[2021.12] Asahi Shimbun - Witnesses of the 'Legend' of Yuzuru Hanyu

[yuzurujenn]

Source:

https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASPDP5H2WPD9UTQP00Z.html

https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASPDP5K0NPDBUTQP01M.html

https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASPDP5KF7PDLUTQP01R.html

https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASPDP5PY6PDJUTQP029.html

https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASPDP5Q87PDLUTQP00Z.html

https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASPDP5QMGPDDUTQP022.html

 

 

Total of 6 Episodes - Paid Articles

 

Witnesses of the "Legend" of Yuzuru Hanyu

Yuzuru Hanyu is aiming for his third consecutive gold medal at the Beijing Winter Olympics. What path did he take to reach the top of the world in figure skating? We will get closer to the real image of this top skater through the "testimony" of those who have seen him up close.

 

 

 

[yuzurujenn]

Part 1 (partial) - https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASPDP5H2WPD9UTQP00Z.html

 

The first coach to notice Yuzuru Hanyu's talent: "What is this?"

 

Spoiler

Yuzuru Hanyu 's skating career began at the age of four in the city of Sendai.

 

The first coach was Mami Yamada (48).

 

　"I was teaching Yuzuru's sister at a rink in Sendai, and during that time, the mischievous child running around on the side of the rink was Yuzuru."

 

　"He was four years old then. I told his mom and Yuzuru, 'If you want to move so much, why don't you try taking skating lessons?' That's how it all started."

 

[The teacher thought that Yuzuru was tough. However, he also showed glimpses of his talent.]

 

I still remember the first time Hanyu stepped onto the ice rink.

 

　"Usually, for a first timer, you have to crawl and get used to the ice before slowly standing up. But he blew it away and rinked in."

 

 

Part 2 (partial) - https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASPDP5K0NPDBUTQP01M.html

 

"You're going to spread your wings around the world," the famous coach repeatedly told Yuzuru Hanyu

 

Spoiler

It was Shoichiro Tsuzuki (83) who taught Yuzuru Hanyu the basics of skating.

 

He coached Hanyu from the second grade of elementary school until his first year of high school.

 

"He just hates to lose."

 

That was Tsuzuki's impression of Hanyu at the time.

 

"I had him try all sorts of different things during practice. When he couldn't do something, he never complained, even though most people would."

 

"He was like that even in fights. If he fought with someone older and lost, he'd keep at it. In all aspects of life, I felt like he had something deeply ingrained in him, like a spirit, something he was born with."

 

"Not just spirit, but a divine skill. I think his parents must have guided him well."

 

Tsuzuki had Hanyu repeatedly practice the basics of his jumps.

 

"If you have a good foundation, you can improve. You can jump even with more rotations."

 

Hanyu is not the type to maintain concentration for long periods of time, but he persevered.

 

 

[yuzurujenn]

Part 3 - https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASPDP5KF7PDLUTQP01R.html 

 

Yuzuru Hanyu trembled behind the scenes at the ice show; Narumi Takahashi said, 'I was moved.'

 

Spoiler

The first emotion I felt toward Yuzuru Hanyu was "jealousy."

 

Narumi Takahashi (29), a member of Japan's 2014 Sochi Olympic pairs team, was in 5th grade at the time. When she temporarily returned to Japan from China due to her father's job transfer, she practiced at a rink in Sendai, where she saw Yuzuru Hanyu, who was in 2nd grade at the time.

 

At that time, Hanyu was being coached by Shoichiro Tsuzuki, who was also Takahashi's mentor since she was 7 years old.

 

"I thought Tsuzuki-sensei was very kind to me, but when I returned to Japan, I found that Yuzuru had taken my place. Tsuzuki-sensei’s focus was entirely on Yuzuru, and I was beneath him."

 

Tsuzuki often told her, "You should follow Yuzuru's example." "I was frustrated. At that time, I could jump higher than him, so I even tried to one-up him by saying, 'I can do it.'"

 

But soon, she understood what Tsuzuki meant by saying, "Follow Yuzuru."

 

"Yuzuru was incredibly good at creating a strong axis in his body. Whether it was for jumps or spins, he formed such a precise axis that he never lost balance."

 

"He seemed like he was just goofing around with the other kids his age, but in reality, he would finish what he needed to do before joining in with them."

 

"He said, 'If you’re going to skate, it’s meaningless unless you become an Olympic champion.' I admired that kind of big-mouthed attitude, and I started saying the same thing, too (laughs)."

