EisElle

Poor kids, I really hope not sorry the last emoticon is totally unrelated, too cute, had to use it Evil Overlord of English?

I voted some warhorse because...because Given that his SP has "no set theme", it's likely he may choose to play a character for the FS instead. I also think he'll go for something that allows him to unleash his warrior side and that he can skate in demon!Yuzu mode even after a mistake without detracting much from the performance. H&L was beautiful but risky, I believe he won't have again a FS that "needs to be clean to be appreciated". I'm kinda preparing myself for a repeat, and I wouldn't mind a Seimei 2.0, but in this case I would have expected him to announce it sooner. I feel now it's less likely, or at least not with the same cut. Also, that cut was custom-made for that layout, I don't think it would work well now without at least a bit of tweaking. Honestly I'd mind more a POTO 2.0, even if it would still make sense unfortunately not much because it's the ultimate warhorse, but more prosaically because for me the musical cut is a bit too haunting...don't know how to explain, it feels a bit oppressive after a few time replaying it. I'd like a different cut, though, Yuzu left out my favourite song As for RJ3, if it is a different piece than I don't see any problem because he would only keeping a theme, not the music itself. (and so he announced he was doing NDP 2.0) I'm expecting some epic warhorse (Carmina Burana? joking...or not. Another Turandot? kidding...I hope), but I wish Yuzu could troll surprise us all with something totally new. Anyway I bet that whatever Yuzuru will choose, he's going to blow my mind all the same

Thanks!!!

I don't think I've seen this posted here already. It was posted in the general thread a few days ago, video with one of Yuzu's favourite songs from one of his favourite bands, ONE OK ROCK, with beautiful and meanigful lyrics:

Late to join but I suggest to add Change to the list! Not the one when Yuzu was still junior, thanks, but the very extra performance he did at an ice show, in 2014 i think? It is such a fun to watch, Yuzu was very hyped (and his slip/fall kinda make me laugh everytime) Also Chopin Ballade GPF 2014 has the most beautifully timed fall ever it's among my favourite Ballade performances (I have a lot of them btw ). I'd say even Notte Stellata at Worlds, just for the pleasure to hear the applauses drown the music during the last spin (and CBC comment: spin hair!). Even better, Notte Stellata at Worlds with Ambesi&Dolfini commentary, they talk a lot but they have truly beautiful words for Yuzu, everytime I get all teary-eyed.

Thank you for the tip Tbh I thought at first I had it uploaded from a site, but I don't remeber if when I tried re-uploading I did only from pc...I'll give another try

These translations are always so precious! From Yuzu's words about people attending to shows, I can understand his kuyashii when he fails to give the performances he wants, though I wish he knew that even pops or falls don't change that what people cherish the most is just watching him skate and pour his emotions in what he does (but this is the curse of a perfectionist) As we already thought, Yuzuru made his SP choice with his eyes wide open. In the interview he makes a lot of interesting points, such us that he has learned a lot in the past year and he know can express different things. His growth and feelings are already apparent in his Chopin program in FaoI, despite small rinks, melting ice, bad lightnings and such. The one skating to Chopin 3.0 is a different Yuzuru Hanyu from the one who skated Chopin 2.0 to perfection. When I think that people never stop going to live concerts and gladly listen to the same artists perform to their songs from years or even decades ago, it looks indeed strange that in the world of figure skating there can be such a bad reaction to a "mere" 3rd peat... I wasn't overly entusiast at first, but my perspective was that of a greedy fan who wants to have as many programs as possible from Yuzu, just like I look forward to new songs from my favourite singers. Maybe it doesn't help that skating careers are so short. When I started surfing youtube to track back Yuzu's programs in january, somehow his LGC, H&L and Notte Stellata didn't popped out at first, and for a while I didn't even knew there were new programs after Chopin and Seimei Yet when I found out they did exist, I was truly shocked that once again he had got so much better in the way he used his whole body! One day I thought I couldn't ever see anything better than his his 2015-2016 programs, and the next one I was left speechless and amazed! And I kinda wondered how Chopin and Seimei would look like skated by this new astonishing Yuzuru. (sorry for the jinx it was unintentional) Now I'm looking forward to see what Yuzuru can do. As for the LP, in a way I'd actually prefer Seimei 2.0 to some other choices... More than the judges being annoyed by the repeat (how many of them have judged Seimei? How many times? They are not the same in every single competition, maybe they would be even happy to see it again!) I worry about the reaction from other FS fans and commentators. It's not that they may feel a bit bored (Yuzuru's last FP has been completely different, so it wouldn't be that bad) but rather that, just as someone already pointed out, Yuzuru would lend himself to bad narrative, and bad narrative and bad perception could influence the judges too. Not everyone knows or cares about Yuzuru's thoughts and repeating two programs -those two programs - would turn him in a way too easy target. Even worse, by going against another one of his iconic programs he would add another burden on himself. I know he could overcome it, but in Olympics he already has to face a lot of pressure from everywhere, himself included! Of course Yuzuru always challenges himself, but I fear it would be worse were he to fail his own insane expectations to a Seimei 2.0 rather than any other program. However, whatever his choice, I'll cheer for him. Even if by now I've become familiar with a lot of skaters from different disciplines, none has truly enthralled me the way Yuzuru does. It's as if he gave me what I didn't even know I was looking for in figure skating. His "style" made me land on his planet. His skating and his personality are what keeps me here. Thank you @gladi because it's thanks to your translations, too, that I'm able to get a glimpse of Yuzu's wonderful world.

