[2020.02] 2020 Four Continents Championships Interview Collection

[yuzurujenn]

2020 4CC Interview Compilation

 

Source: https://weibo.com/ttarticle/p/show?id=2309404472753670455576

 

 

2020-02-04

Exclusive interview with Fuji TV upon arrival

 

2020-02-05

After the opening practice on the first day

Exclusive interview with Fuji TV after the opening practice

 

2020-02-07

Backstage after the Short Program (SP)

Exclusive interview with J SPORTS after SP

After SP (Part 1)

After SP (Part 2)

 

2020-02-09

Exclusive interview with J SPORTS after the Free Skate (FS)

Kiss & Cry before the award ceremony

Backstage after FS

Exclusive interview with J SPORTS after the award ceremony

Press conference after FS

Mixed-zone interview with Japanese media after FS

Post-event self-commentary on Fuji TV

 

2020-02-10

Exclusive Fuji TV interview: “The Morning After”

[yuzurujenn]

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

2020-02-04

Exclusive interview with Fuji TV upon arrival

 

Spoiler

Q: First of all, how were you feeling when you came to Korea?
Hmm... (laughs) Nothing special, really. I’ve trained properly, so I just came here with the intent of making the necessary adjustments and performing well in the actual competition.

 

Q: There was an incredible, shocking piece of news a few days ago that caused quite a stir.
Yeah, honestly, we were more shocked. We didn’t expect it to come out in that form. Anyway, I’ve decided to switch both my short program and free skate back to Ballade No. 1 and SEIMEI, which I used during the PyeongChang Olympic season and other past seasons.

 

Q: What was the most important reason for that decision? Of course, I imagine there are many, but what’s the biggest one?
Hmm... hmm... I’m not sure where to begin. When I talk casually at home, I can go on and on, but when I try to explain things formally, I just don’t know how to start.
Well, first of all, after performing SEIMEI at MOI (Medalists on Ice), I really felt, “Ah, this is my program.”
You know, I’ve been doing figure skating for almost 21 years now, and lately, it’s been feeling like... something is off. The skating I’m working so hard on now doesn’t quite feel like my skating. After the series of three competitions, including Nationals, I just felt... not happy (laughs).
The kind of skating that makes me happy, the figure skating I’m striving for, what I envision as ideal — it just wasn’t that. The image of skating I’ve built up over 20+ years is starting to diverge from what skating has become today. The content that's considered necessary in modern figure skating feels like an entirely different sport.

And then, at MOI, when I skated SEIMEI, I felt strongly, “This is my kind of figure skating.” I genuinely felt, “This is what I want to do.” Of course, I was still terrified of performing in front of everyone, but even so...
I didn’t choose the program because I had already envisioned this outcome. I just simply wanted to skate SEIMEI at that time. I’d been thinking about it even before Nationals or the NHK Trophy. There wasn’t any deep meaning — I just wanted to perform it.
But afterward, I realized I really wanted to skate something like that again. I thought, “Maybe this is what figure skating means to me.”
Ultimately, Otonal — although I toned down the technical difficulty at Nationals — I felt like I’d completed it. And Origin, I felt like I’d completed it at Skate Canada. Of course, it wasn’t in its final form — people often ask me what percentage it’s done, and no, it didn’t yet include 4A or 4Lz — but when I skated SEIMEI, something changed.

Suddenly, I felt like I was myself again. It’s hard to understand if you haven’t skated it yourself, and maybe only I can fully get it. But it’s a program where I don’t even need to try to “be Yuzuru Hanyu” — I am Yuzuru Hanyu just by skating it.
Of course, I love Origin and Otonal too — they’re programs I worked on with the same choreographer, expressing exactly what I wanted. But in the end, Art on Ice and Magic Stradivarius — they carry the breath of Marton, of Plushenko.
Otonal, too, carries Johnny’s breath — not mine. When I skated SEIMEI, I deeply felt that distinction.

So in the end... honestly, I thought it might be better to start from scratch and find a new piece that fits me perfectly like SEIMEI or Ballade No. 1. But time-wise, that wasn’t realistic. So I chose the pieces that I truly, deeply wanted to skate.
I want to skate my own figure skating.

If you ask me what “my own figure skating” is... I don’t really know how to express it. It’s a sense of breathing, of being one with the music, the flow of the jumps — all these complex elements that come together. That’s what makes it mine.
I want to skate such a program again.

Of course, Origin was made for me too. I gave a lot of input and truly love it. But at the core, I think I was still just a boy chasing the shadow of Plushenko. I was trying to become the skater I admired. That’s the feeling I get.

 

Q: You’re bringing back two legendary programs. That makes us expect even greater brilliance than before. Do you feel any fear or pressure about that?
Actually, I kind of wanted to let these programs rest in peace as they’ve already left a strong legacy. But my emotions just took over. After MOI, I truly felt, “This is my skating.”
If not for that moment, I would never have made this decision. Even now, during training, I feel like I can think more deeply about figure skating thanks to these programs.
Yes, I’m scared of failing. But even that, I don’t mind anymore.

Neither SEIMEI nor Ballade started out perfect. I struggled with them for a long time. In fact, Ballade never had a clean skate in its first year. Clean skates have always been rare for me.
So while these two programs may be associated with clean skates, they never won me a World title. I didn’t win 4CC with them either.
Let’s see... I didn’t skate SEIMEI at 4CC, or Ballade either... huh, I’ve never skated either at 4CC. Oh well, in a way, that gives me permission to use them. That’s how I feel now.

It’s hard to explain in words, it all sounds very abstract. But simply put, I want to skate my figure skating.

And I hope that when people see these programs, they’ll think, “Ah, I still love Hanyu’s skating,” or “This is what figure skating should be,” or “This is what Hanyu’s skating is all about.”
That’s what matters most to me.

Doing difficult jumps is still fun. I still love a challenge — that hasn’t changed.
But skating isn’t just about landing hard jumps and calling it a day. I want to say, “That’s not what figure skating is.”

At one point, I even thought of trying to fight the rules. Because in my eyes, the sport has started to drift into something different. But I want to bring it back. Not based on the world’s view, or on the rules, but based on what I want this sport to be.
Of course I’ll still do hard elements, like the 4Lz. But that’s not all.
There’s more to a program that can be improved, and SEIMEI and Ballade have unique elements that only I can express.

When I performed them at MOI, I realized that. So now I want to recreate them, one more time.

The music has been re-edited a lot. Honestly, it was so sudden that the people helping with the music had a hard time. But we got it to a form I’m satisfied with.
So I want to show everyone this new SEIMEI. It’s a new version. The feel is quite different, there are now four jumps in the first half instead of three, so it feels more powerful. The flow in the latter half has also changed.
If people enjoy this different version, I’ll be very happy.