 

He was good at being charming with older girls and considerate with younger ones. Coaches and even mothers adored him. Takahashi initially doubted whether Hanyu was just pretending to be "Yuzuru Hanyu."

 

"I wondered if he was just pretending because of his extraordinary politeness and thoughtfulness toward others. But, his true nature has never been revealed as a façade."

 

His way of expressing emotions was also anything but "ordinary."

 

Around 2011, during an ice show, Hanyu made a mistake. "It was really rare," Takahashi thought.

 

After his performance, Hanyu crouched behind the curtain, tightly gripping his fists, muttering something under his breath. His body was trembling.

 

"He was so angry at himself for failing that he was shaking."

 

But that wasn't the end of it. In the finale, Hanyu successfully landed a quadruple jump. "At that time, a quadruple jump wasn’t something he could do consistently. He took his anger and poured it into his skating, transforming it brilliantly. It's something I've never seen from any other athlete—taking that anger and turning it into positive energy. I was deeply moved by that moment."

 

Whether in ice shows or competitions, Hanyu approached both with the same level of intensity.

 

"At ice shows, everyone relaxes a bit and enjoys their favorite foods, but Yuzuru never let his diet slip. Whether on or off the ice, he lives every day with skating as his top priority. If we tried to do that, it would be so tough and we'd struggle to keep up, but for him, it's just become a normal daily rhythm."

 

On the other hand, there was no sign of any more tension than usual just because it was the Olympics.

 

"This time, for Yuzu."

 

There was a time during the Sochi Olympics when Takahashi found herself having a meal with Hanyu. While eating a bowl of rice piled high, he cheerfully said, "Yeah, I’ve got to eat properly to have the power." When they met at the rink, he’d smile and wave, saying, "Ah, Naru~!"

 

Takahashi, along with her pairs partner Ryuichi Kihara, discussed, "What’s it like to compete in a situation where winning is expected?" and "It’s amazing that Yuzuru can handle that kind of pressure." But their expectations were pleasantly exceeded.

 

At the Sochi Olympics, Hanyu won the gold medal, though there were some mistakes. "It was an unsatisfactory way to win for him, and it looked like he wasn't burning out." Four years later, at the Pyeongchang Olympics, he "did everything he needed to do and won." What about his third Olympics?

 

"As a fan, I do want to see a three-peat. But above all, I want him to enjoy it. When I first met Yuzu, he was mischievous and loves to play pranks, messing around with everyone, and truly enjoying skating. After he started to achieve success, it felt like he was skating for someone else, but now I want to see him skating for himself. I think that will ultimately benefit everyone."

 

Even now, when Takahashi meets Hanyu, she wants to act like the older sister, asking, "Are you doing okay?" in a somewhat condescending way. When they face each other, it’s hard to be completely honest. But deep down, she’s always cheering for him with all her heart.

 

 

JP transcript:

Spoiler

アイスショーの舞台裏で震えた羽生結弦　高橋成美さんは「感動した」

羽生結弦にはじめて抱いた感情は「嫉妬」だった。

　2014年ソチオリンピック（五輪）ペア日本代表の高橋成美さん（29）は当時、小学5年生だった。父の転勤で住んでいた中国から一時帰国した際、仙台のリンクで練習した。そこに小学2年生の羽生がいた。

　その時、羽生を教えていたのが都築章一郎さん。高橋さんも7歳から指導を受けていた恩師だ。

　「都築先生には結構、かわいがっていただいたと思っていたんですけど、日本に戻ってきたら、ゆづ（羽生）にその座を奪われていた。先生の眼中にはまず、ゆづがいて、私はその下だった」

　都築さんから「ゆづを見習いなさい」と何度も言われた。「悔しかった。その頃は私の方がジャンプが跳べたので、『できるんだよ』とゆづにマウントをとったこともありました」

　でも、都築さんが「見習いなさい」と言った意味がすぐに分かった。

　「ゆづは体の軸の作り方がすごく上手。ジャンプでもスピンでも、すごく細い軸を作るからぶれないんです」

　「同世代の他の選手たちと一緒にふざけているように見えて、実は自分のやるべきことをやり終えてから、その輪に加わっていたんです」

　「『スケートをやるならオリンピックチャンピオンにならないと意味がない』って言っていた。そんなビッグマウスなところにも憧れて、私も同じことを言っていました（笑）」

　年上の女の子たちには甘え上手で、年下には気配りができる。コーチや母親たちにもかわいがられる。老若男女に好かれる羽生に対し、当初は「羽生結弦」を演じているのでは？と疑っていたという。

