Ulrinis

Despite knowing that this was the best decision, there ist this deep sadness again (like when Yuzu withdrew from GP series last year). Spring is slowly coming but I can't find any joy right now. (What with the current general situation in Europe ...) I'd probably stay at home if I could manage to sell my tickets for Worlds but the chances are almost zero, so I'll take it as a very, VERY expensive holiday, hopefully including meeting some nice people and talking about Yuzu there. Of course I knew he couldn't win at Worlds (as fair scoring can't be expected all of a sudden and now also his ankle is injured again) but I would have loved him to feel, see and hear the support of a large international audience there, not just by actions like the amazing 20,000 postcards and letters. As for humiliation - it hurts indeed, it was almost unbearable sometimes (I've been to GPF 2019, too). However, somehow I have the feeling it can't get any worse and Yuzu has shown so much mental strength when I was thinking "How can he endure this!". Somehow I can imagine him standing above all this now, skating only for himself and his audience, demonstrating the incompetence of the judges by showcasing his unmatched quality. Why should he back down, now that he is peaking? If I compare this to other sports: Nobody asks a soccer club to retire just because they have been winning everything for decades and it's getting boring. There it would be even more understandable since they use to buy athletes (famous stars and new, young talents) from other clubs just to have them on their own bench - and this can go on and on for generations. In Yuzu's case, however, it's just one single human being with extraordinary qualities who won't be able to compete forever. Everybody should cherish every single competition Yuzu attends because this is so rare! He is the reigning national champion and watching his 2 wonderful performances of 2021 JNats is kind of soothing to me. It's just so completely against rational thinking that anyone should push him out instead of exploiting this one-in-a-million chance. Even people who don't like him or envy him must be aware of this. Probably they don't even realize what mess they have caused. Are they happy now that Yuzu has gone through doubting his own qualities and overdoing training? That he felt he cannot wait but had to fulfill his childhood dream in this season (instead of thoroughly and slowly developing the 4A with the assistance of his coaches) because otherwise his scores wouldn't be enough to win? Now he's hopefully getting the best treatment for his ankle and taking his time for resting and healing. And deciding. Of course there's ice shows - and they will be amazing (no doubt) - but it's not the same. Selfish, I know, but I will miss the thrill. Anyway, Yuzu decides. If it's his OWN wholehearted decision without outside pressure to ... (sigh) ... His physical and mental health have absolute priority and if he's happy, I'll support whatever he decides.

Sigh ... hearing this music it feels like yesterday that Yuzu turned my family's life upside down. I guess it's time for watching "Onmyoji" again. After Pyeong Chang Olympics my teenage daughter had insisted to watch the movie and it turned out to be a good idea for understanding the character Yuzu portrayed. However, it's amazing, how energetic and expressive Yuzu skated this step sequence at the Beijing practice rink.

Yes, Yuzu always selects his words very wisely. I listened carefully to what he said during the press conference on 14 February. I think this is the closest he ever gets to making clear that he is constantly underscored: "However well I express myself, however well I perform, that's not going to get me good marks." At least these were the words of the interpreter on the Olympic Channel.

This Skating Party was the best that could happen now that we have started missing Yuzu again. Thank you so much, dear organizers! It was extremely informative! Of course we all had already seen the child Yuzu announcing that he will win Olympic gold some day but his development and external circumstances at that time as well as how he was perceived by others - this was new to me. And once again it occurred to me that the number 4 seems to be deeply connected to him. Please correct me if I'm wrong: Born in 1994, he started skating at the age of 4, he was inspired by his sister who is 4 years older. His first senior medal was at 4CC, he placed 4th at his first GPF. Ever since season 2011/12 his lowest rank was 4th place (in very few competitions). OK, it would be too cheesy to mention that a free skate has 4 minutes, that the highest level of spins etc. is 4 and the time between Olympic Games is 4 years. My secret hope is that when, in a distant future, he will look back on his competitive career he will have participated in 4 Olympic Games and won 4 Olympic medals (if he will be allowed to participate in the team event next time). (Not sure if I had already written this. If so: My apologies for repeating.)

I believe this is also true. Yuzu with 2 clean programs and fair scoring, even with lower tech value, would have won gold. This has been discussed here often but I personally think it's true.

Yes, I think that Toshl would never let him down, he understands him too well and to me it seems that they have much in common - also regarding their personality.

