[2025.07.05] The First Skate

[yuzurujenn]

*Please do not reply in this thread. Machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2025.07.05

 

Source: https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202507050000683.html
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250705074526/https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202507050000683.html

 

[Figure Skating] Yuzuru Hanyu’s Ina Bauer Draws Cheers: "Dreaming of Olympic gold again" at Sendai City Arena opening ceremony

 

The figure skating ice show "The First Skate" was held on the 5th at the newly established year-round ice rink (Sendai City Arena) in Taihaku Ward, Sendai City. The show featured professional skater Yuzuru Hanyu (30), the two-time consecutive Olympic men's champion, along with Olympians connected to Sendai City such as Takeshi Honda (44), Akiko Suzuki (40), and Rika Hongo (28). They performed at this "new sacred ground" equipped with an international standard rink (60 meters by 30 meters) to celebrate the arena’s opening.

 

Spoiler

A total of 28 skaters, including those from Ice Rink Sendai, skated on the brand new ice, and when Hanyu appeared at the end of the opening, the hall erupted in cheers. More than 30,000 applications were received from Sendai citizens and the general public, and after a highly competitive lottery, 3,378 fans who obtained first tickets (now plantinum) gathered to see him. Wearing a blue-based costume, Hanyu appeared and, with the aria "Nessun Dorma" from the famous opera Turandot playing as background music, he suddenly performed the Ina Bauer, thrilling everyone at the eagerly awaited new rink.

 

Entrusted with the grand finale, Hanyu was introduced with his achievements: "Two-time consecutive Olympic champion, two-time World Champion, four-time Grand Prix Final champion, and the first man in singles history to achieve the Super Slam." He reappeared and commented via video, "Congratulations on the opening. I am participating in this show wishing that more and more skaters from Sendai City can practice and improve in the new arena. I also hope they keep dreaming of Olympic gold medals from Sendai City." Then he appeared in person and performed "Haru yo, Koi" ("Spring, Come"), decorating the memorable opening event. He generously showcased a triple loop and his signature hydroblading.

 

Encouraged by applause, he gave an encore performance of "Let Me Entertain You." The new arena, which can also host basketball B1 Sendai 89ERS games and music concerts, was transformed into a rock venue and energized the crowd. Following an announcement that "the first skating history has been engraved," the finale began. With all the skaters gathered, Hanyu circled many times, waved, smiled, and celebrated the new beginning.

 

After performing, when interviewed by the press, Hanyu expressed his joy, saying, “After all, skating together with the local skaters in Sendai and creating something as a group in Sendai, then being able to share that with the people of Sendai and those who gathered here, I really felt that was very meaningful. Including myself, who had to go to a more favorable environment to aim for the world’s top (going to Canada), with the birth of this new rink, I really feel it would be wonderful if we could keep skating in the place we love, with the friends we love, and the coaches we love.”

 

Regarding his choice of “Haru yo, Koi” (“Spring, Come”) for the opening performance, he said, “The theme was ‘beginning.’ Since it is the season of beginnings, I chose it. I hope this will be a start, a first step for something. I don’t think about showing an example to my juniors; I want to keep skating with all my strength and through that send a message to Japan and the world. Regarding the ice feel, since basketball and live events are also held here, making a permanent ice rink must have been very difficult. Despite the very hot conditions and the need to control temperature and humidity, they finally created this ice. I’m very grateful. I think this ice will become even better for competitions, and the venue is one where you can really see the expressions of the fans and feel the quality of the performances. I hope many people will come.”

 

The show began with the announcement, “Welcome to a new stage weaving the future,” and introduced Sendai’s “Goshikinuma,” the birthplace of figure skating in Japan, as well as highlighting it as the sacred ground that produced two gold medalists: Shizuka Arakawa (43, 2006 Turin Olympics) and Yuzuru Hanyu (2014 Sochi Olympics, 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics).

 

In the morning, the opening ceremony was held with Mayor Kazuko Kori of Sendai cutting the ribbon. Although Arakawa and others could not appear in the commemorative event, congratulatory messages were delivered from Shun Sato (21, Aim Services/Meiji University), who aims for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics, and Mone Chiba (20, Kinoshita Group).

 

 

 

Source: https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202507050000802.html
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250705074143/https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202507050000802.html

 

[Figure Skating] Yuzuru Hanyu Graces the Opening of a “New Sacred Ground” — Returns as Final Performer with “Haru yo, Koi”

 

The figure skating ice show The First Skate was held on the 5th at the newly established year-round ice rink inside Xebio Arena Sendai, located in Taihaku Ward, Sendai City. Professional figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu (30), a two-time Olympic champion, took part in the event, along with fellow Olympians connected to Sendai—Takeshi Honda (44), Akiko Suzuki (40), and Rika Hongo (28). They performed commemorative programs to mark the opening of this “new sacred ground,” a rink built to international standards (60 meters by 30 meters).

 

Spoiler

When Hanyu appeared during the opening, the arena erupted in loud cheers. Over 30,000 applications had poured in from both within and outside Sendai, and fans selected through the highly competitive lottery welcomed him with applause. Dressed in a costume featuring shades of blue, he opened with an Ina Bauer, immediately electrifying the long-awaited new rink.

 

Hanyu returned as the final performer, following a video introduction highlighting his achievements: two-time Olympic champion, two-time World Champion, four-time Grand Prix Final winner, and the first male skater in history to complete a Super Slam.

 

In the video, he said:
"Congratulations on the opening. I’m participating in this show with the hope that more and more skaters from Sendai will be able to train at this new arena and continue to grow. I also hope that someone from Sendai will dream of Olympic gold and strive toward that goal."

He then appeared on the ice and performed to Haru yo, Koi ("Come, Spring"), bringing color and emotion to this memorable opening event.

 

For the encore, Hanyu performed Let Me Entertain You, transforming the new arena—also designed to host concerts—into a rock-filled space, firing up the crowd. Following the performance, an announcement declared, "For the first time, a new chapter in skating history has been written," leading into the finale. All the skaters returned to the ice, and Hanyu circled the rink multiple times, waving, smiling, and celebrating the beginning of a new era.

 

The show began with a video announcement introducing the venue: “Welcome to a new stage where the future will be shaped.” It highlighted that Sendai is home to Goshikinuma, known as the birthplace of figure skating in Japan, and has produced two Olympic gold medalists—Shizuka Arakawa (2006 Torino Olympics) and Yuzuru Hanyu (2014 Sochi, 2018 PyeongChang)—making it a sacred place in the sport.

 

In the morning, an opening ceremony was held, with Sendai Mayor Kazuko Kori and others cutting the ribbon. Although Arakawa and others could not attend the commemorative event, congratulatory messages were delivered from her, as well as from Shun Sato (21, aiming for the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics, Eim Service/Meiji University) and Mone Chiba (20, Kinoshita Group).

