[2025] Echoes of Life - ICE STORY 3rd

yuzurujenn · January 2

Compilation of articles & interviews relating to Echoes of Life:

-2024:

Saitama (Dec 7, 9, 11)

2025:

- Hiroshima (Jan 3, 5)

- Chiba (Feb 7, 9)

Info:

https://echoesoflife.jp/

https://x.com/echoesoflife_jp

yuzurujenn · Sunday at 01:24 PM

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

2025.02.09

Source: https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2025/02/09/kiji/20250209s00079000268000c.html
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250209132022/https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2025/02/09/kiji/20250209s00079000268000c.html

Yuzuru Hanyu: "I put all my heart and soul into it" - tearful final performance, "See you again in the future"

Yuzuru Hanyu (30) , a professional figure skater and consecutive Olympic champion, performed the final show of his third solo show, "Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 3rd "Echoes of Life" TOUR," at the Lala Arena Tokyo Bay in Chiba on the 9th. Following Saitama and Hiroshima, the Chiba show completed a run of seven shows in three cities.

Spoiler

A grand story set in a virtual world where various 'sounds' are encountered, questioning the meaning of life. In the legendary program 'Ballade No. 1,' he completed the same performance structure as at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, including the quadruple salchow. He performed all 12 songs in the main program and danced to 'Let Me Entertain You,' 'MEGALOVANIA,' and 'SEIMEI' during the encore.

After the main performance, he spoke, saying, 'Please give a big round of applause to all the staff,' and reflected with deep emotion, saying, 'I skated with all my soul.'

He continued, 'I want you to feel like you’re living in the present moment, even just a little. This is a story told with words and skating, acknowledging that everyone is living stronger than they think, with prayer.' He added, 'I hope this can be a catalyst for people to live. Thank you so much!' He spoke tearfully. Afterward, he switched to a smile, saying, 'I talked about some heavy things,' and energized the crowd once again during the encore. Even after the encore, he shed tears on the ice and shouted, 'Let’s meet again in the future. Thank you so much!' while expressing his gratitude loudly.

yuzurujenn · Sunday at 01:43 PM

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

2025.02.09

Source: https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2025/02/09/kiji/20250209s00079000303000c.html
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250209132559/https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2025/02/09/kiji/20250209s00079000303000c.html

[Yuzuru Hanyu speaks (1)] "How special is this moment?" The final performance was etched in his heart

Yuzuru Hanyu (30) , a professional figure skater and consecutive Olympic champion, performed the final show of his third solo show, "Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 3rd "Echoes of Life" TOUR," at the Lala Arena Tokyo Bay in Chiba on the 9th. He completed a total of seven shows in three cities, including Saitama and Hiroshima. The following is a Q&A session from a press conference after the show.

Spoiler

Interviewer: "The tour is over. Looking back, how do you feel?"

Hanyu: "Above all, I feel like I gave it my all, and the number of people involved in this ice story is truly unprecedented. I’m filled with gratitude for all the people who has worked for me and supported me. I can’t express enough how thankful I am for that."

Interviewer: "How do you evaluate the performance of the story you wrote yourself?"

Hanyu: "I was able to finish it with the best I could have. I’m in a bit of a daze right now, but honestly, words and letters alone can’t fully express what I want to say. This ice story, I believe, is something that can't be fully expressed through skating alone. It’s something unique and one of a kind. I’m really happy that the performance, direction, and story from today will remain in the video and in the memories of the people who came to see it."

Interviewer: "How did you approach 'Ballade No. 1'?"

Hanyu: "It was a struggle from the very beginning, and in the short program under the old scoring rules, I had to jump two jumps in the second half. They were a triple axel and a quadruple-triple (toe loop), and I felt once again just how difficult jumps are. It’s a different kind of tension from the free program. And unlike the free program, there’s no room to recover in the short program, and because there are so many things packed into it, I once again felt through this tour that it is even more difficult than the free program. I had already performed four pieces before that, so going into it, I was already feeling, 'This is tough.', and though it was my wish, but with the lighting and the rink size changing depending on the venue, adjusting became difficult. However, thanks to the hard work of the ice craftsmen and everyone involved, I was able to make it work."

Interviewer: "It’s just finished, but what are your plans for the future?"

Hanyu: "I don't have any. Zero. For now, I'm a bit in a daze and my mind may not be working properly. In any case, I'm spending this time now with my heart deeply filled with the feeling of how special it is that everyone has gathered here like this."

Source: https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2025/02/09/kiji/20250209s00079000310000c.html
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250209132906/https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2025/02/09/kiji/20250209s00079000310000c.html

[Yuzuru Hanyu speaks (2)] The way he wants to live his life: "I want to believe in my own heart and justice and move forward straight ahead"

Spoiler

Interviewer: "You’ve said that skating = living. Looking toward the future, what kind of way of life do you want to show?"

Hanyu: "Writing this story and completing the tour has deepened my thoughts on one thing: the future is something no one can truly know. That’s the biggest takeaway that has stayed with me as I skated through this tour. That was also true during the Beijing Olympics. Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, it feels like your efforts go unrewarded. No matter how many good things you do every day, how many good deeds you repeat, bad things still happen in the future. That’s the reality of life. Because of that, it’s hard to say, ‘This is the way I want to live,’ but still, for now, I want to believe in my heart and my sense of justice, and move forward straight ahead, living in the present."

Interviewer: "What was your mindset as Nova (your virtual self) in 'Mass Destruction -Reload-'?"

Hanyu: "That piece itself is a battle song. It's like I'm fighting while surrounded by sound, using sound as a weapon. In the Persona game, there’s an enemy called 'Shadow,' and I imagine myself using sound to summon my own Persona and fight. I wondered how to explain this to the general public (laughs). While enveloped in sound and dancing, I’m trying to crush hatred and negative emotions with feelings of joy and happiness."

Interviewer: "In today’s 'Danny Boy,' I felt a sense of serenity. What were you feeling?"

Hanyu: "…I’m thinking back on it now (laughs). What was I feeling? At that time, I was just desperately skating with the image of praying with my whole body. The prayer was partly a prayer for the departed, which is the so-called origin of Danny Boy, and also prayers for the hope of the people in the audience, for my own personal happiness, and prayers for the staff who created this. It's a mix of all sorts of things, but I simply prayed wholeheartedly, with the feeling that I was praying along with the music."

Interviewer: "From a story perspective, was there also a prayer for the purification of hatred?"

Hanyu: "In that scene, within that world where life had almost disappeared, it's when he starts to realize that something is finally beginning to sprout. It’s a prayer for the life that is beginning to grow around him. For each and every life to grow, for everyone to live, that was the strongest prayer for Nova. At the end, he was asking everyone to live."

Source: https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2025/02/09/kiji/20250209s00079000323000c.html
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250209133110/https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2025/02/09/kiji/20250209s00079000323000c.html

[Yuzuru Hanyu speaks (3)] The feeling he got from the seven performances: "I can continue to evolve even more from now on"

Spoiler

Interviewer: "Is loneliness the inspiration for all your ice stories?"

Hanyu: "I don’t really think of it as loneliness. There are times when you have to fight, and of course, I think it's something every human experiences, where you can’t share everything. It’s a sad thing, but you can’t share all of your suffering or joy. That’s something everyone feels, and in that sense, I think everyone experiences loneliness. But because of that, humans use words, they use writing. What I wanted to express with Nova was that even if you’re alone in that world, as long as there are words, records, or sound, you’re not truly alone. I don’t really think of myself as lonely, not recently. I just wanted to express a feeling of reassurance toward the small loneliness that exists inside everyone, the kind that others don’t notice."

Interviewer: "With each performance, something wonderful was created. After seven performances, what have you overcome?"

Hanyu: "I’ve also started new training, not just to increase my range of motion or flexibility, but to improve the movements I can make with my body and how quickly I can recover. Also, just before Hiroshima, I started practicing ways to improve my strengths, like flexibility and grace. I feel like that has finally come together this time. So, I have the feeling, the realization, that I can continue to evolve even more from now on."

yuzurujenn · Sunday at 03:01 PM

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

2025.02.09

Source: https://the-ans.jp/news/503967/
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250209145403/https://the-ans.jp/news/503967/

Yuzuru Hanyu Completes Solo Tour, Tears in His Eyes as He Bows: 'I’m Overcome with Emotion' 'I Feel Like I’m Living in the Moment'

The third installment of the Ice Story series, "ICE STORY 3rd -Echoes of Life- TOUR," starring and executive produced by Yuzuru Hanyu, a professional skater who won consecutive Olympic gold medals in men's figure skating at Sochi in 2014 and Pyeongchang in 2018, reached its final performance on the 9th at Lala Arena Tokyo Bay in Chiba. With the theme of "life" and "living," the tour has toured Saitama, Hiroshima, and Chiba since December last year. "I put all my soul into skating," he said, deeply moved as he bowed.

Spoiler

"ICE STORY 3rd -Echoes of Life- TOUR" final performance

Yuzuru Hanyu, the professional figure skater who achieved back-to-back Olympic golds in 2014 Sochi and 2018 Pyeongchang, appeared in and produced the third installment of his ice story, 'ICE STORY 3rd -Echoes of Life- TOUR.' On the 9th, the tour reached its final performance at the Chiba Larena Tokyo Bay. The theme of the show was 'life' and 'living,' and it had toured Saitama, Hiroshima, and Chiba since December last year. Overcome with emotion, Hanyu bowed deeply, saying, 'I skated with all my soul.'

