[2024.07.19] 2 Years as a Professional Athlete

[yuzurujenn]

Written interviews published on his 2-years journey as a professional skater.

 

[yuzurujenn]

*Machine translation. Inaccuracies exist*

 

 

 2024.07.19

 

Source: https://mainichi.jp/articles/20240719/spp/sp0/004/047000c / https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2024/07/19/kiji/20240718s00079000374000c.html

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240719070320/https://mainichi.jp/articles/20240719/spp/sp0/004/047000c  / https://web.archive.org/web/20240719071816/https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2024/07/19/kiji/20240718s00079000374000c.html 

 

 

Yuzuru Hanyu's determination: 3rd year as a professional, the legend moves to a new chapter - putting his soul into the cycle

　

Spoiler

In 2022, a new story began.

For 23 years, he has continued to move forward with confidence.
　

And on July 19, 2024, Yuzuru Hanyu (29), the two-time Olympic champion in men's figure skating, marked two years since turning professional.
　

A fulfilling third year. On December 7th, he will turn 30. Now that he is breaking new ground, he has agreed to an interview with Sponichi Shimbun and shared a message of determination along with a committed 30-minute photoshoot.

The path to mastering expression is "a world where there is no right answer." From a "state of trial and error," he says, "I established the foundation for what I want to do." And now, "I am currently in the midst of producing something."

He has successfully completed a number of solo performances, all of which are unprecedented for an ice show, including his first solo tour "Prologue," the Tokyo Dome tour "GIFT," and his second year "RE_PRAY."

"As an athlete, an artist, and a figure skater, my primary goal is to have people watch me. I need to continue training so that people will watch me."

He continues to attract many people and transforms the emotions he receives into his own strength. "That cycle is what motivates me." And, "How much heart and soul can I put into one goal?"

Whether in competitions or on the professional ice rink, his beliefs as an athlete have never changed.

"Put your soul into it."

The legend enters a new chapter.
 

 

 

 

Yuzuru Hanyu (29), a consecutive Olympic champion in men's figure skating and an active professional skater, celebrated his second year as a professional on the 19th. He has successfully completed a number of solo performances, all of which are unprecedented for an ice show, including his first solo tour "Prologue," the Tokyo Dome tour "GIFT," and his second year "RE_PRAY." Now in his third year as a professional, and turning 30 in December, he spoke at length about his two-year trajectory and future possibilities. The following is a Q&A.

 

 

Source: https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2024/07/19/kiji/20240718s00079000370000c.html

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240719072301/https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2024/07/19/kiji/20240718s00079000370000c.html

 

[Yuzuru Hanyu’s two-year journey as a professional (1)] From a “state of uncertainty” to a “clear understanding” of the basis of the expression he seeks

 

Spoiler

--Looking back on your journey over the past two years.
"Until now, I've really thought about many things as an athlete in a stoic manner. Not only about technique, but especially because I've always thought about winning. Then, in my first year as a professional, to be honest, I was feeling my way around. The year passed while I was constantly thinking about whether I should do this, whether I should do that, and what I should do. This year was a year in which I came to have a clear understanding of what I wanted to express and what I wanted to do as a professional.”

 

--What, specifically, have you come to understand clearly?
"In the first year, I had something called 'Prologue'. In it, I was feeling my way around to see if I could skate solo. I was also working on 'GIFT' at the same time. At that time, I wanted to write my own story too. I had always wanted people to experience how the programs they had seen up until now would change depending on how their mindsets changed. I had been thinking about that since competition day. That was realised in the first year. In the second year, with 'RE_PRAY', the ice story was completely formed. It wasn't just about trying to figure out how to skate by myself or changing perspectives by putting what I wanted to express into a story. I think the big thing about the second year was that I was able to clearly define what pieces existed in the story and the kind of story I wanted to tell."
 
--If that’s the case, will your third year be different as well?
"I have finally established the foundation for what I want to do, and as an extension of that, I want to see how I can improve my skills in terms of expression. In terms of expressing myself, I think that I can't improve my level without a strong technical foundation which I've been talking about since my competitive days, so I feel that my third year will be about strengthening both my techniques and my physical strength."
 

 

 

Source: https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2024/07/19/kiji/20240718s00079000371000c.html

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240719093257/https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2024/07/19/kiji/20240718s00079000371000c.html

 

[Yuzuru Hanyu’s two-year journey as a professional skater (2)] “A prayer for life” is at the heart of what he wants to express

 

Spoiler

--What is your best memory from the past two years?
"There are so many memories, after all. I can't really say there's just one, as I had so many precious experiences. Above all, the cheers I received at the most recent RE_PRAY and the feeling of being acknowledged by the audience there are giving me motivation and drive to work hard, even though I'm currently in the midst of a work production." 