 

 

 

Source: https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202507050001258.html
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250706053752/https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202507050001258.html

 

[Figure Skating] Full Statement from Yuzuru Hanyu:
“It Truly Means a Lot to Be in a Place I Love, with Friends I Love, and Coaches I Love…”

 

The figure skating ice show The First Skate took place on the 5th at the newly opened year-round ice rink (Sendai City Arena) inside Xebio Arena Sendai in Taihaku Ward, Sendai City. Featured performers included professional two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu (30), along with Olympians connected to Sendai—Takeshi Honda (44), Akiko Suzuki (40), and Rika Hongo (28). They showcased celebratory performances at the opening of this “new sacred ground,” a rink built to international standards (60 m × 30 m).

 

Spoiler

The premiere featured an opening set to the aria “Nessun Dorma” from the classic opera Turandot, followed by the main programs “Haru yo, Koi” and “Let Me Entertain You”, an encore, a finale with “Anything’s Possible”, and a grand finale titled “Lullaby.” After the performance, gathered by 39 media outlets, Hanyu spoke one-on-one.

 

Here’s the Q&A:

 

– What are your honest thoughts now that you’ve finished performing?
Hanyu:
“My seniors... technically Hongo-san is my junior, but being on the ice together with all the local skaters, building one show here in Sendai—it’s the joy of creating something together. And to be able to share that, to really convey it to the people of Sendai and everyone who gathered, there’s a strong realisation, and I feel it was really, really special.”

 

– What kind of place do you hope the new rink will become for the people of Sendai?

“Well, Honda-san as well, when you’re aiming for the top of the world while continuing to train at a rink in Sendai, there’s inevitably a point where you’re forced to move to a more privileged environment. I experienced that myself, having moved to Toronto, Canada. When that happens, it stirs up all sorts of feelings like longing for home, thoughts of your family, your friends… it all kind of hits you. So I really do think, ‘If only we could stay in a place we love, with the people we love, and the coaches we love, and keep doing this together.’ That’s what I sincerely wish.”

 

– You skated alongside children from Sendai. What are your thoughts about continuing as a skater?

“As long as my body moves, I want to keep skating with everything I’ve got wholeheartedly. It’s not about setting an example for my juniors, or trying to blaze a trail for the future of figure skating, it’s not about that at all. It’s simply about continuing to pursue what I aspire to, to keep exploring new things and ideals, and constantly updating myself so I can create and share something meaningful with Japan and the world.”

 

“As for skating with the younger skaters, I myself had opportunities to skate alongside Honda-san and Suzuki-san when I was a child, in ice shows. Every time, I was deeply inspired. I started participating in senior ice shows from the sixth grade, and seeing the jumps up close, the expressive performances, the way they played with speed and rhythm was all incredibly inspiring and educational. If today’s young skaters, who performed here, can feel even a little bit of that same inspiration or learn something from us… If it makes them think, ‘I’m going to get better than these guys someday!’—then that would make me truly happy.”

 

About “The First Skate”:
The event featured 28 skaters in total, including 24 from Ice Rink Sendai. It was held from 1:40 PM for about 70 minutes, in front of 3,378 lucky fans chosen from over 30,000 applicants. At the beginning of the show, a video introduced Sendai’s deep roots in Japanese figure skating: Goshikinuma (the birthplace of figure skating in Japan), and the fact that two Olympic gold medalists—Shizuka Arakawa (2006 Torino) and Yuzuru Hanyu (2014 Sochi, 2018 Pyeongchang)—came from the city. A loud round of applause followed the announcement, “A new chapter in skating history has been written.”

 

 

 

 

 

Source: https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202507050001372.html
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250706053722/https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202507050001372.html

 

[Figure Skating] Yuzuru Hanyu & Others Star in Opening Ice Show at New Arena—Covered by 39 Media Outlets, 3,378 Attendees / Event Summary

 

The figure skating ice show "The First Skate" took place on the 5th at the newly built year-round ice rink (Sendai City Arena) at Xebio Arena Sendai in Taihaku Ward, Sendai City. Professional skater Yuzuru Hanyu (30), two-time consecutive men's champion at the Winter Olympics, as well as Olympians with ties to Sendai City, Takeshi Honda (44), Akiko Suzuki (40), and Rika Hongo (28) appeared. The details of the event, which featured a dance to commemorate the opening of the "new sacred ground" of international standards (60m x 30m), are as follows:

 

Spoiler

■Title: The First Skate

 

■Featured Skaters (28 total):

Yuzuru Hanyu (30), two-time Olympic champion

Takeshi Honda (44), Akiko Suzuki (40), and Rika Hongo (28), Olympians connected to Sendai

24 skaters from Ice Rink Sendai; solo segments by Aoto Oyama (Tohoku High 1st year) and Kei Yoshida (Miyagi FSC, Tokiwa Gakuen High 3rd year)

 

■Choreography: Nanami Abe

 

■Attendance & Media Coverage:

Venue capacity: 3,412 seats

Attendees: 3,378

Covered by 39 media outlets

 

■Schedule:

Doors open: 12:25 PM

Showtime: 1:40 PM – 2:50 PM

 

■Program Highlights:

Opening Act 1 – Ice Rink Sendai skaters: “Legends Are Made”

Opening Act 2 – All skaters: “Nessun Dorma”

 

Solo Performances:

Aoto Oyama – “Festive Overture, Op. 96”

Kei Yoshida – “Liebestraum”

Rika Hongo – “Love Never Dies”

Takeshi Honda – “River Dance”

 

Video Messages from Shun Sato, Mone Chiba, and Shizuka Arakawa

 

Akiko Suzuki – “Clair de Lune”

Yuzuru Hanyu – “Haru yo, Koi”

 

Encore – Yuzuru Hanyu: “Let Me Entertain You”

Finale (all skaters): “Anything’s Possible”

Grand Finale (all skaters): “Lullaby”

 

[yuzurujenn]

*Please do not reply in this thread. Machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2025.07.05

 

Source: https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/350974#
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250706053351/https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/350974

 

[Figure Skating] Yuzuru Hanyu appears at the ice show celebrating the opening of the new rink and receives huge cheers as he performs the Ina Bauer

 

The opening ceremony for the newly built year-round ice rink "Xebio Arena Sendai" in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, was held on the 5th. The ice show "The First Skate" featured two-time Olympic gold medalist Yuzuru Hanyu (30) and others.

 

Spoiler

Hanyu performed alongside Akiko Suzuki, who has deep ties to Sendai, and performed an Ina Bauer at the opening. The crowd erupted in cheers. When he reappeared for the final act, he performed "Haru yo, Koi" and "Let Me Entertain You" as an encore, celebrating the start of the new rink.

 

Before his final performance, Hanyu offered words of encouragement to the young skaters of Sendai, saying,
"It all depends on them, but I truly hope they will continue to chase their dreams, from dreaming of the Olympics to dreaming of winning Olympic gold."

At this sacred ground of Japanese figure skating, which produced both Hanyu himself and Shizuka Arakawa, the 2006 Turin Olympic gold medalist, he expressed his hopes for the future through his performance.

