[2025] Echoes of Life - ICE STORY 3rd

[yuzurujenn]

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2025.02.10

 

 

Source: https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202502100000284.html
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250210074719/https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202502100000284.html

 

[Yuzuru Hanyu] Q&A 1 "I think it's something unique that can't be expressed through skating alone"

 

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

 

In front of a packed house of 8,300 people who had won tickets in a fierce battle, he performed 15 songs on this day as well. Since the first day (Saitama Super Arena) on December 7th last year, which was his 30th birthday, he has successfully completed seven performances in three cities and answered questions from the press.

 

Spoiler

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

"I’m just really grateful for all the hard work, and the scale of the people involved in 'Ice Story' was truly unprecedented. So many people were involved in this, working for my sake. I’m filled with gratitude for how many people moved for me."

 

- You wrote the story yourself and performed it. How would you rate the completion of it?

"I was able to finish it with a sense of fulfillment, thinking that there was no better outcome. I’m kind of in a dazed state right now, but the truth is, words or letters alone cannot express what I feel. This 'Ice Story' is something that I believe cannot be fully expressed by skating alone—it's truly one-of-a-kind. The fact that today’s performance, direction, and story will be preserved in video or remain in the memories of the people who came to watch makes me incredibly happy."

 

- "Ballade No. 1" was wonderful. How did you approach this performance?

"I struggled quite a bit from the beginning. In the short program under the old judging rules, I have to do two jumps in the second half. That means performing a triple axel (three and a half rotations) and a 4-3 combination (two consecutive quadruple toe loops), which made me realize once again the difficulty of jumps. The short program brings a different kind of tension compared to the free program. And unlike the free program, there’s no room to recover, which is one of the features of the short program. It’s packed with so many elements, and because of that, it’s even more difficult than the free program. I realized that again throughout this tour. On top of that, before the short program, I had already done four pieces, and it’s difficult to go out there already thinking, 'Ah, this is tough.' I wanted lighting for the performance, and the rink size varies depending on the venue, so adjusting was tricky. But thanks to the efforts of everyone, including the ice technicians, I was able to manage it."

 

- Although it’s just finished, do you have plans for the next project?

"I have nothing at all (laughs). Zero (laughs). Right now, I’m kind of in a dazed state, and my mind may not be working properly, but I’m really just savoring the present moment. The fact that everyone came together like this—it’s just so special. I’m reflecting on that deeply in my heart while living in the now."

 

 

 

◆ Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 3rd - Echoes of Life - TOUR
This third edition of the 'Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY' series, which explores the journey of life and growth, asks what "life" and "living" truly mean. This creative and unique story continues after the "GIFT at Tokyo Dome" and "RE_PRAY TOUR." As with the previous two productions, MIKIKO was in charge of direction. The tour was held over three cities: Saitama Super Arena (December 7, 9, 11, last year), Hiroshima Green Arena (January 3, 5, this year), and Lala Arena Tokyo Bay (February 7, 9), with seven performances. Live viewings were held in theaters across the country, and it was also exclusively broadcast live on CS TV Asahi Channel.

 

 

 

Source: https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202502100000285.html
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250210074907/https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202502100000285.html

 

[Yuzuru Hanyu] Q&A 2 "I want to believe in my own heart and my own sense of justice and move forward straight ahead"

 

Spoiler

- You’ve said before that "skating = living." As you look toward the future, how would you like to live your life?

"One of the things that became clearer to me after writing this story and completing the tour is that the future is something no one can predict. That’s the biggest takeaway I’ve had while skating through this tour. It’s the same with the Beijing Olympics—no matter how much effort you put in, there are times when you feel like your efforts don’t pay off. No matter how many good things you do, how many good deeds you perform, sometimes misfortunes still occur in the future. That’s just how life is. Because of that, it’s hard to simply define how one should live. But for now, I just want to live in the present, trusting my heart and my own sense of justice, and move forward straight ahead."
 

- How did you feel while performing as Nova in "Mass Destruction -Reload-?"

"That song itself is a battle song. It’s about using sound as a weapon in battle. In terms of the Persona game, there’s an enemy called a Shadow, and I imagine myself using sound and summoning my persona to fight. I was trying to figure out how to explain that in a way that the general public could understand (laughs). So, while using sound and dancing, it’s about pushing down negative feelings like hatred with positive emotions, like joy and happiness. That’s the feeling I wanted to convey in the performance."

 

- Today’s "Danny Boy" felt very serene. How did you feel while performing it?

"I’m reflecting on it now (laughs). What was I feeling... At that moment, I was just desperately trying to skate with the image of praying with my whole body. The prayer had several meanings: one for the deceased, which is the essence of 'Danny Boy,' a prayer for the hope of everyone in the audience, a prayer for my own personal happiness, and a prayer for the staff who helped create all of this. Really, everything just kind of mixed together in my mind, but I was praying along with the music, simply putting all my feelings into that prayer."

 

 

 

Source: https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202502100000349.html
Archived: https://web.archive.org/save/https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202502100000349.html

 

[Yuzuru Hanyu] Q&A 3 "I don't feel lonely these days. I wanted to express that we're not alone."

 

Spoiler

- Was there a prayer for the purification of hatred in the story?

"That scene, within that world, takes place when life has almost disappeared, and they start to realize that a new sprout is being given the chance to grow. The prayer for life to take root around them, for each life to grow and thrive, that was the strongest prayer I had as Nova. In the end, I was just praying for everyone to live."

 

- Has "loneliness" been an inspiration for all Ice Story?

"I don't really think of it as loneliness. It's more about times when we have to fight, and of course, it's something that everyone carries within them, but you can't share everything. It's a very sad thing, but we can't share all our pain and joy with others, right? That makes everyone feel lonely. But because of that, we use words, we use writing. What I wanted to express with Nova is that even if you're alone in that world, as long as there are things like words, records, and sounds, you're not really alone. I don't think of myself as being lonely, recently. I’ve wanted to express the feelings of those little forms of loneliness, the kind that no one notices, and tell them, 'It's okay.'"

 

- As you performed more shows, it seems like something more wonderful was created. After seven performances, what do you feel you have overcome?

"I've also started new training, not just to increase flexibility or range of motion, but to improve how I move my body and how quickly I can recover. Also, I've been focusing on refining my flexibility, grace, and beauty, which are part of my unique characteristics. I started working on that around the time of the Hiroshima show. Now, I feel like everything has come together. I have the sense that I can continue to evolve from here. Thank you so much!"

 

[yuzurujenn]

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2025.02.10

 

Source: https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/333593
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250210075805/https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/333593

 

Yuzuru Hanyu "I put all my soul into my skating" - Tears at the final performance of his solo show... "I have no plans for my next performance"

 

The Chiba performance (Lala Arena Tokyo Bay) of the solo performance "Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 3rd "Echoes of Life" TOUR" produced and directed by Yuzuru Hanyu (30), who won two consecutive Olympic gold medals in men's figure skating, reached its final performance on the 9th. The "beliefs" of the charismatic skater who captivated the audience of 8,300 people packed into the venue have not changed since the past.

 

Spoiler

Tears of emotion welled up in his eyes. During the short program (SP) at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, he performed the "Ballade No. 1," showcasing a flawless quadruple salchow among other elements. After completing a program themed around "life" with 15 pieces of music (including encores), a thunderous ovation erupted. Having successfully completed the entire tour, Hanyu, with a deeply emotional expression, said, "I skated with all my soul. I would be happy if this story becomes a starting point for something that lives on in your hearts."

 

The story was written by Hanyu himself. Alongside his daily training, he thought deeply and fully to create this work. It was precisely because he gave his all, body, mind, and spirit, that he gained new realizations.

 

"Nobody really knows the future. What remained most in my heart as I skated through the tour is that, like with the 2022 Beijing Olympics, sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you don't get rewarded. No matter how many good deeds you do each day or how much you repeat good things, unfortunate things still happen."

 

At the Beijing Olympics, Hanyu sprained his right ankle the day before the free program, but he made the decision to attempt the quadruple axel (4A). Although the "4A" was recognized as the first-ever in an ISU-sanctioned competition, he unfortunately fell. Despite living a monk-like existence dedicated to skating, he knows that success doesn't always follow effort.

 

When asked about plans for his next Ice Story, he replied, "I don't have anything. Zero." However, the path he must take is clear. "It's not easy to say, 'This is how I want to live,' but for now, I want to believe in my heart and my sense of justice and move forward straight ahead." There was no trace of hesitation in his eyes.

 

[yuzurujenn]

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2025.02.10

 

Source: https://the-ans.jp/news/504141/
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250210075915/https://the-ans.jp/news/504141/

 

"No one knows what the future holds," says Yuzuru Hanyu, living in the present and expressing his gratitude for the fact that he has arrived at this point

 

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 at the Lala Arena Tokyo Bay in Chiba on the 9th. The sold-out performance included 15 songs, including an encore, in front of a sold-out audience of 8,300 people, and the audience was filled with tears and emotions.

 

Spoiler

Hanyu completed all seven performances, including those in Saitama and Hiroshima. The grand show, centered on the themes of "life" and "living," received a standing ovation. After the performance, during a press conference, when asked about plans for the future, he immediately answered, "I don't have anything. Zero (laughs)." It was clear that he was in a dazed state, a sign of having given his all throughout the tour.

 

Despite taking breaks, Hanyu skated solo for two and a half hours. He faced moments of immense pressure, such as jumping a quadruple toe loop in silence. It was a physically and mentally tough performance. But the way he overcame these challenges and met the audience's expectations on the ice made him appear, somehow, larger than his usual self.

