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Yuzu has always been naturally beautiful, graceful, and elegant. But now, with practice, knowledge and maturity, he has cultivated the ability to turn his body into a magnificent piece of art at will.

A museum that all Fanyus would wish to visit

I just rewatched Yuzuru's free skate from 2014 Worlds once again, as I often do. Back in 2014 and 2015 I was going through difficult times (mental health issues) and one of the things that kept helping me was this newly found sport of figure skating with this interesting young Japanese skater Yuzuru Hanyu. His 2014 Worlds free skate was particularly therapeutic, I kept rewatching it so often, even though I had pretty much zero knowledge about the rules of figure skating, the scoring or the jumps at that time. It was the beautiful music combined with his fighter spirit that attracted me so much in that performance. Despite imperfect landings, he simply refused to fall, never gave up, knowing he has little chace to take the gold, he kept pushing. I love how the program and music evolves, with each jump being closer and closer to that unlikely victory. For me it's a story of a hero overcoming all the obstacles and winning over evil. Yes, I know this isn't exactly the Romeo & Juliet story, but that's how that performance felt (and still feels) to me. EDIT: Just to be clear, the "winning over evil" part was not directed against any of Yuzuru's competitors, it was just a description of the emotions that the performance ignites in me.

P. 107 P. 106 This statement was released in response to the cancellation of the World Championships, whic were scheduled to begin in March 18, 2020, due to the spread of the coronavirus. The statement also included the words, "Although it is disappointing, I am also relieved that the risk of infection spreading has decreased even a little." P. 108 In February 2018, ahead of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, where he was aiming for a second consecutive gold medal, he spoke about his feelings. After the 2017-18 season, when he suffered an injury, he planned to compete in the Olympics "without any prior preparation" after recovering from his injury. P. 111 In April 2015, as opportunities for exposure outside of sports reporting increased, he spoke about havint "internal conflict" about becoming famous. P. 113 In an interview in November 2018, the day before the start of the Grand Prix Series Finlandia Cup, he mentioned that while he had changed his program to aim for higher scores in accordance with the rule changes that season, he also focused on creating a polished performance, and had made adjustments to the music arrangement and choreography. P. 114 In December 2019, after finishing second in the Grand Prix Final, please talk about "what you gained from this competition." P. 117 In April 2011, while recounting how he was practicing at a rink in Sendai when the Great East Japan Earthquake struck on March 11 of that year, he himself become a victim of the disaster. Witnessing the immense damage, he questioned whether it was alright for him to be skating, and revealed that at one point he considered giving up skating altogether. P. 119 In January 2015, a newspaper article featuring comments he made upon being selected for the Chunichi Sports Award included a quote from "words he spoke in the past." P. 121 This was said at a press conference held the day after the Grand Prix Series NHK Trophy in November 2019. It was his first victory at a competition held in Japan since the same competition in November 2016. P. 123 In October 2016, he won the Autumn Classic, but was dissatisfied with his performance, particularly when the first quadruple Salchow in his free skate combination become a triple. P. 125 From the speech at the "Kozuki Sports Award" ceremony in August 2014. P. 127 After the official practice session for the Four Continets Championships in February 2020, please talk about the reason for changing your programs mid-season to the short program "Ballade No. 1" and the free program "SEIMEI," which you used when you won the gold medal at the PyeongChang Olympics. P. 129 In March 2014, at the World Championships, he came from third place in the short program to take first place in the free skate, securing overall victory. In the free skate, he successfully landed all of his jumps. P. 131 With the PyeongChang Olympics in February 2018 just around the corner, he was asked how to confront and overcome the "walls" he faced. P. 133 In January 2011, he reflected on the 2010-11 season, when he turned senior. He got off to a good start, placing 4th in his debut Grand prix Series event, the NHK Trophy, but then made a series of mistakes in the Grand Prix Series Rostelecom Cup in November, finishing 7th. He touched upon missing out on a spot in the Grand Prix Final. P. 134 In an interview after finishing second at the Autumn Classic in September 2017, he spoke about his lack of concentration during his free skate performance. P. 137 In April 2017, immediately after placing 7th in the short program at the World Team Trophy, he was asked about he prepares himself mentally for his final performance of the season, the free skate, the following day. P. 138 Regarding the fact that in September 2017, despite having changed his program due to a knee injury, he achieved a world record score (at the time) in the short program of his first competition of the season, the Autumn Classic. P. 140 At the All Japan Championships Exhibitions in December 2012, he interacted with fellow students including Ryuju Hino (then a student at Chukyo University Chukyo High School) and said, "I felt a great sense of relief (despite the burden of the drastic changes in my environment due to the Great East Japan earthquake"."