 

 

 

Source: https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/350986
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250706053901/https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/350986

 

Yuzuru Hanyu: "As long as my body can move, I want to skate with all my might and all my heart and soul" - expresses his feelings about skating

 

　Yuzuru Hanyu (30), a professional skater who has won two consecutive Olympic gold medals in men's figure skating, has revealed his thoughts on "performing."

 

Spoiler

The opening ceremony for the new year-round ice rink "Xebio Arena Sendai" in Sendai, Miyagi, was held on the 5th, and Hanyu performed with Akiko Suzuki, who has a deep connection to Sendai, in the ice show "The First Skate". Hanyu performed "Haru yo, Koi" as the finale and "Let Me Entertain You" as the encore. After the performance, he said with a smile, "It was great to be able to share the joy of creating a show together with all the local skaters and creating something together in Sendai with the people of Sendai and the people who gathered in Sendai."

 

Hanyu, who showed a spectacular performance to celebrate the start of the new rink, is ready to continue pouring all his energy into his own performances. "As long as my body can move, I want to keep skating with all my might and all my heart and soul. It has nothing to do with showing the way to the next generation, and it has nothing to do with wanting to open up new possibilities in figure skating. I just want to keep updating my goals, new things, ideals, and all of those things, and do my best to send good things to Japan and the world," he said passionately.

 

Of course, he also has high hopes for the younger generation. The ice show featured promising young skaters who practice at Ice Rink Sendai.
“I have been participating in senior ice shows since I was in the sixth grade of elementary school, and at that time, seeing jumps up close, the expressiveness, the changes in speed, all of that gave me a lot of inspiration. It was a great learning experience. If even a few of the kids who skated today can feel inspired by us, learn from us, and think, ‘I will definitely become better than these guys,’ I would be very happy,” he encouraged.

 

Will Sendai, with its excellent training environment, produce another Olympic champion following in the footsteps of Hanyu and Arakawa Shizuka?

 

 

 

Source: https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/350991
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250706054140/https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/350991

 

Yuzuru Hanyu’s Wish: With a New Rink in Sendai, “I Hope to Keep Skating Together with Beloved Friends and Coaches”

 

Yuzuru Hanyu (30), a professional skater who has won two consecutive Olympic gold medals in men's figure skating, spoke about his thoughts on the "long-awaited new rink."

 

Spoiler

On the 5th, the opening ceremony of the newly established year-round skating rink, “Xebio Arena Sendai,” took place in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture. At the commemorative ice show, The First Skate, professional skater and two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu (30) performed last with “Haru yo, Koi” (“Spring, Come”) and returned for an encore with “Let Me Entertain You.”

 

Hanyu reflected, “Beginning is one of the themes, so I chose it with the image of spring, the season of beginnings. I hope that, beyond just the season, something might start or a step forward might be taken by the children who skated today or by those who came to watch. I skated with those hopes and prayers.”

 

Sendai City, in partnership with major sports retailer Xebio Holdings, has established this year-round rink to provide better training facilities for the next generation of skaters. Hanyu said, “While training continuously at the rink in Sendai, aiming to be at the world’s top means we inevitably have to go to more advantageous environments, including myself. On such days, feelings for our hometown, family, and friends well up strongly. I truly wish we could keep skating together in the place we love, with the friends and coaches we love.”

 

Sendai continues to produce prominent skaters across generations, including 2006 Turin Olympic ladies’ gold medalist Shizuka Arakawa, Hanyu himself, and 2025 World Championships bronze medalist Mone Chiba (Kinoshita Group). The opening of this new base is expected to further advance the figure skating scene in Sendai.

 

 

 

[yuzurujenn]

*Please do not reply in this thread. Machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2025.07.05

 

Source: https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2025/07/05/kiji/20250705s00079000157000c.html?page=1
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250705065710/https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2025/07/05/kiji/20250705s00079000157000c.html?page=1

 

Yuzuru Hanyu Puts His Wishes into an Ina Bauer as “The First Skate” Kicks Off

 

Spoiler

The ice show "The First Skate", billed as a commemorative event for the opening of the Sendai City Arena, was held at Xebio Arena Sendai on the 5th. At the opening, skaters from Ice Rink Sendai, Rika Hongo, Akiko Suzuki, Takeshi Honda, and Yuzuru Hanyu , performed in that order. A show by skaters with ties to Sendai City. Hanyu appeared in a blue-based costume and thrilled the audience with his sharp skating and Ina Bauer.

 

 

 

 

Source: https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2025/07/05/kiji/20250705s00079000176000c.html?page=1
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250705070028/https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2025/07/05/kiji/20250705s00079000176000c.html?page=1

 

Yuzuru Hanyu Filled with Emotion Performs “Haruyo Koi” — Encourages Next Generation to Dream of Olympic Glory from Sendai

 

Spoiler

The ice show “The First Skate,” held as part of the opening celebration for the Sendai City Arena, took place on the 5th at Xebio Arena Sendai.

 

Yuzuru Hanyu, the two-time Olympic men’s champion and professional skater, performed last with “Haruyo Koi.” He captivated the audience by executing a triple loop, hydroblading, and Ina Bauer one after another. For the encore, he energized the crowd with “Let Me Entertain You.”

 

In a video message, he congratulated the arena’s opening, saying, “Congratulations on the opening of Sendai City Arena. What the future holds depends on the young skaters, but I hope they will continue to work hard dreaming of the Olympics and Olympic gold medals from Sendai.”

 

The ice show featured skaters connected to Sendai City. In addition to Hanyu, skaters from Ice Rink Sendai, as well as Rika Hongo, Akiko Suzuki, and Takeshi Honda also performed.

 

 

 

Source: https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2025/07/05/kiji/20250705s00079000241000c.html?page=1
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250705083650/https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2025/07/05/kiji/20250705s00079000241000c.html?page=1

 

Yuzuru Hanyu’s Message on the New Ice Rink Opening (1)] “I want to keep skating forever with my favorite place, friends, and coaches…”

 

Spoiler

The ice show titled “The First Skate,” held as part of the opening event for the new Sendai City Arena, took place on the 5th at the Xebio Arena Sendai. The two-time Olympic champion and professional skater Yuzuru Hanyu performed last, skating to “Haru yo, Koi,” and returned for an encore with “Let Me Entertain You.”

 

Below are highlights from Hanyu’s Q&A session after the performance:

 

— What are your honest thoughts after finishing your performance?

“My seniors, although Rika Hongo is actually my junior, but well, together with all the local skaters, we created this one show. The joy of building something together here in Sendai, and being able to share that with the people of Sendai and everyone who came to watch, I think that was really wonderful.”

 

— How do you hope the new rink will become a place for the people of Sendai?
“Like Takeshi Honda said, when you keep training at the Sendai rink but aim to be at the top of the world, you inevitably have to move to a more favorable environment, that was the case for me as well. When that happens, feelings toward your hometown, family, and friends swell up inside you on certain days. So I really hope everyone can keep skating at their favorite place, with their favorite friends and coaches, continuously.”