 

Q: If you win 4CC, you’ll achieve a Super Slam.
(Hanyu: “Oh really? That’s the first I’ve heard of it! Hahaha!”)
Or is it a Super Grand Slam?
(Hanyu: “Is that so? Hmm...”)

Well, yes, I do want to win 4CC. At the core, I still have that drive.
But more than that, I really want to skate these programs well.
I want to reclaim my figure skating. That’s the strongest feeling I have this time.
(Interviewer: “Is that really all?”)
Yes, it is.

 

Q: One last question. You once told us you want to become “the strongest version of yourself, someone who can be proud of everything in life so far.” How are you going to move forward with these two programs in that context?
Well... saying this before the competition might sound weird, but I feel like this might be my ultimate form.
I think this might be the strongest version of my figure skating.
So... surpassing this may be difficult. Finding another program that fits as perfectly might not happen.
These two might truly be the best, the strongest versions of myself.
If I can add more difficulty or discover something new through this competition, and reach an even higher level, that would be ideal.

 

Q: Thank you!
Thank you!

 

[yuzurujenn]

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

2020-02-05

After the opening practice on the first day

 

Spoiler

Q: The first official practice at the main rink just ended. How are you feeling?

Hmm, I feel pretty good. Although there are still some sensations I haven’t quite found yet, I think I’ll just gradually get them back.

 

Q: You seemed to be moving very freely, but didn’t do many jumps. Were you practicing while thinking over a lot of things?

Yeah, since it was the first day of practice, I was focusing on getting a good feel for everything. I still don’t feel like I’ve fully grasped the ice yet, so I need to go through it step by step. I practiced today while carefully thinking things like, “This is how I should feel skating on this ice.”

 

Q: How does it feel skating the short program, Ballade No. 1?

Well, I think that’s really up to the audience’s emotions to judge. I was very nervous today. But how should I put it… it’s the first time since PyeongChang that I’ve skated Ballade all the way through in front of an audience, and although I was really nervous, it also helped me come to terms with the decision to skate this program again.

 

Q: Let us ask more directly. What was your reason for choosing this program?

Uh, I think if I answered this in full, the entire interview time would be up. First of all, there was the GPF and Nationals. Increasing the difficulty level made me personally happy, and there was a lot of joy in reaching those goals — that joy is truly immeasurable. But the kind of figure skating I aspire to… isn’t just about doing difficult elements. Even when I was skating Origin and Otonal, I kept feeling like, “This isn’t my breathing.”

From a technical standpoint, the more difficult elements I add, the rougher the skating parts inevitably become. I have to switch my mindset, remove the music from my head, and prepare for the jumps. I really hate that. That’s honestly the biggest reason.

And musically, when I chose Origin and Otonal, it was right after the Olympics. I was kind of in a floating, disconnected mental state. I still strongly felt like that boy who was chasing the backs of Johnny Weir and Evgeni Plushenko.

So, while Otonal at Nationals and Origin at Skate Canada were both great performances, I still felt like I couldn’t truly complete them as my own performances. My ideals were just too high. And maybe, those ideals weren’t really mine — maybe they were just the image of Plushenko or Johnny.

Thinking that way made me feel that this really isn’t my figure skating. Performing SEIMEI at MOI made me realize that again. That’s why, even though it’s not like a cover versus an original, I felt a big difference when skating SEIMEI.

Really, both SEIMEI and Ballade are already well-known, legendary programs with records and acclaim. If possible, I would’ve preferred to let them rest. But when I performed them at MOI, maybe partly because of my mental state at the time, I felt like I could truly be myself.

So I thought, maybe I could borrow the strength of these programs one more time. That’s all.

 

Q: How is the progress on your quadruple Axel? Will you challenge it at Worlds?

Uh… well, if I can’t land it, I obviously can’t put it in the program. So I think I’ll talk about it more once I can land it. But in practice, I think I’ve made quite a bit of progress this past month.

 

Q: So you haven’t landed it yet?

I haven’t landed it yet, but I feel like I’m getting close.

 

[yuzurujenn]

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

2020-02-05

Exclusive interview with Fuji TV after the opening practice

 

Spoiler

(Small talk before the interview)

Yuzuru: (To Fuji TV announcer Mita) Ah, congratulations on your marriage!

Mita: Ah, thank you! I’m so happy!

Staff: You must be! That’s wonderful.

Yuzuru: Your commentary is always so warm. I really appreciate it.

Mita: Ah, thank you! I should be the one thanking you!

(End of small talk – interview begins)

 

Q: Great job with practice. How did it feel skating on the competition ice?

Ah, I was a bit nervous. It was my first practice here after arriving, but since there’s still time, I focused on making some solid progress. Overall, even though I was nervous, I think I managed to have a pretty good practice.

 

Q: How did the jumps feel?

There are still a lot of things I haven’t quite gotten the feel for yet, but even so, there were a few jumps that felt really good. So going forward, I think I just need to focus on improving the consistency of those good ones.

 

Q: Today’s program was Ballade No. 1, and as soon as it started, memories of PyeongChang came rushing back. We all got emotional. How did you feel?

Ah, I was really nervous. When Ballade started, there’s that 15-second stillness at the beginning, and in that moment, how should I put it, I was immersed in the music, but still, it was my first time skating it again in front of everyone since then, so it felt a bit surreal. It also made me mentally prepare myself once more to perform this program.

 

Q: This is your first 4CC in three years. What kind of competition do you want it to be?

This time is really unusual. The audience is all wearing masks, and some people may not even be able to come. For those people, if I can deliver a performance that reaches them no matter where they are, that would be enough.

 

[yuzurujenn]

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

2020-02-07

Backstage after the Short Program (SP)

Exclusive interview with J SPORTS after SP

 

Spoiler

2020-02-07 – Backstage after the Short Program

 

Q: That was a “This is Yuzuru Hanyu” kind of performance. How did it feel to you?

Well… it felt like it’s been a while since I was able to deliver a short program that I’m truly satisfied with.

 

Q: About the score of 111.82, the new world record. What are your thoughts?

Oh, is that so? (laughs) Well, I’m aiming for 112. I think there’s still a lot of room for improvement in areas like program components and other elements. So while continuing to deliver strong performances, I want to keep raising the overall quality of each aspect.

 

Q: How do you feel about the passionate support from your fans?

Ah, really… um, I also made a few small changes to the costume. Including things like that, I just hope people were able to enjoy my performance once again. Most importantly, my desire to give a good performance in front of everyone was really strong, so I’m glad I could do that.