P. 69 P. 68 When asked how he overcame the collision accident during practice at the Grand Prix Series Cup of China in November 2014. P. 71 In an interview just before his 20th birthday, he spoke about his "20th birthday promise." P. 72 In an interview after the short program at the All Japan Championships in December 2019, he said that after the Grand Prix Final that same month, when he was physically and mentally exhausted, the voices of his fans were a great source of support. P. 75 Reflect on and talk about the changes in his mindset after the collision accident at the Grand Prix Series Cup of China on November 2014. After the accident, he won the Grand Prix Final and the All Japan Championships in December. P. 76 Prior to winning the NHK Trophy in November 2015, a Grand Prix Series event, with a nearly flawless performance, he spoke about the difficulty of completing both the short and free programs without any mistakes. P. 78 In October 2019, he achieved his first victory at the Grand prix Series Skate canada, marking his 11th GP win overall, including the Grand Prix Final, and acknowledging that he is "also battling new rivals." P. 81 In March 2019, at the World Championships, the day after losing to Nathan Chen and finishing in second place, he spoke to the press. P. 82 February 2018, PyeongChang Winter Olympics Champion. At the post-win press conference. P. 85 In April 2015, he reflected on the 2014-15 season, which was marked by a series of challenges, including a serious injury sustained in a collision during practice, hospitalization, and surgery. P. 86 In December 2019, the competition that finished in second place. Speaking to reporters the day after the Japan Championships, he talked about the people who comfort him when he loses a competition. P. 88 In April 2014 he spoke about his feelings after winning the gold medal at the Sochi Winter Olympics in February of that year. P. 91 In April 2014, reflecting on the 2013-14 season, which saw victories at the Sochi Winter Olympics in February and the World Championships in March. P. 93 For the 2016-17 season, he used "Let's Go Crazy!", a famous song by Prince, who passed away suddenly in April 2016, for his short program. He said that he had never listened to any of Prince's music before, so he researched him through the internet nd other means, and thet the words "Failure reveals what it takes to succeed" really resonated with him. P. 95 November 2019, Grand Prix Series. Hanyu won the NHK Trophy, his first win in three years. Having secured his seventh appearance at the Grand Prix Final, this would have been his first official competition held in Japan since the World Championships in Saitama Prefecture in March of that year. P. 96 In April 2017, at the unveiling ceremony of his monument in his hometown of Sendai, he was asked about his recentvictory at the World Championships. P. 99 Comment from December 2014, after winning the Grand Prix Final for the second consecutive year. He adjusted the program's scructure just before the free skate and successfully landed consecutive quadruple jumps. P. 100 Autumn Classic, September 2019. After winning, he said "Right now, I'm skating to do the 4A, and that's what I live for." P. 102 There is an error in the text; the year indicated is 2017, not 2010 (in the book, the year is written using Arabic numerals, so it is impossible for the error to have been made by my translator). Here is the context provided by the book: Reflecting on the 2017-18 season, in which he achieved back-to-back Olympic victories, he said he'd been thinking a lot abow how to get into the best mental state when he's un good form for next season's competitions. P. 105 In September 2019, after winning the Autumn Classic, the first tournament of the season, he said in an interview, "I don't want to show a patetic performance. I will practice more."

rr 88 là thương hiệu cá cược trực tuyến được nhiều người chơi Việt Nam quan tâm nhờ phong cách hoạt động chuyên nghiệp, giao diện hiện đại và dịch vụ hỗ trợ tận tâm. Nền tảng mang đến hệ thống trò chơi đa dạng, đáp ứng nhiều sở thích giải trí khác nhau, bao gồm casino trực tiếp, slot nổ hũ, cá cược thể thao, bắn cá và xổ số. Với danh mục phong phú, RR88 hướng đến việc mang lại trải nghiệm trực tuyến thuận tiện và hấp dẫn cho người dùng.

Ah OUI je le confirme en tant que Française et j'ajoute le musée d'Orsay cela me fait penser à un drapé antique Le LouvreSite officiel du musée du Louvre

Sculptors often say that the sculpture is waiting to be born from a piece of stone. It is easy to imagine a sculpture of Yuzu emerging from a block of the finest Carrera marble. He is truly an Olympian in the sporting and Classical sense of the word

Source An absolute masterpiece! Put him in the Louvre!

Ubutan will always find a way to be like his big brother Yuzu, even if he has to borrow the curtain.

Yuzu fanartists are so fast! The 4th Ice Story is coming!

Magnificent Ten to Chi to

And you will find other discussions where Anna's artistry etc is panned. The few people who you saw are just showing their ignorance.

Machine translation, inaccuracies exist Description Source: https://whitebox.icestory.jp/ English version (official) Machine translation of the official Japanese version A museum at the edge of the stars. Not for the chosen few, but for everyone. Here, your worth is not defined by power, status, or the outside world. Everyone can be seen, and everyone can leave something behind. Unravel your soul. Discover what lies within. And give it your own color. A museum before returning to the stars. A place that anyone can visit. Here, regardless of power, status, or the value assigned to us from the “outside,” everyone can be exhibited, and everyone can leave something behind. Unravel your own soul, discover what lies within yourself. And add your own unique colors. — From Hanyu Yuzuru's “WHITE BOX” Hanyu Yuzuru's message People dear to me, things I hold dear, the past, memories, recollections. What colours does the world you see have? What colour am I, as seen by all of you? Even when we look at the same scenery, I think what we feel and what remains in our memories are different. What we like, what we dislike, what we are good at, what we are not good at. We are all different. Each of us has things we have felt up until now, and things we hold dear. And precisely because these things are different, I think that we are able to have our hearts moved by something belonging to someone else, to find our hearts moved, and to encounter ways of feeling that we ourselves do not have. I wrote this story with the wish that everyone would cherish that “being all alone”—that sense of being different from everyone else, which everyone carries—and cherish the beautiful moments, the encounters, and the happiness that were able to overlap with one another precisely because we are all “being all alone” together. Together with the world we will create with the world's finest team, beginning with MIKIKO-sensei, I will wish, pray, and skate with my whole body and soul. — Hanyu Yuzuru MIKIKO's message The more a person comes to know the world, the freer can they become? Or is it that they come to know a place deep within themselves, a place that no one can touch? As I continue creating works together with Hanyu-kun, I find myself thinking about such things. While seeing various kinds of scenery and continuing to expand the possibilities of expression, I feel that, within him, there is a deep stillness that has remained unchanged. But now, rather than denying that stillness, in the way he accepts it as a part of himself and tries to become a source of strength for someone who, in the same way, carries feelings deep in their heart that cannot be put into words, I feel a maturity as a human being, and a new strength as an expressive artist. Loneliness can sometimes also become an entrance through which we connect with someone. And now, as we arrive at the fourth work, what surprises me most of all is that even the body that expresses such delicate and complex emotions continues to evolve beyond what I could have imagined. The deepening of the heart, and the evolution of the body. I think that precisely because these two overlap now, there are forms of expression that can be born. In this ICE STORY as well, while carefully gathering up, one by one, the memories and emotions dwelling in his body, and sensations that have not yet been given names, I would like us to create together a new scenery that only the Yuzuru Hanyu of now can depict. — MIKIKO