 

「演じているのかなと思うほどの桁違いの礼儀正しさや、他人への思いやりがあったので。でも、一度も化けの皮がはがれたことがないんです」

　感情のぶつけ方も、「並」ではなかった。

　11年ごろのアイスショーで羽生はミスをした。「すごく珍しいなあ」と高橋さんは思った。

　演技を終えた羽生は幕の裏でうずくまった。ぎゅっと拳を握りしめ、ぶつぶつと何かつぶやいていた。その体は震えていた。

　「震えるほど、失敗した自分に怒っていたんです」

　そこで終わらなかった。フィナーレ。羽生は4回転ジャンプを成功させた。「当時はまだ4回転ジャンプが確実じゃなかったのに。怒りをスケートにぶつけて見事に昇華させた。私もそうですけど、怒りを爆発させるときって、その先を考えていなくて、後悔することが多い。怒りをあそこまでプラスのパワーに変えられる選手を他に見たことがない。あの場面は感動しました」

　アイスショーも試合も同じように緊張感を持って挑む。それが羽生だった。

　「アイスショーだと、みんな少し気が緩んで食事は好きなものを食べたりするんですけど、ゆづは食生活も乱れない。オンオフ関係なく、スケートファーストの毎日を送っている。私たちが急にやったらきつくて耐えられないけど、彼の中ではそれが当たり前の生活リズムになっているんだと思います」

　逆にいえば、五輪だからといつも以上にピリピリしている様子もなかったという。

「今度は、ゆづのために」
　ソチ五輪の食事会場で羽生と一緒になったことがあった。お茶わんに山盛りの白米を食べながら「やっぱり、ちゃんと食べなきゃパワー出ねえよな」とさわやかに言った。リンクで会えば、「あ、なる～っ！」と笑顔で手を振ってくれた。

　高橋さんはペアを組んでいた木原龍一と「勝って当たり前の状況で戦うってどうなんだろう」「そのプレッシャーに耐えられるゆづってすごいな」と話していたが、良い意味で期待は裏切られた。

　ソチ五輪では金メダルを獲得したものの、ミスがあった。「不本意な優勝の仕方で、燃え切らない感じに見えた」。4年後の平昌五輪は「やるべきことをやって優勝した」。3度目の五輪は――。

　「いちファンとして3連覇を見てみたいという思いはあります。でも、何よりも楽しんでほしい。出会った頃のゆづは、やんちゃでいたずら好きで、みんなとわちゃわちゃして、心からスケートを楽しんでいた。活躍するようになってからは、誰かのためにという印象だったけど、今度は自分のために頑張っているゆづを見たい。それが、結果的にみんなのためになると思う」

　今でも羽生に会うと、「頑張ってる？」と上から目線でお姉さんぶりたくなる。面と向かうと、素直にはなれない。でも、心の中では全力で応援している。

 

 

[yuzurujenn]

Part 4 - https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASPDP5PY6PDJUTQP029.html

 

Yuzuru Hanyu wanted to go to Canada - Discussing over dinner, Growth in Toronto

 

Spoiler

The big catalyst that helped Yuzuru Hanyu make further strides was his meeting with coach Brian Orser.

 

In 2012, he moved to the Cricket Club in Toronto, Canada, where Orser was based. He then won consecutive Olympic gold medals in Sochi in 2014 and Pyeongchang in 2018.

 

The person who acted as the bridge between the two was Yutaka Higuchi (72), a figure skating coach who became the first Japanese member of the Cricket Club.

 

The first time Higuchi saw Hanyu was when he was a junior high school student.

 

‘I think it was at the All Japan Junior Championship. He had great jumping power and was very good at controlling his axis of rotation. He had outstanding physical abilities and seemed like a natural fit for figure skating.’

 

He first heard in 2011 that Yuzuru Hanyu wanted to receive coaching from Brian Orser. Noriko Shirota, the former head of the Figure Skating Strengthening Division at the Japan Skating Federation, asked him, 'Could you introduce Coach Orser?'

 

He had known Orser since his competitive days, when he competed in junior events. They had maintained a friendly relationship even after he became a coach.

 

'He is technically sound, calm, and very kind. Even after becoming a coach, he is a teacher who doesn’t get angry much.'