--What do you mean by currently in production? Is it something new?
"Of course, I'm also making some new programs. I've started digging deeper into what I want to express. Since I have been working alone for so long, the feelings that emerged from within me are inevitably biased in a certain way. My thoughts haven't changed much fundamentally, so I don't have that many more ideas to draw from. I really do feel that my experiences at RE_PRAY and other such things are the driving force behind the birth of new emotions and new expressions."

 

--Will you continue to create themes for Ice Story while asking yourself questions?
"It was the same when I created 'RE_PRAY', or 'Goliath' and 'Aqua’s Journey', or when I choreographed various programs. Basically, I think that at the root of it all is the idea of life. Also, I think that a constant prayer for life is at the core of what I want to express. What do I want to convey on top of that? What do I want to delve deeper into? I think these things will be expressed in different ways depending on the program at different times."
 

 

 

Source: https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2024/07/19/kiji/20240718s00079000372000c.html

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240719100620/https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2024/07/19/kiji/20240718s00079000372000c.html 

 

[Yuzuru Hanyu’s two-year journey as a professional (3)] Turning 30 in December: “I’ve become clearer about the core of my life”

 

Spoiler

--You will turn 30 in December. How does it feel to actually reach the age of 30 that you had envisioned?
"To be honest, when I was 18 or 16, I thought that I probably wouldn't be skating by the time I was 30. I thought that I would turn professional at age 24 after the Pyeongchang Olympics and be done with skating after about five years, but the way my stamina and technique have developed was completely different from what I had imagined. I feel like, 'Wow, I can still do this much,' and I see a lot of potential for the future. I feel like human beings can achieve more than I thought."

 

--What kind of 30s do you want to have?
"Nothing has really changed. However, as I continue to polish my expression and spend more time practicing and constantly facing myself, my sense of self is gradually being refined. I really feel like my core is becoming more and more established. I will continue to cherish myself in my 30s. But I think that being able to perform and facing skating is a big part of what makes me happy, so I want to always keep in mind the meaning and reason of my existence for everyone for the past 30 years. Not just because my fans watch me, or because skating is all I have, but I want to create a clearer core for myself in my 30s."
 

 

[yuzurujenn]

*Machine translation. Inaccuracies exist*

 

 

 2024.07.19

 

Source: https://hochi.news/articles/20240718-OHT1T51180.html?page=1#

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240719134624/https://hochi.news/articles/20240718-OHT1T51180.html?page=1

 

Figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu (29), who marked two years since announcing his decision to turn pro on the 19th, agreed to an interview. He spoke at length about his two years as a professional, his present and the future, his fateful encounter with a program, and the "ideal" he is pursuing. We will be publishing Hanyu's words, who continues to evolve as an athlete and artist, for three consecutive days. The second and final instalment is a stand-alone interview. (Interviewer: Takagi Megumi)

 

Yuzuru Hanyu: "Pursuing the Ideal" - Interview two years after turning professional - First Part (1)

 

Spoiler

Hanyu-san appeared dashingly at the studio in Sendai. As soon as he arrived, he started the interview by saying "Thank you." His quick thinking and agility were as good as ever. His black jersey looked good on him as always.

 

　"Honestly, my first year as a professional was a bit of a trial-and-error state; I was constantly thinking about whether I should do this, whether I should do that, what I should do. But this (second year) has been a year in which I have clearly understood what I want to express, and what I want to do as a professional."

 

　Though he was thoughtful at times and carefully choosing his words, he was smiling throughout the interview. Looking back on the past two years, his expression showed how contented he has become as a professional.

 

　It all started with a one-man show “Prologue”. “GIFT,” the first solo Tokyo Dome performance by a skater in history, lasted two and a half hours in which he skated alone. In "RE_PRAY", the second instalment of the ice story following "GIFT", he took on his first national tour.

 

　"In the second year, with 'RE_PRAY', the ice story was completely formed. I think the big thing about the second year was that I was able to properly establish what pieces existed in the story and what kind of story I wanted to tell."

 

　He wrote the story himself, served as executive producer, and performed "Ice Story" by himself. With "RE_PRAY," he created a new form of entertainment that combines gaming and skating.