ICE STORY 4th "WHITE BOX" was announced on November 4th, 2026 Two stops have been announced: Yokohama Venue: Pia Arena Saturday, January 9, 2027 Doors open 15:30 Start 17:00 Monday, January 11, 2027 (Holiday) Doors open 14:30 Performance starts 16:00 Wednesday, January 13, 2027 Doors open 14:30 Start 16:00 Shizuoka Venue: Ecopa Arena Friday, February 5, 2027 Doors open 14:30 Start 16:00 Sunday, February 7, 2027 Doors open 14:30 Start 16 Official website: https://whitebox.icestory.jp/

Machine Translated ------------------- Yuzuru Hanyu Spells Out ICE STORY, 4th Installment Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 4th “WHITE BOX” TOUR Event Confirmed! [Yokohama Performances] January 9, 2027 (Sat) / January 11, 2027 (Mon·Holiday) / January 13, 2027 (Wed) Pia Arena MM [Shizuoka Performances] February 5, 2027 (Fri) / February 7, 2027 (Sun) Shizuoka Ecopa Arena [NEWS]

Dear AxelLover, I think that it is a matter of definition. Of course, there are many amazing athletes on ice, but Yuzuru is so much more. I feel that every movement he makes, every breath, every gaze are all part of his performance. He does not show off his skills, he is a story-teller. If the technical elements serve the story he performs them with a genuine spirit, never holding back. He offers himself genuinely as an athlete, a choreographer and an artist with very demanding spins, jumps, steps, hydroblades and Ina Bauers in a tremendous quality and elegance. Never the same, but always overwhelming and exhilerating. In his solo ice stories lasting for one and a half hour, he is a masterpiece until the last second. The only member of a new genre he invented. And he is still evolving. Thus, by definition I think there is no one to be compared with him now. Plus, it is just the 20-60-20 rule. 20% of the audience love and cherish his performances, 60% admire it and 20% are a bit indifferent. 🌸

P. 49 In September 2019, after winning the Autumn Classic, the first tournament of the season, he answered questions from the press. P. 50 In September 2018, he won the Autumn Classic, but was only 3.87 points ahead Jun-hwan Cha. After winning two consecutive gold medals, he said he wanted to "enjoy skating without focusing on the results," but his competitive spirit has been rekindled. P. 53 After transferring to an overseas club in the spring of 2012, he spoke about the changes he experienced due to his new enviroment. P. 54 In February 2018, won the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. At a later press conference. P. 57 (not in the original post) Preparation before the competition In my case, I absolutely never relax. I will definitely win, I absolutely don't want to lose. That's what I think, Then, I can generally concentrate. Context: In June 2019, he performed for children practicing figure skating at an ice rink in Hokkaido. During the Q & A session afterward, he was asked, "Do you do anything to relieve pre-competition tension?" and gave advice. P. 58 Reflecting on the 2013-14 season, which saw him win the Sochi Winter Olympics in February and then the World Championshipsat the end of march, he was asked if his ideals would change as he progressed further. P. 61 In February 2018, after the free skate at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, he answered questions from reporters about managing to land his final triple Lutz. P. 63 In December 2019, the day after finishing second in the All Japan Championships, he was asked, "Don't you feel overwhelmed by the high expetations and pressure?" P. 65 In January 2012, after the first half of the 2011-12 season, he shared anecdoctes from before the East Japan Earthquake. P. 67 In January 2014, shortly before his participation in the Sochi Winter Olympics, he was interviewed and asked by a reporter about "the appeal of figure skating."