Before the 2:30 PM opening, fans gathered in large numbers at Lala Arena Tokyo Bay. Some of the spectators had come from overseas, and there was a long line at the merchandise booth. It was a spectacular ice show that Hanyu himself produced and directed. Not only was he captivated by his performance on the ice, but the images that were projected on the screen were like a movie starring Hanyu. With a focus on sound and lighting, the show kept the audience excited for about two and a half hours.

Hanyu, with tears in his eyes, bowed deeply. ‘I wrote this, and from there, it all started—my thoughts, my feelings, my heart, my soul—putting all of that into this was a really tough process,’ he said, overwhelmed with emotion. He then expressed his gratitude to the staff: ‘Please give a big round of applause to all the staff. Thank you.’

‘I want you to feel that you are living in the moment, even just a little. Everyone is stronger than they think,’ he said, adding that the story he created through words and skating was his prayer. ‘I’m overwhelmed myself, so I wanted to explain it once again through words,’ he said. Afterward, he did an encore and shouted 'Thank you!' loudly without a microphone.

‘Echoes of Life’ opened on December 7 last year, on Hanyu’s 30th birthday, at Saitama Super Arena. The arena was packed with 14,000 spectators, and after his splendid skating, a standing ovation erupted. In January, the show was held in Hiroshima, and today, it concluded in Chiba. Hanyu successfully completed his solo tour.

Hanyu, who announced his turn to professional skating in July 2022 after competing in the Beijing Olympics, held his first solo show, ‘Prologue,’ starting in November of the same year. On February 26, 2023, he held the first-ever solo performance at Tokyo Dome, ‘Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 2023 GIFT at Tokyo Dome.’ After that, he hosted the ‘Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 2nd “RE_PRAY” TOUR’ in Saitama, Saga, and Yokohama. Additional performances for the "RE_PRAY" TOUR were planned in Miyagi in April 2024."

(The ANSWER Editorial Department)

Source: https://the-ans.jp/news/504010/
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250209145628/https://the-ans.jp/news/504010/

Yuzuru Hanyu: 'Right now, I’m in a state of daze' — Completed solo tour, full of emotions: 'I want to believe in my heart and justice, and move forward straight ahead' [Full Interview]

Professional figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu, who achieved back-to-back Olympic golds in 2014 Sochi and 2018 Pyeongchang, appeared in and produced the third installment of the Ice Story series, 'ICE STORY 3rd -Echoes of Life- TOUR.' The tour concluded on the 9th at Chiba's Larala Arena Tokyo Bay. With 'Life' and 'Living' as its themes, the tour, which began last December, traveled through Saitama, Hiroshima, and Chiba. After the performance, Hanyu held a press conference, where he shared, 'I now have the feeling and realization that I can continue to change and grow.' Through the ice show, he reflected on his personal growth.

Spoiler

"ICE STORY 3rd -Echoes of Life- TOUR" final performance

Yuzuru Hanyu, the professional figure skater who achieved back-to-back Olympic golds in Sochi 2014 and Pyeongchang 2018, appeared in and produced the third installment of the Ice Story series, 'ICE STORY 3rd -Echoes of Life- TOUR.' The tour concluded on the 9th at Lala Arena Tokyo Bay in Chiba. With 'Life' and 'Living' as its themes, the tour, which began in December, traveled through Saitama, Hiroshima, and Chiba. After the performance, Hanyu spoke to the press, sharing, 'I now feel and realize that I can continue to change and grow.' Through the ice show, he felt a sense of growth.

Before the doors opened at 14:30, fans gathered in droves at Lala Arena Tokyo Bay. There were also attendees from overseas, and the merchandise area had long lines. The grand ice show, which Hanyu directed and produced himself, captivated the audience not only with his performances on the ice but also with visuals on the screen that felt like a movie starring Hanyu himself. The sound and lighting were carefully chosen to create a spectacular experience, which lasted about two and a half hours and greatly excited the crowd.

Before the encore, Hanyu, with tears in his eyes, bowed deeply. "I wrote this, and everything that begins from my thoughts, my feelings, my heart, my soul — I poured all of that into this incredibly difficult work," he said, deeply moved. "Please give a big round of applause to all the staff. Thank you for your support," he expressed his gratitude toward the team that helped him.

After the performance, he participated in a press conference. Below is the Q&A:

Q: How do you feel after completing the tour?
Hanyu: "I’m really grateful to all the people involved in this Ice Story project, and I’m full of gratitude for how many people have worked so hard for me. The scale of the team involved is really unprecedented."

Q: The tour finale. You served as executive producer, but how do you evaluate the production yourself?
Hanyu: "It feels like I ended it with a performance that could not have been better. I’m a bit in a daze right now. But how should I say this... Words and letters alone cannot express it. I believe this Ice Story is something that cannot be fully expressed just by skating. It’s a unique and irreplaceable work. I’m truly happy that today’s performance, direction, and the story are captured in images and will remain in the memories of the people who came to see it."

Q: Your performance of "Ballade No. 1" was wonderful. The ice rink was dark and narrow, how did you approach this challenge?
Hanyu: "I really struggled from the beginning, and I was reminded of the difficulty of jumping twice in the second half of the short program under the old rules, the old scoring rules. I felt again how difficult it was to jump triple Axel and quad-triple jumps. The short program, unlike the free program, doesn’t give you time to recover, which makes it much harder. Through this tour, I’ve really come to realize how challenging it is.

I did four songs before the piano part, and already by the time I got to the piano, I was like, 'Ah, this is tough!' It was my wish to have the lighting, but the rink sizes vary depending on the venue, and adjusting for that was difficult. But thanks to the ice staff and everyone involved working so hard, we were able to make it work."

Q: It’s just ended, but do you have any thoughts about your next projects?
Hanyu: "No. I have zero (plans). Right now, I’m a bit in a daze, and my head may not be working very well. But I'm spending this moment with the thought in my heart that it's so special that all of you have gathered here."

Q: Looking towards the future, how would you like to live and show your path?
Hanyu: "One thing I’ve realized as I completed this tour and wrote the story is that ‘the future is something no one knows.’ That’s the most important thing that stuck with me during this tour. The Beijing Olympics taught me this too. No matter how hard you try, there are times when you feel that things don’t go as expected. No matter how much good you do, sometimes unfortunate things happen, and that’s life. So, I can’t easily say, ‘This is the way I want to live,’ but right now, I want to keep moving forward, believing in my heart and my own sense of justice."

["I wanted to express the feeling that it's okay" when it comes to loneliness]

Q: "Regarding 'Mass Destruction'. There are movements where the character appears confident and almost provocative. What was the state of mind of Nova (the protagonist) at that time?"

Hanyu: "That song itself is a battle song. It's like I'm using sound as a weapon while being wrapped in it. How can I explain it… In the context of the Persona game, there's an enemy called a 'Shadow,' and I summon my Persona while using sound to fight. That's the image I was going for. I was thinking about how to explain this to a general audience, though (laughs). While being surrounded by sound and dancing, I’m trying to crush negative emotions like hatred with feelings of joy or happiness."

—About Danny Boy. I felt a sense of relief at the Saitama concert. Today, I felt a sense of calm, because the two songs before that felt powerful. How did you feel?

Hanyu: "I’m trying to remember what I was feeling... At that time, I was doing my best. I was skating with the image of praying with my whole body. The prayer had its roots in 'Danny Boy,' which is about praying for the deceased. But it also included prayers for the hope of everyone in the audience, my own personal happiness, and the staff who made this possible. It really became a mix of everything, but I expressed it all as a prayer along with the music, just praying relentlessly."

—Was there a prayer for the purification of hatred?

Hanyu: "That scene is when, in a world where almost all life has disappeared, he finally begins to realize that new buds are being given to him. It's like a prayer for life to grow around him. For Nova, the strongest prayer was for each and every life to grow, and for everyone to live. At the end, he said, 'May everyone live.'"

—I think that 'loneliness' has been a source of inspiration common to all three installments of 'Ice Story.' There has been unprecedented collaboration in creating these works, and within the works themselves, answers to loneliness are provided. How has "loneliness" come to be positioned within you through your experiences?

Hanyu: "I don’t really think of it as loneliness. But there are times when you have to fight alone, and of course, everyone has their own version of it. You can’t share everything. It’s a sad truth that we can’t share all of our suffering and happiness. I think that’s what makes us all feel lonely.

But because of that, humans use words, they use writing, and I wanted to express that even if you are alone in a world, as long as there is writing, records, or sound, you're not truly alone. Recently, I haven’t felt like I’m lonely, but I wanted to express that feeling for the small loneliness that people feel, the kind of loneliness that no one else notices, with the message, 'It’s okay, you’re not alone.'"

—Just like with the competitions during the season, the performances got better as the tour progressed. After this performance, do you feel like you’ve overcome something?

Hanyu: "I’ve started new training to increase my range of motion, and it’s not just about improving flexibility or simple mobility. It's also about the ability to use my body effectively and recover faster. And I’ve been working on refining my characteristic flexibility and grace since just before the Hiroshima performance. Now I feel like it all finally came together. I have this sense and feeling that I can keep changing and improving from here."

yuzurujenn · Sunday at 03:36 PM

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

2025.02.09

Source: https://www.sanspo.com/article/20250209-N7L5N3ED3NITJN3HILHYLMZ5FI/
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250209153106/https://www.sanspo.com/article/20250209-N7L5N3ED3NITJN3HILHYLMZ5FI/

Yuzuru Hanyu: "I really tried my best" National tour final performance / Figure skating

Yuzuru Hanyu (30), who won consecutive gold medals in men's figure skating at the 2014 Sochi and 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, served as the executive producer for the national tour "Echoes of Life," which was held in three cities: Saitama, Hiroshima, and Chiba. On February 9, the tour concluded with its final performance at the Lala Arena Tokyo Bay in Funabashi, Chiba.