 

Q: What will you focus on when skating SEIMEI in the free skate?

I think I did what I needed to do today, so tomorrow I’ll rest properly. Then the day after — I’ll skate SEIMEI in a way that fits how I feel on that day, and perform a version of SEIMEI that belongs to that moment.

 

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2020-02-07 – J SPORTS Exclusive Interview after SP

 

Q: This 4CC is being held in Korea, a place full of memories for you. Do you have any particular thoughts about that?

I don’t really have any special feelings just because it’s Korea. But in any case, I’m glad I was able to deliver a short program performance that left no room for doubt, it’s been a while since I’ve done that.

 

Q: There were changes to your costume for the short program, and it looked like a near-flawless performance. If you had to point out something that could’ve been even better, is there anything?

Nope! I think that was the perfect performance I’m capable of right now. As for PCS, well, the evaluation may vary from competition to competition, but I want to always be ready to deliver an even more refined performance.

 

Q: Of course, a clean free skate is one of your goals, but looking at this competition as a whole, through both the short and free programs, what are you aiming for emotionally, or what’s something you want to achieve?

First and foremost, I want to find myself again. That’s the most important thing. Especially in the short program, it’s been a long time since I landed the 4S so cleanly, and the 4T and 3A as well. I think this feeling… maybe it came from the strength that the program gave me. So for SEIMEI, I’ll focus on SEIMEI, I want to show the different forms of SEIMEI that I can express right now. That desire is really strong.

 

Q: This might be a bit repetitive, but looking ahead to the free skate, could you sum up in one sentence what you hope to achieve?

Hmm… well, I don’t have a specific “goal” that I absolutely must accomplish. I just want to give a performance that lets me once again proudly say, “This is me,” in front of everyone.

 

[yuzurujenn]

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

2020-02-07

After SP (Part 1)

After SP (Part 2)

 

Spoiler

After SP (Part 1)
 

Q: Looking back on your performance?

It feels like it’s been a while. I think this might honestly be the best Ballade No. 1 I’ve done so far. Because I’ve performed Otonal, I think I’ve been able to bring more depth into how I express this program. Most importantly, I landed high-quality jumps while really feeling the music deeply. It made me think, “This is a program that only this piece can achieve.”

 

Q: About the score?

I was originally aiming to break 112 points. Everything felt really great today. The 0.2-point difference is within the margin of error. Those are the kinds of points that sometimes get added, sometimes don’t, depending on the day. So from here on, I want to aim for performances that are always good enough to exceed that 0.2.

 

Q: Did you skate in your own style?

Well, the 4S finally… Really, both this season and last, the 4S, and the 4T and 3A too, even though the entry is different, they’ve all given me trouble. Sometimes it felt like they just didn’t click. So now, I feel like I finally landed those jumps in a way that truly matches my style in competition.

 

Q: You had a hard time with the 4S in practice.

Yes, but maybe because it's the actual competition, the “form” that lets me jump in sync with the music is already etched into my body. I trusted in the program and the music itself. I think that’s the most important part.

 

Q: What were you thinking while you skated?

Actually, for the first time in a while, I skated without thinking. Recently, well, maybe not in the free skate, but lately I’ve always been building up mental images like, “Do this, then that, then jump like this,” before every jump. But this time, from start to finish, everything just flowed naturally. It felt like all the movements followed exactly where I wanted them to go.

 

Q: You looked bright and expressive.

More than anything, the best part was that I didn’t have a single thought like “spin this many times” or “watch out for this part” during the jumps, steps, or spins. My mind was completely free of distractions. Each and every moment, until the final note, flowed seamlessly, and when I lowered my hand at the end, I felt so at peace. It was the most comfortable performance.

 

Q: Was it similar to how you felt in PyeongChang?

In PyeongChang, I was more goal-oriented. Since I had the 4-3 combo in the second half, I adjusted a lot, slowed down spins, made sure not to get dizzy, and so on. But this time, the second half only had the 3A, so I could just let loose and skate freely. That’s something I can’t really do in exhibitions. Because it’s a competitive program, being able to perform like this in competition makes me really happy.

 

Q: Otonal and Ballade are both piano pieces. What feels different between them?

I think the difference is that this one really makes me feel like “myself.” When I skated Otonal, I was still chasing after the image of Johnny Weir. But now, it’s like I’ve finally snapped back into my own identity. I can perform from within my own body.

 

Q: Were you under pressure?

The pressure was huge. But hearing the cheers while I was skating made me feel proud, and that helped me skate with confidence.

 

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After SP (Part 2)

 

— Congratulations to all of you! Especially to Yuzuru, because tonight you set a new world record with 112.82 points, a brand-new world record, so congratulations. Let’s start by having everyone share some brief thoughts, then we’ll open the floor for questions. Yuzuru, let’s start with you.

(English) First, I want to thank all the flower kids. I’m really happy to be skating here, and also happy to see many gifts on the ice—there are a lot of kids handling them, so I really appreciate their work. (Host: You can speak in Japanese; we’ll use a translator.) (laughs) I really want to perform a clean skate the day after tomorrow.

 

— Yuzuru, although I think you might not want to talk too much about your current mental state, can you tell us how you balance the tension and your mindset right now?
(Since the question was asked in Japanese by a Korean reporter using some Korean-style Chinese characters that are unfamiliar in Japanese, Yuzuru didn’t catch everything.)

Uh, is it about the short program? Today’s performance? Or about the free skate? Today’s performance?
(Korean reporter: Either is fine.)
(laughs) (very slowly) Well, today I skated very comfortably. I fully put my emotions into the music, skating while thinking, “Figure skating is really fun.” The free skate the day after tomorrow will be different, a different story—I hope to show a different performance.

 

— You said that when skating “Otonal,” you were thinking about many things, but today you skated without thinking. What do you think is the reason for that?

Well... how should I say it... this program is my own. I’ve used it in countless competitions, but in my heart it’s like a fine wine or cheese. Figure skating hasn’t really had this kind of concept before, but I think the more you skate it over time, the more it matures, and the deeper the program becomes. I think that’s why it fits my style so well, or in other words, why I’m able to fully immerse myself in the music to jump and perform footwork from the bottom of my heart. “Otonal” was originally Johnny Weir’s program, and I admired it and wanted to skate it myself, so my feelings of admiration were strong and it didn’t really become my own performance.

 

— You skated “Seimei” two years ago. What do you think is the biggest difference between skating it this time and last time?

Actually, I made a new costume, and I think the fans will really enjoy seeing my new outfit. I also feel there are many differences between the PyeongChang performance and this one, because I’ve had so many experiences in life and skating since then. I’ve also had experience skating one program many times, and I’ve had more bad experiences and bad memories (laughs), so I have a deeper understanding of the music. These experiences have helped me grow in skating, and that’s the difference between the two performances.

