***Machine translation, inaccuracies exist ***
Source: https://mainichi.jp/articles/20251127/k00/00m/050/364000c (Paid Article)
Archive: https://web.archive.org/web/20251128213623/https://mainichi.jp/articles/20251127/k00/00m/050/364000c
One with the Ice
From Yuzuru Hanyu to the world — the expanding circle of “Irene”
Kodai TamaiWhen you watch practice sessions, you can often spot a cute “skating rink fairy” on the gloves of many top skaters. That fairy is “Irene,” the mascot of Ice Rink Sendai (Sendai City). The gloves became widely known after Yuzuru Hanyu—two-time Olympic champion in men’s singles figure skating at the 2014 Sochi and 2018 Pyeongchang Games—started wearing them, and they have gained overwhelming support from both fans and athletes. We take a closer look at how these goods were created and why they became so popular.