 

— You skated alongside children from Sendai. What keeps you motivated to continue skating?
“As long as my body allows it, I want to keep skating with all my strength and spirit. This isn’t about setting an example for younger skaters or about opening new possibilities for figure skating. It’s simply about constantly updating my goals, ideals, and what I aim for, and doing my best to share something good with Japan and the world.
Regarding skating with the juniors, when I was young, I often skated in ice shows alongside Takeshi Honda and Akiko Suzuki, and every time I was deeply inspired. I started participating in senior ice shows when I was in sixth grade, and being so close to see the power of their jumps, their expression, and their control of speed was an incredible learning experience.
I hope the kids who skated today were at least somewhat inspired or learned something from us, and that they will grow up thinking, ‘I will definitely become better than these guys.’ That would make me really happy.”

 

 

 

Source: https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2025/07/05/kiji/20250705s00079000242000c.html?page=1
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250705083833/https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2025/07/05/kiji/20250705s00079000242000c.html?page=1

 

“Yuzuru Hanyu on the Opening of the New Rink (2): ‘The Season of New Beginnings, Spring… Skated with a Prayer’”

 

Spoiler

The ice show titled “The First Skate,” held as part of the opening celebration for the Sendai City Arena, took place on the 5th at the Xebio Arena Sendai. Yuzuru Hanyu, the two-time Olympic men’s figure skating gold medalist turned professional, performed last with “Haru yo, Koi” (“Come, Spring”) and returned for an encore with “Let Me Entertain You.”

 

Below are highlights from Hanyu’s Q&A session following the performance:

 

— What thoughts did you put into the music selection and choreography?
“Since the theme was about beginnings, I chose pieces that represent spring, which to me is the season of new beginnings. I skated with the hope and prayer that, for the kids who performed today and everyone who came to watch, this wouldn’t just be about the season itself but that seeing the performance might inspire someone to start something new or take a step forward. Personally, I was really fired up by Mr. Honda’s ‘Riverdance.’ It was amazing.”

 

— This was your first time skating here. What did you think of the atmosphere and the ice?
“Technically speaking, this venue was originally designed for basketball and artists’ events, so creating a permanent ice rink here was an incredibly challenging task. I’m sure everyone who came today noticed how warm it was inside. Managing the temperature and humidity was a huge effort, and I truly felt grateful for the ice that was made under these conditions.”

“Since the ice is still freshly laid, I’m confident that with more experience and time, including today’s, it will become even better for competitions. Also, this arena allows spectators to see facial expressions clearly and feel the quality of the performances up close. I’d be very happy if more people come to experience it.”

 

 

 

 

Source: https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2025/07/05/kiji/20250705s00079000252000c.html?page=1
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250705084659/https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2025/07/05/kiji/20250705s00079000252000c.html?page=1

 

Rika Hongo, Akiko Suzuki, Takeshi Honda, and Other Skaters Connected to Sendai Take the Ice

 

Spoiler

The ice show “The First Skate,” marking the opening of Sendai City Arena, was held on the 5th at the Xebio Arena Sendai.

 

The event featured Olympic two-time champion Yuzuru Hanyu, as well as Rika Hongo, Akiko Suzuki, Takeshi Honda, and skaters from Ice Rink Sendai, all performing with heartfelt passion. Hongo performed to “Love never dies,” Honda to “River Dance,” and Suzuki to “Clair de Lune,” each delivering distinctive routines.

 

Skaters unable to attend also sent video messages. Mone Chiba, bronze medalist at this year’s World Championships, expressed her excitement about the many rising stars from Sendai and her anticipation to skate alongside them. Shun Sato, a male World Championship representative, said, “I have pursued the path set by these great seniors throughout my career. I will continue to work hard to become an Olympic medalist myself.”

 

Shizuka Arakawa, gold medalist at the 2006 Torino Olympics, also sent a message, hoping that the new rink and Sendai’s skating culture will be loved by many and thrive for a long time.

 

The ice show drew significant attention with 3,378 attendees and coverage by 39 media outlets.

 

[yuzurujenn]

*Please do not reply in this thread. Machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2025.07.05

 

Source: https://hochi.news/articles/20250705-OHT1T51084.html?page=1
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250705065808/https://hochi.news/articles/20250705-OHT1T51084.html?page=1

 

Ice show kicks off at Xebio Arena Sendai featuring Yuzuru Hanyu and others

 

Spoiler

The ice show "The First Skate," billed as a commemorative event for the opening of Sendai City Arena, kicked off on the 5th at the Xebio Arena Sendai.

 

　Featuring Yuzuru Hanyu, Takeshi Honda, Akiko Suzuki, Rika Hongo, and skaters from Ice Rink Sendai.

 

　A new year-round ice rink that meets international figure skating standards has been constructed at Xebio Arena Sendai and was unveiled on this day.

Yuzuru Hanyu performing in an ice show (photographer: Yasuto Kobayashi)
 

 

 

 

Source: https://hochi.news/articles/20250705-OHT1T51099.html?page=1
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250705065900/https://hochi.news/articles/20250705-OHT1T51099.html?page=1

 

Yuzuru Hanyu performs "Turandot" with Ina Bauer at Xebio Arena Sendai ice show

 

Spoiler

The ice show "The First Skate", billed as a commemorative event for the opening of the Sendai City Arena, kicked off on the 5th at the Xebio Arena Sendai. Yuzuru Hanyu, Takeshi Honda, Akiko Suzuki, and Rika Hongo appeared.

 

　In the opening, the skaters from Ice Rink Sendai, Hongo, Suzuki, Honda, and Hanyu, skated in that order. Hanyu, who appeared on the ice in a blue-based costume, performed an Ina Bauer to the music of "Turandot."

 

　"The First Skate" is an ice show by skaters with ties to Sendai. A new year-round ice rink that meets international figure skating standards was newly constructed at Xebio Arena Sendai, and was unveiled on this day.

 

 

 

Source: https://hochi.news/articles/20250705-OHT1T51107.html?page=1
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250705070044/https://hochi.news/articles/20250705-OHT1T51107.html?page=1

 

Yuzuru Hanyu performs "Spring, Come" at the finale of the ice show at Xebio Arena Sendai

 

Spoiler

　The ice show "The First Skate", billed as a commemorative event for the opening of the Sendai City Arena, kicked off on the 5th at the Xebio Arena Sendai. Yuzuru Hanyu, Takeshi Honda, Akiko Suzuki, and Rika Hongo appeared.

 

　Hanyu, who won consecutive Olympic gold medals at the 2014 Sochi and 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, appeared as the final act and performed "Spring, Come."

 

　"The First Skate" is an ice show by skaters with ties to Sendai. A new year-round ice rink that meets international figure skating standards was newly constructed at Xebio Arena Sendai, and was unveiled on this day.

 

 

 

Source: https://hochi.news/articles/20250705-OHT1T51142.html?page=1
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250705071557/https://hochi.news/articles/20250705-OHT1T51142.html?page=1

 

Yuzuru Hanyu: "I hope you will continue to dream of an Olympic gold medal from Sendai" - Ice show at Xebio Arena Sendai

 

Spoiler

The commemorative ice show The First Skate, held to mark the grand opening of Sendai City Arena, took place on July 5 at Xebio Arena Sendai. The event featured performances by Yuzuru Hanyu, Takeshi Honda, Akiko Suzuki, and Rika Hongo, all skaters with deep ties to the city.

