k8y

I don't think this is the reason Hanyu is using Chopin/Seimei. As you said, he could win easily at 4CC, even with 3 quads. It's likely something strategic like testing out a new layout or a new jump. I could see how it would be difficult to turn Origin into a seamless (not yolo-ed) 5 quad program because it is so unrelenting. There are many possible reasons for this change, so maybe let's wait to hear the explanation from him before jumping to any conclusions.

Sorry if this has been posted already, but for those who are in the United States, Costco actually sells a few Kose Sekkisei products - the lotion, moisturizer, cleansing oil and powder wash. The powder wash is great and nice for traveling (since it's not in liquid form). Shipping is free and very fast. ETA re the powder wash - I've used a similar product from Dior (almost identical, down to the fragrance) and it was 4xs as much.

The first day of my vacation and I could think of nothing better to do than go back and watch a suspenseful, nail biter of a movie with an extremely satisfying ending, starting from around page 2500 of this thread. I quote some highlights from the very first scene. LOL.

LOL. Did you see Finger's response to your suggestion that Flight of the Pigeons sounded more like a Ilia Averbukh program? "That would have been amazing. I can make up for it by writing a story about Averbukh passive-aggressively trolling Orser with Icarus/Talonflame memes after Medvedeva's move."

I don't know that I would personally equate these two situations. I don't have an opinion on Dai's motives and intentions, but I think that if Yuzu thought there was a pattern of someone trying to physically interfere with him during practice sessions and the way to quickly shut down that kind of behavior was to publicly address it, then I think he has a right to do that. At the time he said he reviewed the video evidence and believed it was purposeful, so it's not like he made the statement carelessly. I think on certain things, like his physical safety, he should be able to defend himself, whatever the fan reaction.

Aww Yuzu as a doddering old man still looks kinda hot. Should I not have said that out loud?

I love him. I love him especially today because some of the unpleasantness that he has gone through in the past has been dredged up today so I'm proud of all he has accomplished and will accomplish.

Sorry, but I'm not quite sure what you all are referring to. Perhaps you can help me out with some hi-def pictures or, for the artistically inclined, detailed illustrations.

Because Yuzu and Kohei are often compared, I always get a kick out of the contrast in their personalities - Kohei is so dry, cool and deadpan. And he holds that flower and sings the line "Oh, how I miss my town" like he's going to come and kill you in your sleep. Adorable Kenzo as always looks like he's scared shitless that Kohei will make fun of him afterwards.

Can I ask you a question? Please ignore if it's too personal or you just don't feel like answering it. I've never been part of an international fandom before and I'm amazed by not just the number of languages people speak but how well they speak them. There are people here who speak Russian/Japanese/English in addition to other languages on this forum. You're from VN, but your English is perfect. I speak two languages, but do so because because I grew up speaking them. The other languages I tried to learn later in life were complete fails on my part and I have lost them both! Please tell me your secret - how did you (and other multilingual posters) pick up and maintain the languages you speak (assuming you didn't speak from birth)?

Y'all came through actually. I feel less pissy than I did when I wrote my last post re: Brian's quote in Phil's article. First, as many have pointed out, Yuzu seems to be getting what he wants from his relationship with Brian, so whatever, not my business. Secondly, as others also observed, Brian went to Yuzu's apartment to discuss this, he didn't just approach him at the TCC vending machine and was like, hey Jin's coming in June, hope that doesn't suck for you. So the conversation at least wasn't flip, even if the comment was. And though it would've been nice if Brian worded things differently, I think I understand why he said it that way (that he didn't get a reaction from Yuzu) - imagine if he had said he got Yuzu's permission to bring on Jin et al. I'm sure a lot of other skaters/feds approached Brian after the Olympics, including possibly some Japanese skaters. Would Brian's decision not to take those skaters mean that Yuzu implicitly rejected them (in addition to all the shipping/rumors surrounding Med). Some people might take it that way, so basically the most diplomatic path was for Brian to take the responsibility for deciding which skaters he chose/didn't choose to take and leave Yuzu out of it. I don't think he had the same considerations when Yuzu came in 2012.

A million times both of these reactions. I understand Brian has different relationships with Javi and Yuzu because they are different people and have different needs etc. But I'm not sure how many times I can use that as an excuse for the lack of warmth and weirdness in Brian's comments about Yuzu over the years. They've been together 6 years, have gone through many things, but the only thing you ever hear from Brian is that Yuzu is private, polite, lives with his mother, works hard, and shouldn't be underestimated. Someone should interview me because I know all of these things too, from my couch. I try to think, well maybe that's all Yuzu wants Brian to say about him, and that's okay too. But the flip remark in that article, especially in light of how Brian has made his consulting Javi to be part of the story of Yuzu coming to TCC, annoys the heck out of me. And I'm writing this because there are always people on this forum who are more measured and knowledgeable than I am so I'm hoping you guys can calm me down a little. Edited to add: This also comes at a kind of vulnerable time for Yuzu. He's injured, not fully recovered after several months, his future and purpose are a little uncertain. It would help if Brian didn't look like he was phasing him out so quickly.