 

— I think you’re looking at the scoring sheet in front of you. I want to ask about your thoughts on the scores and your performance…
(Yuzuru picks up an A4 sheet and shows it)
— Ah, that’s not the scoring sheet, it’s the ranking sheet. (Yuzuru: Yes)
Then, I want to ask, what do you feel you gained from changing your program this time?

Well, the biggest gain is that I’m able to skate with my own style again. Really. Because I feel that the experience and happiness come from performing this program as a competition program, I’m glad to keep skating, or rather, I’m glad that after changing the program I was able to perform something I feel is truly “me.”
(In English) I’m really happy to skate this program because it lets me feel that this is my own program, both of these programs. I’m happy to say and feel “I am a figure skater.”

 

— Host: I have a question for Yuzuru. You have a new on-ice role tonight, being a 'flower kid.' How did it feel to be a flower kid tonight?

Actually, I have been a flower kid before, at a competition held in my hometown. I think I was about… (asks in Japanese “How old was I?”) I think I was about 12 or 13 years old, but that year we weren’t allowed to throw flowers or stuffed toys, so I didn’t get to collect any. That’s why… I really felt happy because this was my first time experiencing it. When I was picking up items, I felt like I was a kid again.

 

— How did you plan the composition of your free skate?

For the free skate, I want to do the 4Lz. Yes, the 4Lz, and then... I’m not planning to do the 4Lo this time. I’ll do the 4Lz, 4S, and in the second half two 4T jumps in combination and a 3A.
(In English) For the free skate, I’ll do the 4Lz, not the 4Lo, because this competition I want to focus on the 4Lz, so I won’t do the 4Lo. Then I’ll do the 4S, and two 4T jumps and 3A in combination in the second half.

 

— You will skate “Seimei,” the program you performed at PyeongChang. I imagine that’s a very special program. Now that you will perform it again, how do you feel? Also, since you adapted it to a 4-minute version, shortening the transitions between jumps and so on, can you tell us about the considerations during adaptation and the difficult parts in practice?

Hmm... almost said this in English (laughs). Well, of course I have special feelings, but not because I performed it at PyeongChang or because this is Korea, not in that way. For me personally, this program is very special. I think for the fans or figure skating viewers, this program has a strong Olympic imprint, so of course I want to cherish it, and that’s why I want to perform it cleanly without mistakes. But, well, after skating the short program today, I think it will be different now. After all, compared to back then, my experience is different, the way I feel the music, the way I use pauses, how I want to express things, are all completely different. So right now I want to perform a different version.
(In English) I do have special memories about the free skate, because I won the Olympics with this program. Fans want to protect their memories of this program, and I feel the same way. I want to protect those memories too, so honestly I’m a bit scared to skate it again. But actually... to be honest, I think PyeongChang and now are different, because I skated a completely different short program today. That’s why I hope to skate a different free skate the day after tomorrow. I want to skate for the present moment—that’s what I want to do.

 

— About the short program’s jump layout and your costume color, is it green? Blue? (Yuzuru: I don’t know~) If the costume has any special meaning, could you talk about it?

Today’s, today’s layout? The short program jump layout?
(Reporter: Jump layout)
And the meaning?
(Reporter: Because it’s different from PyeongChang)
Okay, okay, I understand. First, the reason I put two quadruple jumps in the first half of the short program today is because that’s where I can fully express the program myself, and given the current rules where GOE has been increased, this layout should score more stably. So I used this layout.
But honestly, to be straightforward, I don’t really care about the score. The most important thing is what I want to express through this program and how I want to feel the music. Those are the most important factors for me in choosing this program layout.
Um... about the costume color, I don’t really know how to explain it, but... well, I didn’t want to make a big change. I wanted to cherish everyone’s memories while also making it clear at a glance “Ah, it’s changed,” so I put my heart into that.
(In English) I’m dizzy… (turns to translator).

 

[yuzurujenn]

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

2020-02-09

Exclusive interview with J SPORTS after the Free Skate (FS)

Kiss & Cry before the award ceremony

Backstage after FS

Exclusive interview with J SPORTS after the award ceremony

 

Spoiler

Exclusive interview with J SPORTS after the Free Skate (FS)

 

— First, please tell us your thoughts after finishing the skate.

I’m tired, yes. I was very nervous, that’s all.

 

— What changes were made for the switch to the four-minute program?

The first half’s step sequence music didn’t change at all, but I added four jumps. Then I started including the 4Lz, and until now, I could only put one quadruple jump in the second half. Even in Origin, I only did one quadruple, so this time I managed to include two quadruple jumps.

 

— Was adding the jump combinations in the second half also a change?

No, the jump combinations in the second half are the same as in Origin. Well, it’s both a strength and a double-edged sword, so I want to improve the precision even more.

 

— At the beginning, it seemed there was a hole on the ice. Did that affect you at all?

I was a bit nervous. Also, until now I was mostly on the side receiving thrown gifts, making other skaters wait, but this time there were gifts thrown before me, and for a while I couldn’t get on the ice, so in that sense I gained new experience.

 

— Back to the 4Lz topic, what was the reason for the comeback?

Well, under that nervousness my concentration was interrupted once, but even in that situation, I was able to land the jump to that level, so I think that was an accomplishment.

 

— Finally, can you share what issues you found?

In any case, I have to properly make use of the jump combinations in the second half. I think scoring bonus points fits my skating style, so I feel there are still many areas to improve.

 

— The next competition is the World Championships?

First, I hope to maintain this level in the short program every time, no matter what state I’m in. I think the pressure will be greater than this time, so I want to perform well. Then for the free skate, I’ll just spend some time getting more comfortable with it. Thank you!

 

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Kiss & Cry before the award ceremony

 

— Congratulations! You have won many competitions, but at Four Continents you had three silver medals, and this time you got gold for the first time as a men’s singles skater completing the Grand Slam. How do you feel?

Although I wasn’t fully satisfied with the free skate, thanks to everyone’s support, I finally won at Four Continents for the first time. I’m truly very grateful!

 

— After the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, you returned to the Korean stage after two years. How does it feel?

I was nervous. This time, as everyone knows, there were many people who couldn’t come because of the coronavirus and other issues, and we ourselves were very careful in all respects. The event organizers were also very careful, so we were really nervous, but thanks to everyone’s consideration and the staff, we were able to complete a wonderful competition. I’m really grateful!

 

— How will you celebrate?

Happily! Celebrate!
(In Korean) Hello everyone! I’m Yuzuru Hanyu! Thank you! I love you all!

