[2024.09.25] Newsweek October issue - Special Feature: Yuzuru Hanyu's Message to Noto

[yuzurujenn]

Info:

 

https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0DDSRHMPK

 

 

Special Report
What he wants to convey to Noto - Yuzuru Hanyu, who continues to support the disaster-stricken areas, talks about his memories of 3.11 and the meaning of living through the disaster
Interview: What Yuzuru Hanyu wants to convey to the disaster-stricken area of Noto
Field report: Listen to the voices of the young people who are rising up

[Wintek]

*Machine translation from Japanese to English. Inaccuracies exist.*

2024.09.25

Information: https://www.newsweekjapan.jp/magazine/516267.php

 

Lending a Helping Hand
Someday, a time to smile will come
Yuzuru Hanyu’s Thoughts for the Earthquake Victims of Noto

(P. 18-25)

More than 9 months have passed since the Noto Peninsula earthquake occurred on New Year’s Day. In this feature, figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu, who experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake in his hometown of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, and continues to support disaster-stricken areas, shares his thoughts for the victims in Noto. Additionally, we introduce the voices of young people in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture, who have started walking the path of recovery. What can the lives of people living through disasters teach us about earthquake-prone Japan?

Spoiler

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Disasters take so much away from people. Ultimately, only those who have actually experienced it can truly understand what that loss is, at its core. At the same time, what if there is something we have gained from a disaster…? The only ones who can convey that are also those who have gone through it.

Yuzuru Hanyu, the figure skater who announced his professional transition in July 2022 after consecutive Olympic victories in Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018, experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011, in his hometown of Sendai.

He spent several days at an evacuation center with his family after the disaster, and also went through a period when his home rink was closed, preventing him from practicing properly. Over the past 13 years, Hanyu has closely supported the victims and contributed to relief efforts in disaster-stricken areas across Japan.

On September 14, he participated in a skating class in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, for elementary school students from Ishikawa, Toyama, and Fukui Prefectures, who were affected by the Noto Peninsula earthquake. The next day, on September 15, he performed in an ice show titled “Noto Peninsula Reconstruction Support Charity Performance,” alongside Akiko Suzuki, Satoko Miyahara, and Takahito Mura. Although the performance was held without an audience, public viewings were held in the disaster-affected areas of Suzu City, Wajima City, Nanao City, and Shika Town. Additionally, a paid streaming was made available to the public, with the proceeds donated to Ishikawa Prefecture (the streaming is available on Lemino until September 30).

After his performance, Hanyu was asked why he skated in Ishikawa, despite it being a streamed event. He replied, "I wanted to skate as close as I could to those who had a hard time, those who are currently struggling, and those who are facing various challenges.”

Why does Hanyu continue to care for disaster victims and pass on the memories of the earthquake? And if there’s a message he wants to convey to the people of Noto now, what would that be? On September 15, this magazine conducted an exclusive interview with Hanyu in Kanazawa. An hour and a half after the performance, Hanyu appeared at the interview location wearing the charity T-shirt. The shirt, with the theme “CHALLENGE” written across the chest, was entirely made in Hokuriku, from the fabric to the dyeing and sewing.

When asked about his thoughts on Noto, Hanyu spoke of his own journey, continuing to challenge himself alongside the memories of the earthquake.

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Interviewer: In June of this year, you visited Wajima City for an interview on the Nippon TV news program “news every.” What were your thoughts as you skated in this charity performance?

Yuzuru Hanyu: The strongest feeling I had was that I just wanted people to smile, even if just a little. When I visited Noto, I couldn’t forget the smiles on people’s faces when they were telling me, “This is what it was like before,” or “We had so much fun doing this back in the day.”

But I also felt that, as they started talking about the present or the future, those smiles began to fade. So, with this performance, I really hoped that people could smile in this moment—right now. And I wanted to create a warm, gentle feeling, something that could spread.

Interviewer: I heard that you kept production costs low by not focusing too much on lighting and other aspects, so that as much of the proceeds as possible could go to charity. You’ve donated over 300 million yen to the ice rink (Sendai) and disaster-affected areas so far.

Yuzuru Hanyu: When the rink I practiced at was closed due to the Great East Japan Earthquake, it was reopened thanks to the efforts of Shizuka Arakawa (figure skating Olympic gold medalist) who worked with Miyagi Prefecture and Sendai City.

