I wonder if this news also increases the chances to have CLAMP book translated in English since the publisher was already considering it.

 

The Interview was filmed after the show
 

 

Source 

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/bfa6bce161847e05b6742c63b26f53d2d7a67f82

 

[NEWS]

 

 

 

Wow, this is huge news!!! I don't have a Disney+ subscription (or any similar subscriptions) but I should make an exception and subscribe for a month 

I only subscribed to Disney+ because of Gift, and I was going to cancel my subscription today, after the expiration of the streaming, but now I have to wait a bit longer. They know how to keep their customers 😅

So excited!! I wonder how long the special edition will stay. I got Disney+ last year as kind of an experiment to see if annual subscription was worth it, until now all signs pointed to "No"... Plan to make the most of my subscription while it lasts

📢 GIFT is top 3 

 

[NEWS]

 

 

Guess I'm subscribing to disney again DX

How exciting! I hope we get to see more of the bts footage they showed during SEIMEI. I'm also dying to see the recording of Yuzu dancing they filmed for the Ashura projections.

They know many fanyu will cancel their subscriptions as soon as there's no Yuzu content. Wonder if they're going to have something else for April or May to keep us on.

This is maybe a stupid question, but it's worldwide on Disney+ as in you can watch it from anywhere? No geoblocked regions?

This is wonderful news for all of us except of course for those on mainland China. They miss out on so much and I feel very sad for them.

It is also wonderful news for Yuzuru. His GIFT was brilliant and the first of its kind in so many ways.

Hanyu Yuzuru san deserves every accolade. He is so extraordinary and we love and admire him so much. 

I hope he will gain more fans because of his Disney+ exposure and I'm really glad that I took the time to get in touch with Disney+ to ask for world wide distribution. I'm already one of their subscribers.

7 hours ago, RaisonStar said:

How exciting! I hope we get to see more of the bts footage they showed during SEIMEI. I'm also dying to see the recording of Yuzu dancing they filmed for the Ashura projections.

They know many fanyu will cancel their subscriptions as soon as there's no Yuzu content. Wonder if they're going to have something else for April or May to keep us on.

This is maybe a stupid question, but it's worldwide on Disney+ as in you can watch it from anywhere? No geoblocked regions?

Providing the country has Disney plus service it will be available. 

The stream has already been advertised as not available in China.

The quality and contents of Gift caught me by surprise. It got me emotional for sometime.  Gift sets me in awe of Yuzu’s remarkable storytelling abilities. He has brilliantly weaved his (athlete) story from birth through 3 Oly cycles within a 2.5 hr  ice show. I like that it allows for open interpretation. So after sorting out my thoughts and interpretations, I would like to humbly share them here:

 

Watching the intro transported me back to the days I watched the movie of my childhood superhero - Superman, Man of Steel.  I like the part which showed a light illuminating at the Eastern part of Japan, symbolising the birth of a superhero/star/king where the story begins. In my fanyu’s mind, it has to be the brightest star - Sirius (calculated move for naming his team Sirius?), also known as “Dog Star”. Interestingly, Yuzu was born in 1994, the Year of Dog (according to Chinese zodiac).

 

I’m captivated by the majestic entrance of Firebird Yuzu. The dramatic effect perfectly matches Yuzu’s charisma on ice. I like that in Russian folklore, the firebird represents a treasure that is rare and difficult to possess, just like Yuzu. Somehow, this Firebird version gave off the same vibe as a ballet/theatre musical (on stage ) performance accompanied by a live orchestra.

 

As this was the opening performance, I would like to think he was telling us to expect a magical Gift, his magical/glowing presence in the pro stage. At the personal level, this program was a milestone for him where he came in first for FS, in his first Jpn Jr National.  It signified his junior years where he dreamt of being two-time Oly champ. He made many sacrifices and endured injuries and pain while single-mindedly pursuing his Oly dreams. In this way, as narrated, he chose his path, a lonely one.

 

Metaphorically speaking, Yuzu aspired to be the Sun, bringing energy and positivity to others. But there were times he just wasn’t up to it (the Sun being unavailable), he likened himself to be the moon where despite sustaining painful and agonising scars - both physical (due to injuries) and emotional/mental ones over his long amateur career, he continue to shine by drawing strength n hope from within (the moon can’t shine on its own but gets its light from the sun).