 

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Backstage after FS

 

— Winning Four Continents for the first time and completing the major international Grand Slam, how do you feel?

Ah, I feel more like, “Finally I got Four Continents.” Actually, when I wasn’t over 300 points yet, I thought, “Ah, maybe it’s bad,” so I wasn’t that happy. But finally, the so-called curse has been broken, so I’m really relieved.

 

— The World Championships are next month.

Well, I’m not finished yet. I want to improve the precision of what I want to do and increase the success rate of figure skating that fits my style.

 

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Exclusive interview with J SPORTS after the award ceremony

 

— This is your first Four Continents win. How do you feel?

Ah, relieved. Well, the free skate content wasn’t that good, so I was still wondering, “What will the result be?” But finally, ah, like the Skate Canada, it seems the curses are being broken one by one.

 

— You’ve stood on the top of the podium at Junior Worlds, Worlds, and the Olympics, but this is the first time at this competition. Is there anything different about it compared to others?

Ah, actually I didn’t particularly put out extra effort, but I couldn’t quite get the timing right or there were small mistakes, and many things like that happened at this competition. On the other hand, when I was 16 I performed very well, and I have the memory of “I got silver!” So in a sense, this competition has been a step in many ways.

 

— You stood in the center yourself, and young skaters like Kagiyama also stood on the podium. What do you think about standing on the podium together?

Ah, really, recently when I was on the podium it was either Uno or Tanaka, and last year once with Tomono, last year? The year before? Last year, right? So now a new member has joined, and I feel it’s really reliable. Also, this is the championships, so in that sense too, standing on the podium like this is amazing, and I’m very happy.

 

— Yuzuru, please say a few words about your next step.

In any case, I feel this is still not enough, so I want to build a solid foundation and once again perform with high precision.

 

— Finally, please show your gold medal to the camera.

Finally got it!

 

[yuzurujenn]

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

2020-02-09

Press conference after FS

Mixed-zone interview with Japanese media after FS

 

Spoiler

Press conference after FS

 

— Brief impressions from the skaters.

(English) First, I want to thank everyone because this was a very unusual competition, abnormal, and we had to be very careful about the coronavirus every moment. The staff and the skaters paid close attention to everything, and I’m truly thankful to everyone. Thank you! I am really satisfied with the result because… although I can’t say I’m fully satisfied with today’s performance, I really wanted to win here, so I am really happy.

 

— How do you feel about winning your first 4CC title, and what were you thinking about during your skating?

Honestly, I was a little nervous. Yes, because I had to jump the 4Lz, and then something unusual happened before skating, so this competition taught me again how to concentrate mentally. So, if you ask whether I was completely absorbed in my performance, I think maybe not entirely. But, anyway, I gained a lot from the short program. I truly feel that I want to skate the free program like that too, so… I want to soon skate at a level where I can say, “Yes, this is my style.” That’s what I’m thinking now. (Reporter reminds about the question on first victory) Well, above all, the biggest feeling is relief. The most important thing is that in this competition, well, when I was 16 I got silver with a good performance, but since then I always thought “I can’t win” in competitions, and now finally having the gold feels really good.

 

— (To three skaters) Figure skaters often say they pay tribute to skaters they admire through their programs; who do you want to pay tribute to in your programs in the future?

Eh?! Well, I’ve already… paid tribute to Evgeni Plushenko and Johnny Weir. I’m pretty satisfied, or I would say content. When I was little, I also wanted to skate to pieces like Winter from the Salt Lake City Olympics, and yes, like Don Quixote.

 

— (After asking Kagiyama about his thoughts on reaching the podium in his first 4CC, asking Hanyu) Do you remember your first 4CC in 2011? You also stood on the podium; how do you feel watching Kagiyama join you?

Well, when I got second place, it was about a month before the earthquake was going to happen, so… the memory is already fading a bit. But, at that time, I was already competing in seniors, so I was used to nervousness and the program length and such. But he is still fighting in juniors, practicing junior elements, yet can compete on the senior stage like this. I think that’s really strong, and also very cool.

 

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mixed-zone interview with Japanese media after FS

 

— GPF and All Japan were tough; how did you recover your spirit for 4CC?

For a while, I really couldn’t recover, to be honest. Yes, I spent New Year’s in Toronto. Then, well… I’m not sure exactly when I officially decided or changed the music, but I skated a lot of past programs and got a lot of strength from skating at that time. Then, I felt strongly that skating was still very fun, but how should I put it, I also skated a lot of exhibition programs, but I still felt the unique joy of competitive programs. They pursue the limits of difficulty but still keep something I want to express. Feeling all this while skating, unknowingly my feelings came back. Not feelings for skating itself, but my own feelings gradually returning.

 

— After returning to Toronto, did preparations for this competition go smoothly?

Not smoothly. Although I practiced, I had no internal motivation, so the practice itself was difficult.

 

— How is your quad Axel coming along?

For now, I feel it’s still a little short, at least from my perspective. A bit short of being able to land cleanly. If the rink was suitable and matched me well, I planned to practice 4A and compete with it. But because the 4Lz was tough, I didn’t practice 4A this time. Anyway, I don’t know how much fatigue my body will have after this, but as soon as I recover, I want to start practicing immediately.

 

— Will you include 4A in Worlds?

For now, that’s the plan. But I’m not sure. The wall in front of me is very high.

 

— After the short program you mentioned “wine and cheese”…

I don't like it.

 

— What kind of maturation process do you want for Worlds? You called your programs your “children.” What kind of existence are Ballade and SEIMEI for you?

Ah, it’s not just those two. But, how to say, every program has its own process. Especially from SEIMEI, because I chose the music myself, participated in arrangement, and “wanted to do this,” “wanted to do that,” letting my imagination swell to create the program started with SEIMEI. Since then, these “children” have a lot of emotion, and I feel they retain what I want to express. As for Ballade, Jeff himself said when hearing that music he could see many things he wanted to express. What I want to express and what Jeff wants me to express came together, and finally I was able to fully express those things or pack in even more of what Hanyu wants to show — that’s Ballade. So I feel closer to it. Though I want it to mature, how to say, it matured because there was a period I didn’t perform it. So I had a break from performing it and touched various things, including collaboration shows and my own skating, including Otonal and Origin. I want to add a little bit more of what I can express now thanks to those experiences into Ballade step by step.

 

— What’s different about the current SEIMEI compared to before?

How to say… I think it’s calmer emotionally than before. Before it was sharper, more aggressive, like setting up a barrier. It had that feeling of setting up a barrier, fighting with something, and pushing back. Now, how to say, it’s less sharp. It’s skating with having understood many things, and in a way feels closer to an Onmyoji — Abe no Seimei in the movie. But whether this can be fully expressed including the jumps is another matter, so I think technically it’s still insufficient.