dum dum du dum! Carmina Burana! (joking...or maybe not) I'd prefer Seimei 2.0

I wasn't around when 6.0 was still used, and I think it was a blessing for me because I would have hated it. Still, in my opinion is dumb to give a score on the expectation that later there could be better performances. This sport is quite unpredictable, and (again) judges should know this more than anyone else. What I wonder is, CoP has already been used for more than 10 years, hasn't it? Just how long it takes people to shake it off the old habits? It can't be that hard! In any other working environment such slowness in adjusting to new rules or procedures would be laughed at! If skaters and coaches can adapt to the requirements of the CoP, why judges can't? It is different for a casual fan, who doesn't have to do any actual judging and can just enjoy whatever he wants and rank the performances as it pleases him. This is why I get annoyed, because I do expect judges to be good at what they have to do, just like I would expect a soccer referee to apply the current rules in a soccer match. Anyway, if I really had to choose, I'd prefer old habits playing a bigger role than politicking. At least there is hope than bad habits can be fixed and that a new generation of judges, bred into the CoPsystem, can be more efficient in applying the actual rules. Politicking though...

As always, deepest thanks @gladi for your translation Ok long rambling to come, be warned I find really interesting that there can be such different approaches – start from the big elements first and then weave them into a whole vs getting the "background" first and then fit in the other things–. Tbh before reading this I would have thought getting the jumps first is the more common route, not because as Yuzu thinks "jumps are part of the performance"(this is so Yuzu!) but more cynically because a jump is worth a lot more than other elements. In a way what we've seen in this last season was that, more often than not, prioritizing the jumps is indeed the road to big scores, the rest kinda followed from landing them. So it's interesting that Brian thought otherwise. this is the part that I liked the most. All in all, it was good that Yuzuru persisted (resilience is his defining trait, after all) and it is also good that Brian honestly expressed his thoughts. They needed to talk, to hear one the thoughts of the other. It sounds like a cliché, but I believe dialogue is the base of a healthy relationship. Trusting someone doesn't mean blind accepting everything, but rather to have the certainty that the other has your best interests in mind even if he disagrees with you, and also having the courage to speak your mind and stand your point if you feel it's right. Because us faithful (and hungry) fans read every single snippet of interview, sometimes we take for granted that Yuzuru’s philosophy is universally known. Language is still a barrier to him when it comes to express the depth and complexity of his analyses and maybe he didn’t even thought it was necessary to explain his actions. Maybe he thought they were obivious, or maybe he was super-focused in his pursuit and he didn’t realized he had to address Brian’s worries. Maybe he avoided openly voicing his disagreement with his coach because he hoped things would smooth out once he finally tackled the jump and could back up his own vision with some concrete result. It looks like there was a certain lack of communication in the earlier months of the season (which of course could also be a trail from Boston and all that gloom). But Yuzu and the team felt they needed to sit down and talk, which means they wanted to overcome that “barrier”. Yuzuru has heaps of talent and has very strong opinions, too. I think that if he doesn't believe wholeheartedly in something he can't truly put his heart into it. So in this sense he isn't "easy" to manage. Yet he isn't perfect (very close though). Sometimes he needs another perspective. What Brian said about the higher risk of strain and injury when Yuzu gets tired is certainly true. Glad that someone is there to remind Yuzu of that! It took years to our alien to finally understand he can’t always rely on his monstrous willpower! I'm sure Yuzu was indeed burning from desire to land that first ratified 4Lo, too (maybe he had already in mind Dick Button's accomplishments). And he hates losing, so of course he wanted to "catch up" with the 4 quads, especially after having faced ugly months of struggles, which were not only physical but emotional too. Plus there was the external pressure: we fans got annoyed whenever people sounded like dismissing Yuzu as "past news", I can't even imagine how Yuzuru may have felt about that, on top of his own doubts. That he managed to overcome all of these is truly amazing and a credit to both his strength and the support he had. He and his team talked, they understood each other and worked together. Yuzu's FS at Worlds was a proof of character, it was his redemption in the eyes of those who wanted to write him off, his overcoming of all the past hardships (sweet that it was thanks to his underestimated LP.... the SP though). It was heroic and legendary. In Italy there is a saying: "chi la dura la vince", it literally means "the one who persists wins" (but try to say it with pride and a lot of smugness). It applies very well to Yuzuru (quite a lot and quite often I'd say!). So I'm glad that his team is the kind of team that doesn’t forces its view. Neither one too lax nor one too strict, I think, would have allowed him to develop his full potential. “Constructive criticism” is the way with Yuzu-the skating-geek. Make him use that big brain of his! (and being Yuzu the epitome of Challenge, I can totally believe Brian has learned a lot from coaching him too)

