[2022.11.11] Newsweek Japan: Kenji Ogata's admiration for Waka (Yuzuru Hanyu)

[yuzurujenn]

(machine translation, inaccuracies exist)

 

Source: https://www.newsweekjapan.jp/stories/culture/2022/11/post-100056_1.php

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20221111005551/https://www.newsweekjapan.jp/stories/culture/2022/11/post-100056_1.php

 

Chewing over, verbalizing, and carefully selecting words — The communicative power of Yuzuru Hanyu, admired as “Waka” by a professional of language

 

Since being captivated by a TV broadcast in 2008, a former Asahi Shimbun crime reporter has paid close attention to Yuzuru Hanyu. What is the source of his carefully selected words, his thoughtfulness toward others, and his unique charm?

 

Spoiler

<In addition to these activities, I have also heard that Waka (a respectful nickname for Yuzuru Hanyu) has been quietly doing many things for the victims of the earthquake disaster. Without boasting about the size of his influence, and with a humble, natural manner of carrying it out, Waka is still only 27 years old. As for me, who has merely aged without merit, I can only feel ashamed. (Comment by Mr. Ogata) From “Yuzuru Hanyu: Complete Record of his Amateur Days”, p.126 © Jiji Press>

 

I am someone who, of my own accord, affectionately calls Yuzuru Hanyu “Waka” (Young Lord). This originated when Hanyu selected the theme music “Heaven and Earth,” based on Lord Uesugi Kenshin, for one of his performances.

 

Respecting Lord Kenshin and Lord Naoe Kanetsugu, who supported the Uesugi clan as a chief retainer, I began to liken Hanyu to the “young lord of the Uesugi house,” and, most presumptuously, myself to “Kanetsugu—his elderly retainer.”

 

I first learned about Yuzuru Hanyu from a TV news segment playing in a restaurant in Tokyo. It was November 2008, when he became the youngest-ever champion at 13 years old in the All-Japan Junior Championships.

 

At the time, I was working as an editorial committee member in charge of covering general criminal incidents at the Asahi Shimbun, and I was preparing for a report, both domestically and abroad, to expose the growing reality of crimes committed by certain foreign nationals in Japan. I had finally arranged a meeting with a member of an overseas crime syndicate operating repeatedly in Japan after considerable effort, and this was the place where we would meet.

 

On the television screen, a slender boy with a charming expression was executing one technique after another. I knew nothing about the technical side of jumps or steps in figure skating. I just thought, “This boy’s eyes are full of light and strength,” while sipping warm Shaoxing wine with some mimiga (pork ear). The person I was supposed to meet never showed up, but discovering Hanyu was the biggest takeaway of the day.

 

From there, Hanyu's streak of success began. In 2009, he won the Junior Grand Prix Final at age 14—the youngest in history. When I was 14, I was just a kid daydreaming, thinking, “I wish I could meet Janet Lynn. I want to skate with her.” What a difference.

 

Later, winning the 2010 World Junior Championship, earning a bronze medal at the 2012 World Championships on his debut, and taking gold at the 2014 Sochi Olympics—following his trajectory to the top of the world, I found myself utterly captivated by Yuzuru Hanyu, more than 30 years my junior.

 

Yuzuru Hanyu, a man whose presence could move even a hardened crime reporter to tears.

 

Pardon the late introduction. My name is Kenji Ogata. I am currently attending a junior college in the early childhood education department. I enrolled as a first-year student in April 2022.

 

Asahi Shimbun is my old workplace. Until 2021, I worked there for over 30 years as a reporter. Including my previous job, I spent nearly 40 years devoted to reporting and writing articles.

 

Can such a half-baked man be allowed the outrageous act of writing about Yuzuru Hanyu, who has passionate fans across the entire universe? After being asked to write this, I wrestled with the idea and pondered it deeply.

 

But as someone who has made a living from writing for many years, I thought, “This rare opportunity to write about someone I truly respect from the bottom of my heart is something I can’t afford to pass this up. I’d regret it for the rest of my life.” That strong feeling led me to write this piece.

