五十嵐 美幸

Sadly no sound for me, but Javi did a nice jump and spin demo just now.

They should make that a chain reaction! Just imagine all the energy that would create!

Small point of information addition, the Japanese "好き" means a bit - or a lot - more than the English "like." "好きです" is rather the equivalent of the English "I love you." (It's one of those typically understated Japanese things.)

Once a week or so?

Yes, that's essentially what it says. Edit: it seems it's one of a series of "specials" - we missed another on June 4th, sadly - that features various tournaments, this one being WWT 2017, with June 4th having been GPF 2016. Maybe if we're lucky they'll do more along those lines.

I'd love one, too!

I have the same problem with different people: My no longer competing favorite female skater is the one and only Katarina Witt, but after having seen Marin Honda in the Makuhari broadcast, it's got to be her now.

or trying to, I think is more about understanding feelings than dealing in facts. At least that is my impression, from my own efforts to do so: the upcoming writing here is the result of these efforts, and, as such, subjective in perspective and conclusions. Even if those conclusions are common among non-Nagoyans and even some, generally young, Nagoyans. To start with some facts, objectively seen, Nagoya is not only the third biggest urban political region of Japan, it's an economically succesful industrial region, with both strong economic as well as socio-cultural links both nationally and internationally. Located in a region that was of little political significance - the Chubu or Chukyo region, despite the later "kyo" claiming capital status, has never been home to a Japanese capital city - until the final victor of Japan's three unifiers, Tokugawa Ieyasu, chose to create what is modern Nagoya by building a fortified Tokugawa stronghold in form of the Nagoya castle, mostly to control the part of the Tokkaido that gave access to his Edo - modern Tokyo - capital. Ruled by the Owari branch of the Tokugawa clan the town soon accumulated a certain amount of influence as well as vast wealth and later, under one Owari lord - a hedonist by the standards of his time - due to his and wealthy merchants' patronage, even became known as an arts and culture center to rival Edo in the East and Kyoto/Osaka in the West. What made it different from both was the difference in style - for want of a better word - of the city, unlike the Kuge court nobility of Kyoto or the Bushi samurai warrior nobility that set the rules not only in Edo but all of Japan, the hidden - yet real - power in Nagayo was the increasingly rich merchant faction. Unfortunately for them though, wealth did not give them social status. On the contrary, of the four official classes - the "below classes" burakumin didn't count in that - merchants and traders were the lowest, outranked by craftspeople above them, farmers above the craftsmen, and nobility, Kuge and Bushi outwardly lumped together, the highest. Resentment, that merchants were able to express more in Nagoya than the more strictly controlled Edo and Kansai cities, led to a culture in which carefully cultivated hidden ostentation - such as silk lined kimono, as merchants were not allowed to wear silk openly, or "delivering things" as a method to show off items of value in public - combined with what these days would be called a passive-aggressive attitude towards their social superiors. In turn, economically less well of and often financially at the mercy of merchants, craftsmen and farmers took delight in extracting what revenge they could by ridiculing them, rather less than more openly, but still effectively. Still, as a city, Nagoya, and with it its wealthy class, could afford to shake off all those indignities because even the Edo Bakufu could not really clip uppity wings as long as the city remained an irreplaceable part of the government controlled infrastructure. So while the Tokugawa ruled, Nagoya could, as long as the city avoided directly challenging Edo authority, pretty much do as they liked. What the Tokugawa shogunate could not actively do happened shortly after their removal from power, more or less as a side effect of the industrial age, through the arrival of mass transportation. No more caravans of obedient but important daimyo spending time in the city, on their way to the biennial mandated visit to Edo, indirectly flattering merchants for better trade deals, was probably already a blow to economics and egotism - common as well as personal - but worse then that cessation after the Tokugawa overthrow was the very unpolitical arrival of trains. Not only did they obliterate the necessity to stay in Nagoya at all, they probably inflicted the worst damage to Nagoya's collective ego, by allowing just about anyone would could afford at least 3rd class travel to not even notice the city. Very much dismantling, both objectively and subjectively, a narrative of Nagoya's special status, second only to the power centers. In fact putting it very much on the same level as every other large or small city in the country, in their own perception, at least. That there is, even more than 400 years after the foundation of the city, a certain distance - for want of a better word - kept by the rest of Honshu then and most of Japan now, with attendant ridiculing of certain Nagoya customs and their "in your face" throwing around money, voicing shrill opinions and so on, of course doesn't help matters. It only makes Nagoya want to try harder to "preserve" or "defend" what they see as theirs - in regards to this forum, figure skating - or as things they deserve - like not needed infrastructure projects - to salve wounded collective ego. Sadly, attempting that, in terms of public relations, Nagoya often is its own worst enemy.

