[2024] Futao Takahashi, the veteran "ice craftsman"

[yuzurujenn]

*Machine translation. Inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2024.08.28

 

Source: https://jbpress.ismedia.jp/articles/-/82855

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240827235330/https://jbpress.ismedia.jp/articles/-/82855

 

 

A veteran "ice craftsman" talks about how to make a temporary skating rink, the difference between competitions and ice shows, and how to deal with water quality in different regions | People who make figure skating colorful (No. 64)

 

An active "ice craftsman" at age 86 this year

 

"Fantasy on Ice," "Everlasting33," "Hyoen," "Prince Ice World," "THE ICE"... A variety of ice shows were held from spring to summer.

 

Spoiler

For example, the Makuhari performance of "Fantasy on Ice" was held at Makuhari Messe, and "Hyoen" was held at Yokohama Arena, which are venues that do not usually have ice. This means that the work of setting up the rink is necessary, but there is a man who was involved in these shows as a so-called "ice craftsman." His name is Takahashi Futao. He works as a member of Patine Leisure Co., Ltd., which handles the set-up, operation, and management of skating rinks.

Takahashi originally worked for the company as an employee, eventually retiring, but was asked to return and has been working there ever since. He is now 86 years old.

He is currently in Minami-Funabashi preparing for THE ICE's Tokyo performances (LaLa arena TOKYO- BAY) on July 27th and 28th.
LaLa arena TOKYO-BAY is scheduled to open in July 2024. It will be used as the home arena for the Chiba Jets B.LEAGUE, and will also host concerts and ice shows.

"I haven't been home for a long time." he said and laughs.

Takahashi, now 86 years old, still travels around the country to carry out his work.

"I feel like if you don't love it, it won't last." he Laughs gently.

In other words, it shows that it is a job that he likes. Let's take a look at what kind of work is involved in setting up a rink.

How to build a temporary ice rink

Figure skating requires an ice rink, of all things. If the sport is held in a gymnasium or arena, a temporary ice rink is built on the floor.
Once the ice has been laid, the ice is maintained and repaired during the competition or ice show, and when the competition or ice show is over, the ice is melted and the place would be returned to its original state.

So how is the temporary rink set up?

First, lay a huge waterproof sheet on the floor. Then lay insulation on top of that, and then lay plywood (a composite material). This becomes the "floor."

On top of this, a waterproof sheet is laid and the cooling pipes are then laid out.

Antifreeze cooled to below -10 degrees Celsius is circulated inside the cooling pipes. Water is sprayed on top of it, causing the water to freeze.

Watering continues day and night for several days, and the effort helps to thicken the ice.

This process is also time-consuming. Water is sprayed day and night over the course of several days to increase the thickness. The thickness is never more than 10 centimetres, because if it is too thick, it will be far away from the cooling pipes and will not cool as easily.

The cooling pipes that are spread throughout the rink are connected to a machine room where the antifreeze is cooled and circulated through pipes that connect it to the cooling pipes. This is maintained 24 hours a day.

"The thing we have to be most concerned about is that the rink is set up in a gymnasium. There's a floor underneath, so we absolutely can't have water leaking in. The most important thing is to make sure there aren't any leaks."

The temperature at the venue changes depending on the number of spectators and the use of air conditioning, which also affects the ice.

The quality of ice varies depending on the water quality in each region.

"When the venue is full of customers, the indoor temperature rises by about 2 degrees. We also need to consider how to operate the refrigeration unit depending on the air conditioning, so we communicate with the operators about the level of air conditioning, etc."
Even the air from the air conditioner is high in temperature for the ice, thus requires careful consideration.

"However, we now have good freezers, so we don't have to worry too much. We can increase the number of freezers depending on the size of the rink, or bring stronger freezers."

The quality of the ice also differs depending on the venue.

"We use tap water to make ice, but the quality of the water varies greatly depending on the region. I've made ice in a variety of places, but recently the best place to find it has been Oshu."

Speaking of Oshu, "Stars on Ice" will be held at the Oshu City General Gymnasium in Iwate Prefecture in 2023.

"The ice is smooth and the athletes said it was great."

There is also a difference between competitions and ice shows.

"In the case of competitions, we spend a certain amount of time to make the ice. But for ice shows, we can't spend that much time, so we have to push ourselves to make the ice, and in comparison, it's weaker. The athletes understand that."

Even during ice shows, he says he can get nervous depending on the production and the athletes' performances.
Before that, I would like to trace Takahashi's footsteps. (Continued)

 

 

 

2024.08.29

 

Source: https://jbpress.ismedia.jp/articles/-/82856

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240829022123/https://jbpress.ismedia.jp/articles/-/82856

 

 

The 86-year-old "ice craftsman" Takahashi Futao's journey, the unprecedented skating boom, and the hardships he faced at the Sapporo Olympics | People who make figure skating colorful (No. 65)

 

Watch a movie or go skating?

Takahashi Futao has been working as a staff member at Patine Leisure, setting up skating rinks, for over 60 years.

He ended up in the job that he has literally dedicated his life to all because he discovered skating.

 

Spoiler

"It's now the Tokyo Dome, but I used to live nearby. There was an ice-skating rink there called 'Korakuen Ice Palace.""

Korakuen Ice Palace was demolished in 1971. It is now a building within Tokyo Dome City.

He went to that skating rink and enjoyed skating.

"Back then, the only things to do for fun were watching movies and skating. So, a lot of people were skating. It was almost like a fad."
The popularity of skating is also evident from the fact that there were many shops selling skates near Korakuen Ice Palace.

"There were five or six stores selling skates."

One of those stores would turn out to be life-changing.

"I happened to stop by a store and became friends with the people there. Someone there asked me if I wanted to work there, so I started out as a part-timer. I think I was 21 then."

Up until then, the future I had envisioned was not what I had imagined.

"There were a lot of bookbinders in the area where I lived. Even among ordinary families, bookbinding was a profession, and I also had a part-time job at it. But I didn't have any particular dream of becoming a bookbinder."

He started working part-time at the skate shop and eventually joined the company. The company that ran the shop not only sold skates, but also managed and operated the skating rink. This was the predecessor of the current Patine Leisure.

The rink built at the Tokyo International Trade Center was the turning point.

"The area was used for car shows and other events, and after the show ended, Odakyu Electric Railway built an ice rink there. Our company was put in charge of running and maintaining it."

It opened in the winter of 1960 and was an ice-skating rink that operated during the winter season until the early 1970s.

"That was really rewarding. A lot of customers came, and there were long queues even at night."

According to documents, there were about 720,000 visitors in the winter of 1960 when it opened. This tells us about the skating craze of the time. Many people flocked to the park and enjoyed skating. He says that the sight made it worthwhile.

Regarding setting up the rink, he said, "I learned by watching others, and I also had friends who worked on the rink at Korakuen, so I asked them for advice and did it that way."

After that, the company continued to take on several projects, including the operation and management of the skating rink built at Gotemba Family Land, and as it accumulated know-how, it came across the 1972 Sapporo Olympics.

Trial and error at the Sapporo Olympics

There were two venues for figure skating, but we were in charge of Makomanai Indoor Stadium, where the free skating took place.
"I was in Sapporo for four months then." he recalled.

"This was when colour television had first come out, and for broadcasting purposes, the brightness had to be at least 1,400 lux. Standing on the rink, it was enough to warm my head when the lights came on. I remember we somehow got by through trial and error in various ways to manage the ice, such as by having the lights turned off during breaks in the competitions or while the ice was being made."

He watched the athletes' performances from the sidelines of the rink during the competition, and said that the one who made the biggest impression on him was Janet Lynn.

"She was an American athlete and was extremely popular. I'll never forget the moment she fell right in front of me."

At the 1998 Nagano Olympics, "I was about to reach retirement age, so I just went along with them." After retiring, Takahashi said, "I just had a bit of fun. I even tried working part-time at a golf course," but he ended up returning to the rink.

Shizuka Arakawa won the gold medal at the Turin Olympics in 2006. It created a huge boom in skating, with many applicants flocking to skating classes all over the country. At the same time, the number of ice shows increased. The World Championships were scheduled to be held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium in 2007. That's why Takahashi was called back.

"I had no hesitation in going back." he laughs.

He returned to the field and continued to be involved in numerous competitions and ice shows, which is how he got to where he is today. (Continued)

 

 

 

2024.08.30

 

Source: https://jbpress.ismedia.jp/articles/-/82858

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240830014314/https://jbpress.ismedia.jp/articles/-/82858

 

 

"Hanyu-san is conscientious" - the driving force behind the 86-year-old active "ice craftsman" is "the skaters' great performances and the audience's enjoyment" | People who make figure skating colorful (No. 66)

 

I want the athletes to skate at their best

 

Takahashi Futao is a staff member of Patine Leisure Co., Ltd., who devotes himself to setting up and maintaining the rink. His main goal is, above all else, to do what is best for the athletes, and to keep the rink in the best possible condition.

 

Spoiler

"After all, I want the skaters to skate at their best, so I always want to create the best possible ice." There may also be discussion about ice conditions.

"Sometimes the skaters ask us about the condition of the ice, and sometimes we ask them, 'How was it today?' There are times when I think the ice was good today, and sometimes the skaters tell me, 'It was good today.""

Naturally, after working in the industry for many years, you get to know the skaters.

"Some skaters say hello, some don't, but the skaters who are friendly and talk to us make us feel good. It makes us want to make good ice."

Among them, Takahashi said he often talks to Sakamoto Kaori on the rink.

At the 2023 World Championships held at Saitama Super Arena, Sakamoto was seen talking to Takahashi after the official practice.

"That being said, we don't really talk about the ice or anything like that. Even at that time, it was before the competition, so we were talking in a gentle way so as not to make her nervous."

Another person who was named as "conscientious" was Yuzuru Hanyu.

"Hanyu-san always greets me. Hanyu-san is really polite."

Patine Leisure was also involved in the setup of Hanyu's ice show "RE_PRAY," and at the end of the show, when Hanyu spoke to the audience with a microphone in hand, he mentioned "Patine Leisure" as a recipient of his gratitude. This also showed Hanyu's character.

 

Also supports stage cars and backflips

The number of ice shows is increasing with each passing season, and various efforts are being made to the production.

Sometimes it takes a lot of nerve. In "Fantasy on Ice," a "stage car" (mobile stage) was used to carry people across the ice.

"The stage car weighs about one ton. When it goes over there, the ice cracks, so we made the ice harder."

It's not just about the production. It also depends on what kind of jumps the skater is going to perform, so the thickness of the ice is also carefully considered.

"Especially if they're doing a backflip." he said.

"However, today's skaters are good at jumping, so the hole doesn't get that deep. In the past, when skaters did a backflip, a big hole would get created, so I used to watch nervously."

Whenever a skater skates, the ice gets scratched. The way the ice gets scratched varies depending on the skater.

"The damage to the ice can be big or small. I guess Hanyu is just good at it. He doesn't hit the ice that deeply."

I want to keep going until I'm told "You don't have to come"

They head to the venue before the opening of a competition or show, prepare until the opening, and restore the site to its original state when it is over. If the schedule is busy, they head to the next venue immediately. This means that they may not return home for a long period of time.

Still, Takahashi says, "As long as my body is listening to me, I want to keep going until it tells me 'You don't have to come"."
He has been devoted to this work for over 60 years, and he hopes to continue doing it in the future.

What is the backing for this?

"As for what makes it rewarding, in competitions I'm happiest when the skaters achieve good results, and in ice shows I'm happiest when the skaters perform well and the audience is pleased - I think that is what it is all about. But what I hate most is when an athlete falls and gets injured. If they fall, it makes me wonder, 'Did they trip over a hole?' or 'Was there a hole there?' so I always try to prevent that from happening."

More than words, Takahashi's expression as he talked about his work spoke of his passion.

 

[yuzurujenn]

*Machine translation. Inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2024.06.27

 

Source: https://mainichi.jp/maisho/articles/20240627/kei/00s/00s/001000c

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240627004229/https://mainichi.jp/maisho/articles/20240627/kei/00s/00s/001000c

 

 

Figure skating ice craftsman Takahashi Futao, 86 years old, continues to create stage on ice

 

The ice rink is the stage for figure skating. There is an 86-year-old ice craftsman who breathes life into the ice, which is only six centimetres thick. Mr. Takahashi Futao has been working behind the scenes to support competitions and ice shows for over half a century.

 

Spoiler

Last May, Takahashi was concentrating on making ice at the Makuhari Event Hall in Chiba City. This was for an ice show that would take place a few days later. Work begins one week before the show. Pipes are laid over a sheet, and antifreeze cooled to below freezing temperature is poured into it. Water is sprayed on top of it with a hose to freeze it, and the ice is layered. The ice that can be made at one time is about 1 millimetre thick. Water is sprayed day and night in 12-hour shifts, and after about 60 repetitions, the ice is finally complete.

When Takahashi was in junior high school, a skating rink opened in his neighbourhood and he became passionate about it. When he was in his 20s, he was approached by an equipment store at the skating rink asking if he would like to try working there. This was the predecessor of the company he still works for, which manages the rink.

The turning point came in 1960 when a rink was built at the Tokyo International Trade Fair. The company was asked to set up the rink, and Takahashi was involved as part of the construction team. After this, the company began to fully engage in the rink construction business, and Takahashi became involved as well. "It was hard work at the time, but it was lively." He said he enjoyed watching people of all ages, from young children to adults, skating on the rinks he built.

He was involved in two Winter Olympics, the Sapporo Olympics in 1972 and the Nagano Olympics in 1998, before retiring. However, at the 2006 Turin Olympics, Shizuka Arakawa became the first Asian figure skater in history to win a gold medal, and as the sport's popularity soared in Japan, he returned to the field.
Takahashi also values his interactions with the skaters. When talking with them, he tries to put them at ease so that they can give good performances.

At the Makuhari site in May, he told us why he is still able to travel around the country building rinks at the age of 86: "It's probably because I'm still doing the job I love. I think that's the most important thing."

Smooth the ice surface with hot water

The international standard size for a figure skating rink is 60 meters by 30 meters. The size may vary slightly depending on the size of the gymnasium or facility where the rink is held. When skaters jump, spin, and land, the ice rink is subjected to an impact several times their body weight. For this reason, ice making requires meticulous, time-consuming work. To prevent injuries to skaters, Takahashi thoroughly inspects the rink, filling it with sherbet-like snow so as not to leave even the slightest dent, and smooths the rink by pouring hot water at 40 to 50 degrees Celsius over it.

 

 

 

 

2024.05.28

 

Source: https://mainichi.jp/articles/20240527/k00/00m/050/045000c-2024.05.28

(paid article, partially translated)

 

The 86-year-old craftsman who has been making ice for half a century and also supports Yuzuru Hanyu's performances

 

The ice rink is the stage for figure skating. There is an 86-year-old ice craftsman who breathes life into the 6-centimeter-thick silver ice rink. Takahashi Futao has been working behind the scenes at competitions and ice shows for over half a century. He is so well-known that he has been approached by Yuzuru Hanyu (29) and others.

 

Spoiler

Working day and night in half-day shifts

On the 21st, at the Makuhari Event Hall in Mihama Ward, Chiba City. With just three days to go until the opening of the ice show "Fantasy on Ice," in which Hanyu and others will perform, Takahashi was concentrating on making ice.

The ice-making process begins one week before the audience is due to enjoy the performances at the show. Sheets are laid out and pipes are laid out over which antifreeze cooled to below freezing temperature is poured. Water is sprayed onto the ice with a hose to freeze it, and the ice is then piled up. Only about 1mm thick ice can be made at a time. Water is sprayed day and night in 12-hour shifts, and after about 60 rounds of spraying, the ice stage finally appears. When the skaters spin and jump and land on the ice, they are subjected to an impact on the rink that is many times their body weight, so this requires meticulous, time-consuming work.

The opportunity to step into the world of ice craftsmen was something trivial. Born in Miyagi Prefecture, Takahashi moved to Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo when he was in the first grade of elementary school. When he was in junior high school, the skating rink "Korakuen Ice Palace" opened nearby. Ice skating was a popular pastime that was scarce in the 1950s, and Takahashi was passionate about it for a long time.

After graduating from high school, he spent his time doing part-time jobs, but when he was in his 20s, Takahashi was approached by a skate shop he often visited and asked if he would like to work there. This was the predecessor of Patine Leisure, the company that manages skating rinks, where he still works today. Since he had always liked skating, he started working there part-time the next day.

 

The turning point came in 1960 with the opening of an ice rink at the Tokyo International Exhibition Center. Odakyu Electric Railway rented part of the venue and asked the company to set up the rink. At the time, the plan was for a 250-meter rink that was said to be the largest indoor ice rink in the East. Takahashi became part of the construction team, a first for the company. After much trial and error, including a visit to the Korakuen skating rink, they finally managed to open the rink.

This was the opportunity for the company to get fully involved in the ice rink construction business, and Takahashi became involved as well. In the winter, they travelled all over the country, from Kagoshima in the south to Hokkaido in the north. "It was hard work at the time, but it was lively," he recalls fondly. Above all, he enjoyed watching people of all ages, from small children to adults, skating on the rinks he built.

With a proven track record, they have expanded their field of activities to include major competitions both in Japan and overseas. Sometimes they receive unusual requests, such as... [paid article from here on]

 

[yuzurujenn]

*Machine translation. Inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2022.01.01

 

Source: https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/137338

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20221015031540/https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/137338

 

 

Veteran ice craftsman reveals why Yuzuru Hanyu is so top-notch: "He always bows down to us"

 

[Field notes: Behind the scenes] Carrying buckets of ice, they fill holes in the rink. Behind the scenes of the skaters' spectacular performances, the steady work continues from morning until night. 

 

Spoiler

"The saddest thing would be for a skater to fall, so I fill them in while praying that this won't happen."

At the end of last year, the All-Japan Figure Skating Championships (Saitama Super Arena) was a heated battle. Takahashi Futao (84), an ice craftsman with 60 years of experience, was on the sides of the rink from early morning official practice to the evening performance. This veteran, who also participated in the 1972 Sapporo Olympics, mentally records in his head the locations where the skaters jumped. When it was time to clear the ice, he headed to those locations and repaired the holes one after another with his skilled techniques.

The temperature at the bottom of the rink is minus 6 degrees. When snow is poured in, it freezes in two or three minutes, and then an ice-resurfacer vehicle pours hot water at about 40 degrees on top to make it flat. "It's hard on the first day of the competition, but it gradually becomes more stable from the second day. The challenge is how to maintain it from there." Many athletes rely on Takahashi to keep track of the ice conditions.

He has seen countless holes so far. The size of the hole and the length of it indicate the athlete's skill. "The holes are about 1 cm deep. They are larger in men than in women, and in foreigners than in Japanese." Among them, the scars left by two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu (ANA) are said to be one of a kind.

"Normally, skaters leave deep scratches on the ice in the run-up before a jump. But Hanyu barely leaves any marks from his run-up. He only leaves a small mark where he lands. The holes are big, but the scratches before and after are remarkably few."

Previously, former four-time All Japan champion Masaru Ogawa explained, "Hanyu doesn't jump with all his might, but is smooth from take-off to landing and descent. He has amazing technique, jumping high quality jumps without using force." This perfectly matches what Takahashi said. Two days after this interview, Hanyu attempted the unprecedented quad axel (a four-and-a-half-rotation jump) and won his sixth tournament. His proof of being a top-class athlete is also engraved on the ice.

Takahashi has been supporting skaters for many years. Finally, he told us this behind-the-scenes story.

"I've seen a lot of different skaters. There are some who never said hello when they were competing, but suddenly became very friendly after turning professionals. But Hanyu is different. When we pass each other on the ice, he always bows to us. That's not something that happens very often."

Why does he continue to attract attention from all over the world? Listening to the voices of those on the ground like this makes it easy to understand. (General Sports Editor, Yoshitaka Egawa)