 

　"It's the same when I choreograph various programs, but I think that the essence of what I want to express is always the idea of 'living' and the constant presence of something like a 'prayer' towards 'living'."

 

　He has changed the concept of a professional skater. He can perform quadruple jumps and perform programs in a variety of genres. His evolution as an athlete and an artist continues in his third season.

 

　"I have finally established the foundation for what I want to do, so as an extension of that, I am wondering how I can improve my skills in terms of expression. In order to convey myself, I believe that I cannot improve my level unless I have a strong technical foundation, as I have always said since my competitive days. I feel that my third year will be a time when I will be working on improving both my technique and my physical strength."

   He will be turning 30 in December. He says that his present life is different from the future he envisioned as a teenager. He was supposed to have turned professional after the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics and retire from skating in his 20s.

 

　"The way my stamina and technique have developed is completely different from what I had imagined, but it gives me a real sense of how much more I can achieve, and a sense of great potential for the future. I now feel that humans can achieve much more than I had thought."

 

　He won consecutive Olympic gold medals in Pyeongchang and after his third Olympic Games in Beijing, he turned professional. He had an incredibly intense 20s. What will his 30s be like? "Nothing in particular has changed," he continued, tilting his head.

 

　"While still cherishing who I am, I think that showing my skills and facing skating are a big part of what makes me happy. I want to always have within myself a reason for my existence, a meaning to the past 30 years for everyone. It's not just because my fans watch me, or because skating is all I have, but I want to create more clearly within myself the core of my life in my 30s."

 

　Skating with soul. "Pursuing the ideal," he wrote on his coloured paper. The story of professional skater Yuzuru Hanyu has just begun.
 

 

 

Source: https://hochi.news/articles/20240718-OHT1T51181.html?page=1

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240720064508/https://hochi.news/articles/20240718-OHT1T51181.html?page=1

 

Yuzuru Hanyu: "I've become clearer about the core of my life" - Interview two years after turning professional - First Part (2)

 

Spoiler

-What have the past two years been like since you turned professional?

　"As an athlete, I have really thought about many things in a stoic way up until now. Of course, this is true in terms of technique, but I think I have always been thinking about victory in particular. To be honest, in my first year as a professional, I was feeling my way around; I spent the whole year constantly thinking about whether I should do this, whether I should do that, what I should do. I think this (second year) has been the year in which I have clearly understood what I want to express, and what I want to do as a professional."

 

-What have you come to understand clearly?

　"In the first year, I had 'Prologue,' and I was feeling my way around whether I could skate solo. I was also working on 'GIFT' at the same time. At the time, I wanted to write my own story, and I wanted the audience to experience how the programs they had seen up until then would change as they watched them. This was something I had vaguely thought about since my competitive days. I was able to make this a reality in my first year. In my second year, I had 'RE_PRAY,' and I felt like I had completely formed the ice story. It wasn't just about trying to figure out how to skate by myself or changing perspectives by putting what I wanted to express into a story. I think the big thing about my second year was that I was able to properly establish that this story has these pieces, and that this is the story I would like to convey."

 

-What kind of year will your third year be?

　"I have finally established a foundation for what I want to do, so as an extension of that, I am wondering how I can improve my skills in terms of expression. As for conveying myself, I have always said since my competitive days that I can't improve my level without having strong technique as a foundation. I feel that my third year will be a time when I will be working on improving both my technique and my physical strength."

 

-Memories from the past two years.

　"There are a lot, of course. I can't really say just one, but I've had so many different, precious experiences. Most recently, the completion of "RE_PRAY". I had that feeling that it was received well. I'm currently in the middle of the production process (laughs). It's my motivation to keep working hard, it's my driving force."

 

-Are you currently working on any new projects?

　"I've been creating new programs and other things. I've started digging deeper into what I want to express. Because I've been working alone for so long, the emotions that come out of me tend to be biased. My ideas haven't fundamentally changed that much, so my repertoire hasn't expanded that much. But I do feel that my experiences with 'RE_PRAY' and other such things are the driving force behind the birth of new emotions and new expressions."

 

-Will Ice Story continue to create themes by asking itself these questions?

　"Whether it was when I was creating 'RE_PRAY,' or when I was choreographing programs like 'Goliath,' 'Aqua,' and others, I think that at the core of what I want to express is the idea of 'living,' and the constant presence of something like a 'prayer' towards 'living.' So, what I want to convey on top of that and what I want to dig deeper into may affect the way I present myself depending on the program at hand."

 

-You'll be turning 30 in December. How does it compare to how you imagined your 30 would be?