 

Yuzuru Hanyu, the two-time Olympic champion from the 2014 Sochi and 2018 PyeongChang Games, appeared last as the show’s grand finale, performing to “Haru yo, Koi” (“Come, Spring”). Before his performance, a video message from Hanyu played on the arena’s large screen:

 

“With this new ice arena now open in Sendai, I truly hope that the city's figure skaters will have even more opportunities to train, and continue to grow and improve. That’s the spirit in which I’m participating in this show,” he said.

 

“Of course, what the future holds depends on each of them individually. But still, I hope that once again from Sendai, skaters will dream of the Olympics, and dream of winning Olympic gold. I’ll be cheering them on.”

 

For the encore, Hanyu performed “Let Me Entertain You”, receiving thunderous applause and cheers from the crowd of 3,378 attendees.

 

The First Skate was a special ice show featuring skaters connected to Sendai. It also marked the debut of a new, year-round ice rink built to international standards inside Xebio Arena Sendai, now officially unveiled to the public.

 

 

 

Source: https://hochi.news/articles/20250705-OHT1T51194.html?page=1
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250706053516/https://hochi.news/articles/20250705-OHT1T51194.html?page=1

 

Yuzuru Hanyu: "With people I love, in a place I love, with the coach I love" — Q&A, Part 1

 

Spoiler

Yuzuru Hanyu, the two-time Olympic champion in men’s figure skating (2014 Sochi, 2018 PyeongChang), performed at the opening commemorative ice show “The First Skate” held on July 5 at the newly opened Sendai City Arena. Alongside fellow skaters Takeshi Honda, Akiko Suzuki, and Rika Hongo, Hanyu captivated an audience of 3,378. Below are the main excerpts from his post-performance Q&A (Part 1):

 

— Your honest thoughts after the performance:

"My seniors...Hongo-san is my junior, but I think it was really great to be able to create a show like this together with all the local skaters, to experience the joy of creating something together in Sendai, and to be able to convey that to the people of Sendai and those who gathered there."

 

— What kind of place do you hope the new rink becomes for the people of Sendai?

“Mr. Honda would agree, but when you're continuously training at a rink in Sendai and aiming for the top of the world, you inevitably have to move to a more favorable environment. That was the case for me too. When that happens, there are definitely days when all sorts of feelings about your hometown, your family, your friends come rushing over you like 'woah'. I really think it would be nice if I could always skate in a place I love, with friends I love, and with a coach I love."

 

— How did it feel to skate with children from Sendai, and what are your own thoughts on continuing to skate yourself?

“As long as my body moves, I want to keep skating with everything I have with all my heart and soul. It’s not about being a role model for juniors, or trying to ‘expand the potential of figure skating’ or anything like that. It’s just that I want to keep pursuing my own ideals, discovering new possibilities, constantly updating what I believe to be good skating, and continue to share that with Japan and the world.

 

As for skating with the next generation, when I was little, I got to skate with Mr. Honda and Ms. Suzuki in ice shows. Each time, I was incredibly inspired. I started participating in senior ice shows when I was in sixth grade, and being that close to powerful jumps, expressive artistry, and the control of speed and pacing, it gave me so much to learn from. If even one of the kids who skated today felt something similar, got inspired, or thought, ‘I’m going to become even better than these guys!’—then I’d be really happy.”

 

 

 

Source: https://hochi.news/articles/20250705-OHT1T51204.html?page=1
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250706053609/https://hochi.news/articles/20250705-OHT1T51204.html?page=1

 

Yuzuru Hanyu: “Beginnings Was One of the Themes” — Why He Chose “Haru yo, Koi” | Q&A Part 2

 

Spoiler

Yuzuru Hanyu, the 2014 Sochi and 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic champion in men's figure skating, appeared in the ice show "The First Skate" to commemorate the opening of the Sendai City Arena on the 5th. Along with Takeshi Honda, Akiko Suzuki, and Rika Hongo, he captivated an audience of 3,378 people. Below is the second part of Hanyu's main Q&A session after the show.

 

— What was the meaning behind your music selection and choreography?

“One of the themes for this event was ‘beginnings,’ so I chose something that evoked the image of spring, a season of new starts for me. I hoped that, even in some small way, the children who skated today, and the people who came to watch, might feel inspired to begin something new or take a step forward after seeing this. I poured that hope and prayer into my performance. Also, personally, Honda-san’s Riverdance was really exciting. I loved it.”

 

— How did the venue feel to skate in? What about the ice quality?

“Technically speaking, this arena was originally built for basketball games and concerts, so installing a permanent ice rink here must have been a tremendous challenge. I think everyone who came today probably noticed, it was really warm inside. Managing the temperature and humidity must have taken a lot of trial and error, so I truly appreciate all the effort that went into creating this ice.

Of course, it’s still brand-new ice, so I think over time, with more experience and feedback from events like today, it will become a surface where even competitive skaters can thrive.

Also, when the venue is filled with people, you can really see their expressions clearly and feel how close they are to the performance. I think this will become one of those rare arenas where audiences can truly experience the texture and depth of skating. I’d love for more people to come and see it for themselves.”

 

 

 

Source: https://hochi.news/articles/20250705-OHT1T51206.html?page=1
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250706054811/https://hochi.news/articles/20250705-OHT1T51206.html?page=1

 

Set list of all performers including Yuzuru Hanyu in Sendai ice show "The First Skate"

 

Spoiler

The ice show “The First Skate,” held as a commemorative event for the opening of Sendai City Arena, took place on the 5th at Xebio Arena Sendai, featuring performances by Yuzuru Hanyu, Takeshi Honda, Akiko Suzuki, and Rika Hongo.

 

In Opening Act 1, skaters from Ice Rink Sendai performed to “Legends Are Made.” In Act 2, skaters appeared to the piece “Nessun Dorma” from Turandot, with Hanyu performing an Ina Bauer.

 

Next, Aoto Oyama, a first-year student at Tohoku High School, skated to Festive Overture, Op. 96, and Kei Yoshida, a third-year student at Tokiwagi Gakuen High School, performed to Liebestraum.

 

Hongo gave a passionate performance to Love Never Dies, Honda skated to Riverdance, Suzuki to Clair de Lune, and Hanyu to Haru yo, Koi (“Come, Spring”). As an encore, Hanyu performed Let Me Entertain You. The finale featured all performers skating to Anything’s Possible, and the grand finale closed with Lullaby.