I have always thought that the circle of support and the thoughts of many people led to my winning the Olympic gold medals. That's why I feel a strong desire to help the people in the disaster-stricken areas, who have given me so much support, as well as to help (through donations to) the ice rink, which has really taken care of me.

Interviewer: When the disaster struck in Sendai, you were 16 years old. That experience must have had a significant impact on your subsequent skating career. Could you share your memories from that time?

Yuzuru Hanyu: Right before that, there had been several earthquakes, including a magnitude 5.0, but they hadn’t caused any damage to the rink. So when the earthquake struck on March 11 (2011), I initially thought everything would be fine, and since it was during a time when general customers were present, I was in a position to reassure everyone, saying, “It’s okay, everyone.”

But as the earthquake went on, it grew longer and stronger, and eventually the lights went out, and there was a loud sound of glass doors crashing against each other. I experienced the earthquake amid the thunderous noise, feeling like the building might collapse from the cracking.

It was really tough at that time, but I made sure to keep my skates with me. Since the evacuation center had no electricity, I remember looking up at the sky and thinking, “The stars are beautiful,” and sitting near a kerosene heater to keep warm.

Lifelines didn’t come back easily, and I didn’t have the luxury to think about skating at all.

However, many people organized charity events, which led me to think that I needed to start practicing skating again.

There was also a supportive atmosphere at various ice shows to cheer for the disaster-affected areas, and I was able to continue skating while receiving support, like being allowed to practice on the rink before the show.

Interviewer: There are things that can only be articulated by someone who has actually experienced it. What does it feel like to have your entire town taken away from you in an instant?

Yuzuru Hanyu: I didn’t lose anything, so to be honest, I don’t feel it deeply.

There are times when familiar shops undergo renovations or relocate, right? It felt like that was happening all at once across the entire town, and an unfamiliar world suddenly appeared. Even though I thought, “It’s all broken,” I didn’t have time to feel sad about it.

Interviewer: Two weeks after the disaster, you left Sendai and resumed skating practice at a rink in Kanagawa. Even now in Noto, there are people who have no choice but to leave their affected hometowns. What were your thoughts when you left your hometown?

Yuzuru Hanyu: I had things I needed to do, so out of a sense of mission, I felt I had no choice but to leave my hometown. I was leaving my family behind, and there was the internal conflict of whether it was okay for me to go. I constantly felt the thought, “I ran away from the disaster area.”

I might think differently now and feel that it’s unnecessary to hold onto those feelings, but at that time, I was tormented by that guilt while carrying the sense of mission to do what I could as best as I could when I went to Kanagawa.

Interviewer: In the disaster area of Noto, many people are finally beginning to regain their living conditions after moving into temporary housing by this summer. It’s quite difficult to shift focus from recovery to reconstruction, but how do you remember the path to reconstruction based on your own experiences?

Yuzuru Hanyu: I was 16 years old at the time, so I couldn’t really do anything active for the reconstruction. I could only wait for the government and local people to take action.

In that situation, I felt I had been given the role of working hard at skating for the people affected by the disaster, which was something only I could do. It wasn’t necessarily proactive or voluntary; rather, it felt more passive.

No matter where I went or what kind of skating I did, I was referred to as a “skater from the disaster area.” Before I even had a chance to think about the significance of skating as a skater from the disaster area, society had already created that label for me. I didn’t push back against it, but I felt like various burdens had been placed on my shoulders before I knew it.

Interviewer: Do you think being from a disaster-stricken area has become a part of your identity?

Yuzuru Hanyu: It took me a while to fully accept that. During the time when I became a high school student and entered my second season as a senior skater (2011-12), I started to see the results of all my hard work – like achieving good results in competitions and becoming a member of Japan’s national team. Yet, despite all of that, people only saw me as someone "from a disaster-stricken area working hard." There was a time when I struggled with that, feeling both frustrated and suffocated.

But after reading many letters and messages of support, I started to think, "There probably aren’t many people who receive this much support." Gradually, being from a disaster-stricken area became a part of my identity.

Interviewer: It seems like you’ve turned your experience of the disaster and being from a disaster-stricken area into a source of strength. How can one transform such an experience into something positive?

Yuzuru Hanyu: That’s really difficult, isn’t it? You can’t just tell someone to "look forward" by force, because everyone’s circumstances are different, both what they’ve gone through and what lies ahead.