　"When I was 18 or 16, to be honest, I imagined I probably wouldn't be skating anymore by 30 (laughs). I would turn professional at 24, immediately after the Pyeongchang Olympics, and I thought I'd be active for about five years and then be done with skating. But the way I've developed my stamina and technique is completely different from what I imagined, and I feel a real sense of realisation that I can still do so much, and a great sense of possibility for the future. Right now, I feel that humans can still do much more than I thought."

 

-What kind of person do you want to be in your 30s?

　"Nothing has changed in particular. However, the more I polish my way of expression and the more time I spend constantly practicing and facing myself, the stronger my sense of self is becoming, and I feel like my foundation is becoming more and more established. In this way, I will continue to cherish myself in my 30s. But I think that showing my skills and facing skating is a big part of what makes me happy. I want to always have a reason for my existence, a reason for living for the past 30 years. Not just because my fans watch me, or because skating is all I have, but I want to create a clearer core for myself in my 30s."
 

 

 

2024.07.20

 

Source: https://hochi.news/articles/20240719-OHT1T51148.html?page=1

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240720142422/https://hochi.news/articles/20240719-OHT1T51148.html?page=1 

 

On the 19th, it has been two years since figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu (29) announced his professional debut. In the second part, he spoke to Sports Hochi in an exclusive interview about his "fateful encounter" with a certain program. (Interviewer: Megumi Takagi)

 

Yuzuru Hanyu's new professional debut is full of tension: "To be honest, it's really scary". Interview two years after turning professional - Second Part (1)

 

Spoiler

-Does time pass differently now compared to when you were an athlete?
　"When I was a competing athlete, I could just keep thinking about things like building my physique or practicing skating. But when I'm creating something or choreographing a program or doing things like that, I don't have time to just practice. So, I thought, 'I won’t be able to practice during this period, so I'll just try to maintain it’, or ‘I'll try to keep it to a certain level, and since I'm currently in the production period, it can't be helped if I cut down on sleep.' I want to provide something good, and when I think about all sorts of things, I can't sleep. To begin with, I'm the kind of person who tends to live an unhealthy lifestyle (laughs). I know I should sleep more for my skating, or eat more of this or that, but it just keeps falling apart."

 

-How much sleep do you get?
　"It depends on the day. If I feel like I can't take it anymore, sometimes I'll sleep for eight or nine hours straight, and sometimes I fall asleep without realising it. On the other hand, there are also days when I'm awake all day. It's normal to stay up all night even though there's no need to. But it's at times like those that stories are born. It's hard to put into words. It's not that different from writing lyrics or composing music. I guess that's just how it is. I've accepted it and thought that this is just my style."
　
-During the rehearsals for "Notte Stellata" in March, you said you were "nervous about the new program."
　"Of course, I felt nervous about performing it in front of everyone for the first time, wondering if I’ll make a mistake or if everything will be okay, but if anything, I thought it's great, and the people around also thought it's great. But when that circle expands from me to people who are close to me, and then to my fans and to the general public, honestly I'm really scared about what people will think. People have completely different values, and there's no doubt that the impression people get when they hear a program or a song is different for each person. So I do feel a bit scared that it may go in the wrong direction."

 

-How have you felt about that over the past two years?
　"I've created a lot of programs, including 'RE_PRAY', and it makes me happy to see that people have different preferences for the programs they like. Some people say they like my self-choreographed programs, and others say they prefer programs that are properly choreographed by a choreographer. Some people say they prefer programs that are more like traditional figure skating, and conversely, some people prefer programs that are more over-the-top, like 'MEGALOVANIA', so it really varies. That's also one of my strengths. I'm really happy that everyone has different interpretations of the programs and likes them."

 

 

Source: https://hochi.news/articles/20240719-OHT1T51151.html?page=1

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240720142628/https://hochi.news/articles/20240719-OHT1T51151.html?page=1 

 

Yuzuru Hanyu: "Danny Boy" is a "fateful encounter" - Planning a 15-minute program - Interview two years after turning professional - Second Part (2)

 

Spoiler

-What programs would you like to try in the future?
　"I actually want to make a 15-minute program, but I'm worried it might be difficult."

 

-Is that a physical thing?
　"Of course, it's physically demanding. For example, even if I don't jump that much, I don't want it to become boring. I want to create something with so-called contemporary movements, but I don't think I can keep up."

 

-There’s a concept.
   "I have a vague idea, but I'm not sure if I can go that far yet. I don’t know. I haven't found a song that I want to skate to yet. I just don’t think I’ve found a song that I want to skate to for 15 or 20 minutes."