 

— What new feelings did you get after skating this time?

Especially about the short program — being able to merge completely with the music, completing all elements at high quality, with no interruption in movement. Of course necessary pauses are needed, as a form of performance pause, but how to say, all elements connect seamlessly, and that feels very comfortable to me. If there are people who watch and feel comfortable too, then I want to keep doing it like that. I pursue this comfort in figure skating, so this realization through competition is very meaningful to me.

 

— You just said you weren’t fully concentrated.

Yes, starting from the beginning, when I entered the rink, I saw a groove on the ice and thought “what should I do?” then went to the referee. Honestly, if I could have just gone straight to the referee without thinking about anything, that would have been better. But how to say, I entered the competition a bit scattered mentally, which is regrettable. If I could have entered with a “focus on 4Lz, bam!” kind of mindset, maybe it would have been different. But this also became a good experience. Even when in a state that could cause collapse, I was able to land the 4Lz at that level. I gained that feeling, so yes, it was a gain.

 

— About the second half?

About the second half, well, I had the idea “I must concentrate!” and used a lot of brain, so I think that’s the reason. I think it was more a mental than physical issue.

 

— About having won golds in both junior and senior major international competitions (a super grand slam)?

Well, forget the free skate for now, because the short program was good, hehehe. At the end of the short program, the super grand slam happened because of it, so overall I think it’s pretty good. The feeling of relief is strong. Maybe the Worlds gold or Olympic gold will be the final prize to get, but this season, including the Skate Canada curse, and last season’s first event curse, those have gradually been broken, so in that sense, I’m relieved.

 

— How do you balance the pursuit of your style of figure skating with winning at Worlds?

Right now, the strongest feeling is wanting to thoroughly pursue what I want to do and what I’m doing now. Of course, I haven’t gotten my highest free skate score yet, but the direction is not wrong. I really want to skate toward that direction and I think that direction is good. If that can earn high evaluations, of course I’d be happy.
If it doesn’t, then I can only say, “Well, it can’t be helped,” and just come to terms with that. Because the rules aren’t something I can change. If this kind of performance, when seen by the judges or by the audience, is considered to be lacking in quality, then I think that’s simply a reflection of my ability right now. I hope I can skate in a way that doesn’t make them feel that it’s lacking in quality. Like with “Ballade No. 1”—skating “SEIMEI” to the same level as this time’s “Ballade No. 1” is my biggest goal.

 

—So, the reason you chose the 4Lz was to avoid being affected by the ice conditions?

Yes. That was the most important reason. And after all, it’s a jump that, as long as my body can move, I can execute to a certain standard. But still, the number of years I’ve practiced the 4Lo and the 4Lz are different, so the gap in experience between them is also really big. I feel like I haven’t yet been able to bridge that gap.

 

— How do you consider the conflict or gap between high-difficulty jumps and your own style of figure skating?

Well, I haven’t concretely decided that inside me. It’s the question of “how should I move forward.” But the goal is clear: to add the 4A and have the free skate reach the level of Ballade. That is most important to me. So I’m working toward that. But the 4A isn’t about “difficulty” in that sense, but about being proud of my 4A. So how to say, I’m not fixated on difficulty, but to a certain extent, aiming for my highest limit of difficulty, and on that basis build a seamless performance like this Ballade program.

 

— The next month?

I think I can’t do it, but I want to try.

 

— About this competition’s SEIMEI costume?

How to say, like Ballade, I don’t want to ruin everyone’s memories. Because everyone has watched the videos from the Pyeongchang Olympics many times in different places, and I think it left a very deep impression. I don’t want to damage that impression too much. I want it neither to ruin that impression nor to be the same; I want to reach the level of “Ah, it’s changed.” Then, well, Ballade might be improved a bit more, but SEIMEI caught everyone’s attention at once. It is more dazzling, not just powerful but brighter and more elegant, that is the image I have.

 

— What would you say to Origin and Otonal now?

I want to say “thank you.” Because without them... to me, those two feel a bit like seniors. They’re figures I paid tribute to, and still the shadows I should be chasing after. And the fact that I wasn’t able to completely master them in my own style, there’s still some frustration there. But, well, as for Origin, I feel like it's probably still burning fiercely. But in any case, I learned so much from both of them. Of course, if you ask whether I really needed to spend a whole year and a half to learn those things... um… even I wonder, “Was that necessary?” But in the end, I still feel that precisely because I didn’t give up and kept pursuing it, that’s why I now have SEIMEI and Ballade No. 1 as they are. How should I put it... In figure skating, you usually perform a new program every year, or at most use one for about two years, right? But in my heart, I wonder—is that really an absolute rule? When you look at traditional arts—for example, especially in the case of SEIMEI, because it includes those kinds of elements— how should I say this... the things that continue to be passed down are all things that have been repeated countless times, aren’t they? Whether it’s ballet or opera. So I started to think, maybe I can move forward in that kind of direction too. There might still be deeper levels I can reach. On the flip side, performing the same program again is actually scary, because the thing being evaluated is yourself. And it’s being compared to your own highest-level performance, so it’s really scary. But even so, I always want to reach a level higher than that, so I feel like this is also one valid approach. It’s precisely because I went through Origin and Otonal that I reached this point, and that’s why I feel this way even more strongly now. That’s all.

 

[yuzurujenn]

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

2020-02-09

Post-event self-commentary on Fuji TV

 

Spoiler

— And now, joining us in the sub-audio channel to watch the short program performance is Yuzuru Hanyu. Thank you for being here!

Thank you, it’s a pleasure!

 

— First up is Ballade No. 1, performed again after two years. What were you feeling before the program began?

Ah, I was really nervous. Going into the competition, I kept messing up the 4S jump in practice, so I had some negative images in my mind. I was thinking, “I have to find a way to perform well,” and then, when the competition started, I heard so many cheers. It really gave me a strong push from behind.

 

— There’s a long pause, maybe several tens of seconds, at the start of this piece. What were you thinking during that moment?

How should I put it… this music is different from other programs—it’s just very comforting to listen to. So it felt like I was gradually entering into the world of the music.

 

— Now it’s time for the first jump.

It starts with a spread eagle, then 4S, then another spread eagle with a change of edge.

 

— A beautiful jump that earned a high GOE.

Yes, I felt really good about it myself too. It went very well, and the judges gave it a high score, so that gave me a lot of confidence.

 

— The crowd support was strong too.

Yes. But I really feel like this time, I became one with the sound and the cheers.