Spoiler

"I’m just really proud of how much I worked hard. I’m truly happy if it stays in the memories of those who came to see it," he said.

With tickets sold out, the venue was packed to capacity. Hanyu captivated the approximately 8,300 fans with his graceful spins and quadruple jumps.

In a segment titled "Piano Collection," he performed a series of five songs, executing a quadruple-triple loop combination. For the final encore, he performed "SEIMEI," the program with which he secured his Olympic gold medal, bringing the event to a close.

February 9 also marks the day in 2020 when Hanyu achieved the "Super Slam" by winning his first Four Continents Championship, completing a collection of all the major international titles in men's figure skating. On this milestone anniversary, Hanyu, who completed all seven performances of the tour, looked ahead, stating, "I want to keep moving forward, believing in my heart and my sense of justice."

(Kojima Motoi)

Source: https://www.sanspo.com/article/20250209-NZ6K7ZXDTBAOTFZJFLZ4QCXHIY/
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250209153317/https://www.sanspo.com/article/20250209-NZ6K7ZXDTBAOTFZJFLZ4QCXHIY/

[Q&A] Yuzuru Hanyu completes all 7 performances of "Echoes of Life" tour: "I’m really happy if it stays in the memories of those who came to see it"

Spoiler

Q: How do you feel now that the tour is over?

A: "I just feel that I worked really hard, and I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who contributed to this ice story. The number of people involved was truly unprecedented, and it really makes me appreciate how many people moved to support me. I’m filled with gratitude for that."

Q: As for the final performance, how do you feel about the completion of the production and the level of accomplishment in your work as general producer?

A: "I was able to close it out with a performance that couldn’t have been better. I’m a bit in a daze right now, but it’s like… words and text can’t fully express what I’m feeling. I believe that this ice story, as a whole, is something unique that can’t be fully conveyed through skating alone. I’m really happy that today’s performance, its direction, and the story have been captured in video and will remain in the memories of those who came to watch."

Q: How did you approach performing to "Ballade No. 1"?

A: "I’ve really struggled with it from the very beginning. I was reminded once again of the difficulty of the short program, especially under the old rules and old scoring system. In the second half of the short program, performing two jumps— the triple axel and the quad-triple combination— is really tough. There’s a different kind of tension compared to the free program, and unlike the free, there’s no room for recovery in the short program. It’s packed with so much intensity, and that’s why I felt that the short program is even more difficult than the free program during this tour. On top of that, I had already performed four pieces before the piano segment, so going into it, I was already feeling, 'This is tough.' The lighting was also something I requested, and with the difference in rink sizes depending on the venue, the adjustments were quite challenging. But, thanks to the hard work of everyone, including the ice crew, we managed to pull it off."

Q: What are your plans for your next ice story?

A: "I have zero plans for that right now. Honestly, I’m in a bit of a daze at the moment, and my mind isn’t functioning perfectly, but right now, I’m just taking this time to soak in the fact that so many people came together for this. I’m reflecting on how special this all has been, and I’m just living in the present, letting it all sink in."

Q: In the past, you mentioned that skating is "living." Looking ahead, how do you want to live your life and what kind of example do you want to set for the future?

A: "One thing that became clearer to me while I was writing this story and completing the tour is that the future is something no one can predict. That realization is one of the strongest feelings I’ve had during this tour. Just like at the Beijing Olympics, no matter how much effort you put in, sometimes you’re not rewarded, and no matter how many good deeds you do or how much positivity you create, bad things can still happen in the future. And that’s what the future is. It’s not easy to define how to live, but for now, I just want to move forward, living in the present, trusting my heart and my sense of justice."

yuzurujenn · Sunday at 03:44 PM

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

2025.02.09

Source: https://www.daily.co.jp/general/2025/02/09/0018632499.shtml
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250209154029/https://www.daily.co.jp/general/2025/02/09/0018632499.shtml

Yuzuru Hanyu sheds tears at the final performance of the tour: "I put all my soul into skating" Completed all seven performances of the story with the theme of life, including a spectacular skate of "Ballade no. 1"

Yuzuru Hanyu (30), the gold medalist in men's figure skating at the 2014 Sochi and 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, and a professional figure skater, served as the general producer for the tour performance "Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 3rd - Echoes of Life." The final performance of the tour took place on the 9th at Lal Arena Tokyo Bay.

Spoiler

Having completed all seven performances with his full heart and soul, Hanyu expressed his gratitude, bowing and showing a deeply emotional expression. "Thank you very much," he said. "I skated with all my soul. It's my core belief that the fact that we're all alive is very natural and miraculous. I want everyone to feel, even just for a moment, that they're living in this moment, and I wanted to convey that everyone is living stronger than they think, so I wrote this story through my skating. I'd be happy if this story inspires everyone to live."

The performance, themed around life's journey and growth, questioned the essence of "life" and what it means to "live." Early in the performance, Hanyu skated solemnly in a gold costume to the song "Utai IV - Reawakening" from the anime Ghost in the Shell/Stand Alone Complex. In the "Piano Collection" segment, he captivated the audience with his graceful skating, harmonizing with the projection of musical notation flowing across the ice. In the climax of the show, during the "Ballade No. 1" segment from the Pyeongchang Olympics, he delivered an incredible performance, flawlessly completing three jumps, including two quadruple jumps, which thrilled the audience.

In the latter half of the performance, Hanyu embodied a unique world with a white costume for "Danny Boy" and a door object for "The Poem of Every Soul." During the encore, he energized the crowd with popular programs such as "Let Me Entertain You," "MEGALOVANIA," and "SEIMEI." In the final moments, as Ado's song "I Am the Strongest" echoed, Hanyu responded to the cheers of the fans.

Yuzuru Hanyu's Journey Since Turning Professional:

July 19, 2022: Announced his transition to a professional skater.
November 2022: Held his first solo performance, "Prologue," in Yokohama and Hachinohe.
February 26, 2023: Held the first-ever solo performance by a skater at Tokyo Dome, "Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 2023 GIFT at Tokyo Dome."
November 2023: Launched the third solo performance, "Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 2nd 'RE_PRAY' TOUR," which took place in Saitama, Saga, and Yokohama.
April 2024: Additional performances for the "RE_PRAY TOUR," including a performance in Miyagi.
December 2024: Fourth solo performance, "Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 3rd - Echoes of Life," held in Saitama, Hiroshima, and Chiba.

yuzurujenn · Sunday at 04:41 PM

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

2025.02.09

Source: https://digital.kyodonews.jp/deepedge/ice-show/94275/
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250209162536/https://digital.kyodonews.jp/deepedge/ice-show/94275/

[Full Comment - Free Access] Yuzuru Hanyu, Tears at the Final Performance of the Tour: "Skated with All My Soul" - Successfully Landed Two Types of Quadruple Jumps, Delivered a Passionate Performance of 15 Songs for Over 2 and a Half Hours

Yuzuru Hanyu, the two-time Winter Olympic gold medalist in men's figure skating, performed in the ice show "Echoes of Life" on the 9th at Lala Arena Tokyo Bay in Funabashi, Chiba. The solo tour, for which he served as the executive producer, concluded with a passionate performance of 15 songs over more than two and a half hours. After skating, Hanyu, deeply moved, thanked the audience, saying he "skated with all my soul," while his eyes welled up with tears.

Hanyu completed all seven performances, including those in Saitama last December and Hiroshima this January. In the short program from the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, to Chopin’s "Ballade No. 1," he executed the quadruple salchow, triple axel (a 3.5-revolution jump), and a flawless quad-triple loop combination. His performance was breathtaking, thrilling the audience of approximately 8,300 people. "I was able to end it with a performance that couldn’t have been better. I’m a bit in a daze right now," he said, soaking in the sense of accomplishment.

The full comment from Hanyu after the performance is as follows. (Interviewer: Fujiwara Shinya)

Spoiler

"I couldn't have ended it any better."

Q: Now that the "Echoes of Life" tour has come to an end, how do you feel right now?

A: I just feel like I really gave it my all. Also, the scale of the people involved in this ICE STORY is something unparalleled. So many people have been a part of this. I am filled with gratitude for how many people have moved and worked for me.

Q: This was your final performance, and you wrote the script and performed. How would you rate your own sense of completion in terms of this project?

A: I was able to finish with a performance that couldn’t have been better. I’m a bit in a daze right now. I can’t fully express it with just words or text, and I think that this ICE STORY is something that can’t even be fully expressed by skating alone, it’s something one-of-a-kind. It really makes me happy that today’s performance, direction, and story will be preserved in footage and remain in the memories of the people who came to see it.

Q: You presented a variety of programs, but your "Ballade No. 1" was particularly remarkable. The rink for the show was a bit narrow and dark. How did you approach performing "Ballade No. 1" today?

