Umebachi

Yes, let's spread the wave outwards! We will transform our energies into an emergent swarm of compassionate fanyu birdies who will rise as a Phoenix.

Well, he already is, isn't he?

This season, I see so much angst over the unfair scoring and judging, and frustrations over the way Nathan is being hailed as the winner for having "crushed" Hanyu. Of course, I share in these feelings expressed by many satellites on this forum. But I will be contrarian and say all this emotional churning this is a tempest in a teacup. Actually, after this GPF event I am now convinced more than ever before that Yuzu's best days are ahead and he is evolving into a truly iconic artist and performer for the ages. He has been a great athlete, but so far he has only skimmed the surface of the creative potential. And for this, I am gratefuly - yes, deeply and truly grateful - to Nathan Chen for being the source of Yuzu's motivation to keep pushing himself. Nathan is a great athlete and, thank goodness, also a very decent human-being with integrity, so that the competition with Yuzu will remain positive and respectful despite the efforts of the media and gossip-mongers to generate toxic counternarratives. For me, Nathan's performance is entertaining but passes quickly and does not offer much aesthetic interest or deep emotional connection (what was that performance with La Boheme?? Does he even know Charles Aznavour??? I find Kevin Aymoz to be memorable and moving, and when Mikhail Kolyada returns, he will be another memorable performer - if he can pull things together.) So while Nathan can gain scoring WRs, he remains a foil for the main protagonist who remains to be Yuzu. I am just thrilled to know that we are now in for another full Olympic cycle with Yuzu pushing and refining his artistry. I am sorry that some complain about "recycling", but every Yuzu performance is different and given the difficulty of his lay-outs it takes many different takes to reach a higher level of artistry. I watch each performance like watching dancers honing their choreography and gradually building in greater subtlety into their movements. I saw Yuzu live at Skate Canada in Kelowna - where his Origin performance was one of the best I have seen so far, with all the emotional commitments being translated into beautiful movements of head, arms and legs. Apart from the first 4Lo it was a seamless and expressive flow from the beginning to the end. This is what I am looking forward to seeing, with even more difficult technical elements. Yuzu is right in asking rhetorically: what is the point of putting in quad axel if he cannot put transitions in and out of it? Figure skating is not a jumping show. Yuzu will stay true to his commitment to that artistry and will push himself to the utmost to accomplish it. And when he stops competing and moves on to other activities, top skaters like Patrick Chan, Javi, and Nathan will look back and say "I was honored to have been part of that journey." (Patrick and Javi have already said something along those lines.) This is the great vision that Hanyu-senshu shared with me, and I am at peace. 羽生選手殿、心から感謝しております。

I ignore the comments by T*L and would not want to give it more oxygen to spread negativity. They delight in their own little echo chamber of gossips and for years they have been promoting the fanfiction of rivalry between Borser and GB and vying for the lovely hand of prince charming. The moment I heard that Ghislain was going to be with Yuzu, I had no doubt this was the story these gossip-mongers were going to delight in exploiting. On this, I don't take any delight in being proven right. The most admirable aspect of TCC is the culture of collaboration, respect and teamwork established by Brian and Tracy. Brian runs the place like a team coordinator and team cheer leader and not like a jealous and dictatorial CEO. The notion of a single, charismatic and impossibly talented leader solving all the problems of the company is one of the most ridiculous lies spread by modern business schools (I've been through rounds of H*rv*rd B School Exec Training courses and had to unlearn many of those things later in my life - when I actually had to manage multi-cultural teams). In this way, TCC culture seems to be very much in alignment with that collaborative spirit that Yuzu has expressed (see my previous comment) in so many different ways, and yet seems to fall on deaf ears when it comes to those who are only listening to the sound of their own ego voice echoing in that empty chamber...

I think this OP captures the way Yuzu sees figure skating community as a collaborative effort of all generations - the concept behind his Continues with Wings Ci: "Yuzuru’s vision of excellence is so generous. It’s not just ‘I will succeed’ but ‘let’s all make our mark together’. His personal dreams and ambitions are intertwined with motivating and empowering others, especially the next generation." Please read through the full thread.

