to worry about Yuzuru, he's got it down" "Javi is like a son, Yuzu is like me".... The ice network article where Brian mentioned how Yuzu felt left out... = =; .... and attributed that to him being away for other people's competitions. It just feels a little tone-deaf? Good that Yuzu learned to pipe up after Skate Canada though... His communication would have been part of the issue too. I can see how trying to help and not being able to help could have contributed to Brian's exhaustion after Worlds Shanghai? ? ? And led him to think that taking more of a back seat is better.... And then NHK and GPF seemed confirmation that backseat=good.... Which led to Boston Worlds? @@

I'm sure they fixed things and talked much more in depth within the team. Communication seems better, Yuzu seems more careful. Boston was such a huge lesson. I have faith in the cricket team and Yuzu right now and going forward, but I am retroactively feeling so. meh. about this Boston episode. Breathes.

I wish I were able to read this book, sounds very fascinating.

Those comments about Yuzu and mental support are interesting. Perhaps the way Yuzu handled the 2015 GPF after 2015 NHK gave the sense of strong mental toughness. I don't think Yuzu is as mentally fragile as some think, I do wonder what may have been lost in translation from English to Japanese.

Also, Brian really say, "Javi is like a son, Yuzu is like me"? That struck me as odd since I've seen lots of people comparing Javi's skating to Brian's, and I don't think I've really heard Brian comparing himself to Yuzu before. I'd like to know the type of similarities he sees between them.

I'm actually curious when they began putting this book together. Judging by the title I thought maybe it was green lit after NHK/GPF. They may have started the book sometime after that and completed it after Worlds. The results in Boston likely changed the narrative of this book quite a bit (similar to the way the tone of the documentary, Jounetsu Tairiku, appeared to change when he didn't win in Boston). Maybe they began after the first time he hit 300 points, which may explain why there aren't that many details about what happened in Boston, those issues likely weren't meant to be the narrative of this book until it affected what everyone thought was a given outcome.

I do agree communication seems better though, probably after that conversation that Brian mentioned in Ice Talk. Of course it has to be a two-way street, and for the 2014/2015 season it was tough on all parties since Yuzu basically didn't return to Toronto after CoC for the entire season.

 

[gladiolusc]

Thanks daisy for sharing your impression, I really appreciate it. I don't mean to turn your words into criticism against Brian - sorry if I chose stronger words than I should have. I agree that Yuzu is complicated, and with the type of alien results and performances that he puts out, it's hard not to go with him. He's really pushing the boundaries in figure skating by now... what to do with someone like that???
Also thanks for adding Brian's words to Yuzu after SP.... I think I'm getting his tone much more now. I really wish Yuzu did go ahead and say "I'm not fine"... :sad4:

Thank you for your kind words, mcq

Yes, Brian is fair enough to admit in the book that Yuzu and Javi talk to Tracy (not Brian )when they have problems.
According to him, Tracy has her own three children who are about the ages of the skaters, and she can understand younger ones' problems.
She can advise them from mother’s point of view.

I really don't want to criticize Brian here. I fully understand from the book that he is always trying to do his best.
He was astonished at Yuzu's performance at GPF2014, NHK 2015, and GPF2015. He even says "I respected Yuzu."
His description of how he felt when he saw Ballad no.1 and Seimei at NHK is very lovely.
I think Yuzu is genious and a very complicated person, it's sometimes hard for ordinary people to understand him?

In fairness, Brian's words to Yuzu after SP in Boston is "I am looking at you. You are fine because you are doing great under this circumstance."
It must have been difficult for Yuzu to answer "I'm not fine at all.", but maybe he should have.

Brian says the talk about 4lo and the whole package after Skate Canada 2016 is the only real thorough discussion he and Yuzu have had so far.
It seems like Yuzu is a quiet person when he is in Toronto.

 

[gladiolusc]

I wish I were able to read this book, sounds very fascinating.

Those comments about Yuzu and mental support are interesting. Perhaps the way Yuzu handled the 2015 GPF after 2015 NHK gave the sense of strong mental toughness. I don't think Yuzu is as mentally fragile as some think, I do wonder what may have been lost in translation from English to Japanese.