Sorry not sorry, but at least 80% (generous number from me lol) of idols can't sing, so he will be fine even if he's super tone deaf that his singing irritates your ear Well yuzu has good looks is funny-a little dorky-charming-smart (aka the ultimate combination) oozes charisma even after falling on his butt on the ice knows how to perform (hell yeah!) so definitely idol material. He doesn't even need to sing. All he has to do is show up and make the audience go craaazy!!! (plus he's a master at lyp-sync so...)

Tbh to see in that tab what has happened in this last season is quite jarring to me. Of course I’m happy that Yuzuru still got the highest average despite the issues he had, but when I look at the single elements there are some things which are just puzzling. I guess Yuzu's "fault" is that he makes look too easy all the insane things he does. The jumps, the transitions, the spins so accurately matched to the music (how much work behind a simple hand gesture on the music beat!)... when he does them well they look effortless. Yet, quoting Ambesi from ESP ITA (and to me he sounded a bit annoyed in saying so) “a judge should know". He was talking about the backcounter vs. spread eagle before 3A, but it can be applied to every element. The judges should know, because they have to, you know, judge. A competition, not some tv-show. They should be able to recognize difficulty even when it looks easy. They should be able to discern that "effortless" is a plus (what the heck, it's even in the GOEs bullets!), and if one doesn't know the sport cannot (should not) be allowed to judge it. Period. I can resign myself that mistakes in the short put Yuzuru in a position to be "held down" in the long (which is still wrong per se, and honestly quite disconcerting when it comes to a skater who should really have nothing more to prove to anyone), and yes, judges are only humans and have a limited amount of time for giving their scores (e.g. I think it's quite realistic that their GOEs may be mere degreed of "good" and "bad" without thought for actual rules), but it's really saddening that quality hasn't been rewarded as it should have been. Even more so when I see unequal treatment. Yuzuru took years of perfect 3As to get those bloody +3s. Now it looks they are barely good enough compared to the rest of the field. Years of perfect 4Ts, too. Quoting Ambesi again, iirc from 2013-2014 about a 3A or a 4T: “If you don’t give +3 to this, when do you give it?” Yuzuru always kept polishing all the other elements, too. He's never slacked off at anything. He's been not only delivering quality consistently on everything but also constantly increasing difficulty. Now, suddenly it’s enough to land a jump to get high scores, who cares for set-ups and transitions and all that should warrant a +. Who cares about complexity and difficulty. Apparently some judges can’t recognise/don’t care for all of that! Before, maybe, judges were too stingy. But once someone (Yuzuru) managed to get (earn) the highest scores in GOE and PCS, suddenly they became all so eager to give those candies (to everyone else). So yes, I claim the right to feel extremely annoyed for a while(runs to watch H&L in loop to make peace with the world) (sorry for this long gloomy thing, I'm in dire need of FaoI extra!Yuzu)