A: TV Asahi (who asked the question) has been following me all along, so I think you know, but I’ve really struggled with it from the very beginning. Looking back at the short program, it was a short program under the old judging rules, and in the second half I did two jumps. They were a triple axel and a quadruple-triple (two consecutive toe loops), and I really felt how difficult the jumps are. There's a different kind of tension to the free program, and unlike the free program, there's no room to recover (from stamina). That's what makes the short program so difficult, and I felt that again throughout this tour. And on top of that, I had already done four pieces before during 'Piano Collection,' so I was already thinking, 'This is tough,' before going out to do the 'Ballade.' Also, performing with show lighting was something I wanted, but it was also challenging, especially since the rink size changes depending on the venue. It was difficult, but thanks to the efforts of everyone involved, including the ice crew, I was able to make it work.

"No one knows what the future holds. I want to live in the present, believe in my own heart and my own sense of justice, and move forward."

Q: It’s just finished, but do you have any plans or ideas for the future?

A: (immediate answer) No. Zero. (laughs) Honestly, I’m kind of in a daze right now, and my mind might not be working as clearly as usual. But more than anything, I’m just reflecting on how special it is that so many people gathered together, and I’m taking in this moment deeply, appreciating the present as it is.

Q: Previously, you said that skating = living. As you look toward the future, what kind of way of living do you want to show?

A: One thing I’ve realized and reflected on while writing this story and completing this tour is that 'the future is something no one can know.' That’s the biggest thing that stayed with me during this tour. It was the same with the (2022) Beijing Olympics, but there are times when you feel like no matter how hard you try, it won't be rewarded, and no matter how many good things you do a day, and no matter how many good things you repeat, something unfortunate is bound to happen in the future. That's why I can't easily say that this is the way I should live my life, but for now, I want to live the present, believing in my heart and my own sense of justice and moving forward.

"At the end he said, 'May everyone live.'"

Q: What was your mindset as Nova (yourself in a virtual space) during the fourth song, "Mass Destruction -Reload-"?

A: That song itself is a battle song. So, I'm fighting with some kind of sound, using sound as a weapon, or rather, with sound, well, how can I put it, persona. In the Persona game, there is an enemy called Shadow, and I'm using sound to summon my own persona and fight. I wonder how to explain that to the general public (laughs). Essentially, I felt like I was enveloped in sound, dancing, and using positive emotions like joy and fun to crush negative emotions like hatred.

Q: For today’s "Danny Boy," during the Saitama performance, I felt a sense of relief. Today, there was a feeling of calm. What was your mindset while skating?

A: (pauses for a few seconds) "I’m thinking back on it now, trying to remember what kind of feeling I had. At that moment, I was just focused, doing everything I could. I was skating with the image of praying with my whole body. That prayer was something that is at the origin of Danny Boy, a prayer for the deceased, but it's also a prayer for the hopes of everyone here, for my own personal happiness, and for the staff who helped create this show. There were many different prayers all mixed together, and in the end, I was just praying through the music, with the intention to express it all as one."

Q: Was there also a prayer for the purification of hatred, in terms of the story?

A: That scene is when Nova finally begins to realize that life has sprouts again in a world where it has almost completely disappeared. It's like a prayer for life to grow around him, or rather, that each and every life will grow, and that everyone will live. At the end, he says, 'May everyone live.'

"I expressed it with the feeling of 'It's okay' towards the little loneliness that exists within all of you, the loneliness that no one else notices."

Q: Looking back at the progression from the first to the third installment of 'ICE STORY,' loneliness has been a consistent source of inspiration throughout. In every work, there is always an answer provided to the concept of loneliness. What does loneliness mean to you now, having had these experiences?

A: I don’t really think of it as loneliness. There are times when we have to fight alone, and of course, everyone has these moments. But we can't share everything with others. It's a very sad thing, but we can't share all our suffering or joy with others. In that sense, I feel like everyone experiences loneliness. But that's also why humans use words, write, and express themselves. What I wanted to convey in Nova was that even if you're alone in that world, as long as there are words, records, or sounds, you're not truly alone. I don't really think of myself as lonely, these days. But I wanted to express the feeling of 'It’s okay' to the little loneliness that exists within everyone, the kind of loneliness that no one else notices.

"I have the feeling that I can continue to evolve and improve from here on out"

Q: Just like in competitions during the season, the performance kept getting better and better as the shows progressed. After these 7 performances, is there anything you feel you’ve surpassed or achieved?

A: I've also started new training, not just increasing my range of motion or improving flexibility, but focusing on how to move my body more effectively and how quickly I can recover. I've been working on refining my movements, as well as enhancing the fluidity and beauty that are my strengths. I started practicing this around the time of the Hiroshima performance in January, and now I finally feel that it's coming together. So, I truly feel that I can continue to evolve and improve from here on out.

Shireen · Sunday at 07:15 PM

Thank you for the translation. :loveshower:

yuzurujenn · 2025-02-10T06:27:48Z

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

2025.02.09

Source: https://www.ninomiyasports.com/archives/129222
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250210062339/https://www.ninomiyasports.com/archives/129222

Yuzuru Hanyu, "Crushing hatred with joy and fun" "Nova's Mass Destruction" ~ "Echoes of Life" TOUR ~

The "Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 3rd 'Echoes of Life' TOUR" performance in Chiba (final performance) took place on the 9th at LaLa Arena TOKYO-BAY in Funabashi City. Yuzuru Hanyu captivated the 8,300 people (sold-out tickets) in the audience, along with viewers of the live viewing and CS TV Asahi, with his unique philosophy.

Spoiler

This ice story features Nova, played by Hanyu, on a journey to find answers to questions like "What is life?" and "Who am I?" Nova is a character who perceives words, letters, and phenomena as "sound." He is also a character whose genes have been manipulated, giving him terrifying powers.

The program progresses from "First Pulse," the heartbeat of a beginning, to "The First Cry," and then to "Utai IV~Reawakening," marking a rebirth.

At the end of the war, Nova, now alone in the world, steps into a park. He encounters the voices and diaries of those who had been there in the past. Among them, voices of joy mixed with voices of "hatred" also exist. From the various sounds of words, he realizes that without justice, he cannot fight.

"Listen carefully to the sound of my justice," a strong narration follows.

Then, "Mass Destruction-Reload-" is performed. When I saw this program at the Saitama performance on December 7th last year, I felt a sense of fear. The final performance in Chiba felt even more intense, the madness sharper and more potent than on the first day in Saitama. The terror seemed to have been sharpened.

Of course, Hanyu’s skating technique was deeply impressive and of an extremely high level. Ignoring the story’s timeline and watching it simply as a program, his flawless hip-hop-inspired "Pasodoble" on ice was extraordinary. The detailed steps, turns, and the stamina supporting it were remarkable. This was the result of the effort and training he had "learned from the basics of dance." Hanyu mesmerized the audience with his technique.

Let’s return to the story’s perspective. The confident look Nova showed. It may have been bordering on overconfidence. For better or worse, he gained momentum, almost becoming a dangerous existence. He performs a choreography where he forms a pistol with his right hand and "shoots," looks around the entire venue during a spread eagle, and smiles fearlessly. With a bold departure, he leaves the stage. Each time I see this, I am left speechless, holding my breath.

After the final performance, Hanyu spoke about "Mass Destruction-Reload-":

"I fight by wrapping myself in sound and using it as a weapon. It's like crushing 'negative feelings of hatred' with 'feelings of joy and happiness.'"

This was the source of the awe I felt. Behind the "high state" of constantly provoking others, Nova was trying to overpower hatred with joy and fun. In that moment, I understood the madness within Nova.

After winning the battle and successfully silencing the voice of hatred, Nova experiences a moment of relief. But in the very next instant, he questions, "Was that really good?... Was it?" From here, the quest to understand "What is life?" and "Who am I?" deepens, and he embarks on a journey to find the answers.

Watching Echoes of Life while paying attention to the connection of the songs, one can imagine how Hanyu, MIKIKO, and the many staff members tried and tested to create this ice story. "What did you feel from this story?" The question from the entire production team, including Hanyu, was delivered to each and every one of them.

yuzurujenn · 2025-02-10T06:34:34Z

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

2025.02.09

Source: https://www.ninomiyasports.com/archives/129226
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250210062945/https://www.ninomiyasports.com/archives/129226

Yuzuru Hanyu's "hiding his embarrassment?" on the ice - Echoes of Life

Professional figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu spoke these words while taking the microphone during the encore of the Chiba performance of his "Echoes of Life" TOUR (LaLa arena TOKYO-BAY, Funabashi City) on the 9th.

Spoiler

"In life, there are many difficult things, and life isn’t all about beautiful things. You all must understand that better than anyone else. Suddenly, painful things happen, or hope can suddenly disappear… I believe there are many such things in the world. But you are all here, watching this (Echoes of Life), listening to this. I hope that ‘Echoes of Life’ can become a catalyst for you to live on. Thank you so much.

I spoke of something heavy. But I’ve packed what I want to convey into the story, so maybe it's unnecessary to explain further now? Even so, I’m deeply moved and decided to explain it in words once more."

Then he continued:

"That said, after talking about something so heavy, I’d like to do an encore."

The venue was filled with cheers and applause. The first encore song of the tour, "Let Me Entertain You," is a program where the audience joins in, waving their hands left and right, and enjoys the performance together. As usual, Hanyu would use a microphone to explain the choreography for this piece.

When the applause died down on that day, he said:

"…The ice is beautiful."

Afterward, he called out to the audience, asking, "How did you like the set?"