Also, Brian really say, "Javi is like a son, Yuzu is like me"? That struck me as odd since I've seen lots of people comparing Javi's skating to Brian's, and I don't think I've really heard Brian comparing himself to Yuzu before. I'd like to know the type of similarities he sees between them.

It's in Team Brian 1. Part 5 of the last chapter. It's a message to Yuzuru, and it's all really really touchingly worded. I forgot quite how touching. But yes. Basically "If Javi's like a cute son that I have to worry about, Yuzuru is like the twin brother of my younger self. Every time I look at you, I can't help but sigh in my heart, 'I understand you...' 'So young...'.

My sense is that the similarity is not in the skating, but rather the mentality and the strong urge to push boundaries...?

I don't think Yuzuru's mentally fragile, not at all. Just that like Yuzu says, he... uh... keeps creating bigger and bigger obstacles for himself to overcome That one of 330 AND clean back to back .... is..... crazy. I would be worried about the mentally strongest person...

 

[liv]

Daisy616, you said the description of how Brian felt after the NHK performances was lovely... can you explain? And thank you for your translations. It is much appreciated.

And thankyou too, gladiolusc, for your translations too. :thumbsup:

 

[mcq]

I still feel exasperated though... I just disagree with the idea that an injured Yuzuru who lacked training at that point doesn't need much mental support. =o=

I don't think anyone (even Yuzuru himself) know the extent of the injury. Back then,they reported it as "sore instep that has already healed", it was on Phil Hersh article about CC, I think. It was around February. I remembered only after Worlds we received news that it was actually serious (a lysfranc ligament damage), after it was properly diagnosed in Canada. If you watched his immediate post-worlds interview, he only mentioned that his feet was swollen around the time of FS, but nothing about lysfranc. If it was indeed not properly diagnosed beforehand, they probably thought it was just another sprained/swollen muscle or something. Silver lining of this is they will not take any small injury for granted and trivialize it anymore, hopefully. About the mental support part, let's just say they all need it regardless if they are well or not.

 

[gladiolusc]

I don't think anyone (even Yuzuru himself) know the extent of the injury. Back then,they reported it as "sore instep that has already healed", it was on Phil Hersh article about CC, I think. It was around February. I remembered only after Worlds we received news that it was actually serious (a lysfranc ligament damage), after it was properly diagnosed in Canada. If you watched his immediate post-worlds interview, he only mentioned that his feet was swollen around the time of FS, but nothing about lysfranc. If it was indeed not properly diagnosed beforehand, they probably thought it was just another sprained/swollen muscle or something. Silver lining of this is they will not take any small injury for granted and trivialize it anymore, hopefully. About the mental support part, let's just say they all need it regardless if they are well or not.

:thumbsup: That makes sense. Huge lesson in so many ways, and ... way better to have happened last season rather than now... or next.

 

[HanDomi]

I don't think anyone (even Yuzuru himself) know the extent of the injury. Back then,they reported it as "sore instep that has already healed", it was on Phil Hersh article about CC, I think. It was around February. I remembered only after Worlds we received news that it was actually serious (a lysfranc ligament damage), after it was properly diagnosed in Canada. If you watched his immediate post-worlds interview, he only mentioned that his feet was swollen around the time of FS, but nothing about lysfranc. If it was indeed not properly diagnosed beforehand, they probably thought it was just another sprained/swollen muscle or something. Silver lining of this is they will not take any small injury for granted and trivialize it anymore, hopefully. About the mental support part, let's just say they all need it regardless if they are well or not.

The biggest mistake was they allowed him to take part in practice before FS knowing he has injuiry. While Javier was just going around without any jumps and saving himself Hanyu was jumping his 15th quad in the session...... And most of them were quad toes.

 

[gladiolusc]

The biggest mistake was they allowed him to take part in practice before FS knowing he has injuiry. While Javier was just going around without any jumps and saving himself Hanyu was jumping his 15th quad in the session...... And most of them were quad toes.