The Weibo pages contain only Yuzu’s statement, lacking the explanation added by the book’s editor, which places the remark in its proper context. I will provide that here. The preceding pages of the book contain a photo for both the short program and the free skate for each season, along with the names of the programs and a list of all the results Yuzu achieved that season. The quotes are interspersed with photos. P. 26 In April 2020, amidst the ongoing spread of the coronavirus, the JOC )Japanese Olympic Committee) released a video via its official Twitter account, offering words of encouragement to those battling the illness. P. 27 (Subtitle) Beyond the wall there's only a wall P. 28 After the first half of the 2015-16 season, he spoke to a magazine in an interview about his "resilience in the face of pressure." That season, he broke the world record (at that time) twice, with 322.40 points at the NHK Trophy and 330.43 points at the Grand Priz Final. P. 31 November 2019, Grand Prix Series NHK Trophy Short Program. With 109.34 points, he was in first place. P. 33 In September 2017, at the Autumn Classic, he scored 112.72 points in the short program. the highest score in the world for a short program at that time, but still finished in second place overall. P. 35 In June 2019 he performed for children practicing figure skating at an ice rink in Hokkaido. He then gave them advice during a Q & A session. P. 36 Ahead of the 2018-19 season, talk about skating to the music of signature programs by Johnny Weir and Evgeni Plushenko, whom he'd admired since he was a boy. P. 39 After winning the All Japan Championships in December 2014 for the third consecutive year, he was asked about "how to land the quadruple Salchow." P. 41 In the spring of 2012, he left Japan to train under coach Brian Orser in Toronto, Canada. He revealed that he initially couldn't do what could do the children at the skating club. P. 42 In a magazine interview in December 2015, while discussing his "ideal skating"-which goes beyond simly performing flavlessly-he mentioned his "source of inspiration." P. 44 In December 2019, he successfully landed five quadruple jumps, including a Lutz and a Loop, in the free skate at the Grand Prix Final, his first time doing so, but finished in second place. Nathan Chen, who won the competition, set world records for both the free skate and the total score, achieving his third consecutive victory. P. 47 Comment made in April 2017 after winning the World Championships. In response to the question, "How far will men's technique evolve?" regarding the highest level of competition in history, with four competitors scoring over 300 points.

* machine translation, inaccuracies may exist Source: https://weibo.com/ttarticle/p/show?id=2309404856379658862708 2011 Silver Medal at the Four Continents Championships On February 18, 2011, the second day of the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Taipei, Taiwan, 16-year-old Yuzuru Hanyu competed in the men's short program. He scored a personal best of 67.43 points, placing third. Hanyu commented: “Since this is the final season of my junior eligibility, I'm glad I was able to perform at the level I had shown before. Achieving such a high score at an overseas competition gives me confidence.” On February 19, the third day of the competition, the men's free skate took place. Hanyu finished third in the free skate, moving up from third place after the short program to secure second place overall. At his first Four Continents Championships, he had earned his first medal at a major senior international competition. Looking back on his performance, Hanyu said: “My jumps weren't in the best condition, so I made a conscious effort to perform every movement carefully. Towards the end, fatigue began to make things a little difficult.” Nebelhorn Trophy Champion On September 23, 2011, Yuzuru Hanyu competed in the men's free skate at the Nebelhorn Trophy in Germany. Having placed first in the short program, Hanyu also finished first in the free skate, securing the overall victory with a combined score of 226.26 points. Earlier that year, the 16-year-old Hanyu had endured the devastating Great East Japan Earthquake in March. Having overcome considerable difficulties, he was now looking forward to making further progress in his second season as a senior skater. The Nebelhorn Trophy served as an important competition ahead of the official start of the season. Although he still had several areas to improve, Hanyu managed to finish first in both the short program and free skate. His total score was close to his personal best, marking a convincing victory. For his free skate that season, he chose the famous music from Romeo and Juliet. Hanyu spoke about making the program his own: “Others might associate the music with the original characters, but I want to turn it into my own performance. Even if it's Hanyu and Juliet.” His next challenge would be the ISU Grand Prix series, beginning with the third event of the season, the Cup of China. Memo: After steadily developing throughout his first season in the senior category, Hanyu finished second at the Four Continents Championships in February 2011. However, on March 11, while training at an ice rink in Sendai, he was caught in the devastating Great East Japan Earthquake. He was forced to take refuge in an evacuation centre and did not resume training until ten days later. Leaving behind his severely damaged training rink, Hanyu travelled to Hachinohe City in Aomori Prefecture, where he worked on the choreography for his new programs. He continued preparing for the upcoming season by travelling between different locations to train on the ice. Due to the earthquake's impact, the ice rink in Sendai remained closed until late July. During this difficult period, Hanyu took part in ice shows, making the most of every opportunity to get back on the ice. He reportedly said: “During this time, I was able to get on the ice at ice show venues earlier. I wanted to skate as much as possible.” Although he was still young and retained his boyish appearance, the hardships he experienced had made him stronger and more resilient. Fourth Place at the Cup