 

-"Danny Boy" (※1) has a more empathetic and gentler feel than ever before. Is this due to the fact that your range of expression has expanded over the past two years, or is it a change from within?
　"I do feel like I've become able to express emotions that were already there in new ways. That's true when I skate to 'Notte' (Notte stellata) or 'Spring' (Come, Spring). I've been able to express things like compassion or prayer through the melody, the way I use my hands, the way I use my upper body, and so on. Up until now, I've been doing classical, pop, and instrumental pieces, and 'Come, Spring' was originally a pop song. This time, I used a jazz melody, which was something I hadn't done before, and I think the biggest difference is that I feel like I've finally become able to do it. Of course, I think part of it is that I'm getting older and becoming more mature, but I feel like I’m catching up a bit in the way I use my body to express that, and in my thought processes."

 

-"Danny Boy" was recommended to you by Hoshino Gen.
　"That's right. I met Gen-san (※2) on the show and he said, ‘This is a good song’. At that moment, I had a feeling that this was it. I decided almost immediately that I was going to skate to this song."

 

-Did it come in easily?
　"It's hard to find songs that inspire me and songs that, when I first listen to them, I can imagine myself standing there and skating to them. I've been searching really hard for songs, but it's not easy to find one. But that song just came to me. I had a feeling that this was it. The melody was not something I could choreograph by myself, and I felt that this song needed to be skated over and over again to mature, so I immediately thought of David (Wilson, *3) and asked him for help. It was a quick development with the song, and I felt like it was a fateful encounter."

 

 

[※1] Performed by Keith Jarrett. Debuted at "Yuzuru Hanyu Notte Stellata 2024" in March this year.
[※2] He appeared as a guest on Hoshino Gen's show "Ogen-san's Sabusuku-do" (NHK, broadcast last August). He played the role of "Ogen-san's younger brother" and talked about music.
[※3] Canadian choreographer. Choreographed "Romeo and Juliet" for the free skating at Sochi Olympics, "Notte Stellata," and "Spring, Come", among others.
 

 

 

2024.07.21

 

Source:  https://hochi.news/articles/20240720-OHT1T51199.html?page=1

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240721060603/https://hochi.news/articles/20240720-OHT1T51199.html?page=1

 

The final episode of an exclusive interview with figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu (29), who announced his professional debut two years ago on the 19th. He talked about "full effort," "mind, technique, and body," and his "ideal" as an athlete. (Interviewer: Megumi Takagi)

 

Yuzuru Hanyu: "Remove the limiter" - The full-power dance he's been building up to - Interview two years after turning professional - Final Part (1)

 

Spoiler

-During a press conference for "RE_PRAY," you said, "I can still improve the composition."
　"Originally, in practice, I was practicing 'Messenger of Ruin' with the final axel as a 3A3T (a triple 1/2-triple toe loop combination jump). Sometimes I would also practice the first toe loop in the second half as a 4T3T (a quadruple toe loop-triple toe loop combination jump). I probably wouldn't be able to do it in a real performance, but I was practicing it as a way to build up my stamina and improve my skills. I had some time to spare, so I thought I'd like to do it if possible. I tried it on the final day of the Miyagi performance, and there were some flaws. I guess I was hoping that if I practiced more, I'd be able to do it."

 

-Will there be a composition as difficult as that (※1) this season as well?
　"I would like to do it. However, I think the composition will be completely different depending on what I want to express. Is the challenge a quadruple jump, or something more physically difficult? Also, I think the way it is presented will be completely different depending on whether I am challenging myself expressively. If possible, I would like to improve the composition. However, when it comes to a tour, I wonder if I am really 100% confident that I can deliver something good to everyone. I think it is necessary to always consider the balance and make sure I am not overestimating myself."

 

-It was the same in the ice shows and exhibitions when you were competing, and of course it's still the same now. Why are you able to give it your all every time?
　"On the contrary, I feel more uncomfortable if I don’t give it my all. Performing in front of people is in itself something that may or may not please them, but in that moment, it may also be a catalyst for a change in someone’s life, even if just a little. If it were my own performance, I don't think I could show a half-hearted performance."

