barbara

Wow - this started out with a mention of how strict entry into Canada is. I was kind of joking when I suggested the mom have the baby in Canada with or without the dad so the baby could be a Canadian. Parents do what they feel comfortable with. Dad's were very present and welcome in delivery rooms 42 years ago and, I think, more so today. But, it's a choice. I just kind of hope that the pregnant Canadian was able, somehow, to petition to get entry for her husband.

We had a cricket cage when I was a child - my father traveled frequently to Japan on business and it was a gift to him. And to have a cricket in your hearth has been a sign of good luck in Scottish and English culture (myths, really) for hundreds of years. I even have a very old cricket fashioned from metal, that was my grandmother's, that sits in my hearth still (collecting dust..)

I would have, too. That way, maybe he could come later, but the baby would be a Canadian. (And that emoji has already pulled her hair out....)

If I must. Is there an emoji that would represent me pulling my hair out? (Really, the frustration is more for myself wanting to go to Nova Scotia than it is for the skaters.) And strict? I think the husband of the pregnant Canadian would consider himself essential. He must have been quite stunned being turned away at the border. And is there a way for a US citizen to become a Canadian citizen when they marry? I'd have thought so. My friend in NS had to jump through multiple hoops over multiple years to get her Canadian citizenship and didn't give up her US citizenship.

Ah, but I live in the land of scorpions, black widow spiders (and have been bitten by one years ago- they don't kill you, just make you sick), palo verde beetles that can be up to 3 1/2 inches long and FLY. Like a monster flying cockroach. Oh, and really big cockroaches, too. I do remove bugs from the house, if I can, and do respect their right to live. And it's very easy to spot a black widow (once you know what to look for) and they are basically peaceful. That said, I have an intense dislike for moths but a love and admiration for praying mantises. And ladybugs. And fireflies. Love fireflies. I don't really know a lot about many Japanese customs, but I wonder if there are biting, poisonous bugs there? To honor the celebration of Mushi, I will endeavor to not cause harm to any insect today.

I agree with you on so many of these issues - you are right about Yuzu being able to stay home, if necessary, for 14 days once he is allowed to travel to Toronto (which, of course, he won't do if he's not assured he can train after the 14 days.) Canada has handled this pandemic so much better than the states. Even some provinces have closed their borders to other Canadians. Not only do we have a science-denying prez and zero federal response, the last week of protests (which I support, but would not attend) is going to cause a huge resurgence, I fear, of cases. It truly is embarrassing (and scary) to live here. I wonder who is training at TCC. I've seen Instagram posts of Conrad and Joseph and Corey. That's all. And I think that So Korea would be one of the few countries considered safe to allow travel from. Airlines are flying with very light loads and I think people can safely travel, if they take the proper precautions. And Jason could just drive to Toronto. Maybe he will. Again, I have NO faith in my federal gov't at present, to do anything constructive to fight this virus, but great faith in researchers and scientists, some who have studied similar viruses and have worked their entire lives on how to combat just such a virus. FYI: I'd fly to Nova Scotia in a heartbeat as one of my best friends lives there and happily isolate the first two weeks. But the airline i can fly for free on (stinkin' United) has NO flights to Canada at all right now.

There are so many levels of asthma and I do not know where Yuzu sits on the scale of mild to severe, but '"A recent commentary published in Lancet by a group of European researchers called it “striking” that asthma appeared “to be underrepresented in the comorbidities reported for patients with Covid-19” ' and, just released two days ago "Interestingly, research so far does not suggest any link between having asthma and getting a more severe COVID-19 illness, or between asthma and coronavirus deaths. Whether this is because the SARS-CoV-2 virus doesn’t affect people with asthma in the same way as other respiratory viruses, or because there simply isn’t enough data yet, remains to be seen. " Of course, Canada can designate asthma as an exclusionary condition for participation in sport, though that clearly is for the protection of the athlete and not a worry about transmission of the virus. Yuzuru and his mother would not return to Toronto is they felt he was at increased risk of getting ill, but there is not evidence at this time saying he would be at greater risk. He wouldn't want to have "special treatment" as far as restrictions are concerned. But I think this is presently moot. He's not going to leave a rink where he can practice to come back and be quarantined for 14 days. Until this 14-day restriction is lifted, I doubt he will return. I hope all restrictions, including the quarantine requirement, will be relaxed some in the next month or two. Jun and Jason and Evgenia and other skaters are also not going to be able to train at TCC for the foreseeable future. Keep our faith in science.