 

His flawless performance of the "Ballade No. 1" in the short program at the Pyeongchang Olympics, which earned him a gold medal, also impressed everyone. "I was able to close the show with a performance that couldn’t have been better," he said, feeling a mixture of sadness as the tour ended, but also an undeniable sense of fulfillment.

 

The story explored themes of "past," "present," and "future." One realization he had during the tour was the undeniable truth that "nobody really knows the future."

He shared, "Just like at the Beijing Olympics, sometimes no matter how hard you try, you feel like you’re not rewarded. No matter how many good deeds you do every day or how much good you repeat, unfortunate things still happen in the future."

 

 

[To the future: "I can't just say 'this is the way to live'..."]

 

 

At the Beijing Olympics, Hanyu attempted the quadruple Axel while dealing with an injury. Unfortunately, he was unable to land the jump. Despite pouring his passion into skating more than anyone else, he understands that the future he hoped for does not always come to fruition.

 

Despite this, he does not give up on the future. He knows that the only path to a better future is to live fully in the "now." "I can't easily say, 'This is how I want to live,' but for now, I want to live straight ahead, trusting my heart and my own sense of justice," he said, carefully choosing his words. Once he finished, his gaze was as direct as his words.

 

On December 7, the first day of the Saitama performance, which also coincided with his 30th birthday, he mentioned the importance of doing his best in the present moment. On the final day of the tour, he expressed his feelings on the ice, saying, "I want you to feel that you're living in the present moment, even just a little. This is a story that I wrote with my words and skating, along with my prayers, that we are all living stronger than we think."

 

He bowed deeply and graciously, not forgetting to thank the staff and the audience. After the press conference, he repeated his gratitude to the journalists, saying "Thank you" over and over. Having completed the "one-of-a-kind" Ice Story, he is now moving on to a new "now."

 

 

(THE ANSWER Editorial Department, Hiroya Miyauchi)

 

[yuzurujenn]

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2025.02.10

 

Source: https://www.asahi.com/articles/AST294G2WT29UTQP007M.html
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250210080710/https://www.asahi.com/articles/AST294G2WT29UTQP007M.html

 

"Even if you're alone in the world" - Yuzuru Hanyu finishes the third tour

 

The third installment of the Ice Story ice show "Echoes of Life," starring professional skater Yuzuru Hanyu (30) and for which he also serves as executive producer, closed on the 9th at the Lala Arena Tokyo Bay in Funabashi City, Chiba Prefecture .

 

Spoiler

He performed a story of deep reflection on grand themes such as "What is life?" and "What is I?", performed alone on the ice and incorporating quadruple jumps and triple axels (three and a half rotations).

 

After performing the story he wrote himself, he said, "I would be happy if 'Echoes' became a trigger for everyone to live their lives. Thank you very much," receiving a huge round of applause from the packed audience of 8,300 people.

 

In the encore, he performed "SEIMEI," one of his representative programs, among others. He completed the approximately 3-hour performance.

 

The main exchanges with the press after the performance were as follows:

 

Q: The tour has now ended. How do you feel?

A: "I feel like I really gave it my all, and above all, so many people were involved in making this Ice Story happen, more than I could have ever imagined. I'm filled with gratitude for how many people worked so hard for me."

 

Q: You wrote the story yourself and performed it. How would you assess your own level of completion?

A: "I feel like I could not have ended it any better. I am in a bit of a daze, to be honest. I can’t fully express myself with just words or text. I believe this Ice Story is something unique that can’t be entirely conveyed by skating alone. I’m really happy that today’s performance, direction, and story will remain in the memories of those who came to watch or even in the form of recorded footage. I’m full of gratitude for that."

 

Q: I thought Chopin's "Ballade No. 1" was magnificent. Given that the show’s rink was a little smaller and darker, how did you approach it today?

A: "From the very beginning, I really struggled. And once again, I realized just how difficult the short program is, especially with the old scoring system where you have to perform two jumps in the second half — a triple axel and a quadruple-toe loop combination. It really hit me how challenging that is."

 

"There’s a different kind of tension compared to the free program, and unlike in the free program, there’s no room for recovery in the short program. It’s packed with so many elements, and that makes it even harder than the free program, something I really felt throughout this tour."

 

"And to face that difficulty, I had already performed four pieces before the piano (Ballade No. 1), so I was already thinking, 'This is tough,' as I went out. Also, there were lights, which was my wish, and the rink sizes changed depending on the venue, which made it very challenging. But thanks to the ice technicians and everyone’s hard work, I was able to make it happen."

 

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

A: "No, I don’t. Zero. Honestly, I’m in a bit of a daze right now. My mind might not be functioning well at the moment, but I’m really taking in how special it is that so many people gathered here today. I’m really letting that sink in and just living in the 'now.'"

 

Q: What kind of way of living would you like to show moving forward?

A: "One thing that I realized and thought more deeply about through writing this story and completing this tour is that, 'No one really knows the future.' That’s the biggest thing that stayed with me as I skated through this tour."

 

"Just like at the Beijing Olympics, no matter how hard you try, there are times when it feels like your efforts don’t pay off. No matter how many good deeds you do every day, or how many good things you repeat, sometimes unfortunate things happen. That’s the future. And that’s why I can’t easily say, 'This is the way I want to live.' But for now, I want to live straight ahead, believing in my heart and my own sense of justice, and just keep moving forward."

 

Q: Today’s "Danny Boy" had a sense of calm. What were your feelings as you skated?

A: "I’m thinking back now, and I’m not sure exactly how I was feeling (laughs). At the time, I was just giving it my all. Yeah, I was skating with the image of praying with my whole body."

 

"That prayer included the original meaning of Danny Boy, a requiem for the departed, but it was also a prayer for the hopes of everyone in the audience, a prayer for my personal happiness, and a prayer for the staff who helped create this performance. All those feelings mixed together, and it became one big prayer along with the music. I was simply praying with all my heart."

 

Q: From the first to the third edition, it seems like "loneliness" has been a common inspiration for your Ice Story. How do you personally view loneliness?

A: "I don't really think of it as loneliness. But there are times when we have to fight, and of course, it’s something that everyone experiences as a human. Not everything can be shared. It's a very sad thing, but we can’t share all our suffering and joy with others. And I think in that sense, everyone experiences loneliness."

 

"But that’s also why humans use words and writing, and I wanted to express in Nova that even if you’re alone in the world, as long as there are things like words, records, and sounds, you’re not truly alone. That was what I wanted to convey."

 

"I don’t really think of myself as lonely, especially not recently. But I do think that, within all of you, there’s a kind of small loneliness—something that others might not notice. And I wanted to express, 'It’s okay, you’re not alone' through my performance."

 

Q: Just like in the competitions during the season, each performance seems to have become even more impressive as time went on. After completing the 7 performances this time, is there something you feel you’ve surpassed or achieved?

A: "I started new training and it’s not just about increasing my range of motion or flexibility, but also focusing on movements I can use, how quickly I can recover, and refining my characteristic qualities, like my flexibility and beauty. I started working on this around the time of the Hiroshima performance, and I feel like it finally came together now. So, I have this strong sense that I can continue to evolve and change moving forward."

 

[yuzurujenn]

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2025.02.10

 

Source: https://www.excite.co.jp/news/article/E1739165142542/
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250210080622/https://www.excite.co.jp/news/article/E1739165142542/

 

Yuzuru Hanyu Reports Completion of All Performances of Echoes of Life: "Thank you very much"

 

On the 10th, professional figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu updated his Instagram, reporting that he had successfully completed all performances of his "Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 3rd "Echoes of Life" TOUR."

 

Spoiler

In his post, Hanyu expressed his gratitude, saying, "Thank you so much!!!" and sent a warm message to the audience.

 

He wrote, "I hope that it will serve as a small starting point for everyone who watched to continue asking questions," and also added words that encouraged deep reflection: "I hope you can live the 'future.'"

 

Echoes of Life is the third installment of the "ICE STORY" series, which Yuzuru Hanyu planned, wrote, performed, and produced. The show opened on December 7, his 30th birthday, at Saitama Super Arena. It was later held in Hiroshima in January and concluded on February 9 at Arena Tokyo Bay in Chiba.

 

[yuzurujenn]

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2025.02.10

 

Source: https://sportiva.shueisha.co.jp/clm/othersports/figure/2025/02/10/post/
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250210081652/https://sportiva.shueisha.co.jp/clm/othersports/figure/2025/02/10/post/

 

Yuzuru Hanyu: "I want to move forward, believing in my own heart and justice" - What he gained from completing his solo tour

 

[No mistakes in the difficult composition on the final day]

 

Yuzuru Hanyu's ice show "Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 3rd "Echoes of Life" TOUR" reached its final performance on February 9th at Lala Arena Tokyo Bay in Chiba. Hanyu, who opened in Yokohama on his 30th birthday on December 7th last year and completed seven performances in three cities, said, "I really did my best, and this Ice Story involved an unprecedented number of people. I'm filled with gratitude."

 

Spoiler

The story, written by Yuzuru Hanyu himself, follows the protagonist "Nova," who is born as the only person in a world turned into ruins, embarking on a journey to explore the meaning of life and existence. After the performance, Hanyu expressed his feelings about the final performance, saying, "I was able to finish it with a performance that couldn't have been better." The intensity of his thoughts about the final performance could be felt from the powerful skating in the opening segment, First Pulse.

 

The highlight of the first half of the show was the long segment where he remained on the ice, dancing five piano pieces, followed by Ballade No. 1 in G minor. This was a performance where musical notes drawn on a musical staff flowed through projection mapping while skating. In the third piece, Keyboard Sonata in D Minor, K. 141, he successfully executed a clean quadruple toe loop and triple axel.

 

Ballade No. 1 in G minor featured a challenging structure in the second half of the program, incorporating a triple axel and consecutive jumps, expressing his desire to believe in fate.