"I thought it was amazing. In all the past Ice Stories, we’ve never had a stage and set design like this. Everyone put in a lot of effort, saying, 'What if we do this? What if we do that?' to create it. From a skater's perspective, the ice and the floor of the arena are the same white, so I couldn’t really tell where the rink ended" (laughs).

In reality, the ice laid down by the craftsmen was indeed beautiful. The set design beautifully expressed the worldview of a barren wasteland and a genetically modified laboratory.

However, I thought that these moments were possibly Hanyu’s way of hiding his embarrassment. After discussing something so heavy, he might have become slightly embarrassed and inserted this light conversation. I couldn’t help but chuckle from the press seats.

According to him, his explanations of the choreography are becoming "more and more sloppy with each performance." Perhaps that too was a form of hiding his embarassment.

"I'm good at expressing myself through skating, but expressing myself in Japanese is difficult," Hanyu said. Showing a charming side on the ice, the final performance of Echoes came to a close.

yuzurujenn · 2025-02-10T06:53:16Z

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

2025.02.09

Source: https://mainichi.jp/articles/20250209/k00/00m/050/104000c
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250210063803/https://mainichi.jp/articles/20250209/k00/00m/050/104000c

Figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu completes national tour again, final performance in Chiba

The final performance of the national ice show tour "Echoes of Life," produced by Yuzuru Hanyu, who won two consecutive Winter Olympic gold medals in men's figure skating and is currently active as a professional skater, was held on the 9th at Lala Arena Tokyo Bay in Funabashi City, Chiba Prefecture.

Spoiler

Echoes of Life is the third installment of "ICE STORY," which Hanyu is executive producer of, and it opened at Saitama Super Arena on December 7, last year, which was his 30th birthday. It was then held in Hiroshima in January this year and Chiba in February, with this day being the final day.

In a space created by Japan's leading director MIKIKO, Hanyu skated to various performances themed around "life" and "self." He also showcased one of his representative short programs from his competitive days, "Ballade No. 1." With a stunning performance, he landed cleanly on a quadruple Salchow, triple Axel (a jump with 3.5 rotations), and a 4-3 toe loop combo, maintaining the same structure from his time as an athlete, drawing loud cheers from the packed venue.

After completing the entire tour, Hanyu, deeply moved, said, "I poured all my soul into this. I hope that Echoes will continue to be a catalyst for people to live their lives."

Source: https://mainichi.jp/articles/20250209/k00/00m/050/122000c
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250210064701/https://mainichi.jp/articles/20250209/k00/00m/050/122000c

Yuzuru Hanyu: “If this is the moment you want to walk into the future,” - thoughts to his fans.

Yuzuru Hanyu, who achieved back-to-back victories in men's figure skating at the Winter Olympics and is now active as a professional skater, held the final performance of his national tour ice show "Echoes of Life" on the 9th at LaLa Arena Tokyo Bay in Funabashi City, Chiba Prefecture. After finishing the scheduled performances, Hanyu, deeply moved on the ice before the encore, expressed his gratitude to the fans and shared his thoughts on the tour. Below are his main remarks. [By Hitoshi Kurosawa]

Spoiler

"A Catalyst for Life"

"I feel like I've said goodbye to the character "Nova" (who I played) in Echoes. I truly poured my whole soul into performing.

This story... I'm really good at expressing myself through skating, so I find it very difficult to express it in Japanese. But at my core, I believe that the fact that everyone is alive is both incredibly natural and truly miraculous. In a world filled with people who are at the mercy of fate, people who continue to believe in fate, and people who continue to hope for such a future, I want everyone to just feel, even just for a moment, that they are living in this moment called "now."

This is a story told through words and skating, along with a prayer, that we are all stronger than we think, and that we are all living strong lives.

Echoes is coming to an end, but I hope that today, this story, my skating, the video, the direction, and the dance of Eleven Play (featuring dancers) will make all of you feel, even just a little, that you want to walk a little further into the future.

I think you all know better than anyone that there are a lot of hardships and that life isn't all pretty. I think there are a lot of sudden hardships, sudden loss of hope, and things like that in this world.

Still, you are here, watching this, listening to this... In those moments, your very cells are alive, and they will continue to move because they absolutely want to live on. So, please, believe in it, accept it, and move forward.

I hope that Echoes will continue to be a catalyst for you in life. Thank you so much."

Source: https://mainichi.jp/articles/20250209/k00/00m/050/127000c
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250210065329/https://mainichi.jp/articles/20250209/k00/00m/050/127000c

Yuzuru Hanyu: "I want to move forward believing in my own heart and justice" - Post-performance interview report

The final performance of the national ice show tour "Echoes of Life" by Yuzuru Hanyu, who won two consecutive Winter Olympic gold medals in men's figure skating and is currently active as a professional skater, was held on the 9th at Lala Arena Tokyo Bay in Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture. Having completed a total of seven performances at three locations across the country since December last year, Hanyu gave an interview after the show. The exchange is as follows.

Spoiler

"I'm a bit dazed."

　Anyway, I worked really hard. The number of people involved in this project called Ice Story is truly unprecedented. I'm so grateful for how many people have worked for me.

　I'm a little stunned because I was able to finish with a performance that I thought was the best it could be. Anyway, I can't express it all with words or letters alone, and I think this ice story is something unique that can't be expressed through skating alone. I'm really happy that today's performance, direction and story will be left on film like this, and that they will remain in the memories of the people who came to see it.

　＜Your performance of "Ballade No. 1" was also excellent, with all your jumps being successful＞

　I struggled a lot from the beginning. I once again felt the difficulty of the two jumps in the second half of the short program (SP) under the old judging rules, a triple axel (three and a half rotation jump) and a quadruple-triple (toe-loop combo jump). The SP is characterized by a different kind of tension than the free program, and unlike the free program, there is no room (time) to recover. Throughout this tour, I once again felt that it is more difficult than the free program because there are so many different things packed into it.

　I had already done four songs of that difficulty before this. It was difficult to go out thinking that it was already tough, and also, this was my wish, but it was a very difficult challenge because of the lights and the size of the rink changed depending on the venue, but thanks to everyone, including the ice crew who worked hard, I managed to do it.

　No. Zero. Anyway, I'm in a bit of a daze right now. My mind might not be working properly, but anyway, I'm spending this moment thinking deeply about how special it is that all of you have gathered here, and letting that sink into my heart.

　Hmm... I think that one of the things that I thought about and that I have deepened upon as I wrote this story and completed the tour is that no one really knows what the future holds, and that's what stuck with me the most as I was skating through this tour.

It was the same with the Beijing Olympics, but sometimes I feel like no matter how hard I try, it's not worth it. No matter how many good deeds I do each day, no matter how many good things I do, something unfortunate is bound to happen in the future. That's why... well, I can't easily say that this is the way I should live. But for now, I'm living...in the moment. I want to believe in my heart and my own sense of justice and move forward straight ahead.

　That song itself is a battle song. So, it's like I'm fighting while surrounded by sound, using sound as a weapon. How should I put it, in terms of the Persona game, there is an enemy called Shadow. I imagine myself using sound to summon my persona and fight. I wondered how to explain that to the general public (laughs). I'm dancing while surrounded by sound, and I feel like I'm crushing negative emotions like hatred with emotions like joy and happiness.

　I'm thinking back now, but I wonder how I felt (laughs). I was desperate at that time... Yes. Anyway, I was skating the whole time with the image of praying with my whole body. That prayer is also a prayer of "mourning for the dead" which is the so-called origin of Danny Boy. It was also a prayer for the hopes of everyone here, a prayer for my own personal happiness, a prayer for the staff who made it like this, etc. It's all really mixed up, and a lot of things are mixed together. I just skated with the feeling that I was praying with the sound, all together.

　That scene is where, in that world where almost all life has disappeared, he finally begin to realize that new buds are being given to him. It's like a prayer for life to grow around him. I think the strongest prayer for "Nova" was that each and every life would grow, that everyone would live. At the end, he said, "May everyone live."

　I don't really think of it as loneliness. However, there are times when we have to fight alone, and of course I think that every human being has those times, but we can't share everything. It's very sad, but we can't share all of our pain and joy. I think that makes everyone feel lonely.

　But that's why humans use words and letters. What I wanted to express in "Nova" is that even if you're alone in the world, as long as you have letters, records, sounds, and things like that, you're not alone.

　I don't really think of myself as lonely, not lately I haven't. However, I wanted to express the feeling that "It's okay" to the little loneliness that you all feel, the loneliness that no one notices.

　I've also started new training, not just to increase my range of motion or simply to increase my flexibility, but also to improve the movement of my body and how quickly I can recover. I also started practicing how to improve my characteristics, such as my flexibility and grace, just before Hiroshima (in January). I feel like it's finally come together this time. So, I feel like I can continue to evolve from now on.

(After the interview, while bowing to the press) Thank you for your time. Excuse me.

yuzurujenn · 2025-02-10T07:12:53Z

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

2025.02.09

Source: https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202502090000986.html
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250210065630/https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202502090000986.html

[Yuzuru Hanyu] Crying, "in a daze," overwhelmed with emotion at the final performance of the national tour Echoes, "putting all his soul into it"

Yuzuru Hanyu (30), the two-time Olympic Winter Olympics champion in men's figure skating and in his third year as a professional, cried. He was overcome with emotion. On the 9th, at the final performance of his national tour of solo ice shows, "Echoes of Life," at the Lala Arena Tokyo Bay in Chiba, he broke down into tears when he grabbed the microphone and shouted, "Thank you very much!" before the encore.