 

I see the connection to anime Spirited Away (from Wikipedia, Hayao Miyazaki’s quote “I created a heroine who is an ordinary girl, someone with whom the audience can sympathize.. It’s not a story in which the characters grow up, but a story in which they draw on something already inside them, brought out by the particular circumstances…I want my young friends to live like that, and I think they, too, have such a wish.”).

 

The references to nature was aptly expressed with a sublime performance of H & L. I love the superimposed image of Yuzu’s ending pose on the moon.

 

The narrative continued to give us a peek into his inner thoughts of the impact of the 3.11 disaster on him, leaving a deep sense of lost/confusion and sadness when all of a sudden, what he cherished was gone - countless human lives, including flora and fauna perished on 3.11. Buildings, homes, roads, etc were not spared either. He lost the Tohoku region.

 

In the anime Spirited Away, water was used to symbolise entrapment and freedom, life and death. Though I feel Yuzu resonates with Chihiro, the main character, donning a white costume, I associated him with Haku, (who had the ability to transform himself into a white dragon) while skating to One Summer’s Day. Haku was actually a river spirit who lost his home, the Kohaku River when it was filled and covered up with apartments. This led him to the spirit world where he became an apprentice of Yubaba, losing his freedom because he had forgotten his name, his true identity.

 

But unlike Haku, Yuzu always have a clear sense of his identity close at heart. He has never forgotten where he comes from eg. he has been donating the sales proceeds of his books, OGM cash prizes, etc to help the disaster-stricken region. We now know up until last year, he had been lowkey skating to Requiem on the anniversary of 3.11  to pay homage and respect to those affected by it.

 

One Summer’s Day evoked an image of Yuzu being nostalgic, recalling the past on a particular summer day where the visuals change from the initial calm water to a destructive one, followed shortly by a greyish background (to depict the aftermath of the disaster) before colours gradually appearing on it and on the ice, signifying renewal and reconstruction efforts, hope and a better future that follows.

 

As Haku taking flight in his dragon form,, Yuzu’s arabesque at the end suggested his subsequent competitive career soared to greater heights.

 

The story unfolded with the starry lights on the night sky renewing his hope for the future…He was once again reminded of his initial motivation, his dreams. The story continued with the ceaseless cycles of daily mundane training and making progress in comps, including breaking WRs and winning his first Oly gold along the way.

 

The visuals came on where clouds of fairy dust revealed the image of Yuzu in Ballad No 1 costume and him coming on ice to perform it, suggested the passing of time where he fulfilled his dream of being a 2-time Olympian at 2018 Oly. 

 

Despite this monumental win, he continued to search for happiness in the sport. Fulfilling his last childhood dream brought  him to 2022 Oly. It’s heartbreaking to listen to this part of the narration, him grappling with inner emotional turmoil (pain, scab forming yet not healing, he had done many disagreeable things, patience, cried heavily, with much regret) he was experiencing throughout the last quad (This will be explored further in the second half of the show). The story then brought the audience to relive the 6-min warm-up and SP performance of Rondo. He was regretful he couldn’t skate it to his satisfaction at Beijing 2022. Performing it at Gift, I’m sure Yuzu left this regret behind him and successfully led the audience to a mass healing session.

 

The second half of the show focused on the increasingly hard times he was facing at the last quad and the pandemic was making it worst. It took a heavy toll on him mentally/emotionally. Amidst him enjoying himself with program like LMEY, he found himself in a more hostile competing environment, to the point where he stopped liking and enjoying the sport and feeling unwanted. This is despite pushing himself to do more and getting better than before. Still, he persisted and didn’t throw in the towel. Ashura-chan showed us the attitude he adopted - when facing adversities and challenges, one must persist to overcome with courage.

 

The story continued with his inner struggles and insecurities though he may appeared calm and composed on the outside. Meanwhile, the perception/expectation of him to be perfect, strong/brave, to perform and produce results persisted and weighed heavily on him. Through POTO, he wanted us to know and understand the multifaceted sides of him - sad, scared, self-doubting, vulnerable, strong side of him, just like everyone else.

 

Thankfully the narration continued with him developing mental and emotional maturity, an acceptance of himself - his achievements and flaws/limitations because of what/who he is, a precious being. I feel this message is reinforced and expressed through Boku no Koto.

 

With Fleeting Dream, Yuzu accepted his dream came to an end when he couldn’t have the first ratified 4A in a comp. He’s shown us that in order to love and protect himself, he chose to move on, thus freeing himself from amateur skating (he can always pursue 4A in an extended time, at the pro stage).