 

"I really struggled from the start, and performing two jumps in the latter half of the short program under the old judging rules—triple axels and a quad-triple jump—was extremely difficult. It has a different kind of tension than the free program. The short program is characterized by having no room for recovery, and because it's packed with so many elements, it's even more difficult than the free program, which I felt throughout this tour."

 

"Also, before the piano pieces, I had already performed four pieces, so it was tough mentally as I went out. I requested that the lighting be included, but due to the varying rink sizes at each venue, adjusting was very difficult. However, thanks to everyone, including the ice technicians, who worked hard, I was able to manage."

 

In this performance, he performed a clean quadruple salchow, two spins, a triple axel, and a quadruple toe loop + triple toe loop, all without a single mistake, showing his true strength.

 

Hanyu's concentration intensified even further in the second half of the performance, after the 30-minute ice resurfacing break. It was a battle in which he resolved to 'show his justice to the hatred.'

 

In the scene projected onto the ice, resembling the surface of water, his gentle glide in 'Aqua's Journey (Piano Solo Ver.)' evoked the birth of life. In 'Eclipse/blue,' he danced with the desire to live each day. And in 'GATE OF STEINER-Aesthetics on Ice,' the expression of relentlessly searching for life conveyed a strength that almost felt frantic.

 

And the impression left by 'Danny Boy' was powerful.

 

"As a part of the story, that scene represents the moment when, in a world where life is almost gone, there is the first hint of new life emerging. It’s the realization of the presence of life around me, and a prayer for every life to grow. The strongest prayer from Nova was that everyone would live. In the end, I was saying, 'Everyone, live.'"

 

The performance was more pure than peaceful. It was like a dance performed calmly with a clear mind... The serene atmosphere seemed to cleanse the hearts of the audience watching.

 

"I was desperate. I skated with the image of praying with my whole body. The prayer I had was one that included the mourning for the deceased, as the essence of Danny Boy, as well as prayers for the hope of the audience members here, prayers for my personal happiness and also prayers for the staff. Really, a mix of many things came together, and I prayed along with the music, just praying with all my heart."

 

The story was completed over the course of seven performances. What were his thoughts and feelings from that?

 

"One thing I realized by writing this story and actually completing the tour is that the most important thing that stayed with me during this journey is that no one knows what the future holds. This was also the case with the Beijing Olympics—there are times when, no matter how hard you work, it feels like your efforts go unrewarded. Even if you do good deeds every day, misfortune can still strike in the future. That’s the reality of life. Because of that, it’s hard to say exactly what kind of life one should live. But still, I want to keep moving forward, trusting my heart and my sense of justice, living in the present moment."

 

Through the performances, Hanyu also felt a sense of personal growth.

 

"I started new training as well. It wasn't just about increasing flexibility or expanding my range of motion, but also learning how to use my body more effectively and how quickly I could recover. I began working on improving my characteristic flexibility and beauty just before the Hiroshima performance, and now I finally feel like it has come together. So, I now feel that I can keep changing and evolving as I go forward."

 

Hanyu’s Ice Story, created by pouring everything—his heart, body, and mind—into it, promised further evolution to the audience watching.

 

[yuzurujenn]

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2025.02.10

 

Source: https://wedge.ismedia.jp/articles/-/36618
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250210091235/https://wedge.ismedia.jp/articles/-/36618

 

＜Yuzuru Hanyu never stops evolving＞ He is constantly improving his body and mind, and is eager to try new training even during performances

 

The solo performance "Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 3rd "Echoes of Life" TOUR" by Yuzuru Hanyu, a professional skater who achieved two consecutive Olympic gold medals in men's figure skating, had its final performance at the Lala Arena Tokyo Bay in Chiba on the 9th. Having completed a total of seven performances in three cities, including the Chiba performance following Saitama and Hiroshima, Hanyu was overcome with emotion before the finale. <Mitsuru Tanaka>

 

Spoiler

With "sound" as the keyword, Hanyu expressed his enthusiasm for the grand challenge of depicting on the ice a story based on the theme of "life" that he had written himself, saying, "I put all my soul into skating." On the other hand, Hanyu, who turned 30 on the first day of the performance on December 7 last year, also showed his eagerness to continue evolving. Despite the tight intervals unique to a one-man show, he worked hard to maintain his strong and flexible physique, and he also embraced new methods of adjustment to keep progressing.

 

In the end, he took several heavy breaths, as if trying to compensate for his excess physical strength with sheer willpower.

 

During the third encore, he performed his iconic program, 'SEIMEI,' so intensely that his neatly styled hair was left in disarray, closing the solo performance that lasted over two and a half hours with 15 songs.

 

Placing the microphone on the ice, Hanyu took a deep breath and shouted, 'Thank you so much!!' his voice resonating through the arena.

 

Opening with 'First Pulse,' the continuous array of performances, mixing strength and subtlety, overwhelmed the audience in the packed arena. After powerfully performing the 'Piano Collection' with only a brief interval, he then proceeded to perform his signature short program piece, 'Ballade No. 1.'

 

Moreover, the jump composition was the same high-level difficulty as the one he used to grasp the gold medal at the PyeongChang Olympics. The venue was filled with the same tension as during his competitive days.

 

The performance was flawless. He beautifully executed a quadruple Salchow at the beginning, and then, in the latter half of the routine, where the base points are multiplied by 1.1 times under the PyeongChang Olympic rules, he flawlessly landed a triple Axel (a triple jump with a half turn) and a quadruple-triple toe loop combination.

 

"Once again, I realized the difficulty of performing two jumps in the second half of the short program under the old judging rules, with those jumps being a triple Axel and a quadruple-triple toe loop combination."

 

After a 30-minute break, in the second half, he skated to 'Aqua's Journey' and performed the prayerful 'Danny Boy' in a pure white costume, moving gracefully.

 

The third installment of "ICE STORY" was a story that he wrote himself.

 

"I'm better at expressing myself through skating, so I find it very difficult to express it in Japanese, but this is a story that I wrote through words and skating, along with a prayer, to convey that you are stronger than you think, that you are living strong lives..’

 

I think that everyone being alive is something very natural, yet miraculous. In a world where there are people who are at the mercy of fate, people who continue to believe in fate, and people who continue to hope for the future, I sincerely hope that, just for a moment, people can feel that they are living in this moment called 'now'."

 

Hanyu says that he is more skilled at expressing through skating, but the physical and mental burden of performing in a solo show is beyond imagination. In a previous interview, Hanyu mentioned that he compares each program to a "section" in a relay race, approaching his solo performances with the mindset of passing the baton along and aiming for the marathon’s finish line.

 

Stamina to endure long performances and physical strength to avoid injury are important, but the mental switch to give everything in the next program after a brief interval, as well as the flexibility and grace required for performing a variety of pieces, are all essential. The foundation he built during his competitive career is no longer enough, and even after turning professional, he has continued to undergo tough training to meet these demands.

 

His physique is incredible, and during his final skate of the day, "SEIMEI," his rolled-up T-shirt revealed his perfectly toned abs. Of course, figure skating isn't just about increasing muscle mass. It also requires strength, flexibility, and explosiveness, and on top of that you build up technique to improve the precision of your skating and jumps. There is no one like him who tours with solo performances like he does now, and that's why there are no roadmaps to follow.

 

Amidst all this, what’s remarkable is the update that Hanyu shared during a press interview after the performance.

 

"(During the tour) I have also started new training. It's not just about increasing the range of motion and improving flexibility, but I'm also focusing on how effectively I can move my body and how quickly I can recover."

 

"I have also started working on how to refine my characteristics, such as my physical flexibility and grace, which are my strengths. I began focusing on this just before the Hiroshima (performance), and I feel that it has finally come together this time. That's why I have the sense that I can continue to change and improve even more moving forward."

 

Even now, he continues to search for the necessary training through trial and error.

 

When asked about his plans after fully immersing himself in Echoes of Life, he firmly stated, 'I have no plans. It's zero.' However, there was no sign of any pressure on his face, and he even seemed relaxed.

 

In his final greeting, he raised his voice and said, 'I look forward to the day I can meet all of you again. Let's meet again in the future.'

 

New training will refine the 30-year-old's body. And beyond that further evolution, the next "ICE STORY" awaits.　

 

 

[yuzurujenn]

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2025.02.10

 

Source: https://jbpress.ismedia.jp/articles/-/86577
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250210121319/https://jbpress.ismedia.jp/articles/-/86577

 

Yuzuru Hanyu shows his determination and fighting spirit, and revives his legendary program for the first time in five years in a solo performance... The figure that appeared on the dark rink

 

[Detailed report] "Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 3rd "Echoes of Life" TOUR" Final performance (1)

 

Spoiler

The final performance of the solo show "Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 3rd "Echoes of Life" TOUR" by professional skater Yuzuru Hanyu, who won two consecutive Olympic gold medals in men's figure skating, was held on the 9th at Lala Arena Tokyo Bay in Chiba.

 

The third installment of his ICE STORY series, which grapples with grand philosophical themes like "life" and "living," was a story he personally wrote and expressed on ice. The tour began in December last year at Saitama, continuing in Hiroshima, and concluding with the Chiba performance, completing a total of 7 shows across 3 cities. Hanyu himself showed an overwhelming sense of accomplishment during the finale of the last performance.

 

On that day, what came to my mind was Hanyu’s appearance as a "competitor," much like in his days as a competitive skater.

 

 

[8,300 fans filled the arena]

 

The arena, filled with 8,300 people, was sold out as usual. Amidst this, seeing the seats reserved for the media made me feel a sense of tension. This was because it was the closest I had ever been to the rink through the ice stories and shows performed by Hanyu, who has turned professional skater.