Well, saying "please come to me shows again" is a usual formula in the "the show is over and good night" kind of talk... realisation might be a totally different issue...

Actually, while I agree that bringing foreign coaches to Japan could be a good idea, I think that's an idea far easily promoted than implemented. For one thing, if JSF functions like other federations - which admittedly I don't know if that is the case - then every club or skater that who pays any kind of dues to the federation would have the same right of access to the coach, not just top skaters and the best young potential competition material skaters and that, aside from a logistic nightmare, would also be a really stupid waste of resources, money in particular, for the federation. And what foreign top coach would take such a deal anyhow? The big clubs, who are industry sponsored anyhow, could far better bring coaches over on their own, but even then that's not without problems, first and foremost the language barrier. Of course there is hiring an interpreter, but anyone who any time at all has done some interpreting or translating themselves will know not only the difficulties inherently in translating as such, but also how easily a translation can be not quite accurate while also not exactly wrong or worse, intentionally manipulated. (And I'm pretty sure, not that I'll name any names - - that there are people who would happily manipulated or arrange for manipulation if it would serve their own ends.) That aside again, would it really make sense for top coaches who really care for training the best, regardless where they are from, to limit themselves to one Japanese club? Unless the club would allow them to have other students as well - which they might or not - but how many of those would in turn go to Japan? So Madam Machiko can promote her ideas as long and as loudly as she likes, unless she can come up with a viable system how to implement them, that bird won't fly.

I think what shows is an annoyingly condescending attitude. Maybe she should be forgiven because she's an old woman who is on the way out just as a matter of her age and probably fearing to be left behind, , but, really, with comments and attitude like that, she'll only make herself disliked all the more.

No offense, but that isn't hat she said, it's a translation of what she said. And she didn't say "skaters that..." she said "children that" unless the marked as quote citation on the twitter kiwi1080 - I think it was - account is incorrect.

Looking at it from a slightly different perspective, in a way, it doesn't really much matter, whether she was trying to send a message to or about someone and if it was the intent, to whom, because making a generalising comment like "skaters who train overseas come back with an attitude" - which would be a way to say in English what she said - already shows her as someone not quiet used to really sophisticated reasoning. Beyond that it's actually also pretty rude to refer to skaters as "children," as she did. Though of course it fits with what to me looks like a very control oriented personality, fueled by desire not to loose real or imagine control or station.

As I said variously before, I really know little about the technicals of figure skating. ^^; What I meant was just that if anyone in a competition - Shoma or anyone else, in figure skating or any other sport - is always seen as winning only because of political favours being called, it's not good for that person because after some time, nobody will judge them based on their actual achievements. (Or lack of those, of course.)

I didn't know enough - or anything - about GP assignments, so thank you very much for the interesting and educational information. I hope you are right, of course. If you are, that's actually good not only for Yuzu, but Shoma, as well, as it will prevent rumours of him having gotten high points, or won, due to undue influence. Negatron coach, it may not be polite to admit it, but I do admit I love your term. ^^; Aside from that, things like the last picture, her flashing a Victory sign as if she'd done the skating herself and Shoma standing awkwardly beside her, are what make me wonder if he is as awkward as he is because of her, that she isn't building up his self confidence, social skills and so on -which she could - because him becoming more independent would be a personal loss for her.

It's just my thought, but here's my reasoning for it, which is mainly timing. Of course a comment like that also has the "side benefit" to trash talk Yuzu, but he has been training in Canada for years by now and hasn't said or done anything - at least not that I am aware of and he's covered so well by media, that practically all of Japan says "o-daiji ni" (roughly, please take good care of yourself) the eye blink after he sneezes - to warrant any new attack. And Olympics - and the season in general - are really still too far away to start politicking in public already. If, however, as some earlier poster suggested - I forgot who, I'm sorry - Shoma really has been getting "mouthy" after coming back from overseas training, what she did, in the complex roundabout way of Japanese thinking, would be a way to tell him, and others in Nagoya who might be aiming to copy him, in regards to overseas training and such, to get back in line without appearing to do so and able to deny that she did. Without having to confront him directly which might result in more than "mouthiness," up to an open confrontation. And regardless how he measures up compared to Yuzu, Shoma of course is a skater of a quality that any other club or trainer would be happy to snap up and she'd be the one who lost hm. Not good for her resume, nor keeping or getting other skaters to want her as coach any way you look at it. Again, these are just my thoughts, but it's a scenario that would make sense to me.