Welcome and thank you 😊!

Exactly. First I thought: How does he have the power not to yell his anger out (like I would have) or cut the media short with a bitter expression on his face or get cynical or whatever you have seen with other athletes not seeing their dreams come true plus having been treated unfair. It cannot be appreciated enough how Yuzu kept bringing us joy by practicing so many of his programs, repairing the ice, interacting cheerfully with other skaters and Bing Dwen Dwen, politely answering media questions and greeting everyone around him with respect. We KNOW he would have easily got a medal, even after the unlucky incident with the hole during SP, and, I’m convinced, even with the fall on the Salchow during FP, if he hadn’t stayed true to his real aim and given birth to 4A on the biggest possible stage. Let that sink in. And, like last Olympics, he performed with an injury again! (Just to shut those ignorant SNS users up who keep insisting Yuzu only won gold back then because others made mistakes.) NEVER had I imagined him being able of such an incredible success as he achieved in Beijing. As autumn was approaching I rubbed my eyes becoming aware that almost 4 years have past and Yuzu was still at the top and working on improvement! Has this ever happened? I remember Brian Orser saying around 2018 Olympics (don’t know exactly in which interview) that after one of Yuzu’s big successes “there was a little dip”. (Maybe veteran fanyus know which interview I mean.) When was there a little dip this time? Obviously Yuzu considered silver or bronze a little dip. A 4th place with an unprecedented try of an almost impossible jump. Like Robert Schumann who was obsessed with making his ring fingers more flexible for being able to play the piano even better. And with an injury. And with unfair judgment. Somehow this makes me not only hope, but BELIEVE Yuzu will not be impressed by NC being hyped and overstored and fanyus being accused of defending a declining star. Because he just isn’t. He has overcome being rewarded. But he will always be rewarded by the love and support of his fans.

A wonderful summary! I can only agree and I notice that each new day that is dawning makes me think even more that Yuzu has done and achieved what nobody could have expected. He stays positive, makes presents to his fans by attending so many training sessions in Beijing AFTER the competitions, remains polite and nice - and wise, acknowledging that not being rewarded is something he can embrace now. We are so blessed to have someone like Yuzu to support - how can anybody not support him!

Why did I always like Keanu Reeves without knowing his personality and why could I never get myself to speaking of Javier as "Javi"? Can't explain it but maybe it's the same unexplainable reason why I instantly fell for Yuzu 4 years ago. Probably most fanyus have such a - what is it - sixth sense?

It's just not like Yuzu to have a setup to get SOME medal. For him it had to be gold and it would have been gold if he hadn't been unlucky during SP and injured during FS and if judging would be fair.

Having worked as a translator and interpreter myself, I was also touched when I saw the livestream of Yuzu's press conference and he thanked the interpreters. This is rare, at least from what I have experienced. Even more if the interpreters sit in a cabin and are literally invisible for the others. They have quite a hard job doing simultaneous translation. And Yuzu noticed, despite the tense situation he himself was in.

Yes, I think for Yuzu the "normal" age calculation doesn't work. Seeing footage of his recent practices with these soft landings has amazed me once again. I loved his attitude and charisma during Olympic Seimei but his Seimei step sequence in UA was no less beautiful to me. (I hope someone will compose a YuzuTube video of all his Beijing practice sessions. ) However, today we have seen that other skaters are strong at a similar age, too: Ryuichi Kihara and Cong Han are both 29 and look what they achieved today! (A German TV commentator even considered the Japanese pair "still young" and contenders for an Olympic medal next time.) Not to mention numerous athletes in other disciplines aged 30+ who won medals in Beijing (but maybe you can't compare this). I could imagine Yuzu skating in the next season because he is peaking right now, but he may need a break from competitive skating before the next Olympics. Last time I couldn't bear this thought but if you consider how little we saw of him during the pandemic, this is something I can deal with. As long as we have a White Wall from time to time and The Planet still exists ...