of China On November 4, 2011, the third event of the ISU Grand Prix series, the Cup of China, opened in Shanghai, China. In the men's short program, Yuzuru Hanyu scored a personal best of 81.37 points, placing second. He successfully landed his quadruple jump and delivered an impressive performance, demonstrating his growing technical ability. On the following day, the final day of the Cup of China, the free skate competitions took place. Hanyu finished fourth overall with a combined score of 226.53 points. For the first time, he missed out on a place on the podium at a senior international competition. Speaking to reporters after the competition, Hanyu reflected: “I was too focused on each individual element.” Despite his disappointment, he also offered a positive assessment of his performance: “Last year, I finished fourth at the NHK Trophy with a performance I was satisfied with. This year, I finished fourth after a rather messy performance, and I was still quite far from the podium. So, in that sense, I received a pretty strong evaluation.” Although he was disappointed with the result, the competition gave him valuable experience in recognising areas that needed improvement as he continued developing in the senior category. Rostelecom Cup Champion - His First-Ever Victory on the Senior Grand Prix Circuit On November 25, 2011, the sixth event of the ISU Grand Prix series, the Rostelecom Cup, was held in Moscow, Russia. In the men's short program, 16-year-old Yuzuru Hanyu placed second, trailing the leader by just 0.76 points. It was an encouraging start to the competition. During his quadruple jump attempt, he had to put both hands on the ice to steady himself after landing. However, rather than allowing the mistake to affect the rest of his performance, he demonstrated his ability to recover and move forward. Although mistakes on difficult jumps can place considerable physical and psychological demands on a skater, Hanyu refused to dwell on the failure. Instead, he focused entirely on what came next. He successfully completed his three spins and incorporated a Level 4 step sequence for the first time, the highest difficulty level available. His performance to the classical music remained composed and expressive throughout. His program also received particularly strong marks for its Program Component Scores, with several components earning scores above 7 points. Although these scores can involve a degree of subjective judging, Hanyu's improved performance components reflected his artistic development in only his second senior season. His combined score became a new personal best at an international senior competition, bringing him closer to his target score. Hanyu expressed his happiness, saying: “I've come close to the score I was aiming for.” With this victory, Hanyu had secured his place in the Grand Prix Final. He remained determined not to become complacent, saying: “I must not let my guard down. I also want to mentally rehearse the quadruple jump and make sure I can land it. I want to successfully land my signature jump and make a strong impression.” On November 26, the men's and women's free skate competitions took place. Yuzuru Hanyu, who had been second after the short program, staged a comeback to win the competition. This was his first-ever victory in the senior ISU Grand Prix series. Having suffered through the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011, Hanyu overcame tremendous difficulties and transformed adversity into motivation, eventually claiming the championship. He reportedly reflected on the experience of facing death and the fragility of life: “I only live once. I feel that my life is very short.” On the day of the earthquake, schools were closed, and Hanyu was practising at the Sendai ice rink, his home training base, when the powerful tremors suddenly struck. The ice beneath his skates became uneven and unstable, making it impossible to stand properly. His home was also affected by the disaster, and he and his family spent several days living in an evacuation centre. On November 27, the leading skaters from the sixth event of the Grand Prix series, the Rostelecom Cup, participated in the exhibition gala. As the newly crowned champion, Hanyu also took to the ice. With youthful energy and an upbeat style, he performed to a lively, romance-themed song, showcasing a different side of his skating. During a press conference that day, Hanyu expressed his sense of accomplishment: “Being able to push myself during the second half of the free skate gave me a great sense of achievement. Staying focused and skating through the entire programme was the biggest reason I won.” Memo: Hanyu explained that experiencing the fear of death had changed his thoughts and values. Things he had previously taken for granted no longer seemed so certain. He began to appreciate and cherish every moment. The earthquake also changed his attitude towards competition and training. Because his home training rink was forced to close for more than four months, Hanyu travelled between different locations and participated in more than 60 charity ice shows to support disaster relief efforts. To make time for training, he would sometimes arrive at ice show venues early. Whenever he performed, he approached the ice with the same intensity and dedication as he would in a competition, never treating a single performance carelessly. Over time, this attitude became part of his approach to skating and contributed to his eventual breakthrough as a champion. Following the earthquake, Hanyu had also struggled with doubts about whether he should continue skating. However, he gradually developed a stronger sense of purpose. He wanted people to see him skating with energy and vitality, and hoped that his performances could offer encouragement to others. He also wanted to contribute in whatever way he could. His determination to keep skating and bring hope to his hometown of Sendai had become an important source of strength. His first senior Grand Prix victory was therefore more than a sporting achievement. It was also a reflection of the resilience he had developed through one of the most difficult periods of his young life.

