The Special Power of Yuzuru Hanyu as Subject. An Unparalleled, Dignified Aura that Entrances Photographers.
被写体・羽生結弦が持つ特殊能力。カメラマンも魅入る孤高のオーラ。
Number Magazine
Source:
http://number.bunshun.jp/articles/-/827831
Attached to article:
http://number.ismcdn.jp/mwimgs/e/d/-/img_edd065d8c159384ac74dda2f8b2cfa31193975.jpg
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Yuzuru Hanyu, who won the World Championships for the first time in three years, graces the cover of "Sports Graphic Number PLUS FIGURE SKATING TRACE OF STARS 2016-2017 フィギュアスケート銀盤の革命者” (released April 10, 2017). His perfect, WR-breaking performance during the free skate astonished the world and remains fresh in our minds.
A champion who, every season, rewrites records and makes new history. How do photographers, looking through their viewfinder, see this current season's Hanyu-senshu? Photographer Tsutomo Takasu, who shot the cover for this magazine, comments.
Tender expressions during the free skate performance.
Hanyu-senshu who, through his perfect performance at the World Championships, rewrote the world’s highest score in free skate and reclaimed his throne as world champion.
“When the first to skate in the last group shows such performance, it is going to be difficult for the skaters after him to calm their feelings. Also because the entire arena was feverish with excitement. I think it put pressure on those skating after Hanyu-senshu. The most impressive aspect about him is that ability to concentrate and bring such performance. Indeed, a great athlete."
The cover this time uses a cut shot during the performance of that free skate program, "Hope & Legacy”. Hanyu talks about the program this way, “There is wind, there are trees, there is water… I’m thinking I would like to present these naturally.” During the performance, the atmosphere of such music was there, and rather than power and severity, more often we were shown gentler, softer expressions. Compared to the short program “Let’s Go Crazy” with the signature knee slide + exaggerated back-bending and the bold expressions, “Hope & Legacy” stays calm and gentle throughout. That also comes through in the cover shot.
A fierce battle heading into the “True Quad Era”
According to photographer Takasu, he hadn’t been able to take a single convincing shot of the free skate this season. During the free skate of the World Championships, Hanyu-senshu gave the audience a perfect performance, and although there wasn’t a particular moment he was aiming for, he was finally able to get that elusive shot. Where should he station himself? After being utterly preoccupied with the question before the competition, Takasu-san went through with his initial idea of selecting a spot with nobody else around, and continuously pressing the shutter in hopes to capture “the desired moment”. It worked.
Currently, the men's field has embarked onto a new stage that Hanyu-senshu himself calls the "True Quad Era”. At the Pyeongchang Olympics to be held in February next year as well, a major premise is to land quadruple jumps. The types and number of quads are expected to be key.
In the upcoming Olympic season, with Hanyu-senshu leading the way, skaters including World Championships silver medalist, Shoma Uno, 17-year-old Nathan Chen (USA) who has been called the poster child of the quad era, and Boyang Jin (China) who has the difficult Quad Lutz in his arsenal, will be fighting an increasingly fierce battle.
If it weren’t for someone like him—an innovator, always aiming to make new breakthroughs...
That quads have entered this “Warring States Period” (era of vicious competition), may turn out to be an unexpected opportunity for Hanyu-senshu who constantly aims for greater heights.
Takasu-san, whose lenses have followed Hanyu-senshu through all six of his competitions this season, too, said, "Hanyu-senshu has brought up his ambition towards the Quad Axel, but he has always been an athlete who seeks even loftier heights. Although that may also be testimony to the fact that competition has become stiffer, I can’t help but feel...isn’t such a situation something that Hanyu-senshu looks forward to? Although he was the first man ever to break the 300-point barrier in total score, if it weren’t for someone like him—an innovator, always aiming to make new breakthroughs—there wouldn’t have been such increased competitiveness in the field."
Hanyu-senshu who never allows himself to give in and compromise.
“Looking through the viewfinder, rather than ‘evolution’, I get the impression that he is steadily accumulating on what he felt needed to be done. Although of course, technologically he is surely evolving."
“The strong ambition to 'go up, up’ and improve isn't limited to this season, but rather, has always been present. Isn’t it amazing that such feelings in him never diminish, and instead continues to burn? You just can’t help but be curious as to where such motivation comes from.” (Takasu-san)
There aren’t so many people who can be completely absorbed in simply being.
Of course, as (photographic) subject, he is also an attractive presence. Long extended limbs, supple movement of the upper body, facial expression.
“He really becomes a painting. So he’s very easy to photograph, and he also has an aura. I don’t think there are many people who can be so completely absorbed in simply being. In that sense, I feel he has special abilities.
While coming out to the rink before the 6-minute warm up, he is listening to pretty intense music, isn’t he? Lip-syncing to himself almost as if he is singing karaoke solo. Normal people cannot be so completely absorbed in what they are doing. Though it seems to be getting more extreme by the year (laughs), that is also part of his charm, isn’t it?"
Well, finally the Olympic season is the next to come.
"What kind of performance will it be? What moments should I look to capture? Feelings of 'I want to keep this scene’, et cetera. It seems that every season, when the programs change, my urge to take photos is stirred once again. (Takasu-san)
Beginning with Hanyu-senshu, what sort of programs would Team Japan be challenging next season? Surely, fans can look forward to a good time!
And once more, how would this “Warring State Period of Quads” turn out? Although we enter the off season after the World Team Trophy in late April, we simply can’t take our eyes off the figure skating world!
Now I see your short program translation is approved already! Oh, do you if m4 broadcasted the free too or I should just stop looking? I liked their comments much more then the ESP commentators. 
Yuzuru is from 03:17:30. I don't know how to cut out only Yuzuru's program, but the owner of YHworldTMP channel uploaded the SP too so if i send him/her a message then I think this will be uploaded too - then we can add the subtitles to it.