Yuzu really keeps surprising us in a positive way and always has the best ideas. Who would have thought he'd spend his spare time, while waiting for the gala, at so many practice sessions? I didn't know it was possible to bring your music if it doesn't belong to anything you're going to perform in a competition or gala. Maybe it's completely unusual but who would reject such a request if it comes from this wonderful skater, the one everybody wants to film and photograph anyway? Like this, we see such beautiful footage of Yuzu smiling while practicing! During Helsinki GP and Torino GPF his practice sessions were what I enjoyed most: 30 minutes (or so) of Yuzu presence each time - that's much more than SP + FS + gala together! However, he was very concentrated, focused and determined then. His sessions now must be so enjoyable for everybody present. And maybe Yuzu feels comfortable and relaxed because it's how he would be spending his time at home in Sendai? And at the same time he has an audience - which also is important for him? If only there wasn't his injured ankle ... Therefore I'm quite anxious, too: I keep hoping this is just his way of making Beijing a nice memory for himself like Sochi and Pyeong Chang. (And is not farewell!) As I keep hoping there still is enough time for his ankle to heal and he can go to Montpellier. It would be such a good opportunity to end the season in a pleasant way with his fans from all over the world cheering for him.

Yes, that was so nice.During Helsinki GP he showed the volunteers, who came onto the ice with their buckets before he had left, where he had seen a hole they should fix. As Helsinki GP was my first FS event I didn't know why he was gesturing at them but found out later. Sigh ... and now we see how important it is to pay attention to holes in the ice ...

This is what I hope, too. One of the reasons why I would love to see Yuzu keeping competing AS LONG AS HE ENJOYS IT is that I'm afraid we overseas fans will have less opportunities to see him live and show him how much he means to us. Fantasy on Ice, Stars on Ice, Dreams on Ice etc. is a wonderful thing but not accessible to at least me. So I really hope he considers such world tours. However, as this will probably happen only after r-word: not too soon, I hope ...

During Helsinki GP I saw Valtter for the first time and immediately liked him. My family has cheered for him during 2 Finlandia Trophys afterwards. He has our greatest respect!

Yes, I think I heard him say in an older video that he washes his costumes himself. OK, not "heard" but "read" because he was talking in Japanese and there were subtitles. I recall this because I found it remarkable.

Maybe we expect too much of them and it’s just not like them. In all interactions which at least I have seen so far, Yuzu was the active part, such as Yuzu joking and Shoma laughing or Yuma casting side glances at Yuzu when they shared the podium, in order to do the right thing at the right time. They were accustomed to Yuzu always knowing what to do and take the lead, taking care that everyone is comfortable. This (the venue ceremony) - even more than the charismatic Seimei FS - was what impressed me most 4 years ago: That Yuzu treated Shoma and Javi like family on the podium, like a caring mother. I hadn’t seen any of them before, didn’t know who they were, but I felt immediately that this (Yuzu’s) behaviour was unusual and reassuring and it made me feel comfortable. I somehow cannot imagine Shoma or Yuma hugging Yuzu first. Further, they are not accustomed to seeing him in such a situation and maybe they were hesitant and insecure? Maybe they were afraid that hugging or patting Yuzu might seem arrogant or inappropriate? Not sure, just my personal thoughts ...

Oh, I'm even much older than you. That's what makes it so frightening! Yuzu makes some of us feel and behave like teenagers again ...

Hi and welcome! Reading what you are going through is so ... familiar! I spent those 2 nights of SP and FS with almost no sleep in front of our TV but couldn't sleep well the other nights either and was haunted by crazy dreams about Yuzu. I am lucky to have my family to discuss all this because we are all Yuzu fans, however, like you, I still don't understand how a sensible person can get emotionally involved so deep. How good we have THE PLANET ...

Hello and welcome! I can only agree. Also thank you for this valuable insight regarding SLC! If NC knew this ...

Did JSF even want a medal from Yuzu? They were probably sure upfront that the gold was reserved for NC, so silver and bronze were possible and they got it. Did it matter for them who would get it? I still can't get over them not applauding. What can Yuzu possibly have done to annoy them? Refuse to be a torch bearer during Tokyo Olympics? We all know Yuzu's tiger look when he is on the ice and he hates losing and he knows he's on a different level - but I cannot imagine him being rude or arrogant to other skaters ...

Yes, I couldn't believe my eyes either. One person not even applauding. First I thought she might have been one of the audience who simply are not so much into figure skating, but she wears the same red team jacket.

Welcome! What you are going through sounds exactly like what my family experienced 4 years ago: We could hardly sleep that night and I had to print out a picture of Yuzu for my daughter first. Ever since our life has become so rich and I guess yours will, too! 😊