rockstaryuzu

I think anyone who watches his practices can see it. While other skaters are frantically doing full run-throughs or practicing jumps and spins, Yuzu does edge ( I don't know what else to call them but they're basic skating exercises) drills, a few jumps, one run-through where he stops after the first or second jump and strokes around visualizing his performance to the music, counting the beats, marking to himself where he'll do certain elements, and clearly thinking. He'll pick up the music and finish the run through, then chat with his coaches, do more exercises and cool down. I think the key habit that's different from the others is how much time he's spending thinking about his performance. Meanwhile the other skaters are basically getting in a workout and it's anyone's guess what's going on in their heads. Anyway, all that is just what I was able to observe, as an uneducated viewer, at the open practice. No big secret, anyone with eyes to see will notice it.

Yes. My point was that whatever Yuzu is earning, he's not doing it from a desire to be rich but rather because money enables him to accomplish his other goals in life.

That's adorable. I love it!

Or a bunch of doting grandads bought them as gifts for their fanyu granddaughters...

I've heard that one before, and I don't know how people come up with it. He's so clearly being sincere when he talks about he desire to help Sendai. I'm also in the camp that doesn't think his money is our business, but I'd like to point out two things: 1. Figure skating is a very expensive sport, and not only is Yuzu the best, but he also works with the best all the time. His family has to maintain two residences and he has to fly to competitions and so on. None of that is cheap. His ANA sponsorship, for example, clearly serves a very practical purpose. I don't know how much funding the JSF gives their skaters, but I know the average Canadian skater cannot afford a lot of the things Yuzu is able to do ( Nam Nguyen, for example, just took a part-time job selling skating equipment because his parents said they wouldn't pay for him any more). So I suspect a hefty chunk of his earnings simply gets ploughed back into his skating. 2. It's possible that his prize winnings might be the only part of his earnings Yuzu has full control over, hence why he's free to donate them. I don't know how it works in Japan, but over here, performers who are minors earning lots of money usually have their money managed by other people. Depending on when he signed his endorsements, that may also be the case for Yuzu. In any case, watching him, it's clear that Yuzu's one of those people who see money as a tool to do good things with, rather than something to collect large amounts of.

I want him to keep doing the Lotte chocolate commercials...he takes them so seriously it's fun to watch. I could definitely watch a show where Yuzu makes pastries and sweets. ☺️ As for game shows, he'd be very entertaining on one of those obstacle course ones, but somehow I can't imagine him doing it.

Do you think maybe Pooh-san also has his own set for those times when he's resting quietly on such a shelf?

Hopefully, not as uncontrollable, though.

Also, I believe Brian tends to advise his skaters against doing this kind of promotional work while they're actively competing. If I'm not mistaken, he's on the record in more than one interview as saying that agents and endorsement contracts are nothing but a distraction to the skater, and that there'll be time enough to get those types of things after retiring from skating. The reality is that Yuzu's now in the zone where advertisers are always going to want him, so he can pick and choose on contracts and hold off until he feels it's time to take advantage of offers.

Or, to put it in a nutshell, as another friend and recent convert to the Hanyu side did : He's superb, and it doesn't hurt that he's adorable. I have to agree with you that Patrick and now Nathan were/ are unlikely to ever reach a similar status, but that has a lot to do with how skating is regarded in North America vs in Japan. I've no doubt that had either of them been Japanese/ Japan-based skaters, they'd have their own massive fandoms. And I suspect that if Boyang really starts winning, and starts maximizing his programs to make the most of his own skills and style, he will have a Yuzu-like following of his own, at least within China. But you are right, it's very hard to beat Yuzu's backstory, personality, physique, and skill for appeal. And he's got that pure and intense thing going g for him too. I agree that if skating ever sees another one like him, it won't be anytime soon.

I wondered about that too.

Yeah, he's not small exactly, it's just that he looks it next to some of his competitors. And his waist is impossible, I've never seen a man with a waist that narrow.

I hope you'll get to see him again. And I really think he's reached rock star status. It's troublesome in that that kind of fame is not what skating's all about, and it's not like he asked for it. On the other hand, there's no way to stop his star from rising now, he's already got 2 OGMs..

Agreed, but since I couldn't see him at that point because of all the groupies crowding around the athlete's entrance blocking everyone else's view, the screaming was how I knew he'd taken off his jacket...so it serves a purpose. And I'm not sure those kinds of fans will be there as much at the actual GP events on account of the ticket prices being so much higher.

Someone needs to go there and put up a sign front of it saying "4A"

They so cute! I really want a gif of Yuzu doing that head shake/hands out gesture.

Showed my mom more 'Yasari Hanro' last night. She loved Otonal and Origin, was spellbound by PC Seimei and enjoyed Sochi R&J 2.0. She's normally a woman unmoved by such things so watching her fall under Yuzu's spell is really something. I'm not sure she'll ever get his name right, though.

I didn't actually scream, for similar reasons. I've never felt so clumsy with a camera though. Tracking him in the lens is nearly impossible. You almost have to try and anticipate where he's going next and stay ahead of him. I did, however, think I would faint from the excitement before he came in. Something to do with having forgotten to eat because of my stomach butterflies I guess... There was one more first impression I had that I want to mention as well: 8. He's just a normal kid, how on earth does he handle everything that's on him? His character must be something else.

I understand the feeling.

First impressions were: 1. There he is! He's real! 2. He's smaller and more ordinary than I thought. 3. No wait, look at him move. He's not one bit ordinary. 4. This guy doesn't just love skating, he lives to skate. 5. The habits of a champion are really different from the habits of everyone else. This was really obvious in the practices. 6. He moves SO FAST!!! 7. He's gracious to a fault.

Ay caramba. I can't believe it's been a week since I laid my very own personal eyes on Yuzu IRL, for the first time, at the ACI open practice.

Great recap and an enjoyable read. Thanks for sharing.

Maybe not the schedule, but I'd love to know what kind of workouts they do in a more general way.

I'm sure they do something. Lambiel's group just posted a photo of them on spinning bikes, didn't they? Skating alone probably doesn't give enough volume of cardio work to get the body's energy systems trained properly for competitions. So they've got to put in the work some other way.