* machine translation, inaccuracies may exist Source: https://weibo.com/ttarticle/p/show?id=2309404845458202951823 https://weibo.com/ttarticle/p/show?id=2309404852347347010275 https://weibo.com/ttarticle/p/show?id=2309404852736578683414 2004 – 2010 2004 – Victory at His First All-Japan Novice B Competition On October 23–24, 2004, the 8th All-Japan Novice Figure Skating Championships were held at Meiji Jingu Ice Skating Rink in Tokyo. Yuzuru Hanyu (KSC Izumi) competed in the Novice B category (ages 9–10). His performance to the Cossack-style music “From Russia With Love” left a particularly strong impression. He delivered a beautiful performance and won the competition. Koichi Nakamura, a sports photographer who began photographing Yuzuru Hanyu around that time, recalled the competition as follows: “The 2004 All-Japan Novice B Championships marked Yuzuru Hanyu’s first appearance in a national competition. Even before the competition, people involved in the sport were saying, ‘A remarkable skater has emerged this year!’ I was also filled with anticipation as I travelled to Tokyo, and I still vividly remember the Meiji Jingu ice rink. Generally speaking, male skaters tend to emerge later than female skaters. Many do not attract attention until the Novice A or junior categories. Considering this, Yuzuru Hanyu, who had already attracted so much attention in his very first year in Novice B, was truly an exceptional presence.” At the age of nine, Hanyu won his very first gold medal. Even then, he already had the mindset, “I absolutely have to win.” That strong competitive spirit had already been part of him from such a young age. In 1999, at the age of four, Hanyu began learning figure skating at the Izumi Ward DSC ice rink in Sendai, under the guidance of his first coach, Mami Yamada. Yamada coached him until just before the end of his second year of elementary school. In 2002, Hanyu met Shoichiro Tsuzuki and began training under him in his third year of elementary school. The choreography for this competition's program was also done by Coach Tsuzuki. 2005 – Second Place at the All-Japan Novice B Championships The 9th All-Japan Novice B Figure Skating Championships were held on October 29–30, 2005, at the Tobu Kawagoe Skating Rink in Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture. Yuzuru Hanyu (Katsuyama Figure Skating Club) competed with “From Russia With Love,” the same program he had performed the previous year. He achieved a new personal best score of 67.44 points. However, despite improving his previous record, he fell nearly 10 points short of the first-place finisher. Victory eluded him this time, and he finished in second place. 2006 – First Appearance at the All-Japan Junior Championships Yuzuru Hanyu made his debut at the 75th All-Japan Junior Figure Skating Championships, held on November 25–26, 2006, at Hiroshima Big House in Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture. This was Hanyu’s first-ever competition in the junior category. For his short program, he performed “Amazonic”, while his free skate was set to “Summer Storm.” He finished the competition in 7th place. 2007 – All-Japan Novice A Champion and Third Place at the All-Japan Junior Championships On October 27–28, 2007, the 11th All-Japan Novice Figure Skating Championships were held at the Niida Indoor Rink in Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture. Competing in the Novice A category, Yuzuru Hanyu (Miyagi FSC) achieved a new personal best score of 103.87 points, winning first place. He then went on to compete at the 76th All-Japan Junior Figure Skating Championships on November 24–25, where he scored a total of 161.02 points to secure third place. This was a historic achievement: Hanyu became the first Novice-level skater to win a medal at the All-Japan Junior Championships. For both competitions, he performed “The Firebird” by Igor Stravinsky, a powerful yet graceful piece. His program incorporated elements such as the Ina Bauer, showcasing the elegance and beautiful lines of his skating. For the short program at the Junior Championships, as well as the All-Japan Medalists on Ice (MOI) exhibition that followed, he performed “Sing, Sing, Sing.” With his exceptional control and natural sense of rhythm, he captivated the audience with his swinging, jazz-inspired performance. 2008 – Making His Mark at the All-Japan Championships The All-Japan Figure Skating Championships were held on December 25–27, 2008, at Big Hat in Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture. Fourteen-year-old Yuzuru Hanyu made his first appearance at the senior national championships, delivering a confident and impressive performance. In the men's short program, Hanyu broke into the 60-point range, and his face lit up with genuine, childlike delight. The following day, he secured his place in the free skate and finished 8th overall. In 2008, while in his second year of junior high school, Hanyu began competing more seriously in the junior category. At the All-Japan Junior Championships in November, he made his third appearance and became the youngest skater in history to win the title. He expressed his gratitude, saying: “I owe this to my parents, my coaches, and everyone in Sendai who provided me with such a wonderful skating environment. I hope to follow in the footsteps of Shizuka Arakawa.” His words reflected the growth and maturity of a young skater who was beginning to look towards a much bigger future. Memo: Standing 168 cm tall and weighing less than 50 kg, Hanyu had a slender, highly flexible physique. He was able to perform elements rarely seen among male skaters, such as the Biellmann spin and the Ina Bauer, while making full use of his long limbs to enhance the elegance of his movements. While aiming to become a skater with outstanding artistic expression, he also worked hard to improve his jumping technique. Beginning in 2008, he incorporated the triple Axel (3A) into his programs, demonstrating his determination to raise his technical level. His coach, Nanami Abe, had great expectations for him, saying: “He looks beautiful on the ice and has the ability to attract the audience's attention.” Due to age restrictions, Hanyu was unable to compete at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Instead, he set his sights on the following Winter Games in Sochi. He declared his ambition: “I want to build up my physical strength and win the Olympics.” 2009 – Sweeping Titles and Setting Records as the Youngest Male Champion Performing in an Ice Show Alongside Japan's Top Skaters On June 19, 2009, Japan's Dreams on Ice (DOI) opened at the Shin-Yokohama Skate Center. Yuzuru Hanyu, the reigning All-Japan Junior Champion, also took part in the ice show, performing alongside Japan's national team skaters, including several prominent athletes who were considered strong contenders for the upcoming Vancouver Winter Olympics. This was another opportunity for the young Hanyu to share the ice with some of Japan's leading figure skaters. First Victory on the ISU Junior Grand Prix Circuit On September 12, 2009, the third event of the ISU Junior Grand Prix series was held in Turin, Italy. Yuzuru Hanyu, who had placed first in the men's short program the previous day, continued his outstanding performance in the free skate, taking first place once again. With a combined total of 198.65 points, Hanyu claimed his first-ever Junior Grand Prix title. This marked an important milestone in his young competitive career, as he secured his first victory on the international Junior Grand Prix circuit. Second Victory on the ISU Junior Grand Prix Circuit From October 7–11, 2009, the sixth event of the ISU Junior Grand Prix series was held in Croatia. Yuzuru Hanyu delivered an outstanding performance in the men's competition, finishing first in the free skate and securing first place overall. With a combined