 

That's why there was something deeply moving. It wasn't the glamorous appearance created by the meticulous attention to sound, visuals, and other elements of the performance after his transition to a professional skater. Rather, it was something much more essential—the relentless determination and fighting spirit to give his very best, right up until just before the performance began.

 

 

[The determination and fighting spirit witnessed by the reporter]

 

With a 30-minute break in between, the solo performance lasted about two and a half hours, and on this day, Hanyu performed a total of 15 programs, including an encore, with great enthusiasm. During this time, Hanyu continued skating on the ice, hardly ever going backstage, and the time between programs, when the narration was playing with the video, was supposed to be a short break for Hanyu to catch his breath.

 

However, from the media seats near the rink, the shadow of Hanyu, floating in the darkness, was constantly in motion. He wasn’t staying in one place; he was checking the trajectory of the jumps for the next program and carefully adjusting his body, twisting his upper body to ensure the correct rotational axis for the jump.

 

The phrase "I put my whole soul into it" was not an exaggeration. His focus remained sharp and sustained. He had surely prepared meticulously for the solo performance.

 

Still, he pushed himself to the very end, not allowing the slightest compromise. I could feel the same intensity and determination from him as during his competitive days, when he was known as the "absolute champion" who clinched back-to-back Olympic golds.

 

Before being thrust into the bright spotlight, he performed a combination jump including a quadruple jump in a "dry run" on the ice where no one was likely to be watching, and a small cheer erupted from the nearby spectators.

 

 

["Ballade No. 1" is reborn]

 

The sound of Hanyu's skate blades grinding the ice—crunch crunch—was clearly audible just before his performance. It brought a rush of nostalgia. It was a sound I had often heard during his competitive days, especially in official practice sessions before the audience had entered the venue.

 

One of the highlights of this performance was his presentation of Chopin's piano piece "Ballade No. 1," after skating for over 30 minutes from the start of the show. This is a legendary program that he also performed well in the short program (SP) at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, where he broke his own world record in 2017 and achieved the first men's feat in 66 years.

 

Afterward, he reintroduced it at the 2020 Four Continents Championship under the new rules, where he won his first title there, and becoming the driving force behind his “Super Slam,” a complete domination of major international competitions, including the senior and junior Olympics and the World Championships.

 

This legendary program was revived on February 9th, the same day the Super Slam was achieved five years ago.

 

Because the performance time for a SP is short, one mistake has a big impact on the completeness of the program.

 

Hanyu himself is well aware of this, which is why he remarked, "There is a different level of tension compared to the long program (free skate). Unlike the long program, where there's room to recover from mistakes, the short program doesn't offer that opportunity. It’s packed with so many elements, making it even more difficult than the free skate." He also admitted that he had "struggled quite a lot from the very beginning" of this solo performance.

 

Even amidst these challenges, Hanyu attempted a highly difficult routine that was no different to the one he used when he won his two consecutive Olympic gold medals.

 

 

[No compromises as a professional]

 

The jump sequence begins with a solo quadruple Salchow at the start, followed by a triple Axel and a quad-triple toe loop combination (4T-3T) in the latter half. Due to new rules at the 2020 Four Continents Championships, there was only one jump in the second half of the performance that would earn a 1.1x base point.

 

At that time, instead of a combination, he performed a triple Axel. However, under the old rules from the Pyeongchang Olympics, two jumps could be performed in the second half of the program. The reason the base value increases in the second half is because it is more physically demanding for the skater.

 

As a professional skater, he is not bound by competitive rules. Still, he chose to incorporate two types of jumps, including a combination, in the latter half of his program. His choice reflected a desire for evolution beyond the limitations of competitive figure skating, showcasing the pride of a professional skater who doesn’t compromise.

 

Furthermore, unlike his competitive years when he could focus solely on the SP (short program), this time he performed the "Piano Collection" before "Ballade No.1," which required him to continuously skate with only a short interval in between the performances.

 

"I once again felt the difficulty of executing two jumps in the second half of the short program under the old scoring rules, a triple axel and a quadruple-triple (toe loop) jump." His choice to challenge "Ballade No.1" with such a high hurdle in this way is what likely leads to a performance that touches the hearts of the spectators.

 

 

[When the actual performance came, it was a flawless execution.]

 

The performance that day was truly flawless, just as one would call it a perfect execution.

 

Turning his head around, he skated smoothly to the melody of the piano, and landed a quadruple Salchow with ease at the beginning of his performance. In the second half of the program, he also performed a triple axel (three and a half rotation jump) and a quadruple-triple combination with ease.

 

"It was something I requested, but adjusting to the lighting and dealing with varying rink sizes at different venues made it challenging," he said. "However, thanks to the hard work of the ice technicians and everyone else who supported me, I was able to make it work."

 

The professional rink lacked barriers, and the lighting made it harder to see the ice. Despite the varying rink sizes in different venues, he finished the final performance without a single mistake, perfectly complementing the grand finale. From start to finish, he remained meticulous in his adjustments, delivering a flawless performance in this one-shot moment.

 

This was the true brilliance of Hanyu as a professional skater.

 

[yuzurujenn]

Posted just now

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2025.02.10

 

Source: https://jbpress.ismedia.jp/articles/-/86578
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250210121408/https://jbpress.ismedia.jp/articles/-/86578

 

Yuzuru Hanyu: "I don't feel lonely these days"... Why did the emotional, solitary skater confess this?

 

[Detailed report] "Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 3rd "Echoes of Life" TOUR" Final performance (2)

 

Spoiler

The solo performance "Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 3rd "Echoes of Life" TOUR" by professional skater Yuzuru Hanyu, who achieved two consecutive Olympic gold medals in men's figure skating, held its final performance at the Lala Arena Tokyo Bay in Chiba on the 9th. The third installment of ICE STORY, in which "artist Yuzuru Hanyu" faced grand philosophical themes such as "living" and "life," ended with such a sense of accomplishment that Hanyu himself was overcome with emotion at the finale of the final performance.

 

Hanyu celebrated his 30th birthday on December 7th of last year, the day the show began. He became an Olympic gold medalist at the age of 19, and in his 20s he repeatedly set the highest world scores, became the first skater in history to successfully land a quadruple loop, and was also "certified" to perform a quadruple axel.

 

Even after transitioning to a professional skater, he continues to venture into unknown territory, leading to the image of him being "lonely" or "solitary," but in an interview after the final performance he confessed, "Recently, I don't feel so lonely." What does he really mean by that?

 

["I skated with all my heart and soul"]

 

"How did you all like the final performance?"

 

When Hanyu, who had completed all 12 programs in the main program, returned to the rink with a microphone in hand, the packed arena erupted in cheers. Hanyu, who was projected on the screen, was overcome with emotion, his eyes were teary and his voice was slightly trembling.

 

"I really put everything into it - my thoughts, my feelings, my heart, my soul. I couldn't have asked for a better ending. I'm a little stunned."

 

After carefully expressing his gratitude to those involved in creating the performance, he bowed deeply to the audience and said, "Thank you so much for creating (my solo performance) and watching over me." His expression, different from his usual gentle smile, exuded a sense of accomplishment that he had "skated with all his heart and soul."

 

 

["After all, no one knows what the future holds"]

 

Having written the storybook himself and challenged the grand scale of expressing it on ice while making full use of visuals, Hanyu successfully completed a nationwide tour with 7 performances across three cities in Saitama, Hiroshima, and Chiba. ``This is one of the things that has deepened my own thinking.'' Looking back on the performance, which dealt with the grand themes of "living" and "life," he confessed, "The thing that stuck in my mind the most was that, after all, no one knows what the future holds."

 

He cited his own experience.

 

"It was the same at the Beijing Olympics, but there are times when I feel like no matter how hard I try, it's not worth it."

 

At the 2022 Beijing Olympics, where he was attempting the feat of winning a third consecutive Olympic gold medal, he suffered an accident during the opening quadruple Salchow of his short program, when the edge of his skate got caught in a small hole in the rink and slipped out. Afterwards, he injured his right ankle during practice, but forced himself to go ahead with his free skate after taking painkiller injection. Although he completed the rotation for the first-ever quadruple Axel, his right ankle, which had surpassed its limit, could not hold up and he fell.

 

At that time, Hanyu reflected, saying, “It may have been an effort that went unrewarded...” and had no choice but to accept it. However, because of the experience where his solitary efforts since the PyeongChang Olympics didn’t bear fruit, he continued, "It is not easy to say what is the correct ‘way of life,' but for now, I am living in the 'present', believing in my heart and my own justice and move forward straight ahead."

 

Looking back, the path to the Beijing Olympics was filled with hardships. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he was forced to miss the Grand Prix series. Moreover, he couldn’t return to his training base in Toronto, Canada, and had to face the challenge of the quadruple Axel alone on the rink late at night.

 

[The message "It's okay"]

 

In Hanyu's performances as a professional skater, there is not only the absolute time when a strong athlete dominates the rink, but also a time that warmly envelops everyone. This can be attributed to his personal experiences, having endured hardships like the Great East Japan Earthquake and struggles during the Beijing Olympics.

 

This sentiment is also directed towards the disaster-stricken areas currently suffering, and has led to the ice show "notte stellata" he organized in his hometown of Miyagi after turning professional, as well as the "Noto Peninsula Reconstruction Support Charity Performance - Challenge" in September last year.

 

Fans gain strength and courage from seeing this side of Hanyu, but it also seems as if he is constantly facing loneliness.

 

In a post-performance interview, a reporter asked, "ICE STORY seems to be inspired by loneliness, but what does loneliness mean to you?" I myself agreed with many of the points in the question. However, Hanyu tilted his head slightly and answered:

 

"I don't really feel lonely these days." 