 

At the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, Orser guided Yuna Kim to a gold medal in women’s figure skating. Higuchi highly admired Orser’s coaching abilities.

 

He was also very familiar with the Cricket Club. After competing at the 1968 Grenoble Olympics, Higuchi went to study skating at the cricket club.

 

He was confident that the environment would suit Hanyu well.

 

'Cricket is a rink dedicated to figure skating, and it’s a place where famous athletes gather. I thought it would be a fitting place for him.'

 

'The rink has no fences, and was surrounded by mirrors, which allows skaters to check their movements. The ice also provides excellent glide. For advanced skaters, practicing on good ice is one of the factors that help improve their technique.'

 

As the 2011-12 season was reaching its peak, an opportunity was arranged for Hanyu and Orser, along with a few others involved, to have a meal together in Tokyo.

 

Higuchi reflects on the relationship between the two.

 

'I think Brian was also very interested in coaching him. Hanyu was looking for a new coach to train abroad, so through the interpreter, they were both discussing what they wanted to do.'

 

'I got the sense that their feelings were aligned. Brian clearly expressed that he wanted to proceed with a specific plan, and I think Hanyu was convinced by that.'

 

'They talked about how many hours they would train each day and what kind of training they would do off the ice.'

 

Hanyu’s desire to move to Cricket Club was for further growth.

 

'I think he wanted to improve his overall performance. His jumps and technique were good already. He just wanted to refine everything more.'

 

In March 2012, after earning a bronze medal in his first World Championships, Hanyu moved to Cricket Club in April.

 

Higuchi accompanied Hanyu when he first went to Toronto, and later, he continued to watch over Hanyu’s progress when visiting Cricket.

 

'It seemed like he was constantly absorbing new things.'

 

It seemed that Orser’s coaching style was a perfect match for Hanyu.

 

'I think his coaching method encourages skaters to become stronger on their own. It wasn’t an approach that was forced; rather, he guided them in a way that led them to that direction.'

 

There were times when Hanyu and Orser didn’t see eye to eye.

 

'It seems they didn’t agree on the Lutz jump. At that time, Ghisland (Briand), who is also from Cricket, came on board. I heard that their opinions on the Lutz jump aligned. I think probably having a team with three coaches, including Tracy Wilson, was one of the reasons it worked so well.'"

 

[I thought for sure it would end up like this.]

 

Yuzuru Hanyu, who grew steadily, won the gold medal at the Sochi Olympics. At the celebration, Higuchi was presented with the medal around his neck by Hanyu, along with words of gratitude.

 

'I was happy. It felt heavy. I’m glad I introduced him, and he succeeded.'

 

Afterward, Hanyu achieved a back-to-back victory at the Pyeongchang Olympics.

 

'He has incredible talent, so I thought that if he trained in a good environment, this is exactly how it would turn out.'

 

'So, I think it’s just a natural result.'

 

At the same time, Higuchi adds:

 

'But there were also times when I introduced coaches to athletes and it didn’t work out. I’m really happy it worked out this time.'

 

Higuchi has supported many athletes in going abroad for training, so he feels a sense of relief regarding Hanyu's success.

 

'Many of the athletes who want to train abroad have great abilities. After that, it comes down to compatibility and luck. I think that worked well for him.'

 

 

JP transcript:

Spoiler

羽生結弦が望んだカナダ行き　語り合った食事会、トロントでの成長

羽生結弦が、さらに飛躍する大きなきっかけとなったのがブライアン・オーサーコーチとの出会いだ。

　2012年にオーサー氏のいるカナダ・トロントのクリケットクラブに拠点を移した。そして、14年ソチ、18年平昌と五輪を連覇した。

　2人の橋渡し役を担ったのが、日本人として初めてクリケットクラブの会員となったフィギュアスケートコーチの樋口豊さん（72）だ。

　樋口さんが最初に羽生を見たのは中学生のころだった。

　「全日本ジュニアだったと思います。ジャンプ力、回転軸の出し方がとても上手だった。身体能力にも優れ、フィギュアスケートに向いている選手だなという感じでした」

　羽生がオーサー氏からの指導を受けることを望んでいると聞いたのは11年。日本スケート連盟の元フィギュア強化部長、城田憲子さんから「オーサーコーチを紹介してくれないか」と頼まれた。

