citrusjunos

You're not alone. I didn't want to bring it up at the time because I didn't want to cause unnecessary stress and anxiety among the fans, but to me, he looked incredibly pale and ill, especially leading up to Beijing/during Beijing. I don't want to speculate any further than this on his health, but yeah. He just looks so good and healthy right now; I'm glad it looks like some of the stress has melted away.

In addition to the 4T+3T combos in his short programs, he also uses a Rippon on the toeloop of his 3A+2T combos in his free programs, including TenChi. And yes, they are very pretty. I like that it has such an open shape with closed fists, compared to some other skaters' where they have their arms straight up and their palms together.

Yes! I am also addicted to them. The passion, the serenity, and the joy tinged with regrets are a combination of emotions that produced such heartfelt performances on a different level, even though they were just practices. Seeing him redo all those performances that he regretted throughout his career on Olympic ice (like NDP when his 4S was basically just a choreographed fall or Chopin 1.0 which he was never able to skate clean) made me truly realize how long and great of a career he's had. I'm sure he was thinking back on his career over the years, too. In addition, holy crap, he's improved so much it's insane. Full confession: I thought that in the 2020-2021 season, his skating had become positively effortless and light, especially his jumps, so much so that watching older programs, while they were still incredible, just made me notice how much better he is now and how much better the program would be if he skated them now. And then we got it! On one functioning ankle, too. His speed, glide, ice coverage, body lines, skating skills, etc. are now unmatched, even by his past self, and as a result, that practice session just turned into pure art. For instance, I never really liked NDP, but the way he skated it during practice made me see more clearly just what he was trying to do back then. That's what happens when you finally have the skills to express what you intend (back then he was still struggling with stamina and this program had an intense layout packed with transitions). (Fun fact: the transitions he uses for TenChi's final 3A are the same transitions he used for his 3A in NDP.) As a result, he has better musicality (he skates to the music with even better precision) due to the fine-tuned control he has over his body, and it is just glorious to watch. Finally, ending the practice session with the iconic ChSq from Seimei feels just right. I'll never forget the pure ecstacy on his face during Pyeongchang as he skated to this, and doing it in Beijing almost feels like closure in a way that I don't really know how to explain. It's like, after reviewing his programs over the years--programs that have brought him triumphs and regrets, healing and pain--skating to Seimei, the program that has given him the happiest moment in his life, feels like a confirmation that at his core, despite all the hardships and pain, he just really, truly loves skating with his entire being. That's all there is to it.

To add on to fanyus making me tear up with their writing... here's another one worth a read.

I'm so excited, too! I was sad when it got canceled for two years in a row because of the pandemic, but now it's back I'm so ready to see happy Yuzu and his dramatic self during group numbers, while cringing at costumes that he somehow manages to pull off anyway. I'll be ecstatic but surprised if we somehow get a new exhibition program, but either way, I can't wait to see Yuzu skate without anxiety of competition It feels like it's been so long since I've watched him worry-free. Even last year during shows, I was mildly anxious with the Olympic season looming. Of course, I'm still concerned about his ankle, but Yuzu's a veteran at handling ankle injuries okay I'll stop Yuzu treasures skating above all, and like Ghislain said, he takes care of his body religiously, so I'm reassured that he knows how much he can push himself. Only a few more weeks!

Seems like some people on Twitter are trying to process Beijing all of a sudden today. (Funnily enough, I was also journaling about Beijing today.) I thought I'd share them with all of you, in case you haven't read them. They're definitely worth a read. Direct link to blog post: LIFE LESSONS FROM THE 2018-2022 QUAD OF FIGURE SKATING — Sketch and Run And here's another one from mousse from two months ago:

Happy anniversary to the most amazing forum ever! Thank you to everyone who keeps the Planet alive! When did you become a fan of Yuzu? I actually...don't know exactly when I became a fanyu. It definitely wasn't love at first sight like so many other fans. But I do remember watching one of Yuzu's earlier performances of Notte Stellata in 2016. I was a very, very casual figure skating fan back then, a four-year fan or a "local" so to speak; y'know, the type who only watches when it's playing on TV and there isn't anything else to watch. I didn't know the rules and couldn't identify any elements back then, but I just liked watching people do cool moves in sparkly costumes. Skating was cool and fun. However, when I happened to watch Yuzu's Notte Stellata, for the first time I thought that skating was absolutely beautiful. I had never seen a program so breathtaking, so elegant, so refined and yet so heartfelt. There was a sincerity that came across in his skating, and up until that point, I had never really been moved by any skater's program. (On a slight tangent, I used to only really watch ladies' singles, and at the time, I thought Yuzu was a lot more graceful than any of them lol) So anyways, Notte Stellata moved me; I watched it on repeat for a week straight, so of course I did the sensible thing and...didn't look up any of his other skates and promptly forgot his existence. I could've witnessed Worlds 2017 live, but nooo, I just had to forget about him for some reason. Some time later, I had the urge to watch that beautiful performance again, and that's when I became curious enough to watch his other programs. Slowly, over the course of a couple years, I'd come back to watch his skates from time to time, then I'd watch some of his interviews, and occasionally, I'd look up news to see how he was doing, and before I knew it, I was watching his programs every day, reading through the Planet's General Yuzuru Chat from page 1 (yes! I read the entire thing) to get crumbs, learning how this mess of a sport worked--I had transitioned into a full-fledged fanyu. When and why did you sign up for Planet Hanyu? I don't quite recall when I discovered Planet Hanyu, but I had been lurking for a couple years before I decided to make an account. I made an account during JNats 2020, because I needed to scream in excitement (virtually) with someone, anyone, I didn't care who--because Yuzu was finally skating in almost a year, this particular drought had been way too long, we were getting two new programs, and I just really, really missed his skating. Previously, I had been content lurking and reading other people's reactions without feeling the need to comment, but I guess the pandemic hit hard. Did you make any irl friends through Planet Hanyu? No, but if anyone just wants to chat, feel free to DM me Have you participated in any group projects on Planet Hanyu? Yes! Birthday wishes for Yuzu. Did you attend any meetups with other satellites at competitions? I have sadly never been to a competition What do you like the most about this forum? Everyone has already mentioned the video archive, so I guess I'll just mention The Salt Mines! This past quad has increased my blood pressure from the salt I've been accumulating, so I'd like to thank the mods for providing a space for us to desalinate more privately. I'm only half-serious, by the way; it isn't particularly The Salt Mines that I like, but how there really is a place for everyone here. The fandom has grown considerably in a very short amount of time, which means that there are more conflicting opinions and more diverse viewpoints. The fact that the forum hasn't splintered is a testament to everyone's efforts to make sure that people are respected and that any drama is handled swiftly and misunderstandings are clarified before things get out of hand. I feel comfortable disagreeing with anyone here without fear of being lynched like in other spaces. Would you like to participate in the giveaway? Yes, please!

Why is every part of his life so symbolic? Even the mistake with the sakura tree turned out to be much more fitting in the end. I guess he really is the light in more ways than we imagined

It absolutely warms my heart to see all the new fans who joined during and after Beijing Welcome, everyone! This has literally been one of the most, if not the most, traumatizing event I've watched (was not here for CoC14 and WC16), so I've been pleasantly surprised at the support Yuzu's gotten from new fans. It just goes to show that Yuzu's character, integrity, and complete mastery of the sport prevail above all the corruption and bigotry of this sport, like a precious gem in a dumpster fire. Even though I had been a fan earlier than you guys, I still completely understand the feeling of having joined "too late." However, even though you guys can't experience the past in real time anymore, that also just means you have an entire decade's worth of content to go back through! I'm excited for y'all to learn more about him and see just how he became the athlete that's captured your hearts at this Olympics; all the hardships he's gone through and how he's overcome them repeatedly; how his way of thinking has matured over the years but has remained deeply rooted to his core values; how he has never lost himself, his ideals and dreams in the face of injustice; the blue flame within him that refuses to go out and his unlimited thirst for self-improvement. And fear not when it comes to Yuzu's future with skating -- he absolutely loves this sport so damn much even though it doesn't deserve a fraction of his devotion. I'm sure all of us will get to see him skate and perform for years to come, in whatever shape or form he decides to take it, whether it be competition or shows or something else entirely

I love that they clearly called out how the underscoring has hindered him. It's a student newspaper, so there's more freedom to say whatever you want, but I still appreciate it. Author is clearly a fan, not just someone choosing a random topic to write about.

I would 100% be intimidated having Yuzu as a classmate Boy does not know the meaning of chill. [NEWS] Edit: I always happen to post the same thing simultaneously. Y'all are fast lol @lajoitko

I believe the "I really don't want to watch this" is from a video after Sochi where Yuzu was shown his programs from the Olympics. He was fine with the short, and then once that was finished, he said, "I really don't want to watch this" for the free The video should be in the Planet's archive.