 

 

[yuzurujenn]

*Please do not reply in this thread. Machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2025.07.05

 

Source: https://www.ninomiyasports.com/archives/131753
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250706054152/https://www.ninomiyasports.com/archives/131753

 

What Yuzuru Hanyu Conveyed with His Right-Hand Gesture During “Haru yo, Koi” at Xebio Arena Sendai’s “The First Skate”

 

On the 5th, the opening event for the newly renovated Xebio Arena Sendai (Sendai City Arena) was held at the arena. The arena, previously used for basketball and other sports, completed renovation work and was renewed as a year-round ice rink meeting international figure skating standards (30 meters by 60 meters). The ice show “The First Skate” was held, featuring four professional figure skaters—Yuzuru Hanyu, Takeshi Honda, Akiko Suzuki, and Rika Hongo—along with skaters from Ice Rink Sendai, captivating 3,378 spectators. The show will be available for paid streaming later.

 

Spoiler

The pro skaters including Hanyu performed together with Ice Rink Sendai skaters during the opening act.

 

The grand finale of this commemorative ice show was performed by Hanyu. Before his appearance, a prerecorded message from him was shown on the arena’s monitors. He said:

 

“With the new ice arena being built again in Sendai, I am participating in this show wishing that many figure skaters in Sendai City can practice a lot and improve greatly. How they envision the future is up to those kids, but I hope they dream of the Olympics and winning Olympic gold medals and work hard towards that.”

 

Hanyu appeared on the ice wearing a costume based on white and cherry blossom pink for “Haru yo, Koi.”

 

He began skating gracefully to the melody of the piano.

 

What caught my attention was just before Hanyu performed a hydroblading move, sliding his upper body close to the ice. At that moment, Hanyu extended his right arm, seeming to chase something. To me, his right arm was stretched out more powerfully than usual. To say more, it looked like he was pushing his right hand strongly forward.

 

Based on his earlier comment, I considered two possibilities.

 

First — Hanyu may have projected himself as a “child dreaming of Olympic gold” in this “Haru yo, Koi.” It’s as if reaching out with his own hand to grasp the Olympic gold medal, his goal.

 

Second — It also seemed as though Hanyu was encouraging the younger skaters following him.

 

Hanyu said in a post-show press interview:

“As for skating together with the younger skaters, I myself have had ice shows since I was little skating with Honda-san and Suzuki-san. Each time, I received a huge stimulus. Since I was in sixth grade, I participated in senior ice shows, and at that time, seeing up close the power of jumps, expressiveness, the speed changes—all of that gave me great inspiration and was a learning experience. I hope the kids skating today get some inspiration from us, learn from us a bit, and think, ‘I’ll definitely become better than these guys!’ (laughs). I would be very happy if such kids come up.”

 

About the second idea, it should be noted: In my opinion, although Hanyu no longer competes in official competitions, he is still an active athlete. This is evidenced by his flawless performance of the short program “Ballade No.1,” with which he won gold at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, after performing multiple programs. Of course, it was the same composition as when he won gold. I would add that the regulations for jumps in the short program at the Pyeongchang Olympics were more physically demanding than current rules. For such an athlete, the first priority is to improve his own performance. It is not his job to teach step-by-step from A-Z.

 

However, it is possible for the younger generation to see Hanyu and feel something for themselves, be inspired, and learn something from him. After the show, Hanyu also said:

 

“I skated with the hope that even just a little, for the kids who skated today and the people who came to watch, seeing it might be the start of something or help them take a step forward.”

 

He does not hold back in encouraging others to watch, learn, and be inspired. Today’s collaboration, performances, and practice videos released on his YouTube channel (available for free viewing) will surely serve as a trigger for younger skaters to take a step forward.

 

That right hand gesture Hanyu showed in “Haru yo, Koi” at The First Skate. Was it a projection of a child dreaming of a gold medal, or a push for others to take a step forward? The blend of sport and art invites endless reflection.

 

[yuzurujenn]

*Please do not reply in this thread. Machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2025.07.06

 

Source: https://www.sanin-chuo.co.jp/articles/-/814014
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250706054420/https://www.sanin-chuo.co.jp/articles/-/814014

 

[Video] Yuzuru Hanyu and others perform ice show to celebrate the opening of a year-round rink in Sendai

 

　A year-round skating rink has been completed at the indoor sports facility "Xebio Arena Sendai" in Sendai city, and the opening ceremony ice show on the 5th featured skaters with ties to the city, including Yuzuru Hanyu, the two-time consecutive Winter Olympic figure skater.

 

Spoiler

The city partnered with major sporting goods retailer Xebio Holdings (based in Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture) to build an international standard ice rink, which had not been permanently available in Miyagi Prefecture. The arena was renovated into a multipurpose facility where, during basketball games or concerts, an insulating floor is laid over the ice. Hanyu encouraged the local skaters who performed together with him, saying, “I hope they will continue to work hard from Sendai, dreaming of the Olympics and gold medals.”

 

About 3,400 people, including overseas fans of Hanyu, attended the show featuring Takeshi Honda, Akiko Suzuki, and Rika Hongo. Mayor Kazuko Kori said, “We hope children who will make their mark on the world will emerge, and through hosting ice shows and other events, we want to promote the appeal of figure skating and increase its popularity.”

 

 

 

Source: https://hochi.news/articles/20250705-OHT1T51363.html?page=1
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250706054511/https://hochi.news/articles/20250705-OHT1T51363.html?page=1

 

Yuzuru Hanyu’s “Haru yo, Koi” Marks a New Beginning, Sending Love and Encouragement to His Hometown from the New Ice Rink

 

Yuzuru Hanyu (30), the 2014 Sochi and 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic gold medalist in men's figure skating, appeared in the ice show "The First Skate" to commemorate the opening of the Sendai City Arena on the 5th. Along with Takeshi Honda (44), Akiko Suzuki (40), and Rika Hongo (28), he captivated an audience of 3,378 people.

 

Spoiler

Yuzuru Hanyu took the final spot in the show, performing to "Haru yo, Koi" filled with hope and prayer. He revealed the reason behind his song choice: “The theme of this show is ‘a beginning.’ For me, spring represents the season of beginnings, so I chose this piece with that image in mind.”

 

From Sendai, two Olympic gold medalists have emerged — Hanyu himself and Shizuka Arakawa (43), who won gold at the 2006 Turin Olympics. He sent a message of encouragement: “I hope that from Sendai again, young skaters will dream of the Olympics and strive for Olympic gold medals.”

 

A new year-round ice rink, meeting international figure skating standards, was unveiled at Xebio Arena Sendai. At the opening, Hanyu showcased a powerful Ina Bauer set to music from “Turandot.” For the encore, he passionately performed “Let Me Entertain You.”

 

“As long as my body can move, I want to skate with all my might and with all my heart.” He conveyed the beauty found in every detail and his love for his hometown from this new rink.

 

 

[yuzurujenn]

*Please do not reply in this thread. Machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2025.07.06

 

Source: https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/351032
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250706054612/https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/351032

 

[Figure Skating] New rink opens in Yuzuru Hanyu's hometown of Sendai City; fans from overseas line up at booth

 

The enthusiasm remains strong. On the 5th, the opening ceremony for the new year-round skating rink, Xebio Arena Sendai, was held in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture. The ice show “The First Skate” featured Yuzuru Hanyu (30), the two-time Olympic champion in men’s figure skating, among others, and excitement was building both on and off the ice.