 

He explained the true meaning behind his statement: "I think everyone experiences times when they have to fight, but that doesn't mean we can share all of the pain and joy we feel at times. I believe that’s when people feel loneliness. But because of that, we use words, letters, and sounds to communicate. What I wanted to express in ICE STORY was that even if you are alone in this world, as long as words, letters, and sounds exist, you are not truly alone.  I wanted to express the feeling that it's okay to feel a little loneliness, the loneliness that no one notices."

 

The point is that, while there are battles one must face alone, human beings can overcome isolation by communicating with others. And why was Hanyu able to say that he himself "doesn't feel lonely these days"? A hint was glimpsed in an exclusive interview that I had with him in March of last year.

 

It was the opportunity to meet other professionals with the same high standards of professionalism and commitment to creating performances.

 

 

[Encounter with a 'group of professionals']

 

Hanyu said of himself after turning professional, "I feel like I'm in a creative place." He continued, "I have to create something from a state of 'nothing,' and because I have to create something, it's fun and interesting, but also difficult.

 

"There are many people who are seriously working with me to create the show. So, although it is hard work for me, I feel a sense of accomplishment in the show we are building as a 'group of professionals,' and I always feel a responsibility to be at my best as I create ICE STORY,“ he said, referring to the presence of his reliable 'team.'

 

Beyond the direction, the visuals, and even the performing dancers, the presence of fans who resonate with his expression in the works he creates is also a big part of it.

 

That is probably why, after his performance, Hanyu naturally bows deeply to all those involved and to the audience. With a sense of gratitude that he was able to deliver the worldview that he had hoped to create with ease and without feeling alone.

 

 

[yuzurujenn]

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2025.02.10

 

Source: https://worldfigureskating-web.jp/news/11033/
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250210140032/https://worldfigureskating-web.jp/news/11033/

 

Yuzuru Hanyu's Echoes of Life - Final Performance

 

Yuzuru Hanyu's ICE STORY 3rd "Echoes of Life" TOUR is produced and directed by Yuzuru Hanyu. After the world premiere in Saitama in December and the Hiroshima performance in January, the tour began on February 7th at LaLa arena TOKYO-BAY in Chiba, with the final performance on February 9th.

 

Spoiler

Having completed all seven performances, Hanyu expressed his gratitude with moist eyes during his on-ice speech: "I poured everything from my mind, my feelings, my heart, and my soul into this. A big round of applause for the production team, video team, ice, lighting, camera, art, and all the other staff who worked so hard to create this piece in such a short period of time, at an unprecedented speed. Thank you so much to everyone who came to watch, for allowing me to create this piece, and for watching over me. There are many hardships, and I think you all understand better than anyone that life isn't all pretty. But even so, I would be happy if 'Echoes' could continue to be a motivation for you all to live." 

 

We look back on his work with his words after the performance, as he takes another step forward as an artist.

 

A Performance that Elevated His Soul

 

"I just feel like I did my best, and the scale of the people involved in this 'Ice Story' is truly unprecedented. I am filled with gratitude for how many people have worked with me," said Hanyu.

 

The third installment of ICE STORY, "Echoes of Life," with Yuzuru Hanyu as executive producer, emerged as a science fiction story. Ashen remnants scattered around the rink, and the screen depicted a scene of towering ruins in a destroyed world. In this setting, Hanyu played the protagonist, "VGH-257 Nova," who was born as a "chosen one" with special powers. The theme of the performance centered around bioethics. The story began with the image of a dystopian, desolate world, and explored the meaning of life and the meaning of living.

 

The performance begins with "First Pulse," where Nova first skates onto the ice, followed by the pure "Birth Cry ~Meguri," the dignified "Utai IV ~ Reawakening," and the protagonist, having discovered both himself and the world, preparing for battle in "Mass Destruction - Reload." The story is carried forward by a fusion of Hanyu's powerful performance, blending various emotions, and the torrent of words and visuals that depict the storyline, pushing the audience further and further into the narrative.

 

The special ability granted to Nova is the power to control "sound," and to use sound to replay. During the world premiere, Hanyu commented, "Philosophy enters the body as sound, and that philosophy becomes music, and the program is created from that," describing how he conceptualized the work. The highlight of this is the section that flows continuously for over 10 minutes, which includes a collection of classical piano pieces, culminating in the performance of Chopin's "Ballade No. 1," where he is urged to "play the 'sound' of 'destiny'".

 

This part was created through a dialogue with his pianist friend Shinya Kiyozuka, with choreography entrusted to Jeffrey Battle. "Ballade No. 1" is originally one of his signature short programs, but in the final performance, while maintaining the precision of threading a needle, it evolved into a more free-spirited expression, elevating his soul in the process.

"I struggled from the beginning, and in the short program under the old scoring rules, I felt the difficulty of jumping a triple axel and a quadruple + triple jump twice in the second half. It was a different kind of tension from the free program. And unlike the free program, the short program has no room for recovery, and because it is packed with so many things, I felt again through this tour that it is more difficult than the free program. And I did four songs, I think, before the piano (Ballade), and f going out while thinking, "Ah, this is tough," was difficult. Also, as I wanted, there was the lighting, and the rink size changed depending on the venue, so it was a very difficult challenge, but thanks to everyone, including the ice craftsmen, who worked hard, I managed to do it."

 

[Praying with all his being, praying wholeheartedly]

With the cry of "Let the sound of my strength resonate," he skates to "Goliath (2024 Remix)." In the second part, after summoning all his strength, he brings a moment of peace and the sprouting of life with "Aqua's Journey (Piano Solo Ver.)." The quest continues. The protagonist climbs an endless staircase, consumed by the frustration of trying to grasp the meaning of life but failing to do so. Eventually, a revelation comes to Nova, and as if in response, Hanyu begins to skate to the accompaniment of his own voice ("Eclipse/blue"). The story, woven around sound and words, leads to an inevitable and beautiful moment where Hanyu’s skating and voice merged, fleeting yet beautiful.

 

The image of a clock, reminding one of the limited nature of time, makes a strong impression in "GATE OF STEINER -Aesthetics on Ice." After this, the protagonist accepts his "now," and with the joy of rebirth as life sprouts once again, he skates to "Danny Boy." A moment of compassion celebrating life with a nostalgic melody that touches the heart.

 

"I skated with the image of praying with all my being. That prayer is both a prayer for the deceased, which is at the core of 'Danny Boy,' and a prayer for the hope of the people who came to the venue, as well as a prayer for my own personal happiness, and a prayer for the staff who created this. It’s really a mix of many things, but with the music, I prayed all together, simply and wholeheartedly," Hanyu shared.

 

"In the story, that scene is where the protagonist, in a world where life has almost completely disappeared, begins to realize that new life is starting to sprout. It’s a prayer for the life surrounding them to take root, for each life to grow, and for everyone to stay alive. This prayer was the strongest for Nova. In the end, he said, 'Everyone, live.'"

 

Finally, after skating to 'Poem of the Souls of All People,' in which he passes through the many doors that served as motifs for the story, Nova/Hanyu takes another step forward.

 

 

["I can keep evolving more and more"]

 

Ice Story has evolved with each performance, and the quality has been further refined with each performance. The communication between Hanyu and the production staff, including MIKIKO, who supports him, has also deepened. Concluding the third installment, Hanyu once again spoke of his strong feelings about Ice Story, the form he created to deliver his skating and story.

 

"I was able to end with a performance that couldn't have been better, so I'm a little in a dazed state, but words and letters can't fully express what I feel. I believe ICE STORY is something that can't be fully expressed with just skating. It's truly unique, something irreplaceable. I’m so happy that today’s performance, direction, and story will be preserved in the form of video, and that it will remain in the memories of those who came to watch.”

 

After seven performances of "Echoes of Life," Hanyu's confidence in conveying his feelings through ice stories and in the path he is taking seems to have strengthened.

 

"Writing this story, and actually completing the tour, one thing that became clearer in my mind was that the future is something nobody really knows. That's the most significant thing that stayed with me throughout this tour. Like with the Beijing Olympics, there are times when no matter how hard you work, it feels like you aren't rewarded. And even if you keep doing good things, unfortunate events can still happen, that's just what the future is. So, it's not easy to say 'this is the way to live,’ but for now, I just want to live in the present, trusting my heart and my sense of justice, and move forward with that."

 

The ice performances Hanyu has created so far—GIFT, RE_PRAY, and Echoes of Life—each have different themes, but one common source of inspiration has likely been loneliness. It’s a shared experience, something everyone faces in life, something we all confront and sometimes struggle with. What these moments lead to isn’t isolation or disconnection, but empathy, reaching out to each other, and praying for a better future. In "Echoes of Life," this message seems to have been conveyed more strongly than ever before. Although I may be wrong in this interpretation, when asked, 'Through the creation of three works, collaborating on an unprecedented scale with many people, and having gone through the experience of finding answers within the stories, what does loneliness mean to you now?', Hanyu answered as follows.

 

"I don't really think of it as loneliness. It's just that there are times when you have to fight, and of course, it's something everyone experiences, but you can't share everything. It's a very sad thing, but you can't share all of your suffering or joy, can you? I think that's something everyone experiences, a kind of loneliness. But because of that, humans use words, they use writing, and what I wanted to express through Nova was that even if you're alone in that world, as long as there are words, records, sounds, and things like that, you’re not truly alone. I don't really feel that I'm lonely, especially recently. However, I did want to express my feelings toward the little loneliness inside all of you, the kind of loneliness no one notices, and say, 'It's okay.'"