Sorry this is a little off topic, but I was watching the video where Brian talks about flying to Japan for a super secret meeting and finding to his surprise that the meeting was with Yuzu. He says something along the lines of, "He (Yuzu) was the last person I expected." Anyone with a better sense of Yuzu's career trajectory/reputation at the time, have a sense of what Brian meant by this? Thanks in advance.

Oh yeah, I agree. I meant this affectionately and not to be critical. His situation is not at all uncommon for elite athletes. But it is always amusing to encounter the things he doesn't engage in because, as you point out, he is not like other people. It does annoy me though, when people look at the situation with his mom as some kind of odd thing. It's a distinctly western mindset without taking into account both his culture and his very special circumstances. I honestly don't understand why Brian brings it up in almost every interview.

LOL. This video is hilarious to me because it is exactly how my children would make hot chocolate - the way he sticks his finger in the milk at the beginning, the bajillion marshmallows and shavings he tops it with, how tentative he is throughout the process, even though he is basically microwaving a chocolate bar in milk. This boy is so sweetly low-functioning when it comes to non-skating stuff.

Sorry if I'm misremembering but weren't you the poster who gave Med a Yuzu t-shirt and was a little nervous about the interaction? You can rest easy now! Med was probably just thinking, "OMG, DOES SHE KNOW???"

I like Med, even if I'm not a fan of her skating. If this were Yuzu, I'd probably go hide for a few days. Some of the comments about Med are ugly (people just accepting the nasty rumors/things Eteri is saying and making judgments based on that) . Sometimes I think the FS universe is just so harsh and we expect teenagers to be emotionally equipped to deal with all of that. Think about the things Yuzu had to go through from fans of older skaters when he was 17. TCC has always seemed like a safe haven. I honestly don't enjoy watching it get mixed up in this mess.

I'm always amused by Yuzu's interactions with other athletes. Remember the Asahi Big Sports Award show where he did a flip when they announced his name, in front of Kohei Uchimura and Kenzo Shirai? They were like, OMG, dude have some chill. Yuzu = cringeworthy + adorable.

I don't speak Japanese but hear from people that Yuzu speaks very eloquently and beautifully. I would love to hear this explained in greater detail!

I didn't see Kurt on CBC, but he's seemed to have distanced himself from it in print articles: Re Hanyu and GOAT: “If you want him to be, you wouldn’t be wrong,” https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2018/02/18/figure-skating/yuzuru-hanyus-second-olympic-title-reaffirms-greatness/#.WuEPb1MvzNY and this from Phil's icenetwork article: " But Browning thinks, with a few more world titles, Hanyu might take the nod. "That's the 10th time I've been asked that question this week, and the eighth time today," he said. "Had Fernández not beaten him twice (at the world championships) in the last four years, it wouldn't be a question to ask -- he would be (the greatest). But why not him?" LOL that Kurt would think two more world titles is what would make Yuzu GOAT. edit: it wasn't Phil's article but Lynn Rutherford: http://web.icenetwork.com/news/2018/02/17/266642658/the-goat-hanyu-repeats-as-olympic-champion

I'd like to see examples of American media unequivocally calling Yuzu GOAT, because I have to say, I really didn't see it. They hem and haw and say things like, "He's the Dick Button of his generation" or "He's the greatest Japanese skater ever" or "If you wanted him to be GOAT, you wouldn't be wrong," but it is the rare commentator or skater that actually went out and said they considered him GOAT.

Thank you for your response. You're right. I also come off icenetwork articles (and to be frank, most of the media coverage here in the US) feeling slightly disgruntled. I try (I really really try) to be fair to journalists or other skating fans who aren't as effusive in their love for Yuzu as I am, but who am I kidding. Yuzu is like a crack den with no windows and no doors.

Totally agree with this. I think Phil is trying to appear balanced and not come off as a superfan. I saw that with his GOAT/maybeGOAT articles before and after the Olympics. It's clear he thinks Yuzu is GOAT but wants to present different perspectives. Are there other reasons why people are skeptical about Phil besides the perception that he moved the goal posts on Yuzu after the second OWG?

I noticed that Phil walked back Brian's quote about Yuzu continuing to the 2022 Olympics though. Now it's just he's "going to continue." I'm relieved actually. No need to put that kind of pressure on the poor guy right now.