KatjaThera

OT, but this here made me realize why I don't like Chopin as much as other programs. And it's precisely that ice prince, prince charming feeling. I find that kind of thing really cliche and boring - maybe I've just become a cynical adult . Of course, Yuzu's skating is beautiful and there are many great points in the program. Objectively it's great. Subjectively, to me, it's too close to what people expect of figure skating - right down to the classical music - which makes it cliche. It also bugs me when people say it fits Yuzu. Because, to me, that's like putting him in a pretty, neat little box. When in fact, I don't think they've invented a box that fits him yet. I'm not saying Yuzu doesn't fit Chopin. I'm saying I think he can do so much more and saying he fits Chopin is underestimating him. I guess maybe to long term skating fans, skating a really good classical program is the ultimate achievement. To me, as a new skating fan, skating new, more unusual programs really well is the ultimate achievement. That might actually be why I fell for Yuzuru last year, when he had two - to me - unusual programs. He surprised me and charmed me and I want to see what else he'll come up with. Sorry, I got a little carried away and I hope nobody will be offended by this. The above is just my impression, based on my own likes and dislikes and I believe everyone is entitled to their own. Although I would be curious if anyone else shares these thoughts... Because it really seems like most people absolutely adore Chopin and I'm usually feeling like I'm stuck in a corner just trying to understand lol

Imagine the reactions if he showed up at Rostelecom with a brand new SP, while everyone expects Chopin... I don't know what to think now. I'd still love a new program - or even him challenging LGC again, because I'm still sure when he reaches with that the same level he reached with PW and Chopin, it will be mind blowing; it already is, actually, IMO - but I also now really get re-using Chopin. While he made us all go WTF? on Friday, I think he also made his rivals go "Of, F**k!" Because he'd have a big head start over them. I wonder if he does have a clear plan now, or if what he showed us is more of a backup plan. Even with technical upgrades by the other quadsters, Chopin is a pretty good backup plan. Beyond that, he's free to experiment. But I do wonder what happened to letting Jeffrey pick. Did Jeffrey pick this? And if so, why? There are many unanswered questions. But I do think it's too early for Yuzuru to publicly commit to anything, so it's probably good he's being vague. On the other hand, like I said earlier, announcing Chopin as the new SP was probably more of a scare tactic. One maybe he doesn't really agree with it, because I don't think Yuzu is the type to play mind games. That might also be why he has yet to confirm Shirota's words. I do wish he'd say something, though, even if it was: "Nothing's decided yet, except 4T3T." Though that'd imply Shirota lied and that's way too rude for him. So he'll probably stay quiet and if it turns differently, just say he changed his mind...

That's great! :) I am feeling much better, too. (Though not really after Mezamashi... the Koki thing is really sad for me, as a sort of KAT-TUN fan...) I wonder about interviews in the new Ice Jewels... didn't they often have great in-depth interviews? (I think it was in Ice Jewels he first talked about his foot injury and the tough recovery?)

To be fair, it's also Yuzu's fault, somewhat, if people expect to have both, because he's been saying (and not just saying, he's been doing it) he wants to blend both. That said, I pretty much agree with you. I'm not really happy with Chopin now because I don't really like Chopin. But maybe by the time Olympics come, I will, if he changes choreo etc. And even if I don't like it, I'll still root for him, even if I might like another program more. Because I'm rooting for Yuzu overall, not just his programs. But that's just me and how I am. I can be unhappy and even disappointed in his music/program choices and still admire his strategy and mindset and whatever ideas he comes up with. I also don't understand people who say they won't support him anymore because of this. Like someone else - I'm sorry, I forgot who - said, fans have disagreed with his choices many times over the years and most times he proved them wrong. I honestly hope it'll be the same again. But I think we also have to understand we're all very different and react differently to such things. I was in a WTF state for hours yesterday, but by now it's more of a "let's wait and see what happens".

I actually fell asleep an hour into it and woke up 10 minutes ago... and I've been reading this thread since I'm used to brief mezamashi things, and even the occasional: "very brief now, because ACTUALLY, the real report/interview is tomorrow! Yay!" moments... but still, disappointing. (Wondering why they didn't mention Shoma's short?) And I feel the need to say this... it'sFORMER KAT-TUN ^^;;; (Because KAT-TUN is drama and actually kind of fits in the drama that has been the past 24 hours )

Part of me wishes he'd keep 4Lz hidden until Rostelecom... but it'd probably be good to get mileage on it, if he really adds it...

I must have misunderstood you, then. I thought you meant his focus was mostly on skating skills. But it seems we both agree BV needs to go up, too. I really hope it will. (It wouldn't really surprise if he didn't up it, after today, in which case I'd really start worrying, because perfect PCS, even if possible, wouldn't be enough.) And I agree. He wants it all. I admit, I'd like it even more if he did it with brand new programs, but that's probably unreasonable. (But maybe he'll want to challenge that at the next Olympics? *hides*)

I don't think this season is really that reflective of his ideal. Also, to me, his ideal is a perfect blend of sport and art. That was the impression I always got... I honestly think he did sort of achieve that with Hope and Legacy... (It's not my favorite program, when I think of it, but when I'm watching it, I often find myself thinking it's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen) But this year, it's about the Olympics. Even if he says otherwise, he wants that second gold and might be willing to let his ideal wait a little longer for it. That said, we have yet to hear his take on all of this. Why he's doing this. It's not the first time he's made fans go WTF? only to in the end realize he was right all along... I'm still not happy with Chopin and I worry, but I want to hear what he says... I've been a fan since December, and I haven't been this active on a forum in maybe... almost 10 years? So I get you somewhat... No reason to feel sorry. Feelings are to be embraced.

Who lied to you so cruelly? (It's my first off season, but I never expected it to be quiet... lol) We'll survive, somehow... Whatever programs, it's still the Yuzu we love! So let's just enjoy watching him skate!

I'd actually mind a Seimei part 2 - ideally with a different music cut and choreo - a lot less than the 3rd Chopin... But again, that's tastes. And let's not jump to conclusions, anyway... The issue with this, for me, is that there's not a whole lot further he can go, PCS wise... So even if he gets that, he might still get beaten if the BV isn't high enough... How kuyashii would that be? The issue with aiming for a clean program is that the BV also needs to be high, or else you're not just counting on you being clean, but also on others not being clean... Which is a lot of variables. Most of all looking forward to proof of technical upgrades...

Kohaku is the NHK (Japan National TV channel) New Year's program and it's always been a big deal, matter of prestige and such to be on it (of course, nowadays, many think it's outdated, but I still find it generally more entertaining than New Year shows. It's supposedly a song contest, with two teams. Red Team - which is primarily female artists; there are some bands that also have male members sometimes in the Red Team - and White Team, which is primarily male artists. And a panel of judges and yes, Yuzu was one of the judges. I'm still not exactly clear on how voting goes - the past two years have been somewhat controversial - but every year, there's a winning team. In the Kohaku Yuzu was in, they also did an all artists performance of Hana ha saku, where you can see - not really hear, unless your ears are much better than mine - Yuzu sing. (Every year there's a main all artists performance, that year, it was Hana ha saku) ETA: @SparkleSalad was faster than me ETA2: I actually watched this before I became a Yuzu fan, but was really impressed by him even then... Although I could have sworn he wasn't older than 18 And I loved Hana ha saku (although that it was played on piano by Yoshiki was the main reason I listened to it closely

He's too good and the only way they can think of to beat him is to jump theirselves to an early grave. That's my take on it, at least. Of course, that doesn't make it his fault. Or maybe he shouldn't compete to his full capabilities, so the others won't feel left behind? It's ridiculous, either way. I think he would have, eventually, because he likes to challenge himself. But he definitely would have taken it more slowly, IMO The problem is that skills take time to develop, so adding quads is easier, I guess

Approved! Maybe we should make a petition for it...

He might have seen it and then forgotten it as he had plenty of his own stuff to think about. I don't remember the last time I had a cold, let alone someone else ^_^; I love the confidence with which you say these things... lol May you always be right!

I don't think that's a problem. People underestimating Yuzu is good, IMO. Less pressure I didn't say he's a complete package, just that he's more complete Admittedly I don't know much about jump technique, so it's probably not as glaring to me. And I thought the WTT FS already indicated he's thinking 5 quads next season... I'm not sure just 4 would be enough and I don't think 5 would be too much if the program is constructed right - it didn't seem too much at WTT, even though the second quad was popped.

It makes no real difference to Javi what Yuzu does in Japan Nationals, though, I think... Nobody seems to take any Nationals very seriously on an international level, as far as I've seen.

Actually, while I'm not a fan of Shoma, I do think he's a more complete package already than Boyang. And Nathan. But who knows, really, what they'll come up with this year... I don't even want to imagine that... But one has to wonder, if he does 7 quads all season, if he'll be intact by the Olympics... I guess I'm thinking more in terms of Yuzu's aesthetic. Jumps + skating skills. When it comes to that, I think - as an unexperienced viewer - Shoma is a bit closer to Yuzu, with Boyang not very far behind. Nathan probably had potential, but if he keeps working on jumps, the potential will probably not see the light of day just yet... Yes, you're probably right about that. And to be honest, I think I'd rather have Yuzu lose while sticking to his principles than win by becoming a jump machine like the others. But I think if anyone can make a many quads program look good artistically, too, it's Yuzu... so while others pile up quads and lose artistry, he might be able to do both and still stay ahead... We'll see!

They've always said they don't hang out beyond the rink, so it shouldn't really be any blow... The only thing that has me a bit is that he makes it sound like he's watched Shoma in competitions and maybe even the ones he refers to so... if he'd watched Japan Nationals, he should have known Yuzu wasn't there. But he was probably speaking more generally about seeing Shoma compete and I just jumped to conclusions.

I think we need to acknowledge that even though Yuzu and Javi are friends when skating, they're not BFFs and Javi's not a Yuzu fan to follow him as closely as we do. It could simply be that he didn't know Yuzu didn't participate in Japanese Nationals last year or it slipped his mind or he somehow made a confusion with WTT - where Shoma did beat Yuzu in the short. Actually he - and Nathan - also beat him in the free at GPF, and he also beat him in the short at Worlds... So maybe he was refering to things like that and not overall competitions? Though it seems less likely Either way, it doesn't matter so much, I think... I think he's still essentially right and Shoma is perhaps the most dangerous of the up and coming skaters... (or so he seems right now; who knows what will happen by the end of the year...)

My new avatar is a picture I took of a page in Aoi Honoo... So it's both mine and not mine, but no idea how I could credit that... I don't know if it's possible, but making the Image Credit field accept non-URL text would probably help a lot of people

For myself, I did occasionally watch figure skating - even men's figure skating, though I found it a bit awkward at times :P - and really enjoyed it, but I never got into it enough to actually find out when competitions were. If I stumbled upon them on TV, I'd watch. If not, not. It was YOI that revived my interest in figure skating, though still not enough to really search for competitions. (I'm also not really a YOI fan... I like the originality of the story, the real life inspirations and the effort put into accuracy, but I'm still not sold on Viktor/Yuuri :P ) In the mean time, though, I had a friend who liked Yuzu and my Japanese teacher was also a fan... so I'd hear news, here and there. Then, one day, I randomly remembered I'd heard there was a TV broadcast of men's figure skating that evening. So I remembered and switched to it and several moments later, Yuzuru came on. It was the 2016 Grand Prix Final Men's Free Skate, so Hope and Legacy. I remember loving the outfit (favorite colors :love: ) and loving how graceful he was - banishing all my fears about men's figure skating being awkward, because his was definitely not. I was nervous when he fell and nervous to see if he'd win or not... I remember being surprised at how Patrick and Javier also fell - without having any idea who they were, beside what the commentators were saying, about them being favorites for the win and Yuzuru's rivals). And I remember being happy when he won. Anyway, following that I was hooked. I took to youtube and educated myself thoroughly (while in the same time cursing my timing, because of how long I'd have to wait until the next competition). It didn't take much longer to find the GS FF thread and I lurked happily ever after... Until this place came to be and I somehow ended up having 146 posts in a little over a week... :eh: (and spent quite a bit of money on some 6kg of Yuzu stuff from Japan - magazines, books, clearfiles, calendars... :embSwan: I guess hooked is a good term...)

We're just very concerned about who gets to put their hands on Yuzu... nothing wrong wih that :devil:

*puts detective goggles on* look closely at chiddy's suit and you'll see that it has a slightly dark blue-ish hue and catches more light than everyone else's suits in that pic. the mysterious arm's sleeve is almost pitch black, same colour as eric's suit. the angle might make it look like eric has very short upper arm, but I do think he's bending it a bit forward (this is kinda hard to explain, I wish I could make an illustrative diagram - similar to those you did at the Church) :rofl2: ETA: chiddy's arm can actually be seen tucked under that mysterious arm. it continues downward under the black sleeve. so yeah, it's not actually chiddy's - I can say this with confidence now :D On my phone it seems obvious it is chiddy's though? o.O [attachment=0]tmp_29172-20170509_1402421831446486.png[/attachment]

I'm pretty sure it is Patrick's. It fits him the best. And lovely pictures, thank you for sharing! Yuzu and Shoma look like little brothers who snuck into the adults' party :P And although I can't say I like Patrick, I like these instances where he and Yuzu seem to get along well :space: Actually, it's one thing I like about FS. They all seem to get along pretty well... at least the ShibSibs videos make competitions look more like school camps :P

Just for the record, same here. It stopped rather suddenly. It's true there were a lot of emails, but I checked and they didn't go to spam either.