 

Spoiler

Hanyu’s hometown, Sendai City, partnered with the major sports retailer Xebio Holdings to establish the year-round skating rink, creating an improved training environment for the next generation of skaters. Sendai Mayor Kazuko Kori shared her hopes: “I sincerely look forward to seeing children who will go on to shine on the world stage.”

 

Many skaters with strong ties to Sendai, including Akiko Suzuki, also took part in the ice show. Hanyu performed “Haru yo, Koi” as the final act and “Let Me Entertain You” for the encore, sending the audience into a frenzy. Celebrating the debut of the new rink with his performance, Hanyu expressed his excitement, saying, “Creating a show together with the local skaters and building something here in Sendai—the joy of that, and being able to share it with the people of Sendai and everyone who gathered here—was truly wonderful.”

 

In addition, coinciding with the ceremony, the “Sendai Omotenashi Square” was held at Mori no Hiroba Park near the venue. Numerous booths featuring local gourmet food and merchandise attracted about 4,000 visitors.

 

The Sendai-based cheesecake specialty shop “Mori no Miyako no Cheesecake Kobo yuzuki,” which has developed several products expressing gratitude to Hanyu, offered a limited sale of the original “Yuzu Stick Cheesecake,” the prototype of their popular “yuzu cake.” A representative from the company said, “Lines formed immediately after the 11 a.m. opening, and many people came. We even had inquiries from fans beforehand, and fans came from other regions as well,” bowing in appreciation.

 

On this day, not only domestic but also overseas fans attended. A fan who spoke to the press said with a big smile, “I came from Taiwan,” bringing banners with pictures of Hanyu and cheering loudly for him.

 

Sendai city officials had long hoped that the new rink would contribute to revitalizing the local economy. Hanyu’s presence, felt in many places, wields tremendous influence.

 

[yuzurujenn]

*Please do not reply in this thread. Original in Eng text*

 

2025.07.06

 

Source: https://www.daily.co.jp/en/general/2025/07/06/0019192021.shtml
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250707115801/https://www.daily.co.jp/en/general/2025/07/06/0019192021.shtml

 

Yuzuru Hanyu encourages his juniors with his graceful dance: "Dream of an Olympic gold medal from Sendai, do your best" at the Sendai City Arena Opening Commemorative Ice Show

 

Yuzuru Hanyu (30), two-time Olympic gold medalist in men's figure skating, appeared in the opening ceremony ice show "The First Skate" of the newly built Sendai City Arena in Sendai City on the 5th. He performed to congratulate the newly built international standard rink and to cheer on skaters aiming for the world, captivating the 3,378 spectators.

 

"I want everyone in Sendai to dream of an Olympic gold medal and do their best." His skating was filled with more love for his hometown than anything else. He opened with a beautiful Ina Bauer to the tune of "Turandot" in a blue costume, and chose "Spring, Come" for his own program. "The theme is the beginning. The season of beginnings = the image of spring." His gorgeous dance, which was in sync with the piano melody, gave her juniors a push.

 

The existence of a new year-round rink with international standards is a great hope for skaters based in the City of Trees. "If we want to aim for the top of the world, I think we have no choice but to go to a more favorable environment," he said, referring to his own experience of moving to Canada, and "I hope I can continue to skate in my favorite place, with my favorite friends, and with my favorite teacher." He looked at the sparkling ice with a gentle expression.

 

[yuzurujenn]

 

*Please do not reply in this thread. Machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2025.07.07

 

Source: https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/351152
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250707000225/https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/351152

 

[Figure skating] Second year-round skating rink completed - Yuzuru Hanyu cheers on his juniors

 

　Will a new star be born? The indoor sports facility "Xebio Arena Sendai" in Sendai, Miyagi, reopened on the 5th. The second year-round skating rink has been completed in the town where figure skaters Yuzuru Hanyu (30), gold medalist at the 2014 Sochi and 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, and Shizuka Arakawa (43), gold medalist at the 2006 Turin Olympics, grew up. It is expected that the training environment for junior skaters competing in the City of Trees will be greatly improved, and Sendai city officials are expressing their hopes for revitalization.

 

Spoiler

Sendai City, said to be the birthplace of Japanese figure skating, has produced two Olympic gold medalists. However, the training environment was inadequate, and many talented skaters moved their base outside of Sendai. Hanyu, who appeared in the ice show "The First Skate" held at "Xebio Arena Sendai" on the 5th, looked back on that time and said, "While we continued to practice at the Sendai rink, if we aimed to become the world's top skaters, we had no choice but to go to a more favorable environment, including myself."

 

The city of Sendai also shared the sense of urgency. “The number of figure skaters has been declining compared to before the Great East Japan Earthquake. We've strongly felt that something had to be done,” said a city official. By partnering with major sporting goods retailer Xebio Holdings, they finally managed to realize the long-awaited construction of a new ice rink.

 

Having personally experienced the pain of leaving his hometown, Yuzuru Hanyu expressed his hopes for the new rink, saying:
“There are definitely days when all those feelings for your hometown, your family, your friends just come rushing in. I really think it would be wonderful to be able to keep doing what you love, in a place you love, with the people and coaches you love.”

 

Xebio Arena Sendai is a unique venue, as it adapts by laying insulation over the ice rink surface during basketball games and concerts. Still, efforts are ongoing to ensure it can function as a proper skating rink as much as possible. A city official told this newspaper, “For this fiscal year, we haven’t yet finalized a fixed schedule for skating use, but in the future, we hope to establish set days and time slots. Since basketball and concerts mostly take place on weekends, for example, we’re considering using Thursday through Sunday for events, and Monday through Wednesday for skating. That way, it will be easier to organize practice schedules.”

The arena also has around 4,000 spectator seats, making it well-suited for hosting many ice shows.

 

At The First Skate, Yuzuru Hanyu performed alongside up-and-coming young skaters currently training at Ice Rink Sendai. Reflecting on his own experience, he shared:

“I started appearing in senior ice shows when I was in sixth grade, and seeing the power of jumps up close, the contrast in speed—it all really inspired me and taught me so much. I hope the kids who skated today felt even a little bit of that same inspiration from us, that they learned something, or that it sparked a competitive fire like, ‘I’m going to get even better than these guys!’”

 

With encouragement from such a legendary senior, the next generation of skaters is also setting their sights on the world stage, honing their skills in this new “training ground of champions.”

 

[yuzurujenn]

*Please do not reply in this thread. Machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2025.07.07

 

Source: https://worldfigureskating-web.jp/news/13943/
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250707102002/https://worldfigureskating-web.jp/news/13943/

 

Sendai City Arena Opening Commemoration "The First Skate", Yuzuru Hanyu, Takeshi Honda and others skate

 

On July 5th, to commemorate the opening of the year-round, internationally standardized ice rink “Sendai City Arena (Xebio Arena Sendai)” located in Sendai’s Taihaku Ward, an official opening ceremony and an ice show titled The First Skate, featuring skaters with ties to Sendai, were held.

