KatjaThera

I have a personal attachment to POTO, so I can't hate it. But I guess since it was never completely clean, it's harder to stick in people's minds. On top of being a warhorse and being the program of that year. Personally, I re-watch GPF POTO, but also Japan Nationals POTO quite often. I guess Japan Nationals POTO is another people don't like because Yuzu was in pain - and in all fairness was quite crazy to skate then - but I can't help admiring his strength and drive in delivering another near perfect performance in the condition he was in then. I'd like to see it back some day - and hopefully impress people more - but if Yuzu's as superstitious as it seems, I doubt he'll want to touch it this season.

Let them ignore those. It'll only blow their minds more when he does them in competition And I was reading now through the end of that long Brian and Yuzu interview and aww-ing all over the place. Translating is too difficult and many kanji still to identify (also, I know there's a translation available for sharing with those who have bought the book, but I wanted to read for myself ^^ ETA: Nevermind, the translation is for Aoi Honoo >_< That's what happens when I post before I'm fully awake), so will just say this: Yuzu asking Brian if he thinks Yuzu will still be skating in 8 years (the interview took place in August 2014) and Brian saying that since Yuzu will be just 27, it's far from impossible, but then Yuzu saying he doesn't want to (yes, he actually says something like "Yeah, but I don't want to.") and that he'll stop after Pyeongchang. But Brian, wise man he is, says: ok, we'll just take it one year at a time and see how you feel after Pyeongchang. (Actually, this makes me feel a lot more confident about him continuing after Pyeongchang, because it seems to be another case of a young man unable to see himself years ahead. At 19, 27 probably seemed somewhat middle-aged (just like 30 seemed old when he was 20 :P) to him, so he couldn't imagine himself still skating then. Now it might be different, though he might still take it one year at a time and see how it goes and if he still enjoys it.) Which brings me to the next thing, Yuzu asking Brian if he felt pressure after his first Olympics. I thought this quite telling as to Yuzu already searching for ways to deal with his own pressure and I think Brian felt the same, because most of his answer was about how Yuzu should enjoy his being an Olympic Champion and a star and not worry too much about the pressure. He also talks about Yuzu's great relationship with his family and how Brian was the same and how important having a family and a place to go back to is. And also, Brian actually says he would love Yuzu and Javi to one day take over Cricket Club as coaches... That's our dream, too, Brian... (Yuzu actually says he'd probably do like a summer camp training in Toronto, since he'd also be doing ice shows, so he wouldn't be able to coach skaters full time. Another case of not being able to see too far into the future, I think. BUT... he didn't say no to coaching in Toronto... Then again, he couldn't really tell Brian "Thanks, but no, sorry" to his face ^_^; ) I really hope I didn't misread any of this stuff, but if I did, please feel free to correct me!

I've spent a good part of last evening and this morning reading through the Team Brian books. Although there's a lot about Yuna and Brian and Javi and points system and coaching in general, they're still quite Yuzu focused and I get really caught up in them when I start reading, so I would recommend them. (Although I did get confused about something yesterday, as it contradicts something David said, about R&J2). And the first Team Brian book has a long joint interview with Yuzu and Brian. 37 A5 pages long. I don't think it's anything earth shattering - I haven't managed to read it all, yet - but still. Noguchi's book I actually haven't really read at all. From looking through it doesn't seem to have much inside info, so not much new, though. The pictures are nice, but we know those already. And I don't really know others - aside from Yuzu's of course. Oh, I'll have to remember to look for the Yuzu quotes one, though... that should be nice... Magazines... I'll probably end up broke >_<

4A next season. 4Lz is most probably coming next week. And I always interpreted his words as him not focusing on 4Lz, as in whether he put it in or not wasn't the most important thing, and not him saying he definitely wouldn't put it in. The open day Seimei layout had no 4Lz, but it's hard to think the ACI 3Lz 3Lo 3F first half layout wouldn't have normally been 4Lz 4Lo 3F, so most of us expect 4Lz as first jump next week. Though he might still troll us and do the open day one lol So many things to look forward to next week! New costume(s?), possible 4Lz or possible return of the troll, new Ex(or will it be new?)...

Brain has apparently said he's been training it - some days 4Lz, some days 4A - but it's unclear how successful it is and whether it's serious or just for kicks. But I think most people agree we might see it next season (if Yuzu continues, though I think most of us think he will)

Although mentions of 4Lz - and 4A - by both Yuzu and Brian have appeared in written media, TV media seems completely oblivious. But I think they're only counting what has already been landed in competition.

