barbara

The "old" age system has been how age is calculated in Korea. It is being changed. Jun was born on Oct 21 2001. Using the system they have employed seemingly forever, he was one when he was born. And then he gets another year when the new year happens, so he was two (in Korean years) on January 1, 2002. A year is added on on New Years - So he is, with our way of calculating age, 20 and about to be 21 in October. Korea puts him at 22 now. It is confusing. Worse - being born on Dec 30. You are 1 for two days and then 2 years old when you are biologically 2 days old. And we've gotten zero info - except I know he was in California and working with Shea-Lynn this spring. I don't know if it was his long or short (or both) but it's something new. Maybe now that ice shows are over, he'll be back to training all the time and we will hear more (and I am still hopeful he'll be back at TCC).

I don't know when this was recorded. It's so hard to tell. And no mention of training or coaching. I read in an older tweet that the (former) head of education in Korea had deemed Uni students not allowed to be overseas during the academic year. That would preclude him from training in Canada. But- former head of education. I don't know how they expect him to compete internationally without actual coaching. And he is using the old age system - he turns 21 this year, not 22....

And note to all: When commenting on the ISU on Twitter, do not use the words "die" or "kill". You'll get locked out of your account for "inappropriate" language, though I hardly think that saying that the ISU is killing figure skating and that the sport as we have loved it will die. Is this a threat to someone that I wrote the truth? I think it was in response to them tweeting congratulations to Yuzu on his retirement. I was not the only one with a choice response. But locked out for two days. Don't care.

wow

What are those glasses Jun has on? They look like protective glasses, not regular glasses.

He looks so much younger in this...

Two tweets - one of his SOI skate and a thread of excellent and drool-worthy new pics of Jun -

Jun's skate at SOI in full

The translation from an interview of the Arena - and then, a couple of sweet pics -

Yoo Quiz on the Block with Jun, english subs

Jun on Running Man, with english subs - https://kisstvshow.ru/Show/Running-Man.36111/Episode-595?id=23411

I have to say (and I don't post often) that it's about time Ghislain has been given his due. Yuzu was isolated but was never training totally on his own, and Ghislain has been there to help him and support him the whole time. (And, ouch - Yuzu must be a mass of bruises.)

It's been slightly less than two years since Covid forced Yuzu and other international skaters to leave Canada. Brian and Ghislain and Tracy were training him in person until that last moment and were in Skype contact for the balance of the 2019-2020 season. He was still being coached by coaches at TCC, though not in person, for the 2020-2021 season. It was only last fall that he truly set out on his own (and we can imagine he was still having some contact with some of his coaches). I'd hardly call that "nor trained with TCC coaches for many years". He has been in Japan nearly two years due to Covid but has hardly been coach-less even the majority of that time.

And this demonstrates perfectly why I hope (though knowing it's unrealistic) that Yuzu goes back to Ghislain and TCC to truly perfect his 4A and be able to retire (not soon, please) satisfied.

Purple Origin is gorgeous - and I hope you get to see him live at least once just to see that he is real. And fast. And my favorite costume isn't a costume at all, but his black practice gear. Nothing to distract the eye - just pure Yuzu.

I think it's safe to say, and not remotely negative, that Yuzu has long had affection, or something similar, for Shoma. Shoma was about half his height the first time they really skated together. And Shoma notoriously would fall asleep or look like he was asleep at press cons. Yuzu looked after him like an older brother would (a good older brother -I've had both kinds myself). Siblings have rivalries and their rivalry has been more a friendly one than an adversarial one. And there is a mutual admiration. While Yuzu certainly would have preferred taking the #1 spot at Japan Nationals in the 19-20 season, I truly believe he was genuinely happy For Shome.

They were quoting me -

That poem is lovely. And the JSF and that article make me wonder, aside from the the north, the whole "he's from Sendai" thing, and that he seemed to have usurped Daisuke against the JSF wishes, what is the Japanese ideal and how is it not Yuzu? He is not short, he is lean and handsome and selfless and kind. He's the best ever at what he does and brought an enormous amount of attention to Japan. And then there's the Yuzu-economy. It all makes me want to shake the JSF, as if it was an animate object I could shake, and knock some sense into it before they lose the best thing that has ever happened to Japanese figure skating.

Yuzu has never complained - ever - or made an "excuse" for an issue during a skate. The closest he's ever come to saying anything negative about scoring is his mention of this being different than it once was, which is true, but hardly blasting the ISU as I do. And has always taken responsibility for anything that hasn't been perfect in his programs. He will be disappointed in himself, kuyashii, for mistakes. He didn't even blame the hole in the ice for his failed jump in the SP - he merely mentioned that there was one and that's what tripped him up. Javi knows this about him and I think that is what I find most disappointing in his remarks.

Eight minutes of Jun arriving at Incheon - https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ68El4o53A/

Yes, another Jun post. Evidently, he was interviewed for two hours but I've only seen the post and can't get the YouTube (no matter what country I seem to put computer in. BUt if anyone finds that with sibs, it would be great -

And an even cuter Jun - with Eng subs

I haven't travelled back in time on this thread so don't know if anyone posted the translation of the full Javi interview about Yuzu (sorry of this is a repeat). This post has been tagged by yuzuangel as [NEWS].

Jun posted a thank you on Instagram - you have to cut and paste it. https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ1lsnDPiFG/

I was asked to post this - you have to cut and paste- it's Tracy and Brian with Jun and Jason https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ12DmoOjcG/