 

In a world where we are constantly faced with conflict and sad news, “You’re not alone. It’s okay.” These words, filled with the sentiment of “praying” for others, convey an irreplaceable sense of peace and boundless kindness that will surely stir the hearts of those who watch. Though Hanyu says he has “zero” plans for the next ICE STORY at this moment, he did share his thoughts on the future:

 

“I’ve started new training to increase my range of motion—not just improving flexibility, but also how much I can move my body in ways I can use, how fast I can recover, and refining my unique qualities, like my flexibility and grace. I’ve been practicing these things since just before the Hiroshima show. I feel like it finally came together this time. So, I now have a real sense that I can keep evolving and improving.”

 

[yuzurujenn]

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2025.02.11

 

Source: https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGKKZO86653430Q5A210C2UU8000/

 

Hanyu: "I put my soul into skating" - passionate performance at final show of solo tour

 

Yuzuru Hanyu, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in men's figure skating, appeared in the ice show "Echoes of Life" on the 9th at the Lala Arena Tokyo Bay in Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture. The show marked the final performance of his solo tour, which he served as executive producer, and he performed 15 songs in over two and a half hours.

 

He was overcome with emotion as he greeted the audience on the ice, saying, "I skated with all my heart and soul," and his eyes welled up with tears.

 

He completed a total of seven tour performances, including Saitama in December last year and Hiroshima in January this year. In his short program of the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, Chopin's "Ballade No. 1," he flawlessly executed a quadruple Salchow, a triple Axel (three and a half rotation jump), and a quadruple-triple toe loop combo. He thrilled the audience of about 8,300 people and commented with a sense of accomplishment, "I couldn't have finished with better results. I'm a little dazed."

 

 

JP text:

Spoiler

羽生さん「魂込め滑った」　単独ツアー千秋楽で熱演

 

フィギュアスケート男子で冬季五輪2連覇の羽生結弦さんが9日、千葉県船橋市のららアリーナ東京ベイでアイスショー「Echoes of Life」に出演した。制作総指揮を務めた単独ツアーは千秋楽を迎え、2時間半超で15曲を熱演。氷上で「全魂を込めて滑らせていただいた」とあいさつして感極まり、目を潤ませた。

昨年12月の埼玉、今年1月の広島と合わせて全7公演を滑り切った。2018年平昌五輪のショートプログラム、ショパンの「バラード第1番」では4回転サルコーとトリプルアクセル（3回転半ジャンプ）、4回転―3回転の連続トーループを完璧に決める圧巻の内容。約8300人の観客を沸かせ「これ以上ない出来で締めることができた。ちょっと放心状態」と達成感に浸った。

 

[yuzurujenn]

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2025.02.17

 

Source: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000288.000030888.html

https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000336.000017626.html

Info: https://x.com/echoesoflife_jp/status/1891309340864201198

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250217064120/https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000288.000030888.html

https://web.archive.org/web/20250217064828/https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000336.000017626.html

 

 

A special world has opened in collaboration with Yuzuru Hanyu's third solo ice show tour "Echoes of Life" and Metaverse Roppongi! A one-night-only exchange event will be held on Wednesday, February 26th from 9pm!

 

"Capsule-shaped objects" and "red moon" will also be appearing! Enjoy the final performance of the Chiba concert with a limited avatar wearing an "Echoes of Life" T-shirt! There will also be a comment from Yuzuru Hanyu!

 

Spoiler

◾️The collaboration world between "Echoes of Life" and Metaverse Roppongi is open for a limited time! The much talked about "capsule-shaped object" and "red moon" photo spots are also available!

 

Following the "Yuzuru Hanyu "RE_PRAY" Event in Metaverse Roppongi" held in December 2023, which attracted a total of approximately 35,000 people, this year there will be a collaboration between Yuzuru Hanyu's solo ice show tour "Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 3rd "Echoes of Life" TOUR" and the virtual space "Metaverse Roppongi of Light and Stars" developed by TV Asahi!

 

Starting Monday, February 24th, the floor of the arena area in Metaverse Roppongi will be transformed into an ice rink! There will be photo spots where you can take photos with Yuzuru Hanyu, including a giant banner display of him from "Echoes of Life." During the collaboration period, if you look up at the night sky, you will see a "red moon" floating there, and the rainbow-colored bridge over the arena will also be painted red! If you cross the bridge and take a photo in front of the red moon, you may be able to create a special worldview.

 

What's more, you can take photos inside the capsule object where Yuzuru Hanyu's character Nova appears. How you spend your time in the space is up to you! Please invite your friends and come and play with us!

 

Quote

 

<Metaverse Roppongi x Yuzuru Hanyu "Echoes of Life" Collaboration World Open Period>

Monday, February 24, 2025, 12:00 noon to Sunday, March 9, 2025, 12:00 midnight

*Periods and other details may be subject to change.

*Due to the "Roppongi Metameta RADIO" event being held on Friday, February 28th, the display will be in a different style from 10pm on the 27th to midnight on the 28th. It is scheduled to return to the special collaboration style from Saturday, March 1st.

 

 

 

◾️A one-night only social event will be held on Wednesday, February 26th from 9pm!

All participants will be able to participate with a limited avatar wearing the same "Echoes of Life" T-shirt! There will also be a special screening of some of the performances from the final performance in Chiba!

 

Announcer Onishi Taira and Sakuraba Hagu will be appearing at the event!

 

February 26th has been called "ICE STORY Memorial Day" to commemorate the first holding of his first solo ice show tour, "Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 2023 "GIFT"," at Tokyo Dome on February 26th, 2023.

 

It has been decided that a one-night-only limited event , "Hanyu Yuzuru 'Echoes of Life' Exchange Event in Metaverse Roppongi," will be held on this important day, Wednesday, February 26th, from 9pm !

 

This event allows you to enjoy some of the performances from the final performance of the "Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 3rd "Echoes of Life" TOUR" Chiba concert held in February 2025 in a metaverse space. The performances to be viewed have been decided as "Mass Destruction" and "Poetry of the Soul of Everyone"! You can focus and watch the performance, or you can enjoy chatting with other participants while watching. Anyone can participate with just a smartphone.

 

<Comment from Yuzuru Hanyu>

To commemorate the performance of “Echoes of Life”, we will be holding the “Yuzuru Hanyu ‘Echoes of Life’ Exchange Event in Metaverse Roppongi” in virtual space!

A lot of people enjoyed the event two years ago, and we are looking forward to your participation from all over the country this year as well! Even if you couldn't make it to the venue, we hope you will enjoy it!

 

Quote

 

<Event Overview>

Yuzuru Hanyu "Echoes of Life" Exchange Event in Metaverse Roppongi

◾️Date: Wednesday, February 26, 2025, 9pm

◾️Location: The Light and Star Metaverse Roppongi

　*Entry is available from the Metaverse Roppongi official website

https://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/vr_roppongi/

◾️Free to participate

◾️Capacity: 10,000 people

　*First come, first served *You may not be able to enter depending on your device environment.

 

 

 

During the collaboration period starting Monday, February 24th, you will be able to transform into a limited edition avatar wearing an "Echoes of Life" T-shirt within Metaverse Roppongi.

 

Whether you're dressed in your favorite avatar or wearing matching T-shirts, let's all join in and have fun at this special event on February 26th!

 

The exchange event will feature announcer Onishi Taihei, who is well known for his role in the Figure Skating Grand Prix series broadcast on TV Asahi, and Sakuraba Hug, an official TV Asahi VTuber who also appeared at the "Hanyu Yuzuru "RE_PRAY" Event in Metaverse Roppongi" held in December 2023.

 

There will also be an explanation of how to operate in the metaverse space, so even beginners can participate. Make your metaverse debut at this event and experience a new world! We also have plans for everyone to enjoy.

 

Whether you're knowledgeable about figure skating or not, if you're a fan of Yuzuru Hanyu, please come and join us!

 

<Notes regarding the event>

・This event will be held in the metaverse (virtual space), so you can participate from anywhere in the country. *Please do not come to Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, where TV Asahi is located.

・Yuzuru Hanyu will only appear via video on the day. He is not scheduled to appear on stage.

・We will strengthen our servers on the day of the event, but if the number of simultaneous connections exceeds 10,000 people, admission will be restricted. We recommend that you enter early from a location with a good internet connection.

- Please download the metaverse spatial platform "cluster" app (free) in advance and create an account, then on the day of the event, please join the event in the "Metaverse Roppongi of Light and Stars" world within the app.

・There are no plans to archive the broadcast.

 

<Advance preparations>

Please download the cluster app (free) in advance from your smartphone, tablet, PC, VR device, etc. and create a cluster account within the app.

https://cluster.mu/ 

*It may take some time before you can enter depending on your device and internet environment. We recommend that you prepare early.

*The recommended environment can be confirmed at the URL below.

https://help.cluster.mu/hc/ja/articles/360015884851 

*Chromebooks are not supported.

 

<About admission on the day of the event>

Please enter the world of "Metaverse Roppongi of Light and Stars" by clicking on the "Visit Metaverse Roppongi" (=entry button) displayed at the top of the official website of "Metaverse Roppongi of Light and Stars". After entering, please wait in the world until the event starts.

 

⚫︎Click here for the official website of "Metaverse Roppongi of Light and Stars"

https://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/vr_roppongi/ 

*If you are unable to enter via the above site, please enter directly via the URL below.

https://cluster.mu/e/3918e0de-a785-4a7a-941c-ed740ea96d51 

Click here for operation instructions

https://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/vr_roppongi/method/ 

How to create your own original avatar

https://help.cluster.mu/hc/ja/categories/4411636965529-アバターをつくる

 

◾️ Viewer participation project! Official X has started accepting comments in advance!

　"What kind of activities do you do to support Hanyu on a daily basis?"