However, I believe that there will come a time when something happens. For me, it was the supportive messages I received from everyone, the results I achieved, and even my failures that gave me the opportunity to come to terms with the disaster.

For instance, in Noto, it might be the moment when the water supply is restored, or when you no longer have to commute to school in Kanazawa because you're able to stay in your hometown. It could also be when someone is able to run a business in a different location. I think there are various opportunities awaiting each person. Within those opportunities, I believe we slowly start to understand our way of life and the value of our own lives.

Of course, I believe disasters are things that we all wish would never happen. Absolutely. However, though it’s extremely sad, once something happens, you can’t undo it. What’s been lost won’t return. But one day, we’ll have to accept and come to terms with it.

It might take decades, but I’m sure the time will come when we can smile again.

Believing that, I think it’s okay to not push yourself too hard and to sometimes just go with the flow.

I can’t say, "I want you to smile right away." I, too, struggled for a long time to visit places like Ishinomaki, where the tsunami caused so much devastation. Too much was lost there, and I wasn’t sure if it was even okay for me to go.

But now, by showing people the medals I’ve won or performing my programs, I feel that maybe, just maybe, it could become a small trigger for them to think, "I’ve worked hard too" or "My life has meaning." With that in mind, I’ve finally been able to take action.

I believe that there’s a turning point waiting for everyone, and that’s why I want to say, "It’s going to be okay."

Interviewer: If there’s something you’ve gained from the disaster, what would that be?

Yuzuru Hanyu: I think it’s that I’ve come to think a lot about life. The same moment will never come again. I’ve started to think that the time we have now really is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Also, I’ve begun living while always thinking about the responsibility I have.

Interviewer: What do you mean by "responsibility"?

Yuzuru Hanyu: It’s the responsibility towards the people who have given me their time to watch me perform. I can’t show them anything half-hearted, and I can’t spend time without putting my heart and soul into it.

Also, as someone who survived the disaster, I feel a responsibility regarding how I live my life from here on out.

Interviewer: You’ve witnessed life and death, sorrow, and small joys because of the disaster. Do you feel that this has broadened the scope of your expression?

Yuzuru Hanyu: I’d say that’s the result, yes. Disasters are something that shouldn’t happen. But, since it did happen, it’s had some kind of impact. The deeper the sorrow, the more you come to appreciate even the smallest happiness. After the disaster, I’ve found joy in things like the sprouting of grass—something I probably wouldn’t have appreciated as much if I hadn’t gone through that sadness.

And now, having opportunities like this to talk to different people and share my thoughts makes me feel even more grateful. I believe that for everyone, there are moments when they think, "Because of that, I can feel this now."

Interviewer: Do you think the happiness you felt as a competitor differs from the happiness you feel now?

Yuzuru Hanyu: During my competitive days, I think my happiness was more self-centered, tied to the results I achieved.

Now, as a professional, I believe what people want from me is the experience they get through watching my performances, or the expressions they can witness. I think that’s what matters to them.

When I think about that, I realize that what I’m doing is for others. When the time and energy I’ve spent for everyone directly lead to their smiles and emotional reactions, that’s when I feel the happiest. I think I’ve become even more like this since turning professional.

But maybe that’s just a part of my personality. Even from when I was a child, it’s the small things, like being praised by someone, that made me feel happy. When someone watched me and thought, "That was good," it made me happy. I think that’s my fundamental source of happiness, and now it’s just on a larger scale.

Interviewer: Your solo performance today was “Haru yo, Koi.” Last March(1), you performed it at the ice show “Notte Stellata” (meaning “Starry Night” in Italian), held in Miyagi Prefecture to send out hope from the disaster areas. Did you choose this song again without hesitation this time?

Yuzuru Hanyu: Yes, I felt like there was no other choice. More than anything, I wanted everyone to feel a sense of kindness. Among the songs I’m currently skating to, “Haru yo, Koi” is the one with the most familiar melody that can reach people’s hearts easily.

This song was used in a morning drama during the year of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake (the theme song of NHK’s 1994-1995 drama “Haru yo, Koi”).

And it’s also a song that Yumi Matsutoya sang as part of a charity project to support recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake, so I felt a sort of connection and chose it for that reason.

Interviewer: The title of today’s performance event was “Challenge(2)”. What is your current challenge?

Yuzuru Hanyu: Every day feels like a challenge. After all, I always want to deliver a good performance, and when I think about wanting people to feel something when they watch me, even if I’m performing the same routine, if there’s no evolution in it, I feel like it won’t be easy for them to think it was “good.”

