Umebachi

@Henni147 So glad your eyes have recovered and you will be able to welcome the new year in good spirit! Thank you for all your efforts with Yuzu wiki articles, and for all the insightful and thought-provoking analyses of his performances, from technical and artistic perspectives. Love your big intellect and big heart! Just like Yuzu! Looking forward to continuing our journey along the Yuzu-道 (Yuzu-path) for many years to come. With many hugs and warm thoughts for you and your loved ones.

I am in Japan so I will be watching the event on Fuji TV. So, so sad for Riku/Ryu who had to withdraw! They were delayed by Vancouver snowstorm, then, to add insult to injury, ended up with lost baggage when they finally arrived in Japan. They had no time for practice or to find new skating boots and costumes. Perhaps they will be able to do an exhibition program for the gala performance?

Indeed, this is my feeling - Japan retains this bl**dy insular mentality, even to this day. Lawson ticketing is one of most commonly used platform for purchasing event tickets within Japan so I thought it would be a bit more open to the global community, but alas, no. I hope Yuzu can figure out an alternative approach to allow international fans to participate in his shows. As this is his first major event as a Pro, he probably has his hands full just managing the production of the Gift (especially with MIKIKO as the artistic partner). I have no doubt that he will put his mind to solving this problem as his next challenge. He will surly find a way to share his vision with the world, in his inimitable, creative way.

I just registered for the pre-sale lottery (I live in Japan) and keeping my fingers crossed. If I do get the tickets, I promise to provide detailed reports on PH! For additional clarification about the registration process: As noted above, the "companion" doesn't need a Lawson account, but she/he will need a Japan mobile phone number, because in order to register you need to provide the full name and mobile number of the companion. This information will show up on the final ticket, and you cannot change the name or number at a later date. Hope this helps...

Oh, that's wonderful! Let's fight together to get the tickets, and we can do a follow up to the wonderful SCI 2019 satellite get-together. Great memories!

He's just announced that he will be back on Feb 26, 2023, at THE TOKYO DOME!!!! YAYY! I am going to fight for the ticket!!

Wow, he's going to perform in Tokyo Dome - that HUGE arena! - on February 26, 2023. OMG OMG OMG!!! Tokyo Dome capacity is 55,000!

What a famulous performance! It got even better as the days went by. Thank you, Yuzu, with all my heart! Oh, don't cry! This is emotional - he has been through so much this year. Wishing him a very Happy Birthday, and the start of another wonderful Year!

Etude is one of my early favorites and deserves more air time!

Yay, finally! "Sing, Sing"!

And he is performing it in Aomori, the home of tsugaru shamisen - you can feel the roughness of the ice cold Japan sea, the rocky coastline. BTW this is one of my favorite, two women playing Jongara Bushi.

Got back from walking my dog, Momo, just in time for SEIMEI! Whew. He was perfect and each movement looks sharper, more confident. Just gorgeous! And now, Change!

Watching the award ceremony for men's. Shoma has learned to sing/mouth the anthem, which he didn't used to do before. He may have learned from Yuzu how to behave/present himself on the podium.

I love the piece of music for Shoma's FP, but somehow it doesn't connect well with him... Too bad because I wish someone would skate well to a Baroque piece - I mean a truly Baroque piece, not a techno version - to bring out the underlying tension and complex interplay between the different voices.

Yay, Sota made silver! Well, it was a close call.

He zayaked, too many repeated jumps! Will he squeak by ahead of Kazuki?

Oh no, the Axels! Both times!

OK, I am here for Sota! Wishing him all the power!

The program is too much of Lambiel style, which doesn't suit Shoma. He needs more intense choreography, not languid flowing style.

Wow, almost everyone is having problems with at least one jump, except for Sota! So wonderful that he ends up first for the SP!

Adam's artistic expression is powerful! Wow. Too bad about the jumps but his performance was captivating.

Kazuki is adorable and his stsq was a lot of fun. Too bad about his 4S fall...

Watching Sota nail the SP! Great jumps and beautiful step sequence. Yay!

Wow, she was nervous today! Looks pretty disappointed, but she will get better through the season. She’s often a slow starter in early part of the season.

It’s past 3 pm in Japan now. NHK is showing all the competition (on different channels) so I will be sitting in front of the tube for the rest of the day! No time for a siesta break, lol. Starr has really developed so much this year and now I enjoy her skating. I recall she used to be much slower.