X will be collecting comments in advance for the viewer participation corner during the event. The topic is "What are the things you do every day to support Hanyu?"

Based on the content you have submitted, we will show you what you usually do as a fan of Hanyu Yuzuru!

 

(Example) Every morning, I look at a photo of Yuzuru Hanyu before heading to work!

　　Showing off an acrylic keychain attached to your bag! …etc

 

There are two ways to post comments. We look forward to your posts!

① #MetaverseRoppongi #YuzuruHanyu  #TurnOnEchoes

　Post to X with your account

② Reply to the official X topic post on "Roppongi Metameta RADIO"

"Roppongi Metameta RADIO" Official X　https://x.com/6pongimetaRADIO

 

*Each person may post as many times as they like.

*When reposting,  please add the hashtags #MetaverseRoppongi #HanyuYuzuru #Echoes as in ①.

*Please participate using a public account.

*Due to time restrictions, we are unable to introduce all of the activities. Thank you for your understanding.

 

 

◾️What is “Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 3rd “Echoes of Life” TOUR”?

Yuzuru Hanyu's Ice Story 3rd installment, "Echoes of Life" tour.

Executive producer: Yuzuru Hanyu, director: MIKIKO. Based on the original story he wrote himself, the film uses video and skating to explore the themes that Hanyu himself has been thinking about since he was a child, such as "What is life?" and "What is life?". A new form of entertainment that depicts the figure skating of 30-year-old Yuzuru Hanyu through video.

 

◾️Yuzuru Hanyu writes his first novel!

For "Echoes of Life," Yuzuru Hanyu has written his first "novel" as the original story!　

It is not an autobiographical work like previous works, but rather an original story.

The story's theme is philosophy. The protagonist, Nova, played by Yuzuru Hanyu, encounters various sounds and explores philosophical questions such as "Who am I?" and "What is life?"

 

◾️TELASA Exclusive Distribution

The Saitama and Hiroshima performances are currently being streamed on the video distribution platform "TELASA" in a total of seven different videos, including the main footage!

https://www.telasa.jp/series/15259

 

◾️CS broadcasting

Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 3rd “Echoes of Life” TOUR

Exclusively broadcast on TV Asahi Channel 2!

Hiroshima Performance DAY1 March 22nd (Sat) 7:00pm

Chiba Performance DAY1 April 26th (Sat) 7:00pm

Behind the Scenes Special May 5th (Monday, National Holiday) 7:00pm

https://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/ch/recommend/echoesoflife/

 

◾️THE BOOK "Echoes of Life" is now available!

A commemorative book that looks back on the performance with selected photographs.

In addition, the latest merchandise (book cover + 7-piece book marker set and book box) and additional merchandise from the Chiba performance are now available for mail order!

https://echoesoflife.jp/goods.html

 

◾️What is "Roppongi, the Metaverse of Light and Stars"?

"Light and Star Metaverse Roppongi" is a metaverse space that can be accessed via smartphone. Many events have been held so far, including events linked to TV programs and fan meetings featuring popular artists. The "birthday celebration" of figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu, held in December 2023, attracted a total of about 35,000 people, and was a huge success. In addition, the largest virtual cultural festival in history, "Operation Metameta," held last summer, attracted a total of more than 200,000 people. More than 180 events have been held so far, with a total of about 2 million people attending!

 

Anyone can easily enter "Roppongi Metaverse of Light and Stars" by downloading a dedicated app called "cluster" on their smartphone. The unique feature of this space is that it allows users to easily enjoy themselves by watching events, playing in original game spaces, chatting with friends in spaces where users can talk to each other, and connecting and communicating with other fans within the metaverse space.

 

■ "Roppongi: The Metaverse of Light and Stars" official website

https://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/vr_roppongi/ 

 

[yuzurujenn]

machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2025.02.17

 

Source: https://the-ans.jp/news/506020/

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250217065403/https://the-ans.jp/news/506020/

 

Yuzuru Hanyu's "Echoes of Life" collaborates with Metaverse Roppongi, special world opens on "cluster"

 

Cluster Inc., which operates "cluster," one of Japan's largest metaverse platforms with a cumulative total of over 35 million people attending its events, has announced that it will hold a collaboration event on the metaverse platform "cluster," provided in cooperation with TV Asahi, between Yuzuru Hanyu's solo tour, "Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 3rd "Echoes of Life" TOUR," and the virtual space "Metaverse Roppongi of Light and Stars," developed by TV Asahi.

 

Spoiler

A one-night-only social event will be held on February 26th from 9pm.

　Cluster Inc., which operates "cluster," one of Japan's largest metaverse platforms with a cumulative total of over 35 million people attending its events, has announced that it will hold a collaboration event on the metaverse platform "cluster," which it provides in cooperation with TV Asahi, between Yuzuru Hanyu's solo tour, "Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 3rd "Echoes of Life" TOUR," and the virtual space "Metaverse Roppongi of Light and Stars," developed by TV Asahi.

 

Following the "Yuzuru Hanyu "RE_PRAY" Event in Metaverse Roppongi," which attracted a total of approximately 35,000 people, this year it has been decided that Yuzuru Hanyu will collaborate with his solo tour "Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 3rd "Echoes of Life" TOUR" and the virtual space "Metaverse Roppongi of Light and Stars" developed by TV Asahi.

 

　Starting February 24th, the floor of the arena area within Metaverse Roppongi will be transformed into an ice rink, and photo spots will be set up where you can take photos with Hanyu, including a giant banner display of him from "Echoes of Life."

 

　During the collaboration period, if you look up at the night sky, you will see a "red moon" floating there, and the rainbow-colored bridge over the arena will also be painted red for a special look. If you cross the bridge and take a photo in front of the red moon, you may be able to express a special worldview... In addition, you can enter the "capsule-shaped object" that features "Nova," played by Hanyu, in the performance and take a photo.

 

▼Open period

Monday, February 24, 2025, 12:00 noon to Sunday, March 9, 2025, midnight
*Dates and times are subject to change.

*From 22:00 on Thursday, February 27th to 24:00 on Friday, February 28th, the "Roppongi Meta Meta RADIO" event will be held, so the venue will be decorated differently. The venue is scheduled to return to the special collaboration decorations from Saturday, March 1st.

 

▼A one-night-only event, "Yuzuru Hanyu 'Echoes of Life' Exchange Event in Metaverse Roppongi" will be held on Wednesday, February 26th from 9pm! A special screening of some of the performances from the final performance in Chiba!

　This event allows you to enjoy some of the performances from the final performance of the "Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 3rd "Echoes of Life" TOUR" held in Chiba in February 2025 in the metaverse space. The two performances that can be viewed at the venue are "Mass Destruction" and "Poetry of the Soul of Everyone". All participants can participate with a limited avatar wearing a matching "Echoes of Life" T-shirt. You can participate from any device, including PC, smartphone, and VR.

 

■ Comment from Yuzuru Hanyu

To commemorate the performance of "Echoes of Life", we will be holding the "Yuzuru Hanyu 'Echoes of Life' Exchange Event in Metaverse Roppongi" in virtual space! A lot of people enjoyed it last year, and we look forward to your participation from all over the country this year as well! Even if you couldn't make it to the venue, please come and enjoy it!

 

 

 

 

Source: https://trendnewscaster.jp/entertainment/202502178218/

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250217065319/https://trendnewscaster.jp/entertainment/202502178218/

 

Yuzuru Hanyu's "Echoes of Life" x Metaverse Roppongi Collaboration World Open on 2/24! Hanyu: "I'm looking forward to everyone's participation!"

 

The metaverse platform "cluster" will open a limited-time collaboration world between "Echoes of Life" and Metaverse Roppongi.

 

Spoiler

Giant banner display

Starting Monday, February 24th, the floor of the arena area within Metaverse Roppongi will be transformed into an skating rink, and a giant banner of Yuzuru Hanyu from "Echoes of Life" will be on display.

 

There will also be a photo spot where you can take photos together.

 

During the collaboration period, when you look up at the night sky you will see a red moon floating there, and the rainbow-colored bridge spanning the arena will also be specially painted red.

If you cross the bridge and take a photo in front of the red moon, you might be able to capture a special worldview.

 

In addition, you can enter the capsule-shaped object in which "Nova," played by Yuzuru Hanyu, appears in the performance and take photos.

 

<Metaverse Roppongi x Yuzuru Hanyu "Echoes of Life" Collaboration World Open Period>
 

Monday, February 24, 2025, 12:00 noon to Sunday, March 9, 2025, 12:00 midnight

In addition, a one-night-only event, "Yuzuru Hanyu "Echoes of Life" Exchange Event in Metaverse Roppongi" will be held from 9pm on Wednesday, February 26th!

There will be a special screening of selected performances from the final performance in Chiba.

 

 

Comment from Yuzuru Hanyu

 

To commemorate the performance of “Echoes of Life”, we will be holding a virtual event called “Yuzuru Hanyu ‘Echoes of Life’ Exchange Event in Metaverse Roppongi”!

A lot of people enjoyed the event last year, and we look forward to your participation from all over the country again this year!

Even if you couldn't make it to the venue, please come and enjoy!

 

 

<Overview of Yuzuru Hanyu's "Echoes of Life" Exchange Event in Metaverse Roppongi>

 

Date and time: Wednesday, February 26, 2025, 21:00

Location: Light and Star Metaverse Roppongi

Participation: Free

Capacity: 10,000 people

*Entry is available from the Metaverse Roppongi official website

*First come, first served *You may not be able to enter depending on your device environment.

*The recommended environment can be confirmed at the URL below.

https://help.cluster.mu/hc/ja/articles/360015884851

*Depending on the amount of memory consumed by the event or world, it may not work.

[How to participate]
① Download the "cluster" app

Please download the "cluster" app in advance from your smartphone, tablet, PC, VR device, etc.

Download URL: https://cluster.mu/downloads

②Account settings – Explanation of basic operations

Configure various settings such as the name displayed within the app.

After setting up your account, you will be taken to a practice screen where basic operations will also be explained.

3. Access "Metaverse Roppongi"

Visit the official Metaverse Roppongi website (https://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/vr_roppongi/) and click on "Visit Metaverse Roppongi [https://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/vr_roppongi/]".

Click on the <Visit Metaverse Roppongi (free admission)> button to enter the world.

You can also enter through this URL.

https://cluster.mu/e/s/66e6c50a-2d6c-45a9-96ad-a98910d95c90/entry 

<Notes regarding the event>

・This event will be held in the metaverse (virtual space), so you can participate from anywhere in the country.

*Please be careful not to come to Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, where TV Asahi is located.

・Yuzuru Hanyu will only appear via video on the day. He is not scheduled to appear on stage.

・We will strengthen our servers on the day of the event, but if the number of simultaneous connections exceeds 10,000 people, admission will be restricted. We recommend that you enter early from a location with a good internet connection.

 - Please download the metaverse spatial platform "cluster" app in advance and join the event in the "Metaverse Roppongi of Light and Stars" world within the app on the day.

 ・There are no plans to archive the broadcast.

<About admission on the day of the event>

 On Wednesday, February 26th, please enter the world of "Metaverse Roppongi of Light and Stars" by clicking the "Enter the event here" button at the top of the official website of "Metaverse Roppongi of Light and Stars."

After entering, please wait within the world until the event starts.

 

[yuzurujenn]

machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2025.02.17

 

Source: Figure Skating Life Vol.35, pg 116

Info: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/459462331X

 

FS Life Vol 35 - Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 3rd: Echoes of Life - Saitama Performance

 

What is life, the meaning of living, and what is destiny? Life is a story that continues while asking such questions. The fact that we have just seen this story may also be a part of our destiny. The "Echoes of Life" tour kicked off at Saitama Super Arena. I covered the opening performance on December 7.

(text by Yumeko Yamamoto, photos by Keiko Asakura)

 

Spoiler

A philosophical story written by Hanyu that is like a movie.

 

Yuzuru Hanyu stars in and serves as the executive producer of the third Ice Story, Echoes of Life. The latest installment in the evolving story, following GIFT and RE_PRAY, premiered at Saitama Super Arena on December 7, Hanyu's birthday. For this Ice Story, Hanyu's first-ever storybook was released in advance, allowing viewers to learn about the story before attending the show. In addition to 'life,' which has been the central theme of previous ice stories, the story of Nova questions and explores the meaning of the existence of 'I.' How will a philosophical story about life be expressed on ice? Expectations for Echoes of Life were building even before the show began.

 

The performance featured a large screen in front, with a stage structure that included balconies on either side, and the rink was surrounded by pure white driftwood and objects, creating a scene of a desolate city. The show began with Hanyu rising from beneath the stage inside a transparent pod. "Nova," who has awakened from sleep, ventures into the outside world to comprehend the situation. The transformed world on the screen was portrayed with high-quality CGI, as if watching a movie. The costumes were also different from typical figure skating attire, resembling regular clothing more closely.  The elaborately designed costume in black, with silver lines on the face, expresses a near-future science fiction worldview. Hanyu commented, "This time, people who are not specialists in figure skating costumes participated. It’s a different kind of Ice Story from [RE_PRAY] or [GIFT] or [PROLOGUE], and even the costumes are not typical for figure skating. I hope people will feel the unique texture of the costumes you can only see in 'Echoes'."

 

The story of the ice show progresses between the awakened world of "Nova" and the "Room," a space filled with words and letters of life. The program included soundtracks from movies and games like "Ghost in the Shell" and "Persona 3," classical piano pieces, as well as "Ballade No. 1 in G Minor" by Chopin, which Hanyu used in competitions, and "Danny Boy," which he debuted in "Notte Stellata 2024," all arranged to fit the story. The performance "Utai IV ~ Reawakening," which he danced like a shaman, evokes a sense of sacredness through its costume. The piano collection, which is made up of five consecutive short piano pieces leading to Chopin's "Ballade No. 1," was created by 'studying classical music with (pianist) Shinya Kiyozuka and choreographer Jeffrey Buttle, while carefully calculating the imagery for the choreography.' The piece "First Pulse," which marks the beginning of the story, was composed specifically for this ice show.

 

Regarding the music selection, Hanyu said, "Since 'RE_PRAY' was created with a more game-oriented approach, I wanted to create a new program that is more classical. This time, the theme is philosophy, so I chose more piano melodies and pieces that evoke a sense of clarity and composure." Among them, one even featured skating in sync with words, a new attempt not seen in previous ice shows. Hanyu explained about this performance, saying, "I have always experienced things like scenery, colors, and emotions turning into sound. For example, some people associate the color red with passion, while others may interpret it as fear. People interpret these things differently, but for me, I have always heard them as sounds since I was a child," and said that he incorporated them into his Ice Story performances, "expressing the intonation and meaning of words that I've been training in."

 

With every solo performance, new experiments in creativity emerge, demonstrating Hanyu's rich imagination. He learns from his past experiences, extensive literature, encounters with many professionals, and even from anime and games, sublimating them into stories. He continues to demonstrate his talent as a creator, going beyond the framework of a professional athlete. At every Ice Story, you can feel the new possibilities and evolution of ice shows. If there’s an opportunity, I hope you will experience this world for yourself.

 

After completing the story, Hanyu prepared an encore program that was a complete departure from the serious narrative, featuring numbers that had fans cheering with all their might, such as Let Me Entertain You, Asura-chan, and SEIMEI. On the first day of the performance, which was also his birthday, Hanyu himself invited the audience to celebrate, saying, 'Please sing Happy Birthday!' Hanyu says he finds motivation in the joy of his supporters, and the fans who gathered to witness the story he was telling created a warm and heartfelt atmosphere.

 

After a successful tour in Saitama and Hiroshima, the story of “Echoes of Life” will come to an end at the Chiba concert in February. We look forward to seeing what “Nova” will find in Chiba, and the world of Ice Story that will continue from there, all the while basking in the afterglow of the show.

 

[yuzurujenn]

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2025.02.17

 

Source: https://www2.myjcom.jp/special/tv/thema/figureskate/column/detail/20250217.shtml

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250217114541/https://www2.myjcom.jp/special/tv/thema/figureskate/column/detail/20250217.shtml

 

Yuzuru Hanyu's resilient body: To "walk towards the future"

 

The "ICE STORY 3rd - Echoes of Life - TOUR" by professional figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu reached its final performance at La La arena TOKYO-BAY in Chiba Prefecture on February 9th. During the encore, Hanyu greeted the 8,300 audience members, saying, "Echoes is over, but I hope it will make you feel like you want to walk towards the future," and there was a tearful moment. (by Kiyosumi Ninomiya)

 

Spoiler

"The Feeling of Crushing Hatred"

Echoes of Life is a sci-fi story themed around "life" and "war." Hanyu played the protagonist, Nova, who is the only survivor of a war on Earth.

 

Here are his thoughts after the show:

 

"I’m in a bit of a daze right now (laughs). What can I say... Ice Story is something that can’t be fully expressed just through words or letters. Even skating alone can’t express it all. It’s something unique and irreplaceable. I’m truly happy that today’s performance and the story have been recorded on film and will remain in the memories of those who came to watch."

 

The crowd erupted with excitement during the fourth track, "Mass Destruction-Reload," and the sixth track, "Ballade No.1 in G Minor, Op. 23." The former is called "Mass Dis," and the latter is often referred to as "Ballade 1."

 

The fourth track, "Mass Dis," literally translates to "Mass Destruction." It’s a rap-style song used in the PlayStation 2 role-playing game Persona 3.

 

Hanyu imitated a character’s gesture from the game, forming a pistol with his right hand and pretending to shoot himself in the head. When Yuki Oki, a reporter for Sports Communications, the information site where I serve as editor-in-chief, asked: "What was Nova's mindset during Mass Dis?" Hanyu answered as follows:

 

"I use sound as a weapon to fight (the voices of hatred). I skate with the feeling that I am crushing hatred with emotions of joy and happiness."

 

"Swan's Webbed Feet"

Like his previous Ice Story RE_PRAY, Hanyu excels at incorporating inspiration from games into his performances.

 

The sixth track, "Ballade 1," was the short program music he used for his gold medal-winning performance at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics. In Echoes of Life, he performed it exactly as he did during the Olympics. By the time he reached the sixth track, fatigue had likely peaked. Despite this, he successfully completed a triple axel and a quadruple-triple toe loop in the second half of the program, proving his toughness.

 

"I really felt the difficulty of performing two jumps in the second half. Unlike the free program, where there’s room to recover energy, the short program doesn’t offer that. It’s hard... I felt this throughout the tour."

 

Hanyu completed his performances in Chiba on the 7th and 9th without making any mistakes.

 

"I started a new training program just before the Hiroshima concert (in January). It wasn’t just about increasing flexibility or range of motion but training my body to move in a way that’s more functional. It feels like that training has come together now. I can sense that I’m continuing to change and improve."

 

There is a proverb that says, "Swans' webbed feet." Although swans appear to swim gracefully on the surface of the water, they are paddling furiously beneath the surface. Humans are the same way. Even those who are known as experts or masters in the world, or perhaps because they are called such, never neglect to put in the hard work, ingenuity, and research behind the scenes, that is, when no one else is watching. It seems Hanyu’s resilient body comes from that same mindset.

 

In March, his third performance of notte stellata awaits in his hometown, Miyagi.