TallyT

Good. That whole thing left a nasty taste in the mouth...

"Does that mean I have to actually think one up first???" But you can understand why they wanted him, that skin must be the envy of every woman in Japan.... Next burning issue of course, will we get more of Yuzu's creativity with chocolate this year?

Very kind of them, and isn't that poster just stunning?

It looks beautiful....

We all are.... our ninja will disappear, and Masquerade with him. On the other side, I just went into youtube and there are a million and thirty three clips (okay, slight exaggeration, thirty two) from the last three days' tv offerings of all sorts to sort through for best...

It's a combination of from within and without - from the day of the earthquake (It's a bittersweet thought that he might even have difficulty recalling just how it felt to be that boy of 10 March 2011 who just loved to skate), and then skyrocketing at Sochi - Yuzu has been more than just Japan's beloved skater and champion but an exemplar, almost an embodiment of suffering and rising above it, achieving so much through adversity, and of everything they want a such an exemplar to be both in his sport and as a human being. It's almost unimaginable to obscure and ordinary souls like me what that must feel like, to know that huge numbers of people look at you and see something more than what you know you are, and to understand that you - the 'Yuzuru Hanyu' of public perception as well as the real Yuzu - have made a difference in ways that count, to ordinary people as well as the many who shared the experience of tragedy with you and therefore feel they share everything you are and you can give. Many people are famous, less - but still a good number - are legends. Less still, very few in reality, become symbols in the public's eyes. And that is hard. But he makes that difference, and he takes it oh so seriously. And then last year he took that second Oly gold - through more suffering - and received the People's Award. Is it surprising that he puts pressure on himself not to disappoint everyone?

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Not sure if that's league or union (I think my lack of footy understanding is vaguely un-Australian) but given that the MOST IMPORTANT (to my male relatives and eastern Australia in general) set of matches all year are going on at the minute, maybe it's a sign.... Mind you, I did not need the mental picture of a muddy, wet Yuzu in footy shorts.... on the other hand....

Such a sweetheart, he really worries for his fans (even if - and at the same time - he drives us crazy....)

Costumes! First a disclaimer, we have an Overlord who can make almost anything look good (well, better than anyone else...) Notte Stellata/LGC... by a whisker Origin/H&L - but it hurt choosing HyK/Seimei and Seimei 2 more than 1 Chopin/Origin R&J/PW - which R&J? If 1, then that wins, if 2.... PW Etude/Notte Stellata... sorry, can't choose, can't choose at all, love them both Otonal/POTO Masquerade/CM My absolute favourites are - in no particular order because I can't order them... Seimei 2, Origin, Etude, Notte Stellata and now Masquerade.

Nobu is adorable (going on from the chocolate discussion, he is the Tim Tam of skating) and so good-natured, not all of them could laugh at it, bt he clearly loves Yuzu as we do. Didn't you just want to hug him? Happiest tears ever....

I agree. I mean, he has or has had Eteri as coach which from all the hype you would think would give him a boost, he has been outperforming pretty much all of the younger ones for the last couple of years, but still.... (Don't mind me, I like Sergei best of pretty much the whole troop of Russians these days)

Sprungli No 1 from Zurich is the Hanyu of chocolate, sorry. The once we were over there and bought 4 whole pieces (not cheap, not at all cheap) I didn't eat another thing for a day because I was trying so hard not to lose the taste....

This is like being asked which Swiss chocolates do you choose, let me dither for an hour or more here.... Okay, Seimei because it was my first real Yuzu program, and the place in my heart is forever. Otonal was more perfectly done, but Origin he fought for (and that costume!) Oh god oh god.... Hope & Legacy by an atom's thickness Masquerade, I adore the wild, mature Yuzu. This is not helping but I can't resist. I love Phantom, but I'll go for Otonal. Origin again, but not picking HkY hurts. Can't go past Notte Stellata (especially since I last night watched the SC rehearsal again...) The only way I can choose here is by the music, and I'm not a great Prince fan, so... Masquerade. Chopin undoubtedly reached a peak of perfection that stuns, but my love for wild baby Yuzu (R&J1) and soft spot for unappreciated tripecrown R&J2 wins out... Change. I adore Change. No. Simply.... no. PW because he just seemed to be enjoying himself so much....

I have to say, it appears someone has been teaching Shoma the High Art of Trolling....

That poster is stunningly beautiful....

I dreamed last night that Yuzu DID announce his programs for 2019-20 as Masquerade and Origin. Wishful thinking, I'm sure....

Yuzu will be out of it, and if the USFS want to wreck everything that makes the sport...

Oh my god, you can see a faint, shimmery, water spirit starting to emerge...

It's being thoroughly dissected in the It's that time of the year - coaching changes 2019/2020 - Page 12 - Knickknacks: General Skating Chat thread

The Yuzu&Javi relationship was unique, I can't see it working again (Shoma is lovely, but Javi's generosity and welcome was always something else, I have always thought that he even more than Yuzu made that early teaming up work). And there is the point that Shoma has said - more than once - that one of his biggest ambitions is to beat Yuzuru. That's a little more personal (though quite understandable, and in a competitive, not disturbing, way!) than just wanting to win gold, and might make sharing the coach who might be supposed to make it happen for him difficult. And - without being unkind - I got the feeling that signing up with Evgenia proved more work and drama than Brian and the TCC actually anticipated. Sure, the rewards are now showing up and may be great, but would Brian want to again take on a person already at the top and remould them, until she is pretty much where they want her to be? Shoma has said he's still basically shopping around...

Yuzu's waistline is a thing of beauty and a joy forever (yes, I'm that shallow )