Well, boo. Now I'm going to have to order that one, too. I suppose I can use some of the money I saved when Worlds were cancelled. A consolation prize.

Good question - I'd like to know, too, but I have a feeling it's the Ice Jewels since that one is out and available, at least to the people in Japan. Does it depend on who took the photo? Last years Ice Jewels is "by" someone, who may be the photographer but doesn't seem to credit the photos (though that might be because I can't read Japanese). The only other two photo books I have, Yuzu and Yuzu II, are from a single photographer.

I know there is one being released June 19 titled: YUZU'LL BE BACK II 羽生結弦写真集2019~2020 (Dancin'on The Edge3) (Japanese) Tankobon Hardcover – June 19, 2020. I pre-ordered it from Amazon.jp - is this another one?

But I really want it. Perhaps when he gets a new case, he can send this on to me.

I want that phone case.

And no one knows more than Yuzu about ear buds. But then, who has as many as he does?

"Agent Ari Zakaryan, for example, directly says that all sports businessmen pray for Chania . His mere presence instantly makes the box office to any tournament and show, and the end of his career will greatly affect the popularity of the sport in Japan - the main spectator figure skating market today." Ari Zakaryan only cares about skaters that will line his pockets. And doesn't understand that the end of Yuzu's career (no time soon) will greatly impact attendance at ALL competitions, worldwide. But it won't affect the popularity of the sport in Japan, and I think we can expect Yuzu to continue to perform ice shows there for the next decade or more. I really don't like Ari....

Yes. I get a little bummed out when it's only his name in an article about someone else, but it also means I don't have to Google his name every day to see if there's an article in a Japanese newspaper or some other place (though I still Google his name frequently just to make a point - that he's the most Googled skater, etc.).

I was sent this same article from Google....If one puts a "watch" on Yuzuru Hanyu, on Google, they send every possible article that has even a tiny reference to him. Sometimes, it's just his name in an article about someone else, but, worth it.

I love this. Nobu, because of his own career and because he knows Yuzu AND skating, is the best commentator ever. He can truly appreciate and also express just what goes into the program. The beauty and the difficulty.

I'm not sure which clip you're referring to, but it seems to me that Shoma fell asleep with some frequency.

I wasn't complaining about the fit. Perfect. There was zero stretch in fabric in the old, olden days when I was being criticized for the fit of my pants.

How did he even get into those pants? (Or out of them, for that matter?) My mother would have said that they look painted on or that he was "poured" into them. At least that's how she described me in tight pants. And to think this is the same guy who gave us Chopin. Wow.

I was not trying to be flippant at all - and I'm sorry if you felt that. I'm just a distressingly unhappy American in a country run by a buffoon who threatens our health and our democracy more and more every day. I totally respect how the Canadian gov't is handing this truly unusual situation (in so many ways, your gov't is being sensible and helpful to it's citizens). I fear that being an American is going to make me a pariah anywhere in the world - if I was in charge of the safety of people in a foreign country right now, a US citizen would be the last one I'd allow in. I'm sorry your American relatives have been bugging you about the border opening up. I am not one of them. I was going to be going to Vancouver in early May. And one of my dearest friends lives in NS and I love to spend time there, especially in the summer. I am deeply saddened that I likely won't be able to go either place for some time. I am deeply saddened that I am unable to travel, period. And even more saddened that I can't even see my son who lives in LA and whose entire industry is going to be one of the last to open up. Science and research will surprise us with the speed they tackle this pandemic. I have faith in that. And I really, really need to hold on to the hope that a time will come, sooner rather than later, when something like normal returns and Yuzu can train (and stay healthy) and I will one day get to seem him live again. I am not unrealistic, just trying to be a little bit hopeful because a person needs to have something to look forward to.

He is in Japan. Some people, obviously, do know. He and his mother flew back right after TCC closed. You don't have to trust me, but I did hear this from a trusted friend of one of his "people". And, of course, he went home. It would be too sad to think of him trapped in his apartment away from his family for these months, don't you think? There really is more a question of when he'll be able to get back to Toronto.

Maybe with VPN? And use Japan as your location?

It's six weeks before any official training would start at TCC and I, for one, remain hopeful that in six weeks, entry from Japan will be allowed. Maybe he'll have to quarantine, maybe not. These are weird and unprecedented times. We can have not idea how things will be in two weeks, a month, two months. This is the end of the basketball season. Our season doesn't start (and hoping it will, in some form) for four months. Be optimistic. It's better than feeling doomed.