barbara

Yuzu would not have removed his mask - period. And he may not be the only team member with an underlying condition who might have been seriously impacted by this careless and negligent behavior.

It's refreshing to see I'm not the only one who apologizes to inanimate objects.

Seeing Yuzu with Nam and Keiji all together on the podium at SCI'19 was so sweet.

I know the history behind the China-Japan "long dark grasp", but also know that there is quite a dark history between Japan and the US. It doesn't seem to impact the present day, and I really don't know when the attitude changed, though my father was going to Japan for business a lot during the late 50's into the late 60's, so I suspect, while all was not forgotten, technology and mutual interests in that was possibly at the forefront. Maybe that's when we became more global-minded in general. And Yuzu is an athlete. The best and most accomplished in his sport - everyone can appreciate excellence.

I haven't a clue why or when it became popular with Asian fans, but it is a British thing. It can be "rabbit rabbit" or "rabbit rabbit rabbit" or can include "white" on there. It should be the very first thing you say on the first day of any month. So, I 'm hoping that saying it right after midnight will help out 2021....

15 minutes left to this mostly unmemorable year. People having been setting off fireworks for two hours already. The dogs are not happy. But I am glad to put 202 in the rear view mirror. Bookended with Yuzu victories - that's the memorable part. And continued support and shared enthusiasm from all the satellites. A most Happy New Year to us all!!! And vaccines for everybody. And live skating. And more Yuzu. Health and happiness in 2021! (And I did get fireworks - I'm just saving them for Jan.20 when here in the states, we'll have something to celebrate.)

Really, who among us has not been saying the same thing about the ISU forever?

And I believe that he will do what he feels necessary to compete at the highest level, and that means returning to Toronto and his in-person coaches. If there is a 2022 Olympics, he will want to take gold, and no one, not even Yuzu, can do that without coaching. And it's not like he's been able to renew friendships and had much of a life in the last 10 months. He's been on both a gov't and personally imposed lockdown. He has sacrificed so much for his skating, but why would he mess with a perfect partnership when we're only talking about, probably, one more active season?

I thought it was weird but thought, also, hey - 2020. There is no explanation for anything.

Just waiting for my chance to put my satellite ID badge on and see everyone again (also, I will be wearing a Pooh face mask).

Well, aside from pointing out the horrible judging, they did say something nice about Rika (who will be able to beat the Russians if Worlds happens because all the Russian girls will be sick).

Perhaps if he is vaccinated sometime this spring, he'd feel safer returning to Canada. I know I'll feel safer.

No to the no, I think. He does want to go to the Olympics - he's just not making that the goal right now, because, he is, like the rest of us, living in a uncertain world where (especially in the states) people are dying by the thousands, daily (1 in every 1000 Americans has died from Covid). Until we are out of this darkness, it makes no sense to wish for something that depends on so much out of our control. I am pretty sure that Yuzu is working forward to get better and move on to the next competition, whatever it is.

I think that, when it's safe, he should and will return to training in person with his coaches in Toronto. He is comfortable there and has privacy and the benefit of training mates, who can up his game. He did insanely well with the isolation and restrictions the virus imposed on him, but that doesn't translate to staying isolated when he can train with his coaches live. Skipping the GP series was truly a health issue and a wise decision. If there is sufficient control of the virus by next summer (and I am hopeful there will be - we are expecting four effective vaccines before then), there is no reason he wouldn't be able to participate in the GP series. He just needs to be cautious of where he skates and the physical toll the traveling takes. And, come on, he LOVES competition and LOVES crowds. He will be there if at all possible. We just need to see the world get healthier.

Well, Pooh is a little put out after being knocked off the seat - though Yuzu did apologize sweetly to him.

Pooh-san can be with him in K+C, but, and I want to very clear on this one - he has coaches! And they have been coaching him from 6000 miles away. Yuzu has done an enormous amount of work on his own and no one else could have done what he has, but please don't discount the importance of his contact with his coaches. He may be alone in Sendai but he is not alone.

It worked for me but there are a couple of logistical things to work out. 1 - you need Firefox as a browser and update Flash player. You can't use a VPN at the same time (which is the only way to get the YouTube stuff). The SP was on channel 64 (starting at 12:30 their time), though there is a pre-recorded compilation on at 21:15 pm 12/25 on channel 5. Groups 3 and 4 (ie: Yuzu) will be on channel 5, as will the medal ceremony and also the Gala, hatever that may be. The press conferences are on YouTube. If you can get it for free, there's definitely no down side.

I think it's worth it - only $8 for 7 days and you can go back a few days a re-watch everything. I could have waiting for the youTube stuff to get posted, but I am too impatient.

Happy Merry Christmas everyone - It's Christmas in Japan already and if there is a Santa anywhere, then Yuzu will be taking his title back since that's what so many Fanyu's are asking for - for Yuzu to have everything he needs to succeed and be happy. (And healthy!) He's already making it Christmas for all of us by showing his smiling face on the ice. It's just so good to see his "on the ice" happiness.

Boo. Sorry that you have to quarantine (and after having your first dose of the the vaccine). As there is only so much new Yuzu available to us right now, I recommend you use the empty hours to become addicted to BTS. They are very distracting.

What would make anyone think that Yuzu and Brian (and Ghislain) haven't been in touch? He may be physically coachless but he is not coachless and there has not, at least up to this point, any talk of him leaving his coaches behind.

The axis is perfection.

He has Pooh.

Yes, it is.

Then this must be his perfect world. I love that he gets to keep it to himself - how often has he been able to do that? I expect to be floored.