[2024.11.25] Yuzuru Hanyu x Phiten Interview

[yuzurujenn]

*Machine translation. Inaccuracies exist*

 

2024.11.25

 

Source: https://www.phiten.com/hanyu-project/interview/

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20241128063817/https://www.phiten.com/hanyu-project/interview/

Info: https://x.com/phiten_official/status/1860956590863720525

 

 

Yuzuru Hanyu x Phiten Interview

 

The ever-evolving Yuzuru Hanyu experiences Phiten's new technology
"I'm looking forward to performing and taking care of my body even more now!"

 

A conversation took place between professional figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu, who has been using Phiten products since he was 8 years old, and Yoshihiro Hirata, the president of Phiten. They not only discussed the appeal and usage of the products, but also introduced Phiten's latest technologies, with scenes of Hanyu actually wearing them. It seems that Hanyu, who continues to evolve, also gained new inspiration for his body care.

 

Spoiler

"Phiten is like a talisman."

 

Hirata:
"Hanyu has been using the RAKUWA Necklace for a long time, but what made you first decide to use Phiten products on the ice? Could you tell us about the initial inspiration?"

Hanyu:
"There was a Phiten shop near the rink. I also enjoyed watching baseball, and I admired the famous athletes who used Phiten products. When I was 8 years old, I went to the shop with my father, and that was my first experience with Phiten. So, I've been using the necklace since I was in elementary school."

Hirata:
"In addition to that, I understand you've used various other products, but I hear you're particularly particular about the socks."

Hanyu:
"Yes. At the time, five-toe socks weren't as common, but I was amazed at how much freedom they gave my feet. Afterward, Phiten released products that reflected my feedback, and last year, they even released a new series called 'Phiten 5-Toe Socks Washi,' which evolved into an even better form. In permanent ice rinks during winter, the room temperature often drops below freezing, and my toes would lose feeling, but with Phiten socks, I can maintain warmth. Also, in figure skating, we often tilt the thin edges to the left or right, switch between front and back, and during spins, we have to keep applying force to our toes to resist centrifugal force. This involves a lot of activity in the plantar muscles, and the socks support these movements as well."

Hirata:
"When we gave you the prototype, I was surprised when you pointed out that 'the sensation changes when wearing the same product, just by changing the knitting pattern.'"

Hanyu:
"Even small differences in materials or knitting patterns can affect my performance. The same goes for the RAKUWA Necklace—if the balance changes, or if the length of the necklace string changes even slightly, it can make it harder to spin. I'm very sensitive to those subtle differences (laughs)."

Hirata:
"As for body care, you're currently using the Kenkōyoku Shower. What is the main reason for that?"

Hanyu:
"Manual therapy can loosen muscles, but there are parts of the body, like the ligaments and muscles attached to the bones, that my hands can't reach. When fatigue builds up in those muscles and they start to stiffen, it disrupts the balance of the body. That's why I use the Kenkōyoku Shower. It helps relax the whole body while also targeting the areas that are hard to reach, improving flexibility and increasing the range of motion in the joints. Plus, since it's light, you can use it from any angle, which is great. I also use it simultaneously while receiving manual therapy."

Hirata:
"When during the day do you use the products?"

Hanyu:
"I use them during travel, before warm-ups, after practice or shows, and even while sleeping. I feel like I’m always using them. I use them to start my day feeling good and to end my day comfortably. Especially in the morning, muscles and various body tissues tend to be stiff or stuck, so I use it to activate those areas and get them moving. It’s become essential for that purpose. I believe that the preparation phase is very important, and it greatly influences my performance, as well as reducing fatigue and the risk of injury. The seriousness of my preparation shows in how I perform when it’s time for the main event."

Hirata:
"Since 2022, you’ve become a professional figure skater and taken on new challenges. How has your performance evolved?"

Hanyu:
"During competitions, I used to skate for 5 minutes, but now I skate continuously for about 2 and a half hours, so I’ve had to build my body to withstand long periods of high-intensity movement. However, if I only focus on building endurance, my explosive strength tends to weaken, so maintaining both endurance and strength at a high level while balancing them is very difficult. Right now, I’m researching and exploring what kind of approach is needed, and I believe I’m in the process of evolving. This process of thinking is very important, and I’m excited to see how I’ll change in the future."

Hirata:
"I'm happy to know that Phiten products are helping in your evolution."

Hanyu:
"Phiten products are like a talisman for me. I can’t imagine going into a competition or show without them—it’s become something I can’t do without. What’s great about Phiten is that many of their products can be worn throughout daily life, in the bath, or even while sleeping. In fact, now I feel uncomfortable if I take them off. I’ve always felt that I can’t perform at my best if I don’t wear them, both during my competitive years and now, and that won’t change."