Continuing to evolve from what I once considered complete is incredibly difficult, and that’s the challenge for me.

I think that the fact that I am alive like this now, and that I spend my days in this way, is in itself, in a sense, a continual challenge, continuing to challenge (oneself) to protect one's own life(3). When I think about Noto or when I remember 3/11, it makes me feel like that’s what it all comes down to.
 

(1) Note: “Haru Yo, Koi” was performed in Notte Stellata 2023, not in Notte Stellata 2024.
(2)「桃戦~チャレンジ」: 桃戦 (Tōsen)= Challenge;  チャレンジ is Challenge written in katakana (alphabet used to write foreign words).
(3) In the sense that life itself, on a daily basis, is an ongoing effort, a continuous challenge—whether it’s about protecting one's physical well-being, emotional resilience, or navigating life’s broader hardships.

 

Interviewer: In continuing to fight and challenge yourself, do you ever feel exhausted or lonely?

Yuzuru Hanyu: For example, in everyone’s daily life, just coming home after finishing work and feeling “I’m so tired” — I think that already shows how hard they’ve worked (laughs).

What I do is showy, so every move I make gets attention, and the things I do are often reported on. But to be honest, this is just part of my everyday life.

Everyone’s daily life is filled with its own difficulties, right? It’s rare to be praised for what we do. You’re not often told things like “Thank you for making dinner today!” or “You worked hard today, great job!” Life is like that, I think.

Everyone is fighting hard, day by day. In my case, it just happens that my struggles are visible to everyone.

Interviewer: You’ll turn 30 this December. How do you imagine yourself at 40, 50, or 60 years old?

Yuzuru Hanyu: Well, that’s just what I can imagine right now, so in the end, I really don’t know how things will turn out, but I think I’ll still be giving my best in those moments.

As I mentioned earlier, the act of giving your all, of fighting, doesn’t change no matter what field you’re in. Even on days when there’s no work or when all I’m doing is playing games, I think I’d still be fighting in my own way.

There will be days when I feel lonely, no matter how many people are around me, and there will be days when I can feel the warmth and kindness of those around me. I don’t think that will ever fundamentally change.

Because what I do is on such a large scale, I feel an immense happiness, but I also feel immense sadness. Still, I think the range of those emotions is probably the same as what everyone else experiences.

I’m not sure if I’ll still be skating when I’m 40.

It might be impossible by the time I’m 60, but I believe the range of emotions I experience in my life will remain the same.

Interviewer: How do you feel in your day-to-day life right now? Are you happy?

Yuzuru Hanyu: Yes, I’m happy. Because everyone is happy.

Interviewer: That’s what happiness means to you, isn’t it?

Yuzuru Hanyu: Well, living each day is harder than it seems, isn’t it? Like, sometimes I think, “It’s such a bother to eat”… well, maybe that’s just me (laughs). For example, even if you feel like staying in bed all day or living unhealthily, society doesn’t really allow that, does it? There are rules in this world, and we have to live by them.

I think everyone is doing their best within those rules.

In my case, I’m doing my best within the rules of skating. As just one person, I have to face tens of thousands of people, and I often think, “I don’t have the energy for tens of thousands of people.” But still, I do my best.

So even if not everyone in the audience thinks it was amazing, if there’s even one person who feels happy because of something I did, then I feel like it’s worth it, and that makes me happy. That's why I think I’m probably the happiest I’ve ever been right now.

Interviewer: At your press conference in July 2022, when you announced your transition to a professional career, you said, “The existence of Yuzuru Hanyu is a heavy burden for me.” Does that still feel the same?

Yuzuru Hanyu: Honestly, I’ve never felt like it’s not a heavy burden. But I also think this weight makes me reflect on the meaning of my life. Of course, there were times when I felt overwhelmed and thought I might separate myself from the image of “Yuzuru Hanyu” that the public sees(4), and there was a period when I struggled with very negative feelings.

But because I’m Yuzuru Hanyu, I can push myself to keep living. As long as there’s a place for me to perform and a society that expects something from me, I have to keep going.

Maybe “I have to keep going” is similar to the idea of “I have to keep living.” That’s what I think.

(4)  Referring to the struggle between his identity as a public figure (Yuzuru Hanyu) and his personal feelings or emotions, whether he was living up to the persona that others have of him.