　樋口さんはオーサー氏が現役時代、ジュニアの大会に出ていた時から知っていた。コーチになってからも親交があった。

　「技術的にしっかりしていて、冷静で、あとはすごく優しい。コーチになってからも、あまり怒らない先生です」

　10年のバンクーバー五輪では女子の金姸児を金メダルに導いた。オーサー氏の手腕を樋口さんは高く評価していた。

　クリケットクラブについても熟知していた。樋口さんは現役時代、1968年グルノーブル五輪に出場後、クリケットにスケート留学した。

　その環境も羽生には合うと確信した。

　「クリケットはフィギュアスケート専門のリンクで、有名な選手が集まってくる場所。彼にはふさわしい場所だと思いました」

　「リンクにはフェンスがなく、周りが鏡になっていて、自分の滑りをチェックできる利点もあった。氷もよく滑る。上級のスケーターは、いい氷で練習するということが、技術を高めていく要因の一つとなります」

　2011～12年シーズンが佳境を迎えるころ、東京都内で羽生とオーサー氏ら関係者数人で食事をともにする機会を用意した。

 

　2人の様子を樋口さんはこう振り返る。

　「ブライアンも彼を教えることにはすごく興味があったと思うんです。羽生君も海外で練習するための新しい先生を求めていたので、通訳を通してですけど、こうしたいああしたいと、お互いに言っていましたね」

　「フィーリング的なものが、互いに合っている感じを受けました。ブライアンも、しっかり、こういう計画で進めていきたいとおっしゃっていたし、羽生君もそれに納得していたと思います」

　「一日何時間練習するか、氷上以外のトレーニングもしよう、ということも話していました」

　羽生がクリケット行きを望んだのは、さらなる成長のためだった。

　「トータル的に仕上げてほしい、という感じだったと思います。すでにジャンプも、テクニックも悪くない。全体的に、よりブラッシュアップしたいという感じでした」

　羽生は12年3月、初出場の世界選手権で銅メダルを獲得すると、翌4月にクリケットへと拠点を移した。

　樋口さんは最初に羽生がトロントに渡る時にも同行。その後もクリケットを訪ねた際には、羽生の様子を見守っていた。

　「新しいことをどんどん、吸収しているように見えました」

　オーサー氏の指導方法は、羽生にぴったりと合っているように感じた。

　「自分で強くなるようにと仕向けていく指導だと思います。強制的な言い方ではなく、そういう方向へ持っていくような指導をしていました」

　時には羽生とオーサー氏の考えが合致しないこともあった。

　「ルッツジャンプについては意見が合わなかったようです。その時は同じクリケットにいるジスラン（・ブリアン）が出てきた。ルッツに関しては彼との意見が合ったと聞きます。トレーシー・ウィルソンも含めて、3人のコーチがセットで、チームを作っていたのがよかったのでは」と樋口さんはみる。

「絶対にこうなっていくだろう、と」

　順調に成長した羽生はソチ五輪で金メダルを獲得した。その祝賀会で、樋口さんは羽生から感謝の言葉とともに首にメダルをかけられた。

　「うれしかったですよ。重いなって。紹介して成功していただいてよかったなって思いました」

　その後、平昌では連覇を達成した。

　「彼は素晴らしい能力があるから、いい環境で練習すれば、絶対にこうなっていくだろうとは思っていました」

　「だから、当たり前の結果だと思います」

　と同時に、こうも続ける。

　「でも紹介してうまくいかなかった選手とコーチもいた。うまくいっていただいて、すごくうれしいのは確かです」

　樋口さんは、これまで羽生以外にも様々な選手の海外行きをサポートしてきた。それだけに、羽生の成功にはほっとする思いがある。

　「海外に行って練習しようとする選手は素晴らしい能力をもっている選手が多い。あとは相性の問題、めぐり合わせだと思います。彼は、そこがやっぱりよかったんだと思いますね」

 

[yuzurujenn]

Part 5 - https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASPDP5Q87PDLUTQP00Z.html

 

Yuzuru Hanyu stopped wiping the edge, a serious look. The senior who felt like he's 'lost.'

 

Spoiler

In 2012, at the age of 17, Yuzuru Hanyu moved his training base to the Cricket Club in Toronto, Canada.

 

Kento Nakamura (30), who is three years older and had competed alongside Hanyu on the same stage since their junior years, also trained at the same club for two years, during the spring and summer of that year.

 

This was a world-class environment where Olympic medalists such as Kim Yuna (South Korea) and, in the past, Patrick Chan (Canada) also gathered. Even in such an elite setting, Hanyu's presence stood out.