I think that is exactly what he has been doing with his life above and beyond skating, and that is why I find him so inspirational. If he were just a skater, I would not be so deeply moved... Remember after 3/11 he felt lost and without direction, but when he felt so many people from Tohoku appreciating his skating and taking strength from his performance, he realised how much he could give back through his efforts. He is continuing to absorb and learn from each adversity and finds a way to articulate that experience, not only through skating and competitions, but through the way he examines his own life and makes an effort to put them into words. His academic studies are also deepening his knowledge in this direction and he is using more refined and evolved expressions to share that knowledge (mostly in Japanese but getting better in English). I wish he would spend some time in a Zendera (Zen temple) back home - Zuiganji in Matsushima is beautiful, with 800 year-old cedar trees lining the entrance and giving the place such an aura of wisdom. Meditating deeply in such a place would help to release his mind (and brainwaves) from overthinking and enter into the zone more readily. His busy analytic mind in the frontal lobe seems often to interfere with the flow. Meditation would be a helpful means to manage that over-sized brain of his!

"I have a dream"... Martin Luther King, Jr. I recently lost a very dear friend (under spoiler), and the emotional experience of going through GPF Torino was both excruciating and exhilarating. By chance I was reminded of the famous speech by Martin Luther King, Jr, and why it was so inspirational and uplifting: it came from a place of deep suffering, and yet it was not about blaming or rebuking the system for all the inequities, but it presented a vision for what the best of us aspire to be. He didn't say, "I have a plan" and lay out a ten-point strategy, but the vision he painted created a far more moving and lasting impression on us, and continues to resonate to this day. Something about the way Yuzu skated the Free Program captured the same spirit - a striving for beauty and emotional connection while at the same time challenging the limits of human athletic abilities, with so much conviction and abandon, and yet with care and control. Such maturity and yet with child-like innocence. Then the loving Notte Stellata brought the whole experience into a gentle, loving conclusion. His performances in Torino - all of them in total - struck a deep chord in me and brought solace to my aching heart. Thank you, Yuzu, for continuing to be such an inspiration and a comfort. I am eternally grateful...

I hope Nobu will be at the GPF, in his usual role as TV Asahi commentator. He will bring out the "surprise" Birthday cake and sing HBD at some point during the event - which had become a tradition of sorts in the last few GPFs attended by Yuzu. This will magically put an end to all the debate about HBD. I am more concerned about Nobu's well-being and look forward to seeing him reconnect with his good friend and engage in lighthearted Kansai banter - which should lift everyone's spirit!

Yes, it may seem to be a lot of navel gazing, but I think this discussion has been very helpful in bringing out the different personal and cultural perspectives. I believe it is important and necessary that we articulate and share these feelings and learn to understand and tolerate differences, while still finding your own unique voice and ways of expressing gratitude. There is no one "right" way but a multitude of pathways to nirvana. The fact that Yuzu has so many people from different cultures and backgrounds fussing about such details makes me happy, because without being aware, you are all slowly becoming Japanese - exactly in the way we nitpick and worry over every little detail from every possible angle! It is only through this obsessive attention to details that we improve and refine our craft - which is to be the best fanyu possible.

I fully agree with your friend. B-days are not part of our traditional culture: it has become popular for young children and it is seen as indulging the very young but not appropriate for adults. I personally don't feel comfortable with Bday parties or people singing HBD to me, even after 30 years in international organizations where this was a regular occurence. I have tolerated it and have smiled to show appreciation but I have to admit now that it was never a pleasant experience for me (apologies to all my colleagues who were so kind to me...). Why this discomfort? I can't speak for others, but for me it feels like calling attention to oneself, way too much focus on self/ego, and I feel that bad karma will strike me for being so self-indulgent (bachi-atari). I know and appreciate that this is NOT what it is meant to be around the world, and I am glad to see how much joy it brings to so many cultures around the world. I am just conveying my personal reaction and why I have such a visceral negative reaction to B-day parties for myself... I am not making any judgement on whether the audience should or should not sing HBD. That is a personal choice and I celebrate all expressions of love and appreciation for Yuzu and grateful to all the fans for caring so much. I am just explaining and sharing why some (not all) Japanese feel a little bit uncomfortable with it so that you are aware of the general atmosphere. Since GPF is in Torino, you will probably not meet too many frowns of disapprobation (except from some Japanese aunties..?).