 

— And now, the second jump.

Entering with steps, then 4T, 3T—steps again. [laughs]

 

— The jump layout is different compared to the Pyeongchang Olympics, right?

Yes.

 

— Was there a specific reason for the change?

There was actually a season where I used this layout. At that time, it felt like the version where I could best become one with the music. This structure allows me to express what I truly want, and carefully perform each element, so I chose it again. I also made some small choreography changes here and there.

 

— How was the 3A? It looked really good.

The 3A was really great. I remember thinking, “Ah, this feeling is perfect.” It was that good. So I was able to spin afterwards with full confidence and commitment.

 

— The music also builds to a climax here in the step sequence.

I usually match that part with strong movements, but this time I did it with a bit more restraint, leaving some lingering emotion behind.

 

— The step sequence is truly mesmerizing.

I’ve worked really hard on my step sequences, but even so, I still think, “There’s more I can do.” If you look closely, there are still parts where I feel, “This could be better,” so I want to keep refining it little by little. [applause during final spin] Thank you for the cheers! [laughs]

 

— From that moment until the end, the applause and cheering never stopped.

I was able to complete all the elements at a very high level. I’m really satisfied.

(Final pose) I was still lost in the music. [lowers hands] And then I snapped out of it—right there! [laughs]

 

— What was the first emotion that came over you at the end?

First of all, it was, “I’m finally back!” That feeling. I also said “I’m back” at Pyeongchang, but this time it was more like, “I’ve done a performance that reflects my style.” That feeling was very strong. I was truly happy from the bottom of my heart.

 

— Before the competition, you said you wanted to reclaim “your own style of skating.” Now that it’s over, how do you feel?

Especially with the short program, ultimately, jumping and spinning in harmony with the music makes me so happy. And because I’ve kept chasing that ideal, it’s become a performance in my own style again—I’ve truly rediscovered that feeling.

 

— The fans have been waiting a long time. You can tell from the number of gifts you received.

Yes, I’m incredibly grateful.

 

— Since it was your first time performing this program since Pyeongchang, I imagine you were nervous. What did you feel while skating?

I was really nervous. Right before the movements started, before the music began, I suddenly thought, “Ah, this is the first time since Pyeongchang.” But once the music started, the imagery gradually, gradually filled my mind, and it felt like “the music was helping me with all its strength.”

 

— Now, about the free skate SEIMEI, which you also performed for the first time since Pyeongchang. What was your strongest feeling during the skate?

The strongest feeling was frustration. Really. I wanted to give a great performance, to present my worldview. I think I conveyed a bit of that, but… there’s still a long, long way to go. Because of that, I felt a very strong desire to become stronger—and to express even more of what I want to express.

 

— You decided to change the program quite close to the competition, which meant you had to condense it into four minutes. I imagine that left you little practice time.

Well, um, it wasn’t just about shortening the program. I also increased the speed in a lot of places. (Interviewer: You mean the tempo?) Yes. And also added more sound effects for the live performance. And because I already knew the original tempo, those faster parts created a kind of confusion in my imagery, and even disrupted my breathing a little. Those small bits of confusion, I found them a little difficult to manage.

 

— The opening sequence was like a storm. So many intense jumps in a row.

That was part of my plan from the start. I really wanted to do the 3A as a solo jump. A great 3A launched from footwork. I was hoping for high marks there. And then, doing a 3F right after, almost like part of the step sequence—I thought that would be cool. (Interviewer: Isn’t that only like 4 or 5 seconds?) Well, I wasn’t really concerned with the exact number of seconds. I knew I had to shorten the program, so I was focused on the second half. I just jumped in with a “bam!”—kind of like doing step sequence jumps. That’s the mindset I had.

 

— So, you’ve now won 4CC for the first time. With this, you’ve completed your collection of major international titles—finally achieving the Super Slam. How do you feel?

Yes… I guess it’s a feeling of “I did it.” But to be honest, I wasn’t fully satisfied with my free skate, so it also feels like I’m being told, “You need to become even stronger!”

 

— Regarding the free skate, are you aiming for “revenge” at next month’s World Championships?

Yes, of course. Whether I’ll use this same structure or not is still undecided. As for practicing the 4A, once my body recovers, I plan to resume that too. It’s not something simple—so if you ask whether I’ll be able to land it right away, that’s still difficult. But I want to keep practicing and aim for the best version of what I can do.

 

— You made a big decision to compete here. I think you’ll take the lessons from this competition into Worlds. What kind of performance do you hope to present at the World Championships?

To be honest, changing the program was really scary. I didn’t know how people would judge it. I didn’t know how fans would react—it was pretty frightening. But after actually doing it, I felt, “This really is my figure skating. This is what I should be pursuing.” With that realization, I want to take that feeling into Worlds and aim for a performance that reflects my skating style even more.

 

— We’re really looking forward to it. Best of luck! Thank you so much for your time today.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

 

[yuzurujenn]

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

2020-02-10

Exclusive Fuji TV interview: “The Morning After”

 

Spoiler

— I interviewed you during Nationals too, but now your expression is different from back then. Even though you may not be fully satisfied with your free skate performance, you look very refreshed. How do you feel now, the morning after?

Well… I think the most important thing is that I’ve finally seen the path ahead. Although it might just be a continuation of the same tracks I’ve followed until now, I think I took a bit of a roundabout way. But I finally saw my road, and I feel really clear-headed now.

To be more specific, it’s that I realized it’s okay to skate in my own style after all.

 

— In Japan, people were talking about your "Super Slam"—though before the competition you said it was the first time you'd heard that term.

Yes, it really was the first time, haha.

 

— This time, it was a huge topic throughout the event. You've now become the first men's singles skater in history to achieve this record, writing a new chapter in the sport. How do you feel about that?

It’s like… “Finally.” I feel like the 4CC gold medal was something I should’ve won even before the Olympic gold, or at least before the World Championship title. But I couldn’t win it until now, and maybe that has its own meaning. My first medal in a major senior international competition was actually at 4CC, so I have strong feelings toward it. And now, at the very end, I’ve firmly—well, maybe not “reclaimed,” but I’ve finally secured that gold. It feels really good. It’s like… I can’t help but feel it was meant to be somehow.

 

— Now you’re looking ahead to Worlds. What do you want to focus on most?

Above all, I want to skate clean programs—both the short and the free. That’s the strongest feeling I have right now: wanting to give a solid, complete performance in both.

 

— The battle with Nathan will be a key focus. What are your thoughts on that?