 

Back in 2011 when it was pitch black, the starry sky provided a light of hope for young Yuzu on 3.11. Now that he had to build his pro-ath career from scratch (described as pitch black in the narration), a Notte Stellata performance at this juncture indicates - together with our undying love and support, he’s staying hopeful while embracing the unpredictable future, pursuing Hanyu Yuzuru Skating, preserving the essence of figure skating  he loves and sharing it globally. This is my understanding of his (translated) words “My Dream is a Gift from everyone.”

 

Covid-related lockdowns and restrictions have brought the spotlight on mental/emotional health issues. Using his influence to address such issues in Gift, a deeply personal ice story , I would like to thank him for sharing his experience and reassuring viewers that it’s acceptable rather than a weakness to feel like crying, scared, sad, lonely, etc. When viewers seek solace, they know they can return to his Gift. Therefore, am waiting for the availability of Gift DVD/blue rays.

 

In an interview, Hayao Miyazaki noted Chihiro ultimately returns to her ordinary world ‘not by vanquishing evil, but as a result of having learned a new way to live.’ I see Yuzu going through a similar process of self-realisation (ie. staying true to himself, realising dream and achieving inner peace) and growth as Chihiro and Boku no Koto expresses this perfectly.

 

The live piano performances of Gift and One Summer’s Day teleported me to a mini world class piano concert. A stark contrast from the emotional ride I was in earlier. This set the mood for the next performance, HYK. Being on the pro-athlete stage, Yuzu would certainly welcome spring with Haru Yo Koi as this season symbolises renewal, new beginnings, fresh ideas and growth while being mindful of transience of life.

 

It was fitting to end the show with the iconic Seimei, the piece of Japanese music that had him winning back-to-back Oly gold.

 

To end it all, he gave an emotional encore to (Suiheisen) Horizon which summed him up well. It left me feeling emotional and teary. So on 26 Feb, I received an out of the world Gift (Yuzu himself) with Gifts. Your Gift had been well-received, thank you Yuzu! 

 

When a genius is at work, expect no less than a masterpiece from him. Am sooo looking forward for more of his ice shows!

5 hours ago, YuzuSkating_IsTheTruth said:

The quality and content of Gift surprised me. It made me emotional for a while. Gift amazes me at Yuzu's remarkable storytelling abilities. He brilliantly weaved his (athlete) story from birth to 3 Oly cycles into a 2.5 hour ice show. I like the fact that it allows for open interpretation. So after sorting out my thoughts and interpretations, I would humbly like to share them here: 

 

Watching the intro took me back to when I was watching my childhood superhero movie - Superman, Man of Steel. I like the part that showed a light illuminating the eastern part of Japan, symbolizing the birth of a superhero/star/king where the story begins. In my fanyu's mind, it must be the brightest star - Sirius (calculated move to name his team Sirius?), also known as "Dog Star". Interestingly, Yuzu was born in 1994, the year of the dog (according to the Chinese zodiac).

 

I am captivated by the majestic entry of Firebird Yuzu. The dramatic effect perfectly matches Yuzu's charisma on the ice. I love that in Russian folklore, the firebird represents a rare and hard-to-own treasure, just like Yuzu. In a way, this Firebird version gave off the same vibe as a musical ballet/theater performance (on stage) accompanied by a live orchestra.

 

Since it was the opening performance, I'd like to think he was telling us to expect a magical gift, his magical/brilliant presence on the pro stage. On a personal level, this program was a milestone for him where he came first for FS, in his first Jpn Jr National. This signified his junior years where he dreamed of being a double Oly champion. He made many sacrifices and endured injury and pain while resolutely pursuing his Oly dreams. In this way, as told, he chose his path, a solitary path. 

 

Metaphorically speaking, Yuzu aspired to be the Sun, bringing energy and positivity to others. But there were times when he just wasn't up to the task (with the Sun being unavailable), he compared himself to the moon where, despite painful and agonizing scars - both physical (from injuries) and emotional/mental over his long amateur career, he continues to shine by drawing strength and hope from within (the moon cannot shine on its own but draws its light from the sun).

