[2024.12.02] ESSE January 2025 Special Edition

[yuzurujenn]

ESSE January 2025 Special Edition Moomin Porcelain Hexagonal Plates 2-Piece Set

 

Info: 

https://esse-online.jp/articles/-/30829

https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0DG5GJCC7

 

Summary:

Bonus Fold-Out Insert
Yuzuru Hanyu Double-Sided Poster
Please note: The photo differs between the standard and special editions.

Special Interview (Page 71)
Yuzuru Hanyu
The figure skater, who continues to challenge himself with new forms of expression after turning professional, graces the cover of the New Year issue, delivering a message to help us welcome a fulfilling year.

Cover Star
Yuzuru Hanyu

[yuzurujenn]

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2024.12.01

 

Source: https://esse-online.jp/articles/-/30829

 

 

Yuzuru Hanyu feels a change in his mindset in his third year as a professional. "I've become able to rely on the strength of those around me."

 

Yuzuru Hanyu, a figure skater who continues to challenge himself to create new forms of expression even after turning professional, is attracting a lot of attention by appearing on the cover of the new year's issue of ESSE. We asked him about his changes in his mindset and the thoughts he holds dear.

 

Spoiler

During the shoot, the background music he chose was his best friend's song

 

Yuzuru Hanyu headed to the crimson filming set, picked up his smartphone and selected the background music himself. The songs he chose were "Ryakudatsu" and "Last Ambient" by Taisei Miyagawa, a musician who is also his good friend and with whom he has collaborated on an ice show. The staff cheered as he moved his body gracefully, just like in a real show.

 

Since making a new start as a professional in 2022, Hanyu has been taking on unprecedented challenges, including becoming the first skater to perform a solo show at the Tokyo Dome and successfully completing a national tour. Now in his third year as a professional, he says, "I've become able to rely on the people around me."

 

Because I've learned to care for those around me, I'm able to care for myself too

 

"When I was competing, I felt the pressure of having to carry the hopes of everyone and produce good results. But since I became a professional and started producing and structuring shows, I've been able to expand my world with the help of experts in each field. Maybe it's because I've grown up (laughs). I feel like I'm able to take care of myself now because I've learned to take care of those around me."

 

Hanyu is constantly evolving. We can't wait to see what new horizons he will show us in 2025.

 

The January issue of ESSE, which goes on sale on December 2nd, features a full interview with Yuzuru Hanyu, covering everything from the worldview of his national tour "Echoes of Life" that begins on December 7th to his favorite dishes he's looking forward to during the New Year. He also appears on the cover and poster of the [Special Edition], and on a different poster of the [Regular Edition]. Be sure to check it out.

 

It was photographer Toru Yaguchi's idea to have Hanyu hold an apple. On the day of the shoot, apples of various colors and lustres were prepared, and the shoot was shot with "Jonagold" apples, which best suited the atmosphere.

 

Costume credits: <Black costume> Shirt ¥46,200 (GALAABEND/3RD[ i ] VISIONPR) Ear cuff ¥11,000 (LION HEART/Sian PR) Pants (stylist's personal item) <White costume> Blouse ¥44,000, scarf ¥12,100 (both GALAABEND/3RD[ i ] VISIONPR

 

 

Profile

Yuzuru Hanyu

Born in Miyagi Prefecture in 1994, Yuzuru Hanyu started figure skating at the age of four, and has won two world championships and two consecutive Olympic gold medals. In 2018, he received the People's Honor Award. In 2022, he will turn professional skater. The third installment of "ICE STORY," in which he stars and serves as executive producer, "Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 3rd -Echoes of Life- TOUR," will begin on December 7th. With themes of life's journey and growth, the tour will explore the essence of "living."

 

 

Photography: Toru Yaguchi / Stylist: Minako Orihara (Mi-knot Inc) / Hair & Makeup: Tomomi Kakizaki / Interview and Original Text: Hanae Kudo

 

[yuzurujenn]

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2024.12.02

 

Source: ESSE January 2025 Special Edition, pg 71-73

 

New Year Special Interview
Yuzuru Hanyu

 

The person who graced the cover of the New Year issue is figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu, who continues to challenge himself with new expressions even after turning professional. He shared a message to welcome a fulfilling year ahead.

 

Spoiler

“Entering his third year as a professional, he has become able to rely on those around him.”

 

Yuzuru Hanyu, heading towards the crimson-themed photo shoot set, picked up his smartphone and chose the background music for the shoot: the songs "Ryakudatsu" and "Last Ambient" by his close friend, Taisei Miyagawa, with whom he had previously collaborated in an ice show. The staff cheered as he moved his body gracefully, just as if he were performing in a real show.

 

Since starting his career as a professional in 2022, Hanyu has continued to take on unprecedented challenges, including becoming the first-ever skater to hold a solo show at Tokyo Dome and successfully completing a national tour. Now entering his third year as a professional, he shared, "I've become able to rely on the people around me."

 

"During my competitive years, I felt the pressure of having to carry the hopes of everyone and produce results.... But since becoming a professional and getting involved in the production and choreography of shows, I've been able to expand my world by relying on the expertise of professionals in various fields. I guess it means I’ve grown up (laughs). I feel like I can take care of myself because I've become able to take care of the people around me."

 

"I believe that an athlete is someone who pushes themselves to their limits."

 

His current challenge is how to create the world of his national tour "Echoes of Life," which will take place from the end of this year into next year.

"I’m nervous about how the upcoming show will be received, but right now, I just want to get better at skating (laughs). Depending on the program, the way I use my stamina changes, so I need to figure out how to manage it this time, and I also need to create the choreography... Right now, I’m in the most intense, tight situation."

The ice shows Hanyu has been involved with since turning professional have all been physically and technically demanding.

 

"The structure is such that after the show, I’m often so exhausted I can’t stand, so it's hard every time. Actually, I saw something on SNS today that said: 'Even if you can run 10 meters per second, you shouldn’t think you can run a full marathon at the same speed.' I thought that’s true... but I’m the type who tries to run a full marathon at 9.5 meters per second (laughs). But I believe that pushing yourself to the limit is what makes an athlete, and if you compromise, it can't be called art."

 

 "It's important to acknowledge the 'self that did their best.'"

 

Yuzuru Hanyu, who is pursuing his potential even more stoically than during his competitive years, has put in an unimaginable amount of effort behind the scenes.

"But I believe it's not just me—everyone is giving their all in their respective places. I have a dream to pursue and a stage to perform on, so I give it my all, using all of my lung capacity... But even if someone's way of using energy is more subtle or long-lasting, I believe that’s their own form of giving their all. These days, it's hard to understand the meaning of life. That's why I think it's important for everyone to not compare themselves to others, but to acknowledge the 'self that did their best.'"

In his 25 years of skating, Hanyu has sometimes felt discouraged, but he has always managed to pick himself up and move forward. One of the keys to maintaining a positive mindset is "falling into despair to the fullest."

 

"I believe that if you don't just half-heartedly suppress your feelings, but rather let them fall to the bottom, you will find the opportunity to have hope again. That chance could be a word from a podcast you happened to hear or lyrics from a song playing on the street. Honestly, I’d be happy if it came from my performance. But that kind of opportunity doesn’t come just by waiting for it. No matter how down I feel, I make sure not to stop reaching out when that moment of opportunity comes."

 

“Nabe and ozoni with ponzu sauce are wintertime delights.”

 

The performance of "Echoes of Life" is coming up early in 2025, but will there be time to enjoy New Year's food?

 

"I love ozoni. Ours is soy sauce-based, with chicken, seri (Japanese parsley), and shredded daikon radish and carrots called 'ohikina,' topped with ikura (salmon roe). In the winter, we often eat nabe (hot pot) as well. I'm not good at eating a lot of raw vegetables, so nabe is perfect because I can get plenty of cooked vegetables. It's also easy to make. I like to eat it with a refreshing ponzu sauce."

 

The first day of the tour, December 7, is also Hanyu’s 30th birthday. When he was a teenager, he thought, "People in their 30s are old," but does he have any habits that help him stay youthful, contrary to those words?

 

"Keep seeking freshness in both hobbies and work. This is something I've been mindful of since my competitive days, as there is data showing that people are more likely to focus on new things. For example, in beauty, instead of applying lotion out of habit, I believe that if you gain new knowledge about the right temperature and method of application, it can motivate you. I think accumulating such experiences helps you stay youthful."

 

Hanyu is constantly evolving. We can't wait to see what new frontiers he will show in 2025.

 

[Wintek]

*Machine translation from Japanese to English, inaccuracies exist

(I added notes on "Ozoni", the new year's dish that Yuzu likes ^^)

 

2024.12.02

 

Source: ESSE January 2025 Special Edition, pg 71-73 (Kindle version)

New Year Special Interview
Yuzuru Hanyu
 

Bringing brilliance to our New Year issue is figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu, who continues to take on new challenges in artistic expression as a professional.

He has shared a message with us for welcoming a fulfilling year ahead.

---

Entering His Third Year as a Professional: Learning to Rely on Others

Spoiler

Yuzuru Hanyu stepped onto a crimson photoshoot set, picking up his smartphone to play a background track of his own choosing: Ryakudatsu and Last Ambient by his close friend and collaborator, Taisei Miyakawa. His fluid movements to the music, reminiscent of a live ice show, drew cheers from the staff.

Since embarking on his professional career in 2022, Hanyu has taken on unprecedented challenges, including becoming the first skater in history to hold a solo show at Tokyo Dome and succeeding in a nationwide tour. Reflecting on entering his third year as a professional, he shares:

"I've learned how to rely on those around me. During my competitive years, I felt immense pressure to carry everyone's expectations and deliver results. But as a professional, now that I'm involved in show production and choreography, I can expand my world by leaning on the expertise of specialists in their fields. Maybe it's a sign that I've grown up (laughs). By learning to value the people around me, I've also come to value myself more."

Pushing to the Limit: The Essence of an Athlete

Currently, Hanyu’s focus is on crafting the world of his upcoming nationwide tour Echoes of Life, set to take place from the end of this year into next.

"I'm a little nervous wondering how people will receive this show. But for now, I just want to get better at skating (laughs). Each program uses stamina differently, so I need to figure out the best approach this time, and I also need to choreograph. Right now, I’m at my absolute limit."

Every ice show Hanyu has created since turning professional has been physically and technically demanding.

"The programs are so challenging that after the show, I’m left unable to stand. Each one is intense. Recently, I saw a post on social media that said, 'Even if you can run 10 meters per second, you can’t run a full marathon at that pace.' It really resonated with me. But I’m the type who tries to run a full marathon at 9.5 meters per second (laughs). Still, I believe that’s what being an athlete is about, pushing to the limit, and if you compromise on that, then you can't call it art.

It’s Important to Acknowledge the Effort You’ve Made

Hanyu has pursued his potential even more rigorously as a professional than during his competitive days. The effort behind this level of dedication is unimaginable for most of us.

"But it’s not just me; I think everyone is giving their all in their own way, wherever they are. For me, I have dreams I’m chasing and a stage to perform on, so my way of giving my all might mean using up every bit of lung capacity I have. But even if someone’s energy is more like a steady trickle, that’s their version of giving their all. These days, it’s hard to understand what it means to live with purpose. That’s why I want people to stop comparing themselves to others and instead recognize the effort they’ve made for themselves."

In his 25 years of skating, there were times when Hanyu felt close to breaking. Yet, he always managed to get back up and move forward. One key to maintaining a positive mindset, he says, is to allow himself to hit rock bottom when needed.

"Rather than half-heartedly suppressing your feelings, I think letting yourself completely sink to the bottom can lead to finding a spark of hope again. It might be something you hear in a podcast, or lyrics from a song playing on the street. Of course, I’d be delighted if it came from one of my performances. But those chances don’t come if you just wait around for them. No matter how down you feel, I make sure to always reach out so I can grab hold of those moments when they appear."

Enjoying Winter with Hotpot and Ozoni

While Echoes of Life will kick off early in 2025, does Hanyu still find time to enjoy New Year’s dishes?

"I love ozoni [1]. In our house, we make it with soy sauce-based broth, chicken, seri (Japanese parsley), and thinly sliced daikon and carrots we call ohikina [2]. It’s topped with salmon roe. We also often have hotpot in winter. I’m not great at eating raw vegetables, so hotpot is perfect because I can get plenty of cooked veggies. It’s also easy to make, and I like eating it with a refreshing ponzu sauce."

December 7, the opening day of the tour, also marks Hanyu’s 30th birthday. As a teenager, he used to think of people in their 30s as "old guys." Does he have any habits to keep himself youthful despite his younger self’s words?

"Whether it’s hobbies or work, continuing to seek freshness is key. It’s something I’ve been conscious of since my competitive days. People tend to focus better on new things—it’s been scientifically proven. Even with skincare, for example, instead of applying lotion out of routine, learning new techniques like the optimal temperature or application method can motivate you. Those little accumulations might be what keeps me feeling youthful."

Constantly evolving, Yuzuru Hanyu remains someone we cannot take our eyes off of. What new horizons will he show us in 2025?

Notes:
[1] Traditional Japanese soup eaten during the New Year holidays, often as part of osechi ryori (New Year’s feast). It has regional variations, but the key ingredient is mochi (rice cake), which symbolizes longevity and prosperity. Yuzuru’s family recipe is the Tohoku version, where a soy-sauce base is more common compared to miso-based versions in other areas like Kansai. If anyone wants to try it, Ajinomoto has a recipe of Miyagi’s Ozoni.
[2]  “Ohikina” (おひきな), Iwate dialect word for shredded vegetables.