 

"Even though it was early in the summer, when there was still time before the season started, he would get on the ice, warm up for about five minutes, and then immediately start practicing with the music. Before that, he would carefully warm up, watch footage of performances that went well... It felt like the atmosphere of a competition. After that, with the music on, he would practice individually on the parts of his routines where he had made mistakes. Even though it was the same one hour, the intensity of his practice was completely different from the other skaters."

 

The determination he had to make a breakthrough was evident in his daily training. About six months before the Sochi Olympics, a conversation with Hanyu remains unforgettable.

 

In the summer of 2013, after practice, Hanyu said something in the locker room while taking care of his skates.

 

"Let's do our best to aim for the Olympics."

 

Nakamura had placed 6th in the previous year's All-Japan Championships. "I had been practicing, hoping to go if I could, but I knew it would be very difficult given my ability, my results and the situation I was in at the time."

 

So he replied, "I'll try my best to make it."

 

At that moment, Hanyu, who had been wiping the edge of his skate, stopped.

 

"Kento-kun, since you're my senior, it's a little hard to say this," he began, "but people who say 'I'll try my best to make it' aren't going to make it. I'm working hard, believing that 'I can make it,' and I'll definitely win a gold medal at the Olympics. I'm working hard for that."

 

He said this with a serious look in his eyes, then said, "Well, take care," and left the locker room.

 

"He made a cool move and then left. It felt like I'd lost before the match even started (laughs), but that was true. At that time, there were so many strong skaters like Daisuke Takahashi, Nobunari Oda, Tatsuki Machida, and Takahito Mura, and it could have been anyone’s chance to go to the Olympics. I realized the battle had already begun before the competition even started."

 

True to his words, Hanyu went on to win the gold medal at the Sochi Olympics.

 

Now, working for a consulting company after retiring in 2014, Nakamura says, "I realize now that unless you approach things with that kind of mindset, you can’t achieve what you need to. Even as a working adult, I see that. I’m grateful that a younger person taught me such an important lesson that became a guiding principle in my life."

 

Looking back, Nakamura recalls how Hanyu had always been clear about his goals from a young age, and had made them a reality. He remembers Hanyu saying in elementary school, "I will win a gold medal at the Olympics."

 

"Hanyu set clear goals for each season, and he could break them down into specific tasks to achieve them. He can think in a quantitative way about what kind of training and abilities are necessary to reach his goals, and to achieve a specific score, he can calculate how many GOE (Grade of Execution) points are needed and how the program structure should be arranged. He is someone who can think in a very logical, mathematical way."

 

In Canada, Nakamura often saw Hanyu doing image training while watching footage of his own performances.

 

Hanyu once shared something with Nakamura: "When I try to jump, I can see myself jumping in front of me. By raising my legs to match that image, I can jump the same way."

 

Nakamura couldn’t help but smile awkwardly, thinking, "What is he talking about?" but later reconsidered. "He must have been able to clearly imagine the specific area and technique for his jump, so he knew exactly how to make it work."

 

[Will he achieve it again?]

There was a competition that proved it. In the April 2021 World Team Trophy, Hanyu’s quadruple Salchow turned into a single rotation. After the competition, Hanyu reflected:

 

"I ended up landing right into the hole (groove) where I had jumped into (during the practice before the competition). [omitted] I tend to jump in the same spot a lot. Sometimes, I get caught in the same place. It's a groove about the width of the edge of my skate, and I ended up getting stuck in it."

 

Nakamura said he was strangely convinced when he heard that. 

 

"Hanyu may seem like a 'genius,' but I don’t think that’s the case. I’ve seen him put in more effort than others, and I saw that through his practice."

 

The challenge of attempting the quadruple Axel (4.5 rotations) feels "very much like him." 

 

"Setting difficult goals. After winning two Olympic golds, in a time when the number of quadruple jumps was increasing in the skating world, he found the gap to create his own 'legend.' Considering the path he’s taken, I think he’ll achieve it again."