 

"With the development of Kenkōyoku®, greater relaxation can be achieved."

 

Hirata:
"To continue supporting you, Hanyu, we would like to propose our new technology. The light technology you are already using, the Kenkōyoku® series, has released the 'Kenkōyoku Fan,' 'Kenkōyoku Dome,' and 'Kenkōyoku Multicket.' The 'Kenkōyoku Fan' was very popular this summer because it combines light with a refreshing breeze. The 'Kenkōyoku Dome' uses 242 LED lights in 6 colors to provide care, and the 'Kenkōyoku Multi-ticket' combines 315 red and white LEDs, which can be draped, worn, or wrapped around the body for targeted care. How did you find these when you tried them?"

Hanyu:
"The 'Kenkōyoku Fan' not only offers light therapy but also a sense of cooling, and it helps make breathing easier. I can see why it's popular with people beyond athletes as a relaxing item during hot summer times. The 'Kenkōyoku Dome' seems great for targeting skin wrinkles and scalp care. I think it could also be used on the lymph nodes. With the variety of light options, you can expect a range of effects, which you can visually see, and it’s also great that it can be used in three dimensions. It’s not just for the face or head, but you can use it on your stomach and legs as well, targeting overall skin beauty, which I think women would really appreciate. The 'Kenkōyoku Multi-ticket' seems convenient for use during travel or while sleeping. Sometimes, I use up to eight Kenkōyoku Showers simultaneously, wrapped around my belt, so this is very helpful. With just one of these, body care can be done without stress, and the quality of sleep seems to improve as well. I’m looking forward to using it starting tonight. When you’re traveling for performances and the bed changes, maintaining sleep quality becomes a big part of conditioning, so I’m happy to know this could help with that. It allows for even more relaxation and care."

Hirata:
"Just like the Kenkōyoku Shower, these products are made with Phiten's Metax Carbon Ceramic, which is combined with silicone and resin. The light is radiated through these materials and reaches deep into the body."

Hanyu:

"I think the amazing thing about Phiten is that they try to do things that most people would never think of. I was previously shown 'Metax' at the factory, which is made by dissolving various metals in water at the nano level. Just that concept alone is something most people would never imagine, and I'm sure there is no one else who would try to solidify that water into clay and shine light on it (laughs)."

Hirata:
"In terms of challenging things that others wouldn’t do, Phiten and you, Hanyu, may be quite similar."

 

"With Nano Metax coating, both care and performance evolution are accelerated."

 

Until now, we have commercialized our technology into products, but from now on, we are introducing the idea of transforming your existing items into Phiten products. We are offering a service called 'Nano Metax Coating.' This is Phiten's cutting-edge technology, where the 'Nano Metax' is combined with the light technology 'Kenkōyoku®,' and then sprayed as a mist to coat items using a water vapor processing technique.

 

Hanyu:
"Are other Phiten products also processed with this technique?"

Hirata:
"Until now, we have dissolved metals like titanium, gold, and silver into water and used fabrics or materials infused with these to create our products. This is different from the Nano Metax coating. In that sense, it's a groundbreaking technology. Actually, today you wore running shoes and a T-shirt that were coated with Nano Metax. How did you feel about them?"

Hanyu:
"I compared both the before and after of the processing, and the changes were clear. The shirt became really soft, and the comfort is outstanding. As for the shoes, they were said to help with body balance, but not only that — when I kicked off the ground, I could feel the force not escaping sideways but staying concentrated in one point. I could immediately feel the smoothness and increased range of motion just by jumping and lightly rotating. These shoes aren’t my own, and it’s my first time wearing them, but I’m really surprised at how easily I can move exactly as I imagined. How long does the effect of this coating last?"

Hirata:
"It has been proven in tests that the effect doesn’t diminish even after 100 washes. In the past, we couldn’t create uniforms or costumes for athletes, but with the Nano Metax coating technology, we believe we will be able to cater to those needs in the future."

Hanyu:
"I’ve always wished that the costumes used in shows could have the same kind of effect as Phiten products, so this is great news. I would love to have the insoles of my skates, as well as my warm-up shoes, processed with this coating, and also the training wear I use. I think that with Phiten surrounding me even more in my daily life, training, and shows, the evolution of my conditioning and performance will accelerate, and I’m excited for the future of my performances and body care."

Hirata:
"I hope you continue to use this Nano Metax coating and keep evolving."

Hanyu:
"Learning about this new technology today has been really inspiring. I look forward to continuing to evolve with Phiten. Thank you for today."