June 22, 20224 yr 3 hours ago, Muffinator said: @Wintek I love your analysis! This song was really tough for me to figure out, and I'm an English Literature major who is supposed to be able to understand really tough poetry. Yuzu is really getting deep this summer. I think you did an excellent job in this analysis. I can't wait for you to see the whole program and tell us what you think of that. Thanks for sharing! Now I can rest a little better, because you have relieved some of that gnawing I have felt these past few days. The lyrics are not easy, and then you have the issue of language and translation, and the context where the lyrics where written, the song is performed, etc, and the macro context where Yuzu has been competing and training (reading/watching the interviews provide a lot of info for this). I undusted my anthropological skills, LOL, though I am aware that I am connecting dots with insufficient information but well, it is what it is. Interpretations are interpretations, at the end of the day Yuzu said during the interview for S-Park: "Those things such as I want to express, or the things I am really particular about to the max, are not necessary to be conveyed in the form like "words", but I always think that I want to create a performance as such that (would like to be conveyed in intangible ways, such as to leave a mark in the audience) like, 'Ahh, there was a scene like this int he performance', or like, 'I liked this scene'."
June 22, 20224 yr @Wintek It looks like you are very bright, and we can sure use your help, if you are interested in our drive to save ice skating from becoming poorly judged jumping contests. Have you seen our ISU Letter Action thread under Yuzuru Hanyu? We are writing a single letter about our concerns on the direction ice skating is taking and on unfair judging that we hope thousands of fans from around the world will send to the ISU. Anabel is the organizer, and she has asked for ideas on the letter's content and is looking for someone to write the letter. Please consider helping us out. We need all the smart people we can get! Anyone else who reads this post and is willing to consider helping, please check it out. We are especially looking for people who know a lot of about skating, who can translate, or who are willing to help spread the word on their social media once the letter is written. Of course, we will also need thousands of people to send the letters to the ISU. Everyone can help. Thanks!
June 23, 20224 yr On 6/22/2022 at 8:07 AM, Wintek said: FaOI Shizuoka can't arrive soon enough. The mystery of Raison is more than I can take, I see so many clues and meanings in the few seconds that have been shared so far. In an unusual act of bravery, I have decided to pour some of my inarticulate thoughts here. Please be patient with me. Here I go: 'Raison d'être' -reason for existing (Yuzu's conviction, his 'core')- and other words & sentences in the lyrics resonate with things that Yuzu has mentioned in recent interviews: 'mud' can be seen and imperfection. He mentioned during the interview for Spark: "I won the Sochi Olympics and the Pyeonchang Olympics consecutively, so I wonder if I had a strong image of being a perfect person. If such image of Seimei at the PC Oly was strong, then I feel like Yuzuru Hanyu at the Beijing Oly must have been a completely different person (for those viewed him as strong). Like, even Yuzuru Hanyu has this kind of things happen, or, that working super hard to achieve own dreams, and you can see traces of it, but in the end... couldn'e fulfill his dreams. Like, there are people that because they felt that kind of unsophisticatedness [the kanji can also be read as muddy like smell, uncoolness], that they say are supporting me now" (this also reminds me of Yuzu making a funny -ugly?- face at the beginning of Real Face in Makuhari day 2, he turns and look to the audience, revealing his face after being completely covered by the hood). "The relationship between goodbye and pinky swear" could be about chasing his dream of landing the 4A: a promise to himself and to others, once fulfilled he might be able to let go and move into a new chapter? Or is it the struggle between wanting to give up or push forward and follow his dream? Or is he letting go of his old self/the image of perfection that he spoke about in the interview with Spark? The gesture with his arms, hands and little finger matching the lyrics: "relationship between farewell and pinky promise". And there is a discussion that Yuzu is using sign language there (at least in Kobe Day 1 and 2?). This is what a Japanese fan wrote: "Two fingers with your right hand up and away from your forehead in front of you (It's a memory of you two, goodbye). Left hand to chest as if wrapping with left hand. Right hand on chest, pinky and thumb up in ASL (North American Sign Language), loosely expressing "you". Eyes looking beyond as if tracing a memory." (this again reminds me of Rondo). The costume: the black sleeve that changes into a purple similar to Origin 2.0 purple, which is the program where the underscoring went out of proportion. I see that sleeve as a bruise to Yuzu's efforts and even the role of the media to question his dream and not being supportive when he has struggled, for even spreading rumours that have hurt him (for this I also think about the lyrics: "collective unconsciousness ridicules", "crude words are sometimes sharper than a knife"). The difference in colour in the costume and the vein like pattern of the black/purple sleeve: Yuzu fighting not to be stained, to protect his conviction, his 'core' as he had called it in past interviews. The struggle when he drops onto the ice is the pain, being beaten over and over again, the gesture as if someone is trying to take his