Thank you! It says something about a memorial book - too tired to try to figure it out the kanji now - but I guess I'll wait for some fan reports. Tokyo-Sendai is quick, but quite expensive, by shinkansen and I'm on a budget

I'll still be in Japan then, so I guess I could go on a day trip to Sendai... I'll need to find more information!

Good point, I had forgotten about that. And I think I remember something about tonkatsu as well... But well, my favorite food changes regularly as well, so... lol

I actually love that costume... wondering what 22 year old Yuzu would look like in it... Also, this was the first time I heard he loves eggs... so we had the karaage phase, the gyoza phase, the like fatty food phase, the don't eat any fatty food phase, the nabe and such phase... but he actually doesn't eat much... >_> sounds like feeding Yuzu is a real challenge...

Only most people are superstitious about wearing gold during Olympic season - or well during Olympics. I think Team Japan didn't get that memo, though. Yuzu has gold in both costumes - unless Chopin colors change - Shoma has gold in his FS at least - don't remember the SP - and Marin has gold, too. Not sure about the others, but I snickered about that at Japan Open. I always thought Etude style would fit Chopin... maybe a blue and red Etude style costume - to fit his new skate guards...

I think Shae-Lynn said something about Seimei... and Brian I think also mentioned new costumes, but less specifically. (I think that's part of why many were expecting bigger changes in Seimei).

Isn't it a bit funny that now when Javi has finally gone back to form-fitting costumes, Yuzu is doing his more flowy ones? (Well, new Seimei isn't THAT flowy, but it's not very tight either. And we have yet to see Chopin, but after two years of barely any changes, it's hard to imagine he'd go so drastically different...)

In my defence, I know nothing about jump physics. But it'd be fun As for the closing, I was thinking more about the closing gesture, from gpf15 I... would hope not lol I doubt the day when Yuzu will be looking to me for ideas is anywhere near. I'm sure he has plenty of crazy ones of his own

maybe one day he'll do a Hanyu variation to a 4A (jump with his hands in Seimei opening pose, for example Or closing lol)

Personally, for some reason I liked the A spin - sounds a bit better than butt spin - at the end of Chopin, too. The sound effect makes me think of a spinning top and that spin fits perfectly. And I think it didn't bother me much during LGC either - but that might be because of the pants - but yeah... I'm sure it's not easy, but... yeah. lol

That and TCC's sand floor ^_^ But yeah, I hope so, too. And I don't think he will get that bad, it just makes me cringe a bit whenever Plush's given as an example for longevity.

I like to think that's not why he had trouble at 4CC... anyone can get a bad back now and then, I think. I hope... his Biellman and Ina Bauer are iconic, not to mention beautiful. But if they are giving him trouble, better replace them, yes. (Although with something other than A spin would be nice... the difference between a Biellman and an A spin is... yeah.) And this reminds me... there are people giving Plushenko as an example of longevity in FS and how Yuzu could do the same. But from what I've heard (read), he's done quite some damage to his body in the process and I'd really rather Yuzu doesn't stick around long enough for that to happen (to that extent, at least). Much as I want him to keep competing for a long long time.

Personally, I don't disagree with that. And, if come Olympics, he lands all his jumps and the others all falter, and the scoring is fair - no extra PCS for quads alone - and he still wins, good for him. And too bad for figure skating and for the others who couldn't keep it together. But the fair scoring is an issue - and will be no matter what, because scoring is subjective in many ways. Of course, there'll probably be comments regardless of whoever wins it, especially if it's not with a clean skate. I agree with you pretty much completely. I think a lot of people also see Nathan's programs being an improvement as a much greater improvement than it actually is. Shoma to me seems closest to Yuzu in terms of mixing the artistry and technical side, but Boyang seems to be making the most effort, somehow? (Although I watched his FS at Finlandia and I did not like it... but it was wobbly, so it's maybe not fair to judge him on it). And I also half expect him to end up on the podium while everyone's hyping up others. I wonder if Shoma can live with the pressure people around him are putting on him. And Nathan's plan is a big gamble (although, indeed, his only chance for this year). And I want Yuzu and Javi, too. It helps that Javi doesn't care about gold that much, so he'd probably enjoy second more than anyone ^^; And especially if he does retire, it'd be great for them to share that podium.