 

I see the connection to the anime Spirited Away (from Wikipedia, Hayao Miyazaki quote "I created a heroine who is an ordinary girl, someone the audience can sympathize with.. This is not a story in which the characters grow up in, but a story that they tap into something that's already inside them, highlighted by the particular circumstances… I want my young friends to live like that, and I think they too have such a wish. ").

 

The nature references were aptly expressed with a sublime performance by H&L. I love the superimposed image of Yuzu's final pose on the moon.

 

The story continued to give us insight into his inner thoughts on the impact of the 3.11 disaster on him, leaving a deep sense of loss/confusion and sadness when all of a sudden, what he treasured was gone. Although I feel that Yuzu resonates with Chihiro, the main character of the anime Spirited Away, wearing a white costume, I paired it with Hako, a white dragon while skating for One Summer's Day. In the film, water was used to symbolize entrapment and freedom, life and death. But the starry lights of the night sky revived his hope for the future… He again remembered his original motivation, his dreams.The story continued with the endless cycles of mundane daily training and progress in competitions. 

 

The visuals appeared where clouds of pixie dust revealed the image of Yuzu in ballad costume No. 1 and him coming onto the ice to perform it, suggested the passage of time he realized his dream of being a 2-time Olympian at 2018 Oly. 

 

Despite this monumental victory, he continued to seek happiness in sports. Fulfilling his last childhood dream brought him to 2022 Oly. It's heartbreaking to listen to this part of the narration, him struggling with inner emotional turmoil (pain, scabs but no healing, he'd done a lot of nasty things, patience, cried a lot, with a lot of regret) which he experienced throughout the last quad (This will be explored in more detail in the second half of the show). The story then took the audience to relive Rondo's 6-minute warm-up and SP performance.  He regretted not being able to skate him to his satisfaction at Beijing 2022. By playing him at Gift, I'm sure Yuzu left that regret behind and successfully led the audience into a mass healing session.

 

The second half of the show focused on the increasingly difficult times he faced in the last quad and the pandemic made things worse. It took a heavy toll on him mentally/emotionally. In the midst of him having fun with a program like LMEY, he found himself in a more hostile competitive environment, to the point where he stopped loving and enjoying the sport and feeling unwanted. And this despite his efforts to do more and improve than before. Yet he persisted and did not throw in the towel. Ashura-chan showed us the attitude he adopted - in the face of adversity and challenges, one must persist in overcoming with courage.

 

The story continued with his inner struggles and insecurities although he may seem calm and composed on the outside. During this time, the perception/expectation of him to be perfect, strong/brave, to perform well and to deliver results lingered and weighed heavily on him. Through POTO, he wanted us to know and understand his many facets - sad, scared, doubting himself, vulnerable, strong, like everyone else.

 

Thankfully, the narrative continued with him developing mental and emotional maturity, an acceptance of himself - his accomplishments and his flaws/limitations because of what/who he is, a precious being. I feel this message is reinforced and expressed through Boku no Koto.

 

With Fleeting Dream, Yuzu accepted that his dream ended when he couldn't have the first ratified 4A in a competition. He showed us that to love and protect himself, he chose to move on, thus freeing himself from amateur skating (he can still do 4A for a long time, at the pro stage).

 

In 2011, when it was dark, the starry sky gave young Yuzu a ray of hope on 3.11. Now that he's had to build his pro-ath career from the ground up (described as pitch black in the narration), a performance by Notte Stellata at this point indicates - with our undying love and support, he remains hopeful while embracing the unpredictable future, pursuing Hanyu Yuzuru Skating, preserving the essence of figure skating he loves and sharing it globally. This is my understanding of his words (translated) "My dream is a gift from everyone." 

 

Covid-related lockdowns and restrictions have brought mental/emotional health issues to the fore. Using his influence to address such issues in Gift, a deeply personal ice cream story, I would like to thank him for sharing his experience and reassuring viewers that he is acceptable rather than a weakness in life. feel like crying, being scared, being sad, feeling lonely, etc. viewers are looking for comfort, they know they can come back to his Gift. Therefore, I am awaiting the availability of the DVD/Blue-ray giveaway.

 

In an interview, Hayao Miyazaki noted that Chihiro eventually returns to his ordinary world "not by defeating evil, but after learning a new way of life". I see Yuzu going through a similar process of self-realization (meaning staying true to himself, achieving his dreams, and achieving inner peace) and growth, as Chihiro and Boku no Koto express perfectly. .