score of 201.15 points, he claimed his second Junior Grand Prix victory. Winning two Junior Grand Prix titles in the same season marked another significant milestone in his rising international career. Second Consecutive Victory at the All-Japan Junior Championships The 78th All-Japan Junior Figure Skating Championships were held from November 21–23, 2009, at the Shin-Yokohama Skate Center. Yuzuru Hanyu placed first in the short program and second in the free skate. With a combined total of 194.15 points, he secured first place overall. This victory marked his second consecutive All-Japan Junior Championships title, successfully defending the championship he had won the previous year. Victory at the Junior Grand Prix Final (JGPF) On December 4, 2009, the Junior Grand Prix Final (JGPF), the season-ending competition featuring the top-performing skaters from the Junior Grand Prix series, began. Yuzuru Hanyu placed third in the short program but delivered an outstanding free skate, rising to first place and staging an impressive comeback. With a combined score of 206.77 points, he claimed the overall victory. Hanyu became only the second Japanese male skater to win the Junior Grand Prix Final, following Takahiko Kozuka (Toyota) in 2005. At just 14 years old, he also became the youngest male skater in the competition's history to win the overall title. This victory marked a major milestone in Hanyu's rapidly developing international career. World Junior Championships Champion On March 15, 2010, Yuzuru Hanyu returned to Japan after winning the men's title at the World Junior Figure Skating Championships in the Netherlands. Speaking to reporters at Narita Airport, he said: “I will do my best to perform at my highest level this time. I want to compete at the Sochi Winter Olympics four years from now.” After returning to Japan, Hanyu reflected on his achievement and said: “I'm glad I was able to perform at my very best.” Daisuke Takahashi's bronze medal at the Vancouver Winter Olympics had also provided him with considerable motivation. :ooking ahead, Hanyu expressed his ambition to challenge the quadruple jump, saying: “In order to win a medal at the Olympics, I will consider attempting a quadruple jump in the future.” A Promising Performance at an Ice Show On April 3, 2010, Hanyu appeared at the 7th Nagoya World Figure Skating Championships exhibition, held at the Nippon Gaishi Arena in Aichi, Japan. As one of the most highly anticipated young skaters, he performed “Vertigo” as the finale of the figure skating gala. The performance was unveiled to the audience for the first time, showcasing his growing stage presence and offering a glimpse of what was to come as he prepared to move into senior-level competition. Selected as a Special Reinforcement Skater On May 24, 2010, the Japan Skating Federation announced its designated figure skating training athletes for the upcoming season at a board meeting. Yuzuru Hanyu, who had won the World Junior Championships in March, was among the skaters selected for the highest designation: Special Reinforcement Athlete. Received the Japan Olympic Committee's Newcomer Award On June 19, 2010, the 2009 Japan Olympic Committee Sports Awards ceremony was held in Tokyo. Hanyu attended the ceremony alongside other award recipients after receiving the Newcomer Award in recognition of his achievements in figure skating. Having won the World Junior Championships in March, he was preparing to make his debut in the senior Grand Prix series in the coming season. He explained his reasoning: “I want to win at the Sochi Olympics, so I think it would be best to gain experience by competing in the senior level.” Preparing for His Senior Grand Prix Debut On October 3, 2010, ahead of the opening of the ISU Grand Prix series, Japan's leading participating skaters gathered for a press conference in Tokyo. Among them was Yuzuru Hanyu, the reigning World Junior Champion, who was preparing to make his senior Grand Prix debut at the NHK Trophy. The Grand Prix series consisted of six events, with the top six skaters qualifying for the Grand Prix Final. The 2010 season was also notable because the NHK Trophy was being held as the opening event of the series for the first time. For Hanyu, this marked the beginning of a new chapter in his career: his transition from a successful junior champion to an international senior competitor. 2010 – Fourth Place at the NHK Trophy in His Senior Grand Prix Debut On October 23, 2010, the second day of the NHK Trophy, the opening event of the ISU Grand Prix series, was held at the Nippon Gaishi Arena in Nagoya. Yuzuru Hanyu, the reigning World Junior Champion, made his senior Grand Prix debut. In the men's short program, he scored 69.31 points, placing fifth. Reflecting on his performance, Hanyu said: “I was more nervous than I had expected, but my jumps went quite smoothly. I concentrated on completing my program, and I want to make up for my short program result in the free skate.” On the final day of the NHK Trophy, the 15-year-old Hanyu finished fourth in the free skate. Moving up the standings from his short program position, he secured fourth place overall with 207.72 points. He commented: “I was able to land the quadruple jump despite feeling nervous, but I realised that I still lacked physical stamina. I don't want people to see me merely as a junior skater. I want to become a senior skater and challenge for a place on the podium.” First Place at the East Japan Championships On November 7, the final day of the East Japan National Championships, the men's competition was held at the Niida Indoor Rink in Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture. Yuzuru Hanyu, who had finished fourth at the NHK Trophy, claimed the overall title with a combined score of 240.72 points. Seventh Place at the Rostelecom Cup (Cup of Russia) On November 19, 2010, the fifth event of the ISU Grand Prix series, the Rostelecom Cup, opened in Moscow, Russia. In the men's short program, Hanyu improved his personal best to 70.24 points, placing sixth. He said: “I'm happy that I was able to achieve a score that shows my progress. My triple Axel wasn't at its best, and there's still room for improvement. In the free skate, I definitely want to land the quadruple jump.” On November 20, during the final day of the competition, Hanyu scored 132.42 points in the free skate and finished seventh overall with a combined score of 202.66 points. One of his jumping elements received no points because it violated the competition requirements. Reflecting on the experience, he said: “I was determined to attempt the quadruple jump, but I put too much force into it before getting into the air and couldn't commit to the jump. It was a real blow. I also realised just how high the standard of the other skaters was. I had become too fixated on my placing.” Fourth Place at the All-Japan Championships On December 24, 2010, the All-Japan Figure Skating Championships, which also served as the final selection competition for the World Championships team, opened at Big Hat in Nagano City. In the men's short program, the 16-year-old Hanyu scored 78.94 points, placing second. The following day, the men's free skate took place. Takahiko Kozuka claimed his first national championship title, while Hanyu, who had been second after the short program, ultimately finished fourth overall. Hanyu expressed his disappointment: “I wasn't able to show the full extent of my abilities, and I'm really frustrated. Although I wasn't particularly concerned about my placing, I still wanted to perform to the best of my ability.” This season marked an important stage in Hanyu's transition to senior competition. Despite facing the challenges of increased physical demands and a higher competitive standard, he was already attempting the quadruple jump and competing against Japan's leading senior skaters.