 

-Is that always the case?
　“Always. I think I've been like that since I was little. I think my physical ability is pretty high, but if I didn't give it my all, I wouldn't reach that level. Therefore, I had to remove that limiter and try to catch up with my sister (Hanyu started skating because of his sister, who is four years older than him) or try to reach her level, since I couldn’t get that far unless I gave it my all. For example, when I was a novice and I couldn't jump the triple or double axel properly. Other kids could jump them, but I was flexible, didn't have much muscle strength, and wasn't blessed with a body that was so good in terms of explosive power, but when I thought about wanting to be better than everyone else, or wanting to catch up with everyone else, that's why I kept giving it my all. I removed my limiter more than other people. Because I didn't want to lose. I wanted to be praised (laughs). So, removing the limiter is normal for me probably from a young age. I have an older sister, so there’s always someone at home to aspire to. So, I guess I had to remove the limiter in everything. And now I have a sense of responsibility. Because I am Yuzuru Hanyu, the question of how far I can go in my pursuit is gradually coming into play and giving it meaning. If I were to talk about my childhood, I think that's probably what it was like."

 

　

[※1] In "RE_PRAY"'s "Messenger of Ruin," he completed a highly difficult routine just like in a competition, including a single quadruple Salchow and toe loop, five consecutive quadruple toe loops, and two triple axels.

 

 

Source: https://hochi.news/articles/20240720-OHT1T51200.html?page=1

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240721061418/https://hochi.news/articles/20240720-OHT1T51200.html?page=1

 

Yuzuru Hanyu: "My ideal is getting higher and higher". At the core is "for the fans" - Interview two years after turning professional - Final Part (2)

 

Spoiler

-How do you increase your concentration before a performance?
　"In my case, theoretically, I think that if I can get excited or create a situation that I find enjoyable, I will naturally be able to concentrate. So, although I don't sing it out loud, I think that getting into music is what turns on my concentration switch. It's like my blood gets pumping, or like the switch in my brain changes. I guess it's the song, the music."

 

-You are still a complete athlete. Athletes often use the phrase "Shin-Gi-Tai” *," but where does ‘mind, technique, and body’ fit into your perspective, Hanyu-san? 
　"In the end, I think there's no point if you can't find a balance. If you excel in one area... For example, if your heart becomes very strong at one point, but your technique is not strong enough to match the size of your heart, then the heart itself will probably be destroyed and you will be swallowed up. So you definitely need the technique to express your heart. Even if you spread that heart and technique widely, if you don't have the physical strength, if your body itself isn't functioning well, then you will be swallowed up by your technique and your heart. In the end, I think if you really want to level up, you have to make everything bigger."

(*心技体 (Shin-gi-tai) – Shin = mind/heart, Gi= skills/technique, Tai = physique/body)

 

-What is an athlete?
　"Now, I have the opportunity to work in various professional fields and have more opportunities to come into contact with people whom I really respect, I think that the people I consider to be the very best are all athletes. For example, there is the NHK programme ‘The Professionals’, and people like that are really athletes. Personally, I think the way they use their time, or the way they use their heart and soul, to achieve a certain goal or ideal is what makes them athletes. I don't know whether to call that an athlete or a professional, but that's how I've always been since my competitive days. I think that's what I would like to call myself, an athlete.”

　

-You've often used the word "ideal" since the latter half of your competitive days. It sounds like a declaration of determination not to compromise on that.
　"The reason I started talking about my 'ideal' towards the end of my competitive days was because, well… To be honest, I wanted to perform a certain way, but after all, it didn’t always lead to positive evaluation. That's when I decided to shift towards pursuing my ideal."

　

-Perhaps around Autumn Classics?
　"The most significant was Autumn, I guess...Autumn 2019...? At that time, I had no choice but to reconsider and realise that the most important thing was to do what I wanted to do and perform the kind of performance I was aiming for, rather than worrying about scores. I felt that this was equal to making the fans happy. From then on, I am still on that same path. After I become a professional skater, I have to pursue it even more. Because I am skating for the fans. The ideal is getting higher and higher, and I am chasing that ideal."

 

 

Post-interview notes
　Last year, one year after turning professional, Hanyu-san sent a message to his fans to Sports Hochi. "I will continue to strive for my ideal and continue to constantly renew that ideal," he wrote. I think that this past year has been exactly like that.
　

The path he should take must have become clearer now. His expression was bright and full of contentment. We asked him to write down his aspiration for his third year on a coloured paper. He wrote, "Pursuing the 'ideal’”. "I'm skating for my fans, so the ‘ideal’ will get higher and higher," he said. Beautiful skating that blends in with the music. A range of expression that can only be achieved with advanced technique. I hope that Hanyu-san will continue to cherish the "ideal" skating that he has carefully cultivated. (Takagi Megumi)