 

The live piano performances of Gift and One Summer's Day teleported me to a world class mini piano concert. A stark contrast to the emotional race I was in earlier. This set the tone for the next performance, HYK. Being on the pro-athlete scene, Yuzu would definitely welcome spring with Haru Yo Koi as this season symbolizes renewal, new beginnings, new ideas, and growth while being aware of the transience of life.

 

It was appropriate to end the show with the iconic Seimei, the piece of Japanese music that won him two consecutive Oly gold medals.

 

Finally, he gave a moving encore to (Suiheisen) Horizon that sums it up nicely. It left me with a feeling of emotion and tears. So, on February 26, I received a gift out of the world (Yuzu himself) with gifts on February 26. Your gift has been well received, thank you Yuzu! 

 

When a genius is at work, expect no less than a masterpiece. Am so excited to see more of his ice shows!

 

 

In front of this report, I can only be  : you have very well ALL the emotions and explanations that Yuzu transmitted to us during his GIFT and I understood better in any case 

 

As for the complete broadcast of GIFT : like many, I didn't go through Disney, but through Global coding : so will I have to go through Disney? I don't have a subscription...   

On 3/30/2023 at 9:05 PM, Yuzenah said:

I have a question about GIFT:

I understand that the ICE STORY consists of his inner journey, but has a universal meaning too.

I can't help but feel that i don't understand some of the metaphorical pictures he used.

Like: I know the light of the sun makes it possible for life to thrive. The moon does not contribute to it directly but is important anyway. But what does it mean for the story, for Yuzu?

Maybe it's a cultural thing?

 

Is someone willing to share their impression or thoughts about GIFT with me?

Another fanyu has shared what I find a great interpretation of GIFT (and of Prologue) on Twitter, strongly recommend to read … 

 

 

@YuzuSkating_IsTheTruth Thank you so much for such a detailed analysis, I highly appreciate that you shared your thoughts at length. 

 

5 hours ago, YuzuSkating_IsTheTruth said:

Back in 2011 when it was pitch black, the starry sky provided a light of hope for young Yuzu on 3.11. Now that he had to build his pro-ath career from scratch (described as pitch black in the narration), a Notte Stellata performance at this juncture indicates - together with our undying love and support, he’s staying hopeful while embracing the unpredictable future, pursuing Hanyu Yuzuru Skating, preserving the essence of figure skating  he loves and sharing it globally. This is my understanding of his (translated) words “My Dream is a Gift from everyone.”

I hadn't noticed this possible analogy between days after the earthquake and the end of his competitive carrier after Beijing, and I like it. I find it inspiring and thought-provoking. Makes me think about a natural cycle of death and rebirth. In nature, from each disaster a new world arises, and Yuzuru seems to say in Gift (or actually says in Prologue: "the endings are the beginnings") that it is true also for humans. (I know that many say the same thing, but the way he does it is exceptional). Those who survived can build something new, provided they let go of what they have lost irretrievably. However, to do that, one needs a lot of courage to move forward despite not being able to see the path for more than a few steps forward. That's why I am deeply touched every time I see him this emotional as he is heading toward the light after Notte Stellata to soar and fly into the unknown (thank you, cameraman, for this close-up).

 

5 hours ago, YuzuSkating_IsTheTruth said:

In an interview, Hayao Miyazaki noted Chihiro ultimately returns to her ordinary world ‘not by vanquishing evil, but as a result of having learned a new way to live.’

Thank you for this quote, it's precious and comes at the right time for me. It also matches Yuzuru's attitude perfectly.

I also liked another fanyu's comment that Haku regained his dragon form and ability to fly thanks to remembering his real name and past (i.e., his true nature/self). Iirc, Yuzu said that in SEIMEI he doesn't have to do anything special to get into character, because skating to SEIMEI makes him feel like himself. In this context, I understand final SEIMEI as a burst of joy coming from the feeling of "returning home" (note his previous "Tadaima!"), returning to his proper form. Having come to terms with the worst losses in his life, having acknowledged the harsh reality as it is, he can now build on those brightest moments, like 2018 OG, rewrite his memories and write a new story.

2 hours ago, Yuzuwinnie said:

will I have to go through Disney? I don't have a subscription..

I think so, if they make it worldwide,  but it's available in France (https://www.disney.fr/), much cheaper than GC streaming and incomparably easier to register. You can choose to be billed monthly and then cancel your subscription when the Yuzu content is gone.