* Machine translation, inaccuracies may exist Source: https://weibo.com/ttarticle/p/show?id=2309404627445402697833 Chapter 6: Evolution Effort may lie The Power to Shift Gears There’s no point in dwelling on frustrations. I want to focus on how I spend every minute and every second from now on, and keep moving forward. What You Realize Only After Losing Something Because I know the pain of not being able to skate, I truly understand the joy of being able to practise. I must cherish each day, savouring the happiness of being able to devote myself wholeheartedly to something I love." What I Have Built Up Whether in training or in my personal life, I've always spent my time thinking about how I can devote everything to figure skating. Of course, there are times when I struggle immensely because the results don't come, but I have a strong sense that everything I've worked so hard to build up is, without a doubt, still accumulating. Reaching a New Understanding In figure skating, we usually create something new every year. A program is generally performed for only about two years at most. I've often wondered whether that really has to be the only way. In traditional performing arts, and in art forms that are passed down through generations, the same works are performed over and over again. Ballet and opera are examples of this. So I began to think that perhaps there's nothing wrong with choosing that kind of path for myself, too. I believe there are things that can be explored and perfected even further. To be honest, performing the same program again is incredibly daunting, because I myself become the subject of evaluation. I'm inevitably compared against the very best version of myself, which is terrifying. Even so, I'm always thinking about how I can surpass that previous version of myself. Perhaps this, too, is another way of approaching the sport. I think I've arrived at this perspective precisely because of the journey I've taken with programs like Origin (FS) and Otoñal (SP)." Doing What Can Only Be Done Now Until now, I had always thought in terms of doing things "the way I always have." But there are things that can only be done in the present moment. I want to give my absolute best to whatever I can do today, enjoy every moment of it, and approach it with a sense of gratitude. Overcoming Myself For the first time in a long while, I was able to deliver a performance that made me feel, deep in my heart, that I had truly overcome myself. Facing Injury There are times when I can skate and times when I cannot. When I can, I give everything I have to what I’m able to do. When I can’t, I focus on whatever is possible at that moment. The Importance of "Other Perspectives" If you approach your problems solely from your own point of view and become too absorbed in them, you limit your potential solutions to what you can imagine for yourself. That is precisely why I believe it's important to have others look at things from different perspectives. Overcoming the Grief of the Earthquake and Tsunami I feel that my emotional depth has grown by one or even two levels in every respect. I have experienced sadness and joy, the pain of being unable to skate because of the disaster, and the frustration of wanting to help the people around me but being unable to do so. I felt all of these emotions as deeply as anyone possibly could. I believe those experiences have also broadened the range of emotions I can express in my performances. Switching Between "On" and "Off" In the past, whenever I made a mistake, I would try to make up for it by giving everything I had and fighting my way back. I kept repeating this roller-coaster-like cycle of extreme highs and lows. But I believe that if I can learn to control my 'on' and 'off' switches more effectively, I’ll be able to consistently perform at 70–80% of my capacity and still achieve good results. To create the right mental state to concentrate when I need to, I also need to make better use of my breaks and learn to spend my rest time more meaningfully. I think this is an essential skill, not only for me as an athlete but also for my future life beyond sports. Staying True to Myself When you stay true to yourself and refuse to compromise, there will inevitably be people who have something to say about it. Your family may worry about you, or even criticise you. You might even be betrayed by someone you genuinely trust. But by remaining true to yourself, I believe you will never have any regrets. Theory Is Just Theory When I found myself about seven points behind the leader, Tatsuki Machida, I thought, 'This is no time to be worrying about theory anymore.' Rather than letting theory restrain my feelings of frustration, I realised that the theory was already in my head. I could draw on it and apply it as needed while allowing myself to honestly accept and embrace my emotions. In the end, it comes down to being honest with yourself. Theory is just theory. To make full use of theory in my own way, I also needed to value my own feelings. That was what I came to realise. A Great Deal Gained What I gained and experienced this season was not just for the Olympics, nor was it simply for my life as a skater. These are things that will remain irreplaceable throughout my life. Practice Is a "Treasure" Practice really is important. I've come to realise that everything I've worked on over the course of a year doesn't simply disappear after just one month. Skating as an Emotional Anchor I feel that figure skating has become an even greater source of emotional support for me than it was before. Even when life becomes difficult and I feel like giving up, having a good day on the ice reminds me, 'This really is who I am.' There aren't many places where you can express yourself freely, exactly the way you want to. For me, figure skating is that place. I'm glad I continued skating. "The Right Way to Make an Effort" Effort may lie, but it is never in vain. What matters is finding the right way to make an effort. Believing in the Moment When Your Efforts Will Be Rewarded It's not about praying for a miracle. But I believe that if you make the right kind of effort, make proper use of all the strengths and resources available to you, and continue striving with relentless determination, then someday, even if it feels like a miracle, that moment when your efforts are rewarded will come. While waiting for that moment to arrive, I want to keep pushing through the hardships. Into Uncharted Territory I want to be the strongest!