heart/soul, but he is still trying to fight back and stand. The lyrics say: "earth shattering, great turn of events, the catharsis is just around the corner." Then he tries to stand up and makes a gesture as if trying to catch something just when the lyrics say "those memories that will never fade". This reminded me of what Shae-Lynne Bourne said about Rondo during and interview with the Quadruple Axel magazine: "he also finds something there. Like light, but not just light, like a memory, like a moment... like a moment in his life so far. It could be fans, people close to him, himself with his coach. Those memories come back to him on the ice. And that joy fills him up. Until the next jump, these memories come back one after the other, and then they disappear." The loose right sleeve that shows his arm and he keeps rolled up, a rolled up sleeve of someone ready to fight. I think it was Marika who mentioned that Yuzu makes starts and finished the program with his left hand on the left shoulder. It looks as if he were protecting his wounds from the fight. Interestingly, Yuzu greeted the audience after Real Face in Makuhari Day 2 with an arm gesture that is the same one he uses to start Raison. Real Face costume reminds me of a boxer/fighter. He shows his strength in Real Face, a more physical fight (some elements of the choreography look as if he is punching, kicking, as well as receiving hits). In Raison, he is showing his struggle and vulnerability, he is showing us his wounds. Sorry for this long self-indulgent post. I needed to take this out of my system Thank you Wintek. You have articulated some of the thoughts that I had had about this programme - working through pain and anguish I have read and revisited some of the recent interviews with Shae Lynn Bourne about Yuzu Shae Lynn really impresses with her thoughtfulness as both a choreographer but also as a loyal and caring friend to Yuzu. She seems to understand him and works with him to allow Yuzu to explore feelings and express them through his programmes. Clearly this is the job of any credible choreographer. However, from the Shae Lynn's articulate and considerate nature, she gives a very strong impression of a deeper connection and understanding of what Yuzu is really attempting to convey as a message through the medium of skating. One example, her own research into Japanese history and culture, visiting the Seimei shrine. There are not many people as committed to fully understanding a skater's programme. Reading Shae lynn's interviews made me feel incredibly grateful not only for her gifts as a choreographer but also her depth of genuine caring for Yuzu and their friendship. This an extrapolation from the expressions that she used and from Yuzu's interviews as well, that by providing astounding programme choreography, Yuzu is able to connect with the spectators and tell his story though the medium of skating. From previous programmes and these new show programmes, these maybe a means for Yuzu to articulate his feelings and hopefully have a cathartic experience, banishing the negativity of the past few years and move forward.
June 23, 20224 yr Is the interview Nobu was talking about in this post (below) the same as the broadcast from Kobe on Kansai TV at 2:15 JST on 26th (this Sunday)? Or is it another thing at 2:15 JST on the 25th (this Saturday) on another channel? If so, on which channel?
June 23, 20224 yr I'm confused as well, but I don't think there's anything on Saturday? (Japanese time)
June 23, 20224 yr I also looked at the schedule that Marika-san made, but I think that only the FaOI broadcasts are shown there, right? But there are also broadcasts on sports or news programs, or something like that... Or am I just imagining it? I so confused
June 23, 20224 yr 2 hours ago, LiaRy said: Is the interview Nobu was talking about in this post (below) the same as the broadcast from Kobe on Kansai TV at 2:15 JST on 26th (this Sunday)? Or is it another thing at 2:15 JST on the 25th (this Saturday) on another channel? If so, on which channel? I think that the interview will maybe be broadcast during the 1 hour Kobe special. I'm confused too.
June 23, 20224 yr I hope someone will livestream the Kansai TV program, whatever it will include It's the first "public" outing of Raison, right?
June 23, 20224 yr 14 minutes ago, YuDai said: I hope someone will livestream the Kansai TV program, whatever it will include It's the first "public" outing of Raison, right? is there any livestream? is it kobe or shizuoka?
June 23, 20224 yr 8 minutes ago, caramelicht said: is there any livestream? is it kobe or shizuoka? There will be a livestream for Shizuoka on Sunday (e.g yuzumayo is streaming it). Kobe day 3? 2? will be broadcast on Kansai TV on Sunday as well (Saturday evening in Europe), but so far I haven't heard of any streamers.
June 23, 20224 yr 30 minutes ago, YuDai said: There will be a livestream for Shizuoka on Sunday (e.g yuzumayo is streaming it). Kobe day 3? 2? will be broadcast on Kansai TV on Sunday as well (Saturday evening in Europe), but so far I haven't heard of any streamers. thank you!!
June 23, 20224 yr 18 minutes ago, LiaRy said: @YuDaiKobe stream? Is that the 1 h thing on Kansai TV at 2:15 am JST time? Yes, so I've understood (one of the hosts talked about it as well in the Kobe "highlight" show we saw a couple of days ago). Some performances (Raison confirmed), and probably/possibly the interview with Nobu as well
June 23, 20224 yr 5 minutes ago, YuDai said: Yes, so I've understood (one of the hosts talked about it as well in the Kobe "highlight" show we saw a couple of days ago). Some performances (Raison confirmed), and probably/possibly the interview with Nobu as well I'm so excited, yay!! Thank you!
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