At “Xebio Arena Sendai,” now reborn as a multipurpose arena equipped with an ice rink, Yuzuru Hanyu, Takeshi Honda, Akiko Suzuki, and Rika Hongo performed alongside 24 local skaters from Sendai, delivering heartfelt performances to celebrate the opening. Below are comments from the four professional skaters following their performances.

 

Spoiler

A multipurpose arena equipped with an internationally standardized ice rink is born

The opening ceremony, which began at 11:00 a.m., was attended by Sendai Mayor Kazuko Kōri and other guests, who celebrated the occasion with a ribbon-cutting. Mayor Kōri stated:
“Sendai is home to Goshikinuma, which is said to be the birthplace of figure skating in Japan. We have also produced two Olympic gold medalists, Shizuka Arakawa and Yuzuru Hanyu, and to this day many athletes are being nurtured here—it is truly a sacred place for figure skating. For many years, we have received numerous voices from those involved in the sport, pointing out the lack of adequate training environments. Now, thanks to a generous donation from Xebio Holdings Co., Ltd., we are truly delighted to open this Sendai City Arena, which features an internationally certified ice rink.”

 

She continued, “I sincerely hope that this rink will produce athletes who train here and go on to shine on the world stage. Through events such as ice shows, I also hope this will help promote the appeal of figure skating and expand its participant base.”

 

Aoto Koyama, a local skater who trains at Ice Rink Sendai and participated in the ribbon-cutting (a first-year student at Tohoku High School), commented:
“I think it’s great to have an internationally certified rink—it’s really improved the training environment. My goal is to compete at the All-Japan Junior Championships and place in the top five. In the future, I want to become a skater with expressive power like Hanyu-san.”

 

28 skaters connected to Sendai celebrate the opening through performance

The commemorative ice show The First Skate began at 1:40 p.m., with a 10-minute delay.

In the opening number (choreographed by Nanami Abe), skaters who train at Ice Rink Sendai performed a group routine wearing T-shirts to the song Legends Are Made.

 

Next, to the iconic figure skating piece Nessun Dorma—known to every fan of the sport—professional skaters Rika Hongo, Akiko Suzuki, and Takeshi Honda appeared on the ice one after another. Finally, Yuzuru Hanyu entered the rink, prompting an especially loud cheer from the 3,378 attendees, who had come not only from Sendai but also from around Japan and overseas.

 

He glided across the brand-new rink, captivating the audience with moves such as his signature layback Ina Bauer.

 

Solo performances followed, featuring Aoto Koyama—who took part in the ribbon-cutting—and Kei Yoshida (Miyagi FSC, third-year at Tokiwagi Gakuen High School), representing the next generation of local skaters with fresh, vibrant routines.

After them, Rika Hongo brought dramatic flair with Love Never Dies, and Takeshi Honda energized the venue with one of his signature pieces, Riverdance.

Video messages were shown from skaters who could not attend in person: Momone Chiba (Kinoshita Group), Shun Sato (Aim Services/Meiji University), and Shizuka Arakawa.

Akiko Suzuki closed the program with a graceful performance to Debussy’s Clair de Lune.

 

Yuzuru Hanyu Celebrates the Birth of a New Arena with ‘Haru yo, Koi’

 

The final performer, of course, was Yuzuru Hanyu.

Before his performance, a video message was played in which he said:

“With a new ice arena being built in Sendai, I wanted to be part of this show with the hope that I, along with many figure skaters from Sendai, will be able to practice more and grow stronger. How the future unfolds is up to the kids themselves, but I hope they will keep striving—dreaming of the Olympics, dreaming of Olympic gold—right here from Sendai. I’d be happy if everyone could feel the atmosphere of the new arena, enjoy skating to the fullest, and take that feeling home with them.”

 

His solo number that day was “Haru yo, Koi” ("Come, Spring").

This program has been performed in various settings and has given courage and hope to many people. To the gentle piano melody played by Shinya Kiyozuka, Hanyu skated with deep emotional expression on the pristine white rink, using every inch of his body with awareness and sensitivity. A warm, heartfelt energy radiated from his performance.

 

Though he left the ice once, he returned for an encore, responding to the audience's call. With the familiar “Let Me Entertain You”, he instantly set the arena ablaze with excitement. When he struck the final pose, he was met with thunderous applause and cheers.

 

For the finale, all the performers returned to the ice to “Anything’s Possible.” In the grand final number, “Lullaby,” they waved to the crowd while skating around the rink, bringing the commemorative opening ice show to a close at 2:50 p.m.

 

Yuzuru Hanyu: ‘It would be wonderful if I could always skate in a place I love, with friends and coaches I love.’

 

Following The First Skate, Rika Hongo, Akiko Suzuki, Yuzuru Hanyu, and Takeshi Honda stood together for interviews with the media.

 

—How did you feel after finishing your performances?
Hongo: First of all, I was really happy to be able to perform at this brand-new rink.

Suzuki: For me, being able to skate here in Sendai, which I consider my second hometown, alongside senior and junior skaters, was a valuable experience that I truly enjoyed.

Hanyu: With my seniors, well Hongo-san is actually my junior, but still, getting to create a show together like this with fellow local skaters, right here in Sendai. There was so much joy in building something together as a team, and I feel it was truly meaningful to be able to share that with the people of Sendai and those who gathered here from elsewhere.

Honda: I’m really happy I got to skate in Sendai. I think the excitement and energy here are unique, after all, this is the city of two Olympic champions. But not just them, there are also other medalists, and I hope that the skaters who performed today can grow into athletes who win medals on the world stage.

 

—What would you like this new rink to become for the people of Sendai?
Hongo: When I first started skating in Sendai, there were so many amazing seniors around, and even though I didn’t fully understand it at the time, I could feel that Sendai was a strong figure skating city. I practiced hard, trying to follow in their footsteps. But when the rink closed, I had to move my training base to Nagoya. So I really hope that future skaters won’t have to go through something like that, and can continue skating in a good environment from the beginning. Also, I hope people who haven't felt a close connection to skating before will begin to feel it more personally, and that more and more people in Sendai will take up skating. That would make me really happy.

Suzuki: When I was in Sendai, the rink also shut down temporarily, and I actually took part in the petition movement at the time. Skaters can’t continue without a rink. They can’t even practice. Now that a new rink has been built and the training environment has improved, I hope that dreams will turn into real goals, like wanting to perform in a show or compete in a big event right here. And I hope that both skaters and spectators will feel closer to the sport and that we can all get excited about skating together.

Hanyu: Well, Hongo-san and Suzuki-san have pretty much said everything already...

Suzuki: Everyone wants to hear your words, Yuzu! (laughs)

Hanyu: They really did say everything I wanted to say. And Honda-san too, but— For those of us who’ve tried to keep practicing at a rink in Sendai while aiming for the world’s top level, there comes a point where you have no choice but to move to a more privileged training environment. That was true for me as well. When that happens, you end up having days where all your emotions about your hometown, your family, your friends just come flooding in. So I really thought it would be wonderful if I could always skate in a place I love, with the friends and coaches I love.

Honda: There’s not much left to add now! (laughs) But really, with such an incