Machine-translation. Inaccuracies exist*

 

2018.02.19

 

Source: https://www.nikkansports.com/olympic/pyeongchang2018/figureskate/news/201802190000373.html

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20210308115942/https://www.nikkansports.com/olympic/pyeongchang2018/figureskate/news/201802190000373.html

 

Hanyu's gold medal was 46.0%, the highest momentary audience rating, while Kodaira's gold medal was 34.6%.

 

According to a survey by Video Research on the 19th, the average viewership rating for the live broadcast of the men's free skating event in which Yuzuru Hanyu (23) and Shoma Uno (20) won the gold and silver medals on NHK General TV (12:15 p.m. on February 17) in the Kanto region was an astonishing 33.9% (31.7% in the Kansai region). This figure exceeded the gold medal (31.8%) of Shizuka Arakawa at the Turin Olympics in 2006, and approached the women's free skating event (36.3%) of Mao Asada, who won the silver medal at the Vancouver Olympics in 2010. The peak viewership rating was 46.0% at 2:10 p.m. According to NHK, the gold medal for Hanyu and the silver medal for Uno were confirmed, and immediately afterwards, the two coaches put their arms around each other in joy.

 

　Additionally, the TBS program that aired a short program on the previous day, the 16th (9:30 a.m.), had an average viewership rating of 13.2% in the Kanto region (15.5% in the Kansai region).

 

　Meanwhile, the average viewership rating for the live broadcast of the TBS program (8:00 p.m.) on the 18th in which Nao Kodaira (31) won the gold medal in the women's 500m speed skating was 21.4% in the Kanto region (20.5% in the Kansai region). The peak moment was 34.6% at 9:34 p.m., the moment when all the competitions were over and Kodaira's gold medal was confirmed.

 

 

2018.02.20

 

Source: hhttps://www.yomiuri.co.jp/olympic/2018/sports/Yuzuru-Hanyu/news/20180220-OYT1T50062.html

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250623012533/https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/olympic/2018/sports/Yuzuru-Hanyu/news/20180220-OYT1T50062.html

 

Hanyu's "gold" moment reaches peak audience rating of 56% in Sendai

 

A survey by Video Research on the 19th revealed that the peak viewership rating in the Sendai area (Sendai City, etc.) for the live broadcast of the men's free skating event at the Pyeongchang Olympics (NHK General TV, afternoon of the 17th) was 56.0%.

 

　When Hanyu's gold medal and Shoma Uno's silver medal were confirmed and they celebrated with their coaches, the Kanto region had a 46.0% viewership rating and the Kansai region had a 44.6% viewership rating. The average viewership rating was 41.2% in the Sendai region, 33.9% in the Kanto region, and 31.7% in the Kansai region.

 

　The Fuji TV network's live broadcast of the 2014 Sochi Olympics, where Hanyu won gold, aired from late evening through the early hours of the morning, and recorded a peak viewership rating of 19.0% in the Sendai area, with an average viewership rating of 13.6%.

 

　In recent years, the live broadcast of the Japan Series (TV Asahi), in which the professional baseball team Rakuten Golden Eagles became Japan's top team in 2013, recorded a peak viewership rating of 60.4% in the Sendai area and an average viewership rating of 44.0%.

 

 

Source: https://hochi.news/articles/20180219-OHT1T50228.html?page=1

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250217134137/https://hochi.news/articles/20180219-OHT1T50228.html?page=1 

 

Hanyu also won the viewership ratings, peaking at 46.0% at the time, while Kodaira recorded 34.6% at the time.

 

It was revealed on the 19th that the live broadcast (NHK General TV, 12:15pm) of Yuzuru Hanyu's (23), who won the gold medal in the men's singles figure skating event at the Pyeongchang Olympics, on the 17th recorded an average viewership rating of 33.9% (31.7% in the Kansai region) and a peak of 46.0% (44.6% in the Kansai region). Both figures were the highest for this tournament. (Figures are for the Kanto region, according to Video Research Daily.)

 

　Many Japanese people were watching the historic moment when Hanyu achieved the first consecutive Olympic gold medal in 66 years. At 2:10 pm, immediately after the end of the competition, Hanyu, who had secured the gold medal, put his arm around his coach Brian Orser (56) and silver medalist Shoma Uno (20) in celebration, and the highest viewership was 46.0%. In Hanyu's hometown of Sendai, the average viewership was 41.2%, with a peak of 56.0%.

 

　This was the second time that Japan had a one-two finish in the 70m ski jump at the 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympics (Yukio Kasatani, Shoji Konno, Seiji Aoji). Despite the sunny Saturday afternoon across the country on the 17th, the average viewership for the 146-minute broadcast was 33.9%. This was far higher than the opening ceremony on the 9th (average 28.5%, peak moment 37.1%), showing the high level of attention given to the "gold medal class" event.

 

　In figure skating broadcasts since the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, the average viewership for the women's free skating at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, where Mao Asada (27) won the silver medal, was 36.3%, with a peak viewership of 46.2%. The men's free skating at the last Sochi Olympics, where Hanyu won the gold medal, had an average viewership of 16.6% and a peak viewership of 23.1%.

 

Meanwhile, the average viewership for the live broadcast (TBS, 8:00 p.m.) of the women's 500m speed skating event in which Nao Kodaira (31) won the gold medal on the 18th was 21.4% (20.5% in the same period). The highest moment was 34.6% (36.5% in the same period) at 9:34 p.m., when all the events had finished and Kodaira's gold medal was confirmed.

 

◇ Top 10 Winter Olympic TV Ratings in the Past 20 Years ◇

 

Spoiler

Event | Broadcaster | Details | Viewership Rating (%)

 

1. 2010 Vancouver – Women’s Figure Skating Free Program
NHK – Mao Asada wins silver medal
36.3%

 

2. 1998 Nagano – Opening Ceremony
NHK – Midori Ito lights the Olympic cauldron
35.8%

 

3. 2018 PyeongChang – Men’s Figure Skating Free Program
NHK – Yuzuru Hanyu wins consecutive gold medals
33.9%

 

4. 1998 Nagano – Variety Program
NTV – Hosted by Kinichi Hagimoto
31.8%

 

5. 2018 PyeongChang – Opening Ceremony
NHK – Kim Yuna lights the Olympic cauldron
30.8%

 

6. 2006 Torino – Women’s Figure Skating Free Program
NHK – Shizuka Arakawa wins gold medal
30.2%

 

7. 1998 Nagano – Ski Jumping Individual Large Hill
NHK – Japanese "Hinomaru Flying Squad" shines, Kazuyoshi Funaki wins gold
28.7%

 

8. 2006 Torino – Closing Ceremony
NHK – Includes Arakawa’s award ceremony
28.5%

 

9. 1998 Nagano – Opening Ceremony
NHK – Tomomi Okazaki serves as Japan’s flag bearer
25.4%

 

10. 2018 PyeongChang – Speed Skating Women’s 1000m
NHK – Nao Kodaira and Miho Takagi both reach the podium
24.9%

 

Note: Viewership ratings are based on data from Video Research Ltd., Kanto region (Japan).

 

 

Machine-translation. Inaccuracies exist*

 

2018.01.08

 

Source: https://the-ans.jp/news/15517/

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20180202181126/https://the-ans.jp/news/15517/

 

Yuzuru Hanyu is "Michael Jackson at his peak" - Expert's "divine quote" draws attention in the US

 

Yuzuru Hanyu (ANA) of figure skating was forced to withdraw from the Grand Prix (GP) Final and the All-Japan Championships due to a right ankle injury, but was selected as a representative for the Pyeongchang Olympics, where he aims to win consecutive titles. This week, the local U.S. newspaper The New York Times published an exceptional feature that drew significant attention. Within the article, an expert’s statement expressing Hanyu’s charisma was introduced and has been selected as one of the notable quotes in the American sports world.

 

Spoiler

Statement from U.S. journalist in NY Times' special feature on Hanyu selected among "Top 10 Quotes in U.S. Sports This Week"

 

Yuzuru Hanyu (ANA) in figure skating was forced to withdraw from the Grand Prix (GP) Final and the All-Japan Championships due to a right ankle injury, but was selected as a member of Japan’s national team for the Pyeongchang Olympics, where he aims to defend his title. This week, the U.S. newspaper The New York Times ran an exceptional feature that drew widespread attention. Within the article, an expert’s statement expressing Hanyu’s charisma was introduced and has been selected as one of the top quotes in the U.S. sports world this week.

 

As 2018 begins, the sports world is already heating up with excitement. Amid this, the Courier-Journal, a U.S. local newspaper, compiled this week’s Top 10 Quotes in Sports.

 

The list ranks standout remarks made in American sports media across television, newspapers, and Twitter, and one particular phrase capturing Yuzuru Hanyu’s charisma earned an impressive second place.

 

"It reminds me of when Michael Jackson was in his heyday, or meeting the Pope. People see Hanyu for the 1st time and they become hysterical or they're moved to tears. It's like their lives are complete. It's crazy."

 

This was a quote from Jackie Wong, a journalist with over 20 years of experience in figure skating, featured in The New York Times’ special feature on Hanyu.

 

The only non-American mentioned: The high level of international attention focused on the champion aiming for a comeback

The article highlights the audience’s reaction upon witnessing Hanyu’s elegant performances, noting that his emotionally stirring charisma has drawn praise likening him to the legendary "King of Pop" or even the Pope.

 

Yuzuru Hanyu is often described by expressive international media not just as a strong competitor, but as possessing a kind of divine aura, and it’s not uncommon for him to be praised with elegant turns of phrase. However, the words from a veteran journalist who has covered him for many years stood out in particular.

 

In this week's Top 10 Quotes in Sports, Hanyu was the only non-American to be featured. His comeback performance in Pyeongchang appears to be drawing intense international attention.

 

 

Machine-translation. Inaccuracies exist

 

2018.02.16

Source: https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASL2H4PPML2HUNHB00P.html

 

 

(Miyagi) “There’s no need to worry about Yuzu” — Hanyu aims for back-to-back titles as he heads into the short program.

 

The men’s figure skating competition, which begins on the 16th, will feature defending champion Yuzuru Hanyu (23). Having overcome an injury to his right ankle sustained in November last year, he is aiming to become the first skater in 66 years to win consecutive Olympic titles in the men’s event. Amid a mixture of anticipation and anxiety, people who knew him during his time in Sendai are watching over him with confidence, saying, “There’s no need to worry about Yuzu.”

Hanyu began skating at the age of four at Ice Rink Sendai, located in Izumi Ward, Sendai. The rink closed in 2004 due to financial difficulties, and Hanyu, who was then in the fourth grade of elementary school, moved to Katsuyama Skating Club in Aoba Ward, also in Sendai.

Tatsuyoshi Matsuda (73), who was a coach there, recalls his first impression of Hanyu, who was already among the top skaters in his age group: “He was a slender, frail-looking boy.” However, Hanyu had exceptional natural talent, and Matsuda says he was convinced that “he could win an Olympic medal.”

Matsuda attributes Hanyu’s success to the fact that “he simply hates losing.” At the time, Swiss figure skater Stéphane Lambiel, who was known as a “master of spins,” visited the rink and demonstrated his high-speed spins. The children were delighted. However, Hanyu stood alongside Lambiel and showed off his own spins, as if to say, “I'm not going to lose to you.”

“He was already driven by a competitive spirit, even against the world’s top skaters. I suppose he was looking toward the world stage even back then.”

Although Hanyu was returning to competition for the first time in about four months, Matsuda was not worried.

“He’s an optimistic kid, and I actually feel that he performs even better when faced with adversity. If he can deliver everything he’s capable of, I think he can aim for gold.”

Kazue Chiba (62), who served as the figure skating club adviser at Hanyu’s alma mater, Sendai Municipal Nanakita Junior High School, is also among those watching over him. The school’s skating club resumed activities in the same year Hanyu enrolled.

“He was a cute boy with a mushroom-style haircut,” she recalled.

Hanyu was outstanding even off the ice. At an award ceremony at his junior high school, he reportedly stood with one foot placed forward, like a ballerina. When Chiba asked him why he stood that way, he replied, “My sport is one in which people watch me, so I’m always conscious of how I present myself.”

Chiba fondly remembers, “Just as he looks on television today, he was always neat and well-groomed.”

When Hanyu graduated, Chiba made him promise, “If you win an Olympic medal, you have to give me your autograph!” While other teachers received his autograph, Chiba waited for the right moment. At the 2014 Sochi Olympics, Hanyu fulfilled his promise and returned to Sendai in triumph. Chiba received his autograph and was even allowed to hold his gold medal.

When Chiba said, “Next is Pyeongchang, right?” Hanyu reportedly replied with a smile, “Sensei, are you going to come to PyeongChang to watch me?!”

Unfortunately, Chiba was unable to get tickets to the PyeongChang Olympics, so she will cheer him on from home this time. Concerned about the condition of his injury, she says, “Perhaps he doesn’t need to push himself to land so many quadruple jumps.”

However, she also recognizes that “he always wants to deliver his very best performance, so he probably wouldn’t be satisfied with that. I hope he’ll skate beautifully again this time.”

Hanyu is scheduled to skate 25th in the short program (SP) on the 16th. The free skate will take place on the 17th.