Spoiler

The tour, which began on his 30th birthday on December 7 last year, concluded with seven performances in three cities. Reflecting on the journey, Yuzuru Hanyu said with a deep expression, "I feel like I’ve just said goodbye to Nova, the protagonist of the alternate world that I portrayed in Echoes." He continued, "I performed with all my soul."

He also expressed his gratitude, saying, "I packed all of my feelings into the story, so I thought it might be an unnecessary addition, but I was deeply moved, so I wanted to convey it."

The performance began with his new song, "First Pulse," followed by pieces like "First Cry ~ Meguri." He also performed "Piano Collection," a medley of five pieces of about 1 to 2 minutes each, seamlessly woven together into one performance with minimal intervals.

His signature short program (SP), "Ballade No. 1," was performed with the intensity of a competition. He beautifully landed a quadruple Salchow at the start. During the "old scoring system" portion of the program, he nailed a counter triple Axel (three-and-a-half rotations) and a quadruple-triple toe loop combination, eliciting huge cheers from the home field of the B1 Chiba Jets basketball team.

In the encore, he powerfully performed "MEGALOVANIA," followed by his Olympic-winning program "SEIMEI," which he proudly introduced as "my representative song!" He received a standing ovation, bringing the show to a grand finale. At the very end, he shouted from the heart, "Please stay healthy, spirited, and live with all your strength! Let’s meet again in the future!" After the performance, he smiled and mentioned in the post-show interview that he was in a "dazed state," feeling completely fulfilled, "I couldn’t have asked for a better ending." He was completely burnt out.

This performance was the third installment in the "Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY" series, which he served as the executive producer. It is a story that follows "GIFT at Tokyo Dome" and "RE_PRAY TOUR," and tells an original story. [Jun Kinoshita]

◆Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 3rd - Echoes of Life - TOUR With the theme of life's journey and growth, the show asks what "life" is and what the essence of "living" is. As with the previous two productions, MIKIKO was in charge of direction. Seven performances in three cities: at Saitama Super Arena on December 7, 9, and 11 last year, at Hiroshima Green Arena on January 3 and 5 this year, and at Lala Arena Tokyo Bay on February 7 and 9. Live viewing was held at movie theaters and other venues nationwide, and the show was also broadcast live exclusively on the CS TV Asahi channel.

Source: https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202502090001382.html
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250210070303/https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202502090001382.html

[Yuzuru Hanyu] Final performance of the national tour <First half> 64 minutes non-stop, 7 performances, "Ballade 1", 2 perfect quad jumps

Spoiler

Yuzuru Hanyu (30), the two-time Olympic men's figure skater and third-year professional skater, performed the final show of his national solo ice show tour "Echoes of Life" at Lala Arena Tokyo Bay in Chiba on the 9th.

The day also began with the new song "First Pulse," followed by "First Cry ~ Meguri" and "Utai IV." The first performance of the "Piano Collection," a set of five songs of about 1 to 2 minutes each, was also performed with only a short interval.

The short program (SP) song "Ballade No. 1" was skated with the same tension as a competition. After the opening quadruple Salchow, he successfully countered with a triple axel (three and a half rotation jump). When he completed a quadruple-triple toe loop in the "second half of the performance", the home stadium of the basketball B1 Chiba Jets was filled with cheers.

The play follows the growth of the protagonist, VGH-257 Nova, who is born into a philosophical virtual world, with themes such as "life," "self," "sound," and "rebirth."

Incorporating the real sound of breathing and the sharp sound of blades on ice, the performance enhanced its artistry. Even with costumes that appeared "difficult to move in," Hanyu showcased elegant steps and dance movements without any hint of restriction.

The first half of the performance lasted 64 minutes, uninterrupted. After a 30-minute break, the story continued into its second half.

This performance was the third installment of the "Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY" series, produced under Hanyu's supervision. Following "GIFT at Tokyo Dome" and "RE_PRAY TOUR," this unique story began on his 30th birthday, December 7, at Saitama Super Arena, continuing through three cities and seven performances. [By Kinoshita Jun]

Source: https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202502090000950.html
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250210071349/https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202502090000950.html

[Yuzuru Hanyu] Final performance "Set list" list Encore starts with "Ashura-chan" and then that song

Spoiler

Yuzuru Hanyu (30), the two-time Olympic men's figure skater and third-year professional skater, performed the final show of his national solo ice show tour "Echoes of Life" at Lala Arena Tokyo Bay in Chiba on the 9th.

[Setlist]

1. First Pulse

2. First Cry - Meguri

3. Utai IV ~Reawakening

4.Mass Destruction－Reload－

5. Piano Collection

5-1. 6Pieces for Piano, Op.:118:No.3,Ballade in G Minor.Allegro energico

5-2. The Well-Tempered Clavier,Book1:No2,Prelude and Fugue in C minor,BWV 847

5-3. Keyboard Sonata in D Minor,K.141

5-4. 12〓 (acute accent E) Students, Op.25: No.12 in C Minor "Ocean"

5-5. 12〓 (E with acute accent) Students, Op.10: No.4 in C-Sharp Minor "Torrent"

6. Ballade No.1 in G Minor,Op.23

7. Goliath (2024 Remix)

8. Aqua's Journey (Piano Solo Ver.)

9. Eclipse／blue

10. GATE OF STEINER－Aesthetics on Ice

11.Danny Boy

12. Poem of the soul of every person

EC1. Let Me Entertain You

EC2. MEGALOVANIA

EC3. SEIMEI

This is the third installment of the "Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY" series, which he is the executive producer of. This is a story that follows "GIFT at Tokyo Dome" and "RE_PRAY TOUR", and has continued its original story with seven performances in three cities since his 30th birthday on December 7th last year at Saitama Super Arena. [Jun Kinoshita]

Source: https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202502090001336.html
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250210071553/https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202502090001336.html

[Yuzuru Hanyu] "Overwhelmed with emotion" on the final day <Second half> He performed eight songs including "SEIMEI" with "all his soul"

Spoiler

Yuzuru Hanyu (30), the two-time Olympic men's figure skater and third-year professional skater, performed the final show of his national solo ice show tour "Echoes of Life" at Lala Arena Tokyo Bay in Chiba on the 9th.

In the second half of the performance, he skated to "Aqua's Journey" and moved the audience once again with "Danny Boy," reflecting on the ongoing struggles of the modern world. He also performed "Eclipse/blue" and "The Poem of All Souls," bringing the main show to a close.

Before the encore, he grabbed the microphone and said, "How did you enjoy the final performance? I’ve truly poured everything into this, my thoughts, my feelings, and everything in my heart."

He continued, "It’s been an incredibly challenging process to turn all this into reality. We worked at an impossible pace, dedicating an incredible amount of time, and I’m deeply grateful for all the hard work. A big round of applause for the production team, the video team, the lighting crew, the camera crew, the set designers, and everyone involved. We all came together and created this show as if it were our own child."

Reflecting on the finale of the three-city, seven-performance tour, he expressed with deep emotion, "I feel like I’ve said goodbye to Nova, and this was created with all my soul."

He then spoke about the story of the performance: "It's easier for me to express through skating rather than words, and I find it difficult to convey everything through language. But at the root of it, living is something so natural and miraculous. There are people who are tossed around by fate, those who keep believing in fate, and those who long for a different future. In this world, I just want everyone to feel, even if just a little, that you are living in this 'now' moment. You are stronger than you think, and you are living strongly. This is the story I conveyed through my prayers, my words, and my skating. Echoes may be over, but I hope that even just a little of today, this story, my skating, the choreography, and the dance from ELEVENPLAY will be something that encourages you to walk toward the future. I am truly grateful for that."

He was met with applause before continuing, "Life has its struggles, and it's not all about pretty words, as you all know. There are sudden hardships, moments when hope is lost, and such things are common in the world. But still, you are here, watching this, listening to it, and those moments will show that your very cells are alive. You will continue to move forward with the desire to live, so please believe in it and move forward. I hope that Echoes will continue to be a source of inspiration in your lives."

With a smile, he added, "Yes, I’ve shared some heavy thoughts. But everything I wanted to convey is in the story, and even though it might seem like extra words now, I felt deeply moved and wanted to explain it again."

He then said, "After such a heavy conversation, let’s do an encore! The ice is so beautiful. I’ve never performed on such a stage before, and I was able to jump, working hard to avoid any accidents." He guided the audience through the choreography of the customary "Let Me Entertain You," uniting everyone in the hope that light would shine through the pandemic as he performed the song.

To close, he gave an intense performance of "MEGALOVANIA," followed by his iconic "SEIMEI" from his two Olympic gold medal wins, introducing it as his "signature song" as he skated, receiving a standing ovation and bringing the show to a grand finale.

This performance was the third installment of the "Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY" series, following "GIFT at Tokyo Dome" and "RE_PRAY TOUR." The unique story began on his 30th birthday, December 7, at Saitama Super Arena and continued through seven performances across three cities. [By Jun Kinoshita]

Source: https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202502090001802.html
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250210071620/https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202502090001802.html

[Yuzuru Hanyu] In an interview after the final performance, he said, "I couldn't have ended it any better" and that he has "zero plans for the next performance, haha"

Spoiler

Yuzuru Hanyu (30), the two-time Olympic Winter Olympics champion in men's figure skating and in his third year as a professional, was moved to tears. On the 9th, he was in the final performance of his national tour of solo ice shows, "Echoes of Life," at the Lala Arena Tokyo Bay in Chiba. Before the encore, he grabbed the microphone and shouted, "Thank you very much!", and was overcome with emotion.