Honestly, I haven’t really thought that far ahead yet. I don’t think I’ve had the energy to even consider that. More than that, this time it felt like—finally—if I just gave a performance in my own style, if I gave the kind of wonderful performance I had envisioned, I could win. Up until now, I’ve always felt cornered, like I had to go all out to an extreme level, like “I must land these jumps,” or “I have to do this much.” But this time, I didn’t feel that way. I just focused on myself. It was like, “If I just perform well, everything will be okay.” And that made me feel really at peace.

I think this is the environment where I can show my true strength. It made me realize again what I really want to do in figure skating as a competitive sport.

 

— So right now, would you say you're shifting from being a "champion" to more of a "seeker of the path"?

I don’t really like the term “seeker of the path.” If you're just chasing perfection without any result, it becomes boring. If there are no results, you lose the motivation to continue in a competitive sport. From that perspective, my core has not changed.

But now, I finally have a concrete idea of the kind of skating I want to do, what kind of jumps I want to land, and what I consider ideal. I want to believe in those things and keep practicing. Right now, that feeling of wanting to pursue that ideal is even stronger than simply wanting to win.

So rather than chasing after figure skating’s “ultimate form,” it feels more like I’m chasing my own vision of it. Before, with Origin and Otonal, it felt like I was chasing the backs of great skaters who came before me. But now, I feel like I’m chasing the ideal version of myself, trying to catch up to him. I think I’ve said this before, haven’t I? Haha. Yeah… I think I’ve said before that I’m chasing the ideal version of myself.

 

— Last season when you lost, you said “a fire has been lit in me.” Since then, I imagine that fire has stayed burning. What is that fire like now?

I think its color has changed. The fuel has changed, the temperature has changed, so the color has changed too. It feels like it’s burning more quietly now.

 

— What color is it?

I think it’s blue, haha.

 

— What color was it before?

More like fiery red. Burning fiercely toward something—toward a goal, or a jump, or a desire to win against someone. It was a fire ignited by those kinds of things. But now, it’s more like a steady torch. I feel like it has a stable fuel source. Of course, it wavers sometimes, but even that wavering feels stable.

This might be a bit deep, but there’s something called resonance motion. If you bring two candle flames close together, they gradually start to flicker in sync. Until now, my flame was flickering independently—maybe burning harder by comparing myself to others, pushing myself too far, and as a result, both myself and my skating became a mess. But now, I feel like I can see my ideal more clearly. Maybe I’ve finally started to match the wavelength of my ideal skating.

So I’m in a very stable state now. It’s not like “I have to chase after it!” but more like “we’re flickering together.”

 

— That’s a deep topic.

Yeah… haha. If you look up metronomes, you’ll find it kind of interesting.

 

— You reused both programs this time and reclaimed a sense of your own style. That said, you are still a competitive athlete. Was there any strategic consideration behind bringing these programs back, like thinking they’d lead to results?

I didn’t bring them back because I thought I could win with them. Not at all. I also wasn’t trying to protect anything. If I wanted to protect something, I’d be focusing on my PCS, but that hasn’t changed much—it may have even gone down compared to past GPFs.

If I only wanted to win, I’d end up thinking, “So what was all my training for then?” But, at least to me, I really believe my skating and step sequences have improved since then. I think I’ve added more depth.

So I didn’t bring them back to protect something or to win. But they do reflect the “me” of now—especially Ballade No. 1. As for SEIMEI, I tried to project more of myself onto the story of Seimei, onto the figure of Abe no Seimei. I wanted to fully become a strong Seimei. That’s the feeling I had. So, rather than using the programs to win, I used them because I wanted to become stronger through them.

 

— As for SEIMEI, even though you had a few mistakes yesterday, we saw a new side of it. For us, it felt like “New SEIMEI” or maybe “SEIMEI 2.” What do you think?

It definitely felt different skating it. But just hearing the music makes me feel calm. Even in competition, it helps me immerse myself. The music and the story itself have this force that lifts me up from deep within. That’s really important to me.

 

— So would you say it’s “New SEIMEI” or “SEIMEI 2”?

Hmm… I won’t say that out loud, haha. Otherwise, people will start calling it that! And I’d get embarrassed, haha.

 

— Now, about the quad Axel. I think you’re fully focused on conquering it. What kind of obstacles have you faced so far? I assume you’re nearing the final stage now. What’s the current status?

First, even just rotating it is extremely difficult. There’s a lot of fear. It’s totally different from a regular 3A—you need to jump way higher, like you're being launched. And when you do that, your axis can tilt, and that ruins your rotational speed.

If you focus more on speed and jump a bit less high, then the rotation is enough—but then the jump might not have the required distance or airtime to fully rotate, which is a contradiction. That was the first hurdle.

But I think I’ve more or less cleared that. I’ve found a good balance. Now, I feel like if I can fully tighten my axis and land on one foot, I could do it. But it’s so difficult I can’t really put it into words. Still, I feel like I’m starting to see the shape of it. The 4A, which used to be shapeless, now has form.

 

— You practiced 4A during GPF official practice. How is it compared to back then?

I feel more relaxed than I did then. Of course, whether relaxing or fully powering up is the right answer depends on my body condition at the time—it could also be just a technical issue. But I feel better now than I did then.

 

— At this moment, what’s the possibility of trying 4A at Worlds?

Hmm… I still can’t picture it. But I really want to practice it. I want to use Worlds as motivation to practice it.

 

— And in terms of mindset? Of course, it depends on the situation…

If I can land it… even then, adding it into the program would still be really difficult. I think it’ll take time. Since SEIMEI has taken this shape, I honestly feel like I want to land a solid 4Lz first. That’s the stronger feeling right now.

 

— Speaking of the World Championships, last year you said that the one who wins at the final stage of the season is the true winner of the whole season.

I really do say heavy things… to myself. The things I say to myself are so heavy.

 

— Given that, throughout this season’s interviews you’ve said you want to show your strongest-ever form at the end of the season. With that in mind, what kind of performance do you want to show at Worlds?

I want to finish the season in a way I can be proud of, where I can hold my head high. It’s not about being “the strongest” in the sense of being unbeatable, but more in the sense of being able to say, “I gave everything I had.” Just like Ballade No. 1 this time, I hope that SEIMEI can also achieve that quality. That’s what I’m aiming for. If I can do that kind of performance, then I’ll be able to say proudly, “This is my strongest self.” That’s what I want to achieve at Worlds.

 

— This feels like what figure skating is really all about, and it’s also who Yuzuru Hanyu is…

Yes, I think this is the kind of skating I was meant to do. After skating Ballade No. 1, I thought, “This is who I am. This is how my jumps, spins, and steps should be. This is what my programs should be.” It’s not like “Yay, I did it!”—it’s more like, “I want to take this feeling and keep working harder.”