Figure skating magazines sell very well when Yuzu is on the cover and there are long photo spreads of him inside! Whether "Yuzu only; figure skating: whatever" general public fans will read anything aside from articles about him I think even the JSF prefers not to ask.

The person really un-Japanese here is that Nagoya coach. Because while it's okay for a competitor to say "I want to beat (whoever)" - which by the end of the day is the point of competing - as long it is expressed politely, what normally is never ever done, not even obliquely, like she did, to trash talk one, especially not by members of a rival team, not the person competing themselves. If anything, she'll be losing general respect over this. No idea whether they are back together, but giving that the much hyped cooperation at Makuhari was somewhat short of overwhelming, it might just be that for old times sake he's trying to get her some positive press/attention in Japan. Since she has had little of that lately and he's among the most popular foreign skaters. EDIT: I think he somewhere said he's a soccer fan or some particular Spanish club's...

This may be a better of definition, but I really don't see Yuzu as arrogant. Self confident and stubborn, yes, and admitting to that, also yes, but not arrogant. Since to me arrogance implies thinking oneself better than others, which is something he for sure never expresses. (That is, better as in generally superior, not like being better technically or so. Just for clarification.)

I think who could have some influence on that would be ANA, putting pressure on the Japanese federation to reign in Nagoya. I think they should, but whether they'll do it or not... Though maybe their announcements re Chopin 03 was a step in that direction, to take control of the public narrative. Though as I said originally, the general public couldn't care less. As for Nagoya, it`ll take a little time to write it up, but I can post it - maybe not necessarily here but with a link to where- when I'm done. Another thing, since the kanji in the tweet that was reposted her were hard to read I went to track down the original kiwi tweet and came away with another thought and a really great snicker. The thought, that aside from trying to put down Yuzu, that... lady might also be worried over possibly losing control about "her" skaters. That they might give her "attitude" if she allows them to go overseas. But the snicker inducing last comment by the kiwi writer was a devastating rebuke to ms complainer sensei, something like, "Could it be that there exist some person who loves Japan greatly, respects (their) previous coach and seriously working produces great results?" I don't know who the account holder is, but I can only love that comment!!!

I had to wonder if it's bluetooth connected to your smartphone and transfers data to your health app to keep track whether you use dentist approved brushing practices. And counts down for you brushing time and such... @_@ Bullied by your own toothbrush!

Historically, largely due to social necessity of various kinds, something like stoicism has been valued in everyday life of normal people, with grand emotions, usually connected to great tragedy, relegated to plays and in modern times, to TV, movies, entertainment in general. Catharsis by proxy, pretty much. That has changed some in the last decades - though expressing intense emotions is still done more in private than in public - but even IF it still were the case, Yuzu would even then be allowed to express his emotions as he does, generally on the ice or related to his skating, as he is among the people - performers, entertainers, which includes sports people, in Japan - who are allowed to do that, in the appropriate circumstances. The whole accusation is just simply silly.

I`m not sure what you mean by "on the razor's edge" - ^^; - but personally, I think Shoma might benefit from "going international" himself. (Though I doubt they'd let him go.) Or maybe just get another Japanese coach. Because having, pretty much for the first time, I have to admit, thought about the whole thing, I can't help wondering now if it's not the fault of overbearing control that makes him often come across as awkward... As for the general public, most people have no interest in inter-club squabbles, they just admire Yuzu because he works hard to be successful, has overcome great handicaps to do that - both personal, like his allergies, and general, like all that resulted from the earthquake - and that he is fiercely loyal and supportive of his home - and Japan - and the people there. In a time in which many things, unrelated to figure skating, aren't as good as they good be in Japan, he really has become a great hope and inspiration for lots of people. And no silly old sourpuss from Nagoya is going to change that, if she doesn't do anything but whine all day. (But maybe I should write an explanation that at least to some extent explains why Nagoya is as it is, now. It's not only about skating.)

Well, if that's the person I am thinking of, she's from Nagoya... and a lot of people from that club seem to have made it their purpose of living to talk trash about Yuzu. They're not doing themselves a favour in the general Japanese public - as far as the public even notices - and they aren't helping their own skaters either, because they are only seen as jealous sore losers. Slightly OT, I'm curious how they'll react when Marin starts to - hopefully - do well in senior competition, especially overseas, since she's with the Osaka club, AFAIK. And it's really ridiculous to accuse YUZU of all people to have become "internationalized," because for one thing, a thing that comes up constantly in his interviews in Japanese media, is how much he misses Japan in general and Sendai in particular. As for rude, that goes beyond ridiculous, there isn't ANY other Japanese skater who uses beautiful polite language as much and as correctly as he does.