Thank you @Fay for this beautiful post! It never ceases to amaze me and move me to see how Yuzu is able to inspire such deep, heartfelt emotions in so many people. We may be different for background, nationality, age and so on, but he touched us all the same. Yuzuru really is something special

Yes, the talk about the ideal and evolution reminds of Yuzuru, but I also noticed that there is a someway different attitude. My thoughts are reinforced by what Shoma says about 4Lo, 4A (and quints): if none is doing them, he is not the one who pushes to make them real. In this I think Yuzuru has a different mindset, as he wants to be the one who pushes the sport, while Shoma may be a little bit more conservative (in a harsher way it could be said he is the one that follows rather then the one who takes the lead. He still landed the first ratified 4F, though). From my point of view these two are very different approaches, but it doesn't mean one is necessarily more correct (or will work better) than the other. Anyway from the interview I gather that Shoma is hard-working, ambitious but down-to-heart, so he has all it takes to grow.

Ah ok, don't worry

I noticed that today my ava is suddenly gone and if I try to reupload it from my pc or to import it from url I get this message You are not allowed to upload animated images I've already tried with other gifs, same message. It's not a catastrophe, of course, I just wanted to know if some settings have changed or such Now I'll try to upload a jpeg instead

Thank you for this translation! BTW I enjoy your other long (and not at all tiresome) posts a lot

Ugh my fiancés are Boston Requiem and the saved LGC 4Lo, so my dress should blend purple and greenish seaweed? Maybe I can make some pastel hues work someway, and if I go for something japanese ('cause I got a piece of Change too) I can end with something resembling the female and slightly rockish version of hana ni nare costume, which wouldn't be that bad...maybe. Or I can go for classical white dress and merely add a lot of (coloured) blings... My makeup should be fine though

Okay I've finally caught up with this thread (and now for me it's already past time to go to sleep) It's very interesting how there are so many opinions and everyone add fresh details and different perspectives, I feel my own personal view expanded as well. I was rewatching some old documentaries about Yuzu from 2012-2013 season and I was struck by how much he has grown while still remaining "himself". I'm feeling so proud right now He talked a lot about evolving, and being consistent was indeed one of the things he wanted to achieve, with the Olympics in mind. I also had to smile when they talked about working on his skating skill first, and Brian stressed the importance of good foundations. Now I see how Yuzuru has become and I can see that it worked marvellously well, and Brian was right on this and Yuzuru was right in trusting him despite his hunger for quads. In a way I am lucky that I could discover the "final product" (I don't mean the word in a bad way) without having to endure all the process. I can just watch and gush without losing my hair (poor Brian...he was still so fit and with all his hair that first year...) I've also realized this talk about Chopin 3.0 and upgrades is the first real trial I'm facing since I became a Yuzu fan (sorry but I refused to watch or read anything related to him for a whole week during both 4CC and Worlds, and even WTT, I just searched the final results, I'm such a weakling) I think those of you who have been there from the start are...very brave. I've seen Yuzuru's ups and dawns, I've read of some controversial choices, but I already knew the final outcame (usually a glorious one). Now I'm experiencing the real thing, and even if I've said to myself "I'll trust his choices because he knows better", I can't help but feel a bit of worry. But thinking back about all that happened when I was still blissfully ignorant of the existence of Yuzuru, I've concluded that I'll just try to be patient and wait to see how things will evolve, because I'm sure there will be more surprises and more debates to come By the way (totally random change of topic) does anyone know if there will be a day of rest for the men event between SP and LP? I know in Sochi there wasn't and the LP was a splatfest. I really don't want another one next year just because these poor guys aren't allowed to take a breath. Ok, now I'm going to sleep

Why is it soooo hard to choose? These banners are so awsome! I've spent a good half an hour just scrolling up and down and up and down and now I've pretty much chosen 4 out of 5 but I can't make up my mind about the 5thWhat can I do? Okay, I'll sleep on it. The final number will show up in my dreams (hopefully) ETA: I've finally voted. Sadly the number failed to show up, I had to choose by myself. So much effort To all people who made the banners: thank you!!!

plus he actually already landed it in competition in the second half I'd say 1Lo3S is more likely, and I would kinda expect it in a 5 quad layout. Also I thought combo with 3Lo as final jump have higher risk of underrotation?