I agree with you! I am a Japanese national who recently moved to Canada and decided to activate my Canadian citizenship (I was born in Ottawa and hence was eligible for citizenship, but never acted on it until last year). I chose Canada because I got tired of being ostracized for being "different" and for not fittng into the image of an obedient Japanese girl. Japan has such an inferiority complex with respect to the "West", and it's a fairly common practice to put down our own nationals. I grew up as a Japanese diplomat's daughter, and had to be reminded constantly that "we lost the war" and must put up with the American dominance and be humble, etc. blah blah blah. So I went on to graduate from the "best" American universities, followed by 3 decades of top-level international career - and yet, I still had to put up with Japanese officials whispering behind my back "well, she's not really Japanese" (あんなの日本人じゃないよ！）instead of being proud that a Japanese "girl" (we are never "women"!) was able to make it in the tough world of international development. So, yes, I am more than familiar with this Japanese tendency to kick their own in the face and be god-smacked by Westerners. This interview on NHK brought back so many bitter memories from my own past that I would have rather not been reminded. My apologies for this rant, but it helps to get this off my chest and recover from my own trauma. I am so grateful to Canada for offering a safe space to Yuzu as well as for an oddball Japanese like myself. Thank you, Canada for preserving a corner of humanity, compassion and kindness (I know you're not perfect but I am oh so so grateful). And thank you to TCC for providing a safe-haven for our space lion (he's grown beyond a kitten stage)!

Updates about Miura/Kihara Pair - how they met, their first impressions, working with Bruno and Megan, and status of Kihara's health after suffering concussion last season.

Yes! I remember Andrei Kutovoi from an earlier JPG event this year! From among the large group of young Russian skater rising from the ranks, he was the most memorable - even more than Gmenik. Not surprising that he appreciates Yuzuru's style of skating. Kuvtovoi is so young (13 yo?) and yet already has such pzzazz and an incredible expressiveness that just took my breath away. I hope he will also be able to master the technical jumps and not be discarded in a pile of "artistic but not quadster" group of skaters. I blame the current ISU leadership for not creating an enabling and supportive environment for such young talents.

I strongly dislike the use of the term "recycle" in FS because it throws a negative connotation on repeats, like reusing an old article or second-hand clothing, Even when used in a neutral context, the very use of the term invokes negativity by inference. In Japan, the term used is "continuation" - 継続 - which does not carry any negative connotation. For example, TV Asahi MCs were generally speaking about Hanyu-senshu's continuation of the programs from the last season. Japanese term for recycling is "risaikuru" リサイクル - which is specifically used for recycling garbage. The MC would surely be fired from TV Asahi if he were to refer to Hanyu's program as risaikuru garbage!! On this PH Forum, wouldn't it be nicer if we could talk about the "continuation" of programmes from the last season? It would fit so much better with Ci "Continues with Wings" theme.

Yuzuru has commented before that if he has a great programme to work with, he finds it worth refining and working on it many times, - just like I would enjoy watching Baryshnikov dance to the same music over and over again or the same Peter Hall's Shakespeare play acted by different troupes. Great pieces of art - music, dance, plays - are meant to be experienced multiple times. In my view, the notion of "recycling" as boring or lacking in imagination would only be valid for banal routines that offer no room for deeper interpretation. I expect Yuzuru will move on to new programmes when he feels it is right to do so, and not in order to win favours with certain group of judges.

I fully agree with you in this comparison - no argument here. I think it's a personal way in which we can interpret and project images of historic figures. My own interpretation is on the ethereal and feminine aesthetics of samurai culture- which is embodied in Yoshitsune and much less in Musashi. It relates to why Yuzu chooses a more "feminine" style that seems to strike as unusual for Western audience but more common in Japanese culture.