Let's once again thank the AWW team! [NEWS]

Is this confirmed or just speculation? Although it is possible one of his family members could be filming him, he does practice at ungodly hours in the morning, so I think it's also likely that one of the people in his team could be helping with his practices. But agreed. Either way, I have a lot of respect for the Hanyu family. They could've chosen to be stage parents and bask in the limelight with Yuzu, but instead they chose to protect their privacy and support Yuzu in the best way possible. I also admire their strength seeing Yuzu suffer so much for little return but still allowing him to chase after his dreams. They've really raised and nurtured him very well.

I think it says on the bottom that his participation is not yet confirmed.

I know we've learned not to get attached to coaches, but... [NEWS]

AWW team has finished translating and subbing the entire press conference. Time to relive the pain again, I guess 🥲 [NEWS]

I will never stop admiring Yuzu's commitment to fulfilling his childhood dreams. He cherishes them so much and holds them so close to his heart; I've honestly never seen or met anyone who thinks and talks about his younger self the way he does. Even at Pyeongchang, he mentioned his younger self as the driving force for his dreams. The absolute dedication and honest effort he's put in are extremely awe-inspiring, so I'm at least glad that he felt that strict, baby Yuzu has finally praised him for his 4A attempt. Yuzu probably knows baby Yuzu a lot more than I do, but I have a feeling he'd be extremely happy and proud to grow up to become present-day Yuzu.

Not sure if this has been shared yet. [NEWS]

I love these messages of support Lotte may suck at the giving him costumes, but they hit it right with this one! Their copywriter should get a raise. I hope that Yuzu one day feels that his efforts were not in vain and that while they may not have borne the exact results he was expecting, they surely have manifested in other ways that cannot be measured by scores and medals but are much more valuable in the long run. Years later, most people will forget who won the 2022 Olympics, but people will always remember how your skating made them feel

Regarding Javi: Regarding Yuzu's interview: This month has been an absolute rollercoaster of emotions, and after having been drained emotionally through rage, sadness, joy, and fear, all I'm left with is pure love and pride for Yuzu. I think out of all his accomplishments and accolades till now, this has been the moment that I have felt completely in awe of him and his devotion to the ice, and I hope that once he gets more time and rest, he, too, will feel truly proud of everything he did this Olympics. The joy and peace he exuded in his practices and his gala performance demonstrated just how much he loves skating, so all I have to say is that no matter what he decides to do, I'm reassured that the decision will be made according to what would make him fulfilled and happy, and frankly, that's all I care about.

While I do believe that the negative things should be discussed, you're right that we do tend to spiral into further negativity. I'll keep my previous post in spoilers, since the point has been made. In other news, the AWW team has been working hard. More subbed videos have been released [NEWS]

Ahhhhh! People are actually going on a witch hunt I'm probably preaching to the choir here, but please, for Yuzu's sake, please do not attack skaters on their socials. Do not tag them directly either. I know we're all disappointed in Javi and feel defensive about Yuzu, but this will just make it worse. This tweet basically sums up what I've been trying to convey: Let's pick our battles wisely, guys. Leave the angry ranting to here or in other closed spaces. Edit: @Saawa posted the tweet already, but I'm leaving my post up here as an additional PSA.

Unfortunately, they've had a stick up their asses for this entire reason. They don't want him to get medals and have been sabotaging him at every opportunity. Well, congrats, they've finally succeeded, but if they think they can manufacture even a fraction of Yuzu's legacy and worldwide adoration, they're in for a surprise. Medals can be bought, but everything about Yuzu's popularity is organic. If Yuzu decides to bow out, all we have to do is start a countdown for when JSF uses him for clicks and clout because rent is due and their favorites can't pay the bills.

Call me a cynic, but here's your reason, straight from that article: "I'm planning to hold an ice show in Madrid" and "I'd like to have another ice show in Japan, where Yuzuru is." As for what he said after the short program, I'll just take him at face value and believe that that's what he truly thinks. He probably doesn't think Yuzu will see or hear about his commentary on Spanish TV, so it's easy to just jump straight back to telling the Japanese media that he wants to give Yuzu a hug the next time they meet. Good lord, I'm usually one to give people the benefit of the doubt, but...this is what this sport has done to me. To be fair, I don't think Javi's evil or anything. He's not Eteri. People praise him a lot for his kindness, which I don't doubt has some truth to it. People are shades of grey, after all. It's just that for me, his actions and words show that he is not above using other people for his own self-interest. Like, I understand wanting to make a living and having your source of income depend on not making any enemies, but you don't have to call Yuzu's integrity into question to do that. Yuzu was already visibly frustrated with what happened and didn't need anyone to twist his words. Certainly wasn't expecting Javi to be the one to do it. Oh well. Not gonna lie, I think it's pretty ironic that the guy whose Salchow Yuzu moved across an ocean for, also turned out to be a snake.