 

<"I won't let anyone dare challenge me." His spiked hair, tightly set mouth, and tense eyebrows and eyes convey the roar within his heart. (Ogata’s words) From “Yuzuru Hanyu: Complete Record of his Amateur Days”, © Jiji Press>

 

The Reason He Is Called "Waka" – The Power of Carefully Chosen Words and His Consideration for Others

The reason I call Yuzuru Hanyu "Waka" and hold him in such deep respect lies in his thoughtful words and his character. There are countless words of his that have captivated me.

 

Overall, I can say this: Yuzuru Hanyu deeply, deeply believes in the power of words and relies on them. I myself have long used words as tools of my trade, and I’ve thought I’ve wrestled with them, worked them through, twisted and turned them in my mind. So, if I may be so presumptuous, I can sense that he, too, chews over the words he has carefully selected in order to accurately convey what he is thinking and the messages he wants to share with as many people as possible.

 

The things he has said about his experiences during the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, which he himself endured, and about his thoughts toward a neighbor with disability, have deeply moved me and brought tears to my eyes. The messages he’s shared with children when asked to speak to them have done the same.

 

Of course, I can only imagine. But I believe that when he shares his experiences, he repeatedly reflects on them within himself, puts them into words, and, from his rich vocabulary, carefully selects the words he judges most appropriate. I believe he undertakes such an immense task not only in his skating, but also in his act of expression.

 

Another aspect is his thoughtfulness and care toward the people and things around him. I've noticed this while watching various footage. I apologize if I’m mistaken. When he gently places his hand on the surface of the ice, it’s as if he’s saying “Please” or “Thank you.” And when he walks through the corridor after his performance, it looks like he bows to each person involved in the event operations.

 

I imagine he treats the people who maintain the ice or handle the lighting in the same way, conveying a feeling of gratitude: “Thank you for making it possible for me and other athletes to give our all in our performances.”

 

I, without shame or concern for appearances, have tried to follow the example of Yuzuru Hanyu, who is much younger than I am.

At my former workplace, I had many opportunities to give speeches at events like high school baseball games and brass band competitions. I tried not only to show appreciation to the main players or band members but also to mention and thank those working behind the scenes (such as the people who groomed the field under the blazing sun during games, and the high school girls who cleared and rearranged the instruments on stage with every change of performer.) I am not confident that my sentiments came across as well as Hanyu's, but I hoped to convey them nonetheless.

 

The Kindness and Generosity of Hanyu Fans — Something I Savor on Twitter

 

Lately, I’ve been freely tweeting my feelings of admiration toward “Waka” on the Twitter account I started back in my days at my old workplace. I’m grateful for the rare fortune of being able to interact with fellow Hanyu fans through Twitter.

 

What always surprises me is the sheer number of responses to my rambling tweets. Sometimes they exceed 100,000 reactions. I’m overwhelmed by the breadth and depth of those who admire Hanyu.

 

I receive comments not only from Hanyu fans in Japan but also from overseas fans in Spain, Mexico, China, the U.S., Taiwan, and more. Sometimes, I receive replies in illegible characters, and I half-jokingly conclude, “This must be a message from a planet outside Earth.” That’s why I say, “Hanyu’s fans span the entire universe.”

 

When I was struggling with learning piano — a required skill at the junior college I attend — some fans kindly sent me videos of their own performances to show me how to play. When I vented about poking my fingers with sewing needles while making my internship name tag, someone reassured me, saying, “I’m sure the children will love it,” and sure enough, the kids at the kindergarten I interned at really did. Fans who have experience as childcare workers or kindergarten teachers have offered words of encouragement like, “We’re rooting for you.”

 

I can’t count how many times I’ve been uplifted by Hanyu fans while I’ve been exhausted and barely holding on.

 

Waka who captivates everyone from musicians to teenage classmates!

 

This has turned into a long message, but I alone cannot possibly convey the full charm of Hanyu with just my own subjective impressions. So, as a former reporter, I asked around at Higashi Chikushi Junior College, where I now study.