Yeah that was crazy. Clearly Yuzu wasn't feeling confident in his body and wanted the assurance and made a really stupid decision. Even if he were 100% healthy, that would seem a tad bit dubious thing to do. The fact that he got the official practice time wrong and had to rush warm-up probably shook him. Ideally Brian would have said something. ANA team should have stood up to Hanyu, but as Shirota-san said, they didn't. I wonder if it doesn't make more sense for Yuzu to have a conditioning person in Cricket as well, but probably (they better be) Cricket-ANA communication is better now as well. Maybe Team Brian should also have more input on warm-up strategy in relation to starting order as well... ?

 

[giulia95]

ANA team should have stood up to Hanyu, but as Shirota-san said, they didn't. I wonder if it doesn't make more sense for Yuzu to have a conditioning person in Cricket as well, but probably (they better be) Cricket-ANA communication is better now as well. Maybe Team Brian should also have more input on warm-up strategy in relation to starting order as well... ?

Do you think it was Mrs Shirota's job to stop Yuzu from overtraining himself at a practice session before World FS ? Is Mrs Shirota a coach?

 

[gladiolusc]

Do you think it was Mrs Shirota's job to stop Yuzu from overtraining himself at a practice session before World FS ? Is Mrs Shirota a coach?

I would imagine whoever is in charge of monitoring health and conditioning should have piped up. Not that they necessarily would succeed, Yuzu being Yuzu. And maybe they did pipe up, but failed. I don't mean "should have" as in it's their fault, but rather that they are in the position (with the best information and arguably professional experience) to put forward that opinion.

Again from Angelic Yuzu, http://yuzusorbet.tumblr.com/post/146923059892/main-points-of-2-articles-written-by-naoko

According to Shirota, Hanyu would force his painful foot into the skate boot, tie the laces up tightly, then wait for his foot to get numb. When it was totally numb, he would say, “It’s numb so it’s alright. I don’t feel a thing, so there is no pain too. I can do it.”
Shirota: “I should have made him skip the official practice. Javier (who had heel pain) went on the rink but he hardly skated. He just had a feel of the ice and he ended practice. But Hanyu on the other hand exerted his strength. This was my responsibility. I did not have the courage to make him rest.”
At the free skate, he made mistakes and skated like a different person from the short programme.
That day, he looked like a person who is carrying a heavy weight. Watching him, my heart was in pain.
Shirota: “For the SP, he somehow managed by mental strength. But for the free, the balance between body and mind collapsed.”
He was in a bad condition. There is a limit to how much the mind can pull the body along.
5) From the kiss&cry area, he went backstage, and to the relevant people there, he said, “I’m sorry.” Shirota responded, “It’s alright. The one who feels the most regret is yourself.”

Anyway, not trying to beat Shirota-san here. I'll try to be more exact and careful about my language. My current stance is still that the entire team surrounding Yuzuru is probably at the best state it has ever been, and I'm excited to see what 4CC has to offer. Maybe eventually I can go back and watch World 2016 LP too, kind of like how now I can watch CoC 2014 and see his fight (controversy about whether he should or shouldn't have skated aside)... that culminated in GPF 2014.

 

[narcissa]

Update: apparently troubles at Boston included, day of SP, being locked out of his room right before the competition shuttle was about to leave, so they had to go back and forth frontdesk and room.... and missed the bus. On the day of FS, the support team got the wrong starting time for official practice, so warm up was also shortened.

The biggest mistake was they allowed him to take part in practice before FS knowing he has injuiry. While Javier was just going around without any jumps and saving himself Hanyu was jumping his 15th quad in the session...... And most of them were quad toes.

Yeah that was crazy. Clearly Yuzu wasn't feeling confident in his body and wanted the assurance and made a really stupid decision. Even if he were 100% healthy, that would seem a tad bit dubious thing to do. The fact that he got the official practice time wrong and had to rush warm-up probably shook him. Ideally Brian would have said something. ANA team should have stood up to Hanyu, but as Shirota-san said, they didn't.

sigh...I really don't need to read anymore about how Yuzu's team might be utterly incompetent because I can't stop worrying already.........