Here is the NHK Taiga drama series depiction of that battle between Ushiwakamaru and Benkei. Start from 4:00 mark. I prefer the older version of the drama (in black and white) from the 1960s but can't find that version on the net...

In my mind, Musashi is too rough of a model for Yuzu. As I mentioned earlier, Yoshitsune is a more sophisticated and apt model: Yoshitsune spent his childhood on the margins of the late Heian court (12th c), and later escaped to the north - to Hiraizumi (in Iwate, north of Sendai) where his education was completed under a famous Fujiwara lord. Later he supported his older brother Yoritomo Minamoto and successfully led the Minamoto army to many victories over the Taira clan and helped establish the first military shogunate of Japan in Kamakura (Kanto). Thus he is celebrated as one of the greatest military leader Japan has known (i.e. GOAT). But he was tragically killed by his brother as he proved to be too much of a threat to the establishment of the shogunate. In the process, Hiraizumi was also destroyed and the North was diminished as a power base and Tohoku never recovered the glory days of Hiraizumi under the northern Fujiwara clan. In his youth, Yoshitsune was known as Ushiwaka-maru - who disguised himself as a beautiful woman to escape notice of the enemies while walking around Kyoto, but he called out by a fierce giant monk, Benkei, who espied a sword underneath his women's clothes and challenged him to a duel - which became the legendary battle over Gojo Bridge. According to the legend, Ushiwaka-maru whirled and twirled (and jumped many quad axels) around the hulking mass of the monk and brought him crashing down on his knees. Astonished, Benkei acknowledged Yoshitsune's superior skills and pledged eternal loyalty to this whisp of a boy who looked and dressed like a girl. So in Japanese folklore, Yoshitsune has become a symbol of beauty and strength personified, and conforms to the aesthetics of military brilliance encased in feminine form. As a child, I learned to sing the warabe-uta (folk song) celebrating Ushiwakamaru's exploits on Gojo bridge. Perhaps equivalent to a King Arthur (pulling Excaliber from the stone), but with a totally different image of the idealized leader: in my mind Yoshitsune symbolizes a brilliant marriage between the feminine sensitivities that invite utter devotion and protective instincts from the followers and sheer iron will, razor-sharp intellect and bloody-mindedness that drive them relentlessly toward success... remind you of anyone??

The budding rivalry/friendship - Yuma Kagiyama and Shun Sato doing SBS 4T. Looking forward to their development! Under the comment section, Yuma says "Shun and I tried doing the SBS 4T. The timing wasn't perfect but never mind! (Shun) thank you for coming! Let's GAMBA at the (All Japan) Junior Championship! \

I would like Yuzu to do a stroking class to this Albinoni! https://music.apple.com/us/album/12-concerti-cinque-op-9-concerto-no-2-in-d-minor-for/739039488?i=739039493

@rockstaryuzu I think this is a terrific idea! I also vote for a pin which shows our PH handle name and our real name. I suggest we can choose to show either depending on the individual's preference? You are forever Rockstar S****a in my heart!

According to this OP, Daniel Grassl saw Yuzuru live in Merano in 2008 - Daniel was 5 yo and Yuzu was 13 yo - and this is what had inspired Daniel to start skating. http://pianetahanyu.altervista.org/ポッドキャストkiss＆cry-ii第2回（その２）「羽生結弦と/

I am not getting any work done... due to OiP video that has flung me down the rabbit hole. This satellite is falling into the planet atmosphere!

I totally agree with you. ITL is run by amateur fans like us who love FS and provide a welcome alternative to groups like TSL or official media sites that are heavily influenced by commercial interests. I appreciate the hard work that the ITL ladies put in to share their passion. Their efforts remind me of the energy and passion of the fans that launched this Planet Hanyu in 2017. ITL is another example of genuine fans being creative and inspired by Yuzuru, and dedicated to sharing their love of FS with others. Hanyu-senshu would want his fans to be generous and understanding towards each other.

His incredible running edge after landing 4T is finally captured up close - the sweep of the curve is breath-taking! Kudos to OnIcePerspective Jordan for managing to keep up with the glorious trajectory! He is truly a Satellite in orbit around the sun!!