 

“His performance to Shinya Kiyozuka’s piano arrangement of Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso deeply moved me. Hanyu-san’s sorrowful expression, layered atop Kiyozuka-san’s beautiful, clear, and elegant tones, and his performance — reaching out to grasp hope — brought me to tears. The introduction conveys ‘stillness,’ with flickers of loneliness, then shifts into a dynamic ‘motion’ during the Capriccioso section. The final bass trill and rich A minor chord carried a sense of majestic dignity. Kiyozuka-san’s piano and Hanyu-san’s skating blended together to create a work that enchanted the world.”
— Miki Tsuyama (Professor, Early Childhood Education Department, Music Faculty)

 

“Figure skating now allows songs with vocals. This has expanded the expressive potential of the sport. Because lyrics can carry emotion, skaters must interpret how to express that meaning on the ice. Hanyu seems to understand both the climactic and quieter parts of music and incorporates 'beauty' into his skating, thinking carefully about how to merge it with the music.”
— Toshiyuki Kitajima (Associate Professor, Early Childhood Education Department, Music Faculty)

 

“What sets him apart is how he expresses rhythm through his footwork and uses his upper body to convey the music itself — something other skaters cannot do. I’ll never forget his words at the People’s Honor Award ceremony: ‘I want to be someone who can share what only I could do, what only I could feel, what only I could learn.’”
— Mother (piano teacher) of Satoko Sasabe (Associate Professor, Early Childhood Education Department, who taught me when I was a struggling piano student)

 

“I teach eurhythmics at a kindergarten. Eurhythmics is about expressing exactly what you feel. Hanyu’s performances are a clear example of how continuing with eurhythmics can develop such expressive ability. I’d love for the children to see his performances.”
— Ayumi Kodama (Assistant Professor, Early Childhood Education Department, Early Childhood Physical Education)

 

“I love the contrast between his presence while skating and his natural self when he steps off the stage. I’ve seen his hard work again and again on TV. Fans often say he’s both ‘cute’ and ‘cool’ — and I think it’s precisely because he has both that he has such unique charm.”
— Momoka Nakamura (classmate)

 

“His artistic skating technique enabled by incredible flexibility is amazing. The extraordinary focus he shows during performances.
His passion and persistence for skating. His sharp self-analysis and ability to follow through on what he says. His attentiveness to others.And of course, his deep love for Pooh.”
— Miha Yamada / Aoi Yamamoto (first-year students)

 

<“Careful, you 〇〇!” The kind of crude remark someone as immature as myself would almost certainly spit out at a collision partner. And yet, not a single word of complaint came from Waka, even as he endured excruciating pain. Thinking of what must have been in his heart at that moment is almost too much to bear. (Ogata’s words) From “Yuzuru Hanyu: Complete Record of his Amateur Days”, p.94 © Jiji Press>

 

This elder shall continue to admire you forever.

 

I foolishly injured my back and leg in early October during a gymclass and now attend junior college every day with a cane. I had received a result of “physical age: 41” on a fitness test, got cocky, and declared in badminton, “I’ll dominate every one of you youngsters!” That foolish bravado led to my current sorry state.

 

Even after undergoing intense training, Hanyu reportedly still struggled with injuries. At the 2014 Cup of China in November, he achieved great results despite likely enduring intense pain and muscle stiffness. Hanyu never complains like me, saying, "Ouch, it hurts. There's nothing I can do," or curses, "You bastard," (in his heart) at a subway station that has no escalators.

 

Waka, I have resolved that, though powerless and inept, I wish to watch over and support you. (To the honored houses of Uesugi and Naoe, please forgive me.) I intend to continue to respect and support you together with fellow admirers spread throughout the entire universe. I hope you will excuse me as I do my best to cause you as little trouble as possible.

 

 

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Kenji Ogata (おがた・けんじ)
Born in 1958. Graduated from Doshisha University. Worked at Mainichi Shimbun, then joined Asahi Shimbun in 1988. Held positions including Tokyo Metropolitan Police reporter, Tokyo social affairs desk editor, and editorial writer on crime, police, and organized crime. He left the company in 2021. In April 2022, enrolled in a junior college's early childhood education department.