On this day, he performed 15 songs in front of a packed house of 8,300 people who had won tickets in a fierce battle. He completed 7 shows in 3 cities since the first day (Saitama Super Arena) on December 7th last year, which was his 30th birthday.

After the final performance, he responded to questions from the press.

- The tour has come to an end. Looking back, what are your thoughts?

"I just feel like I did my best, and the number of people involved in 'Ice Story' was truly unprecedented. I am filled with gratitude when I think about how many people worked so hard for me."

- You performed a story you wrote yourself. How do you feel about its completion?

"I was able to close this chapter with no regrets. I’m a little in a daze right now, but one thing I know is that I can't fully express everything with just words or writing. I believe 'Ice Story' is something unique that cannot be expressed solely through skating. I'm so happy that today's performance, direction, and story will be preserved in the video or remain in the memories of those who came to see it."

- Your performance of 'Ballad No. 1' was amazing. How did you approach it?

"I struggled a lot from the very beginning. I had to face the difficulty of performing two jumps in the second half of the short program (SP) under the old scoring system. A triple Axel (three-and-a-half rotations) and a 4-3 combination (two consecutive toe loops). It reminded me of just how challenging jumps are. There’s a different kind of tension in SP compared to the free program, and unlike the free, there’s no room for recovery in the SP. It’s a more difficult challenge because everything is packed into such a short period. Through this tour, I’ve come to realize just how hard it really is. Before all of that, I already had to perform four other songs, so there was the difficulty of 'Ah, this is tough,' as I went out there. But this was something I hoped for – with lighting, and with the ice rink size varying depending on the venue, adjustments were tricky. But thanks to the ice crew and everyone who worked hard, I managed to make it work."

- The tour has just ended, but do you have plans for the future?

"I have nothing. Zero (laughs). For now, I’m still in a daze, and my mind may not be working properly. But as I think about how many of you came together for this, I can’t help but feel how special it is, and I’m truly soaking in this moment with my heart."

This performance was the third installment in the "Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY" series, directed by the artist himself. Continuing the creative stories of "GIFT at Tokyo Dome" and "RE_PRAY TOUR," it concluded with a grand finale.

yuzurujenn · 2025-02-10T07:23:46Z

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

2025.02.09

Source: https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/333565
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250210072124/https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/333565

Yuzuru Hanyu's tearful final performance of national tour: "I was able to create this as if it were my own child"

Professional skater Yuzuru Hanyu, who won the men's figure skating gold medal at the Olympic Games for the second consecutive year, was moved to tears.

Spoiler

　The third installment of the ice story, "Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 3rd-Echoes of Life-TOUR," which Hanyu produced and directed himself, reached its final performance on the 9th at Lala Arena Tokyo Bay in Chiba.

He performed 15 songs, including both the main performance and encore, captivating 8,300 fans in about 2.5 hours. "This story is everything that I have packed into my mind, heart, soul—all of it. It’s because of all of you who came to watch that I was able to create it like my own child. Thank you for allowing me to create it and for watching over it," he expressed with tears of gratitude.

The tour started with the Saitama performance on December 7th and concluded with seven performances in total. Hanyu shared, "There are many difficult times, and life isn’t just about beautiful things, and I think all of you understand that well. Even so, you are here, watching and listening, and your cells are alive. I hope that Echoes will be something that inspires you in your life moving forward."

In the end, while waving to the audience, he lowered his head and said, "Please, everyone, continue to live with energy! I hope to meet you again in the future."

Source: https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/333574
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250210072056/https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/333574

Yuzuru Hanyu feels the effects of his new training during the national tour: "I can continue to evolve even more from now on"

Yuzuru Hanyu (30), a professional skater who won two consecutive Olympic gold medals in men's figure skating, celebrated the final performance of the third installment of the ice story he produced and directed, "Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 3rd-Echoes of Life-TOUR," at the Lala Arena Tokyo Bay in Chiba on the 9th.

Spoiler

He performed 15 songs, including both the main performance and encore, in about 2.5 hours, captivating his fans. In his iconic short program, "Ballade No. 1," he showcased a stunning quadruple Salchow and triple Axel, thrilling the audience. After the performance, Hanyu spoke to the press, saying, "I’m really filled with gratitude for how many people worked so hard for me and how much effort was put into this. I really feel thankful for everything."

Reflecting on the nationwide tour that began in December, he said, "I feel like we closed it in the best possible way. I’m kind of in a daze, but I truly believe that this story is something unique that can’t be expressed only through words or skating. I’m really happy that today’s performance, the direction, and the story will remain in the memories of the people who came and will be preserved in the videos."

Before the Hiroshima performance in January, Hanyu introduced new training methods and worked on preparing for the shows. "I started practicing how to move my body in a way that I can recover quickly and how to enhance the flexibility and beauty that define my style. I feel like it’s all come together now. I have a strong sense that I can continue to evolve and improve going forward," he shared.

After completing GIFT, RE_PRAY, and Echoes of Life, when asked about plans for a fourth installment, he laughed and said, "I don’t have any plans right now." He added, "I’m kind of in a daze at the moment, and my mind might not be working perfectly. But while I’m reflecting deeply, I’m really feeling how special all of this has been. I’m just focusing on the present."

yuzurujenn · 2025-02-10T07:26:02Z

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

2025.02.09

Source: https://hochi.news/articles/20250209-OHT1T51182.html?page=1
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250210072606/https://hochi.news/articles/20250209-OHT1T51182.html?page=1

[With setlist] Yuzuru Hanyu: "I put all my soul into skating" - A tearful final performance, all 7 performances completed

Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 3rd "Echoes of Life" TOUR," starring and executive produced by professional figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu, concluded on the 9th at Lala Arena Tokyo Bay.

Spoiler

The Ice Story, which began with Yuzuru Hanyu’s 30th birthday in December last year, reached its finale, evolving throughout the tour. Before the encore, Hanyu took the microphone on the ice and, with tears in his eyes, said, "I skated with all my soul."

He performed the short program (SP) "Ballade No. 1" from the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, where he won his second gold medal, flawlessly. After skating for 30 minutes from the start of the show, he followed with nearly 10 minutes of "Piano Collection," before diving into the Olympic gold medal routine with its demanding setlist. The routine maintained the same high-level difficulty as when he performed it during the Olympics.

The program started with a quadruple Salchow, and in the second half, he executed a triple Axel and a quadruple-triple toe loop combination. After landing the final jump, he clenched his fists in triumph. The energy in the venue surged dramatically.

He skated through 15 songs, including the encore, over a show lasting just under three hours. In closing, he shouted with deep gratitude, "Please stay healthy, stay strong, and keep living. I hope to see you again in the future."

Setlist:

First Pulse
産声～めぐり (The First Cry ～ Circulation)
Utai IV ～ Reawakening
Mass Destruction—Reload
Piano Collection
- (1) 6 Pieces for Piano, Op. 118: No. 3, Ballade in G Minor. Allegro energico
- (2) The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1: No. 2, Prelude and Fugue in C Minor, BWV 847
- (3) Keyboard Sonata in D Minor, K. 141
- (4) 12 Etudes, Op. 25: No. 12 in C Minor "Ocean"
- (5) 12 Etudes, Op. 10: No. 4 in C-sharp Minor "Torrent"
Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 23
Goliath (2024 Remix)
Aqua's Journey (Piano Solo Version)
Eclipse/Blue
Gate of Steiner—Aesthetics on Ice
Danny Boy
Poem of All Souls

Encore:

Let Me Entertain You
MEGALOVANIA
SEIMEI

yuzurujenn · 2025-02-10T07:41:17Z

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

2025.02.10

Source: https://hochi.news/articles/20250209-OHT1T51239.html?page=1
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250210073249/https://hochi.news/articles/20250209-OHT1T51239.html?page=1

Yuzuru Hanyu put all his heart and soul into completing the tour, "I couldn't have ended it better" - Pyeongchang Olympic gold medal program without a mistake

The third installment of the ice story series "Echoes of Life," starring and executive produced by professional figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu (30), had a tearful final performance at the Lala Arena Tokyo Bay on the 9th. After Saitama and Hiroshima, the finale arrived in Chiba. In front of a packed house of 8,300 spectators, he performed 15 songs, including an encore, for over two and a half hours. He was overwhelmed with emotion on the ice.

Spoiler

On the ice, Yuzuru Hanyu’s emotions overflowed. "Thank you..." He struggled to find the words and became teary-eyed while expressing his gratitude to the fans and staff during his speech before the encore. Together with the performances in Saitama last December and Hiroshima in January, he completed all seven shows, each evolving with the uniqueness of the tour. "I skated with all my soul," he said, concluding the final performance with a breathtaking display.

He flawlessly performed the short program "Ballad No. 1" from the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, where he won his second consecutive Olympic gold. After skating continuously for 30 minutes at the beginning, he brought the gold medal routine right after a nearly 10-minute "Piano Collection" segment. The routine featured the same high-level difficulty as the original: the opening quadruple Salchow, followed by a triple axel and a consecutive quadruple-triple toe loop. After landing the final jump, he clenched both fists triumphantly. The energy in the arena surged.

The theme of the show was the philosophy of life, and Hanyu himself wrote the story. The powerful work, which he described as "everything in my head, my feelings, my heart, my soul—all packed into this," centered around the theme of "sound," with "sound" becoming one of the key elements. "Ballad No. 1" layered the "sound" of "fate." During the two performances in Chiba, he delivered flawless routines. "I was able to close it with a performance that couldn't have been better. I feel a little dazed," he said, soaking in the sense of accomplishment.

He skated through 15 songs, including the encore, in a solo show lasting over two and a half hours. His output increased during the Hiroshima performance in January. He created a piece that balanced expression and power without compromising either. Just before stepping off the ice, he shouted, "Everyone, please stay healthy, stay strong, and live on! I hope to see you again in the future."

"I want to move forward, straight and true, believing in my heart and my own justice." With each show, he surpassed his past self as "Yuzuru Hanyu." As he continues his journey toward the future, this unique performer will continue to create the "sound" of evolution. (Megumi Takagi)

[Yuzu: "I really feel like I can continue to change from now on"]

Interview with Yuzuru Hanyu after completing his tour:

- How do you feel now that the tour has ended?
"I just feel like I did my best. A lot of people were involved in this ice story, and I’m filled with gratitude."

- How did you approach "Ballade No. 1" today?
"From the very beginning of the tour, I struggled quite a bit. Performing the short program with the old scoring system and jumping twice in the second half, including the triple axel and the 4-3 combo, made me realize how difficult jumps can be. There were also challenges with the lighting and varying rink sizes, but thanks to the hard work of everyone, including the ice crew, I was able to manage it."

- After completing the seven performances of this tour, do you feel like you’ve surpassed something?
"I started new training routines. It’s not just about improving flexibility and range of motion, but also learning how to move my body effectively and how quickly I can recover. I’ve also been practicing how to refine the smoothness and beauty that are characteristic of me, and I started this right before the Hiroshima show. I finally feel like everything came together. Now, I really feel that I can continue to change and evolve."

Setlist:

First Pulse
Birth Cry - Meguri
Utai IV - Reawakening
Mass Destruction - Reload
Piano Collection
1. 6 Pieces for Piano, Op. 118: No. 3, Ballade in G Minor, Allegro energico
2. The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1: No. 2, Prelude and Fugue in C Minor, BWV 847
3. Keyboard Sonata in D Minor, K. 141
4. 12 Etudes, Op. 25: No. 12 in C Minor "Ocean"
5. 12 Etudes, Op. 10: No. 4 in C-Sharp Minor "Torrent"
Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 23
Goliath (2024 Remix)
Aqua’s Journey (Piano Solo Version)
Eclipse / Blue
Gate of Steiner - Aesthetics on Ice
Danny Boy
The Poem Song for All People

Encore:

Let Me Entertain You
MEGALOVANIA
SEIMEI

Source: https://hochi.news/articles/20250210-OHT1T51001.html?page=1
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250210073245/https://hochi.news/articles/20250210-OHT1T51001.html?page=1

Yuzuru Hanyu: "I did my best" "I'm a bit dazed" Q&A 1

　The "Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 3rd "Echoes of Life" TOUR", starring and executive produced by professional figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu, reached its final performance on the 9th at Lala Arena Tokyo Bay. After stops in Saitama and Hiroshima, the finale took place in Chiba. In front of a packed house of 8,300 spectators, the group performed 15 songs, including an encore, for over two and a half hours. They were overwhelmed with emotion on the ice. Below is a Q&A session after the performance.

Spoiler

- The "Echoes of Life" tour has ended. How do you feel now?

"I just feel like I gave it my all. And honestly, the number of people involved in this Ice Story is unprecedented. So many people have contributed, and I am truly filled with gratitude for everyone who has worked so hard for me."

- You wrote the story and performed in it. How do you feel about the level of completion within yourself?

"I was able to finish it with a performance that I couldn’t have asked for anything better. I’m in a bit of a daze, but it’s really hard for me to express everything through words or writing. This Ice Story is something that can’t be fully expressed with just skating either—it's one-of-a-kind. The performance, the production, and the story today being captured in videos or staying in the memories of the people who came to watch make me truly happy. I’m really filled with that feeling."

- Your performance of "Ballade No. 1" was amazing. How did you approach it today, especially in the small rink with low lighting?

"From the very beginning of this tour, I’ve really struggled with this. Performing the short program under the old rules, with two jumps in the second half—triple axel and 4-3 combo—I realized just how difficult those jumps are. There’s a different level of tension in the short program compared to the free program, and unlike in the free program, there’s no room to recover. The short program is so packed with elements that, for that reason, I found it even harder than the free program during this tour. On top of that, doing four pieces before the piano collection made it difficult, and I went out feeling exhausted. Also, the lighting—this was something I requested—along with the fact that the rink size varies depending on the venue, made adjustments very difficult. But thanks to the hard work of everyone, including the ice technicians, I was able to make it work."

Source: https://hochi.news/articles/20250210-OHT1T51002.html?page=1
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250210073742/https://hochi.news/articles/20250210-OHT1T51002.html?page=1

Yuzuru Hanyu: "I want to believe in my heart and my own justice and move forward straight ahead." Q&A 2

Spoiler

- The tour just ended, but do you have any ideas for the next Ice Story?

"I don’t. There’s nothing at all. I’m really in a daze right now, so my mind might not be working properly. But more than anything, I’m just reflecting on how special it is that so many people gathered here today. I’m really absorbing that feeling deeply in my heart, just living in the moment right now."

- You’ve said before that skating is like being alive. Looking towards the future, how do you want to live and show your way of life?

"One of the things I thought about and that deepened in my mind while I was writing this story and completing the tour is that no one knows what the future holds. That’s the most important thing that stuck with me during this tour. That was also the case with the Beijing Olympics. No matter how hard you work, there are times when you feel like it’s all for nothing. And no matter how many good things you do, how many small good deeds you repeat every day, sometimes misfortune still happens in the future. That’s just the way life is. So, I can’t really say there’s any one way of living, but what I do know is that, for now, I want to live in the present, believe in my heart and my own sense of justice, and keep moving forward straight ahead."

- About "Mass Destruction" (Mass Destruction), what is the mindset of Nova, the character you portray?

"That song itself is a battle song. It’s like the sound becomes a weapon as you fight. In the game Persona, there’s an enemy called the ‘Shadow,’ and my image was that I use sound to summon my persona and fight against it. I was thinking about how to explain that to a general audience (laughs). But yeah, the idea is that while embracing sound and dancing, I’m trying to crush negative emotions like hatred with positive emotions like joy and excitement."

Source: https://hochi.news/articles/20250210-OHT1T51003.html?page=1
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250210073754/https://hochi.news/articles/20250210-OHT1T51003.html?page=1

Yuzuru Hanyu: "When I skated to Danny Boy, I had the image of praying with my whole body." Q&A 3

Spoiler

- Today's "Danny Boy" felt very peaceful. What were you feeling while performing?

"I’m thinking back on it now, and trying to recall what I was feeling at the time. I was just so focused, and honestly, I was desperately trying to give it my all. The image I had was that I was praying with my whole body as I skated. That prayer had different meanings: there was the prayer for the deceased, which is at the core of 'Danny Boy,' a prayer for the hopes of everyone in the audience who came to see the show, a personal prayer for happiness, and a prayer for the staff who helped create this performance. It was all mixed together, a jumble of many different things. But through it all, I just focused on praying with the sound, pouring all of that into the music as I skated."

- In terms of the story, was there a prayer for the purification of hatred as well?

"In that scene, in that world, life had almost completely disappeared. And then, finally, I began to realize that new growth was being given the chance to emerge. It was a prayer for life to return, for the life around me to come to life. It was a prayer for each individual life to grow, for everyone to live. That was the strongest prayer I felt as Nova. At the end, it was almost like I was saying, 'Everyone, please live.'"

Source: https://hochi.news/articles/20250210-OHT1T51004.html?page=1
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250210074259/https://hochi.news/articles/20250210-OHT1T51004.html?page=1

Yuzuru Hanyu: "I can continue to change from now on" Q&A 4

Spoiler

- It seems that the theme of "loneliness" has been a source of inspiration throughout the Ice Story series, from the first to the third edition. What does "loneliness" mean to you now?

"I don’t really think of it as loneliness. But there are times when you have to fight alone, and of course, everyone experiences that to some extent. The sad thing is that we can’t always share everything. We can’t share all our pain or joy with others. I think that’s what makes us all feel lonely. But because of that, people use words, they use writing. What I wanted to express through Nova was that, even if you’re alone in that world, as long as there are things like words, records, and sounds, you’re not truly alone. So, I don’t really think of myself as lonely, but recently, I’ve tried to express a feeling of reassurance toward the small lonliness that exists in everyone, the loneliness that no one notices. My message was to say, 'It’s okay.'"

- Just like in competitions during the season, each performance seemed to improve as the tour went on. After seven performances, do you feel like you’ve surpassed something?

"I’ve started new types of training as well. It’s not just about increasing my range of motion or flexibility, but also about learning how to move my body in more usable ways, and how to recover faster. I’ve also been focusing on how to refine the suppleness and beauty that are characteristic of my skating, and I began practicing that right before the Hiroshima show. Finally, I feel like I’ve managed to bring everything together. So now, I have this real sense that I can keep evolving and changing even more moving forward."

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[2025] Echoes of Life - ICE STORY 3rd

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