It would be nice. Maybe his perspective has changed. I think before it was said he was planning to retire after the Olympics, but recently he hasn't said that anymore? And if he plans to have a longer career, he will need to be more careful. Who knows. Personally, I don't think he's being very successful yet. His program seems like "Ok, I'll do some choreography now.... ok, that's enough, now jump. Ok, some more choreography... not too much, ok, that's enough, throw in some more jumps..." and so on. It seems disconnected, like he's just following a check list. Or maybe I'm just not properly attuned to the music, I don't know. Oh I never meant it was him saying it. He strikes me as a guy who doesn't care much about that sort of thing, but I don't actually know anything about him as a person. Maybe if I did, he'd become my new favorite person in the world lol And you're right about age. We remember Yuzu at 17 went to Toronto to learn to jump, but stumbled upon a good and strict coach who made him work on other things, too. So, yes, age has something to do it. But guidance does, too. (I really think Yuzu is so lucky to have found Brian... most of the other top skaters - Javi being the obvious exception - seem to lack such good guidance. Though I can't really say about Boyang, as I'm not very familiar with his circumstances.)

I agree that it's a bit annoying to read such cryptic things. If you don't want to say something, then just don't say it at all, instead of hinting at it, but refusing to say more. As for Nathan, it's probably not the right place for it, and it's just my untrained opinion, as someone's who's become a fan only recently, but while I agree Nathan's FS this year is better - for now at least - I don't think it's anywhere near deserving gold yet. I really hope Yuzu is done bombing for the season, because, to me, it'd be a huge let down if a program like that won gold - anywhere - when there are so much better programs (as an overall package I mean). Though actually, that already happened at 4CC with the old one ^_^;. I have nothing against Nathan and it's very brave of him to do all those quads and well done on managing them when he does. It's just not right for me, personally, if he were to win with that and that program, against someone who balances both quads and a proper program. But I know it's an old topic. Back when Yuzu started making a name for himself, he, too, used technical content to beat Patrick who had the upper hand in PCS. But, to me, there's a difference, in that Patrick had the upper hand PCS wise, but didn't exactly blend TES and PCS at the same level Yuzu does now, compared to Nathan. (Especially Nathan, because Shoma and Boyang seems to be trying harder for a balance). Again, just my opinion and somewhat OT, I guess. Actually, I think what bugs me and perhaps others, too, about Nathan and this narrative is that he doesn't really seem to be trying very hard to blend the two aspects and we're supposed to just believe he's artistic because of his balletic roots, even though he doesn't show it much. It sounds like an attempt to fill in the blanks. "Yes he mostly jumps, but you know he's actually done ballet, so he could totally do the rest, too!" But anyway I guess this year will also show whether TES really can beat PCS. So it should be interesting... (I trust Brian and Yuzu to be prepared to react, in case that does happen.)

I think it's ok to have different tastes. The world would be really boring otherwise. Also, in a way, the most important thing is for him to like it and feel comfortable in it, even if everyone else hates it. That said, I actually like these colors more. I guess it's more vibrant in a way, while also being more subtle/simple in others. I love the shades of purple and green, while the ones in the old Seimei I found weird and kind of out of place. (The change in perception could also simply be because I got use to the color combination). So I guess our tastes are at opposite corners lol I admit, I also would like a more dramatic change - though simply replacing the purple and green with red or so wouldn't be much better to me. A dramatic change would be to replace the white with something else and then the other colors to fit. (Black, purple and gold would also kill me, to be honest...) But I think he is committed to white Seimei, so... unlikely. BUT... we still have to see Chopin! (here's to hoping for more than another shade of blue in the same type of gradient >.>)

I guess there is a chance he'll keep white Seimei throughout the GP season, and then unleash black Seimei at the Olympics... that'd be ultimate drama lol (But I don't really think he will... It's like I half expected him to go crazy YOLO-ing at Worlds in Helsinki, after 4CC and that SP, but instead he went for the planned layout, but did it perfectly, so it was awesome anyway. It's that kind of drama I imagine in my head, only he has a different way of thinking lol So he'll probably still use white Seimei, but be breathtaking in it...) Personally, I like the cleaner version. It's more Japanese subtlety than the other one. But it's a matter of tastes.

Oh, I love H&L costume, too! I think it was part of what made me instantly support him lol (Also, green, and blue-green/emerald green/whatever you want to call it is one of my favorite colors, so that gradient was 150% up my alley). I personally don't see if as showing how muscular he's become, but rather it shows off that body shape, that I love. Slim, yet not skinny, not really feminine, but not manly either... I love that body shape. And yes, I miss that in Seimei, as well, but the Seimei kind of outfit is more imposing in some ways, so I end up liking it in a different way (the purple and green help a lot, though, purple being another favorite color lol) I know, re: curtain, it just reminded me of Yuzu's 'ironing experience' so I couldn't help trying to make a joke