Well he won GPF with not-perfect SP and not-very-good LP. Yes, he was the best of the field there, but the level was nowhere near the one we saw at Worlds. And at Worlds he made only one mistake which being in the SP costed him a lot, and honestly the kind of perfection we saw in his LP can't be expected all the time, and even then judges didn't throw his score to the roof (unlike a lot of people was expecting). It was a close call. I think the deflation in his GOE and PCS may have weighted in his awareness of "I have to go clean(ish)" more consistently (consistently as he is expected to, which means more than anyone else, unfair but that's how it is). And it is true that in SP mistakes are very costly. I agree with you that Chopin can (will) be great, both for him and for us. The only real reason for being upset is that it's already the third time, but I don't think Yuzu will set a trend there...well, he is a trendsetter, but if you choose to repeat a program, you are also expected be able to bring to it something new, and it maybe be not that easy. For sure Yuzu can. Others...who knows. Also with the change of rules after the Olympics a lot could change, maybe even the attitude towards quads, if they will start to stress more quality over quantity, with broader range of goe and maybe a change in pcs too, so we'll see. I want to be positive about all of this

I won't deny at first I was quite surprised at Yuzu reusing Chopin. Actually more than disappointed I felt a bit worried, but now I see that his BV will still be higher and there is a chance for further upgrading, so this reassures me a lot. Also we know Yuzuru has proven countless times he knows what he's doing. In the previous pages we had a bit of gloom and doubts, but I think it just proves how emotionally invested we are in him, and after cooling down and reconsidering, it looks that gloom it's over . I'm sure Yuzu himself was aware of the backlash that could come because of his choice, even from his fans, so this further proves to me he has taken this decision with his eyes wide open. And in retrospect, we totally should have seen it coming, given his recent talks about Jason Brown's SP and his emphasizing that he wants to raise his average and bring out his best qualities (such as jumping beautiful jumps and executing programs with high quality). Some of his programs made me at first, and now I absolutely adore them So I will just trust him, and cheer for him and support him no matter what. (And he has already sold me with that 4T3T ) About rumors of Seimei 2.0, actually the more I think about it the more I like the idea, as I'd be very curious about what Yuzu can pull out. Chopin and Seimei are his most iconic combo. "Going beyond the ideal" indeed Forget the going safe thing, Yuzu really has some guts! (Though I'd still be overjoyed if he has a new LP) Now I go to catch up with the Makuhari thread

What I like the most about this thread is that there are so many suggestions! I'm getting to know a lot of new pieces (well they are knew to me), keep going on guys! As a fellow italian, I feel you! I do think, too, that the bravest and hardest choice should be rewarded more, when successful, than the easiest (but given how all the PCS are given these days, this is hopeless dreaming). Rationally I do understand that Shoma's is a winning (and totally legit, and common, sadly) approach, but I cannot avoid feeling a bit of disappointment for him going for the easiest of the easy ways, in both SP and LP. And I'm telling this as one that when saw FS in 2006 for the first time was caught by Lambiel's Vivaldi... so yes, this kind of choices does win casual viewers (I'm curious to see if Shoma can make me forget that). Though Arakawa's Turandot did not impressed me. Nor did Sasha Cohen's Romeo&Juliet. Instead I was mesmerized by Totmianina&Marinin's R&J Yuzuru kind of followed the trend in 2014 for his LP, even if it was bound to a very personal take. But he was younger, and the last years proved he can skate to any kind of music and own it, so I hope he will give us something "different", that will be "easy" for audience and judges but undeniably "his" at the same time. Given how he managed to make me love almost everything he's skated, I have faith

Why, oh why I've found this interview only now???? Thank you for the translation! And young Yuzu amazes me. His commitment towards his goals (and what goals!), his impressive understanding of the tech of this sport, his charming personality...both bold and adorable. Of course it's impossible not to root for him