 

 

 

JP transcript:

Spoiler

エッジを拭く手を止めた羽生結弦　真剣な目、「負けた」と感じた先輩

羽生結弦は2012年、17歳のときにカナダのトロントにあるクリケット・クラブに練習拠点を移した。

　3歳年上で、ジュニアの頃から羽生と同じ舞台で戦ってきた中村健人さん（30）も同年から2年間、春と夏に同クラブで練習した。

　金姸児（韓国）や過去にはパトリック・チャン（カナダ）ら、五輪メダリストも集まる世界トップレベルの環境。そこでも、羽生の存在感は際立っていたという。

　「（シーズンインまで時間のある）夏のはじめなのに、リンクに上がって5分ぐらいアップをしたら、すぐに曲をかけて練習していました。その前にアップを入念にやって、うまくいった演技の映像を見て……。試合のような空気でした。そのあと、曲かけでミスが出たところを個別に練習していく。同じ1時間でも、他の選手とは練習の密度が全然違いました」

　飛躍を誓って海を渡った覚悟が日々の練習からにじみ出ていた。ソチオリンピック（五輪）まで、あと半年ほどのころ、羽生と交わした会話は今も忘れられない。

 

　13年の夏、練習後のロッカールームでのことだった。羽生はスケート靴の手入れをしながら言った。

　「オリンピックを目指して頑張ろうね」

　中村さんは前年の全日本選手権で6位。「行けるなら行きたいと思って練習していましたが、当時の実力と成績、置かれた状況を考えるとかなり厳しいと分かっていました」

　だから、こう返した。「行けるように頑張る」

　すると、靴のエッジを拭いていた羽生の手が止まった。

　「健人君。先輩だから、なかなか言いにくいところがありますけど」と前置きした上で続けた。「『行けるように頑張る』って言う人は行けないですよ。僕は『行ける』と思って努力していますし、絶対にオリンピックで金メダルをとる。そのために頑張っています」

　真剣なまなざしで言い切り、「じゃ、お疲れさまです」とロッカールームを後にした。

　「かっこよく決めて去っていった。試合の前に負けた感じがしました（笑）でも、その通りだったんです。あの時は高橋大輔選手、織田信成選手、町田樹選手、無良崇人選手ら力のある選手がたくさんいて、誰がオリンピックに行ってもおかしくない状況。試合前から勝負は始まっていたんだと思いました」

　宣言通り、羽生はソチ五輪で頂点に立った。

　14年に引退し、現在はコンサルタント会社で働く中村さんは「それくらいの気持ちでやらないと、なすべきこともなせないよね、と社会人になっても思う。その後の人生の一つの指針、良い教訓を年下から教えてもらったなと感謝しています」。

　思えば、羽生は幼い頃から目標をはっきりと口にし、それを実現してきた。小学生の時に「オリンピックで金メダルをとる」と口にしていたのを中村さんは覚えている。

　「シーズンごとの目標をしっかり立てて、それを達成するための課題を『因数分解』できる。目標達成のためには、こんな練習やこんな能力が必要だと定量的に考えられるし、目標のスコアをとるためにはGOE（出来栄え）が何点必要で、演技構成をこういう風にしないといけないといった理数系的な考え方もできる人です」

　カナダでは自身の映像を見ながら、イメージトレーニングをしている姿をよく目にしたという。

　羽生がこんな話をしてくれたことがある。

　「ジャンプを跳ぼうとする自分の前に、跳んでいる自分が見えていて、その姿に重ね合わせて脚を振り上げると、同じように跳べるんだ」

　中村さんは「何を言ってるんだろう」と苦笑いするしかなかったが、後にこう考え直した。「おそらく彼は頭の中で、どのエリアで、どう跳ぶとジャンプがうまくいくか。明確なイメージを描けているんだろうなと思いました」

「また達成しちゃうのかな」

　それを証明するような試合があった。21年4月の世界国別対抗戦。フリーの4回転サルコーが1回転になった。試合後、羽生は振り返った。

　「自分が（直前練習で）跳んだ穴（溝）に思いっきり入ってしまった。（中略）かなり同じところで跳ぶんです。同じところで突っかかってしまうことがある。エッジの幅ぐらいの溝なんですけど、そこにしっかりとはまってしまいました」

　中村さんはそれを聞いて妙に納得したという。

　「羽生結弦は『天才』に見えるかもしれないけれど、僕はそうは思いません。人よりも努力をしている姿を、練習を通して見てきたので」

　クワッドアクセル（4回転半）ジャンプへの挑戦は「彼らしい」と感じる。

　「難易度の高い目標設定。五輪で2連覇した後、スケート界で4回転ジャンプの種類が増えていく中で、まだ埋まっていない『レジェンド』の枠を見つけたんだなと。彼がたどってきた軌跡を思えば、また達成しちゃうのかなと思います」