getsurenka

Haha, it is cute how she puts Pooh and kitty on it.

The man who keeps giving. This time he donated around 1,600,000 yen to Sendai Ice Rink. Over the years he had donated over 27 million yen to the ice rink. On one hand I am so proud of him, yet a tiny part of me is like, "Yuzu, you better save some for your retirement and family fund. Don't you know starting a family is going to be expensive!" lol

It was funny, that there was a TV segment during the day of the ceremony that people guessed what would be the gift given to him. Many people (and the fans) had guessed that it would be something related to sendaihira due to their connections with Sendai and that it is very expensive thus appropriate for the occasion. Then turns out he was already wearing a hakama made out of sendaihira to the ceremony and declined the gift lol. Personally I really like how he wore a garment representative of Sendai, made by people of Sendai, to such an important event. (And it is lovely that Yoshio Koda-san himself took the initiative to make Yuzu such a meaningful gift for the important occasion.) No matter what was the motive behind the award, I think the results triumph it all.

I don't know that he is the first recipient ever to refuse the gift/souvenir that accompanies the award. I remembered when the news of him being considered for such an honorable award first came out, many people voiced their disagreement publically, some even on the TV, citing the reasons that he is still an active competitive skater, or that his accomplishments as figure skater are incomparable to those in baseball and other popular summer sports. While I worried about the potential backlash, however small, he might face (especially with how aware and sensitive he is to the negative voices), ultimately I am really happy that he chose to accept the award. Not only because he totally deserves the award and the acknowledgement of his accomplishments, but also because I saw how many people are happy and proud of him when the news first came out. When I saw the news of all the celebratory messages the people of Sendai put out publically, I know this achievement means so much to the ones who are still struggling and trying to recover from the tragedy. In that sense, the award belongs to him and by extension to the people of Sendai and Miyagi. A commentator said in news segment yesterday that he always felt that the award was used as a political tool in the past, but this time he was really glad that Yuzuru receives this award because he saw how rejoiceful the people of Sendai and Miyagi were at the news (rough summarization). I felt the same as well. Lastly, for him to decline the gift with the rationale of not wanting the gift because this achievement is of many people and not just him, is so Yuzu. I have heard traditionally in the past the gifts given all have the values over 1000000 yen. And with him turning it down without a bat of eye is a testament of his character. Many fans reactions I read during the ceremony, and I concur, had said that his actions and his words are a perfect comeback to all the disagreeing voices in the past. Overall, congratulations Yuzuru!

He is really making sure we are as well hydrated as we can be before he turns back to hermit mode huh. ETA: He truly never changed, even after receiving two olympic gold medals and now one of the most honorable award in Japan.

Wait, now he changed into a suit?

(Sorry that I kept spamming you guys lol, I am very excited about the hakama Yuzu if you can't tell)

I couldn't find the source specifically, but this isn't the only tweet I saw who claimed this. ETA: I believe this is the source (he said it during the interview)

According to Sponichi article, the reason he gave is that he is still currently an active competitive skater

I just saw on Twitter. Thank you!

Well... that's short. I heard that the recipient usually receives a gift in addition to the award. I am curious as to what Yuzu receives? More rice? ETA: I think he declined the gift?

The instagram stream has started! And the YT one has just started too. That one I find much clearer.

(Oops, haha three in a row.)

Hakama?! I can't wait to see him in it!

@Hydroblade

Based on his track record, if he keeps this as an EX for the season, he will probably use the piano version during the international competitions since he hasn't skate to a track with Japanese vocal internationally in his career. But I do hope if he chooses to compete in NHK, JPN nationals and World 2019 (in Saitama), he will use the vocal version. I really like her voice, and I hope he is able to skate to the beautiful lyrics in front of home crowd (But if he does that, will we get a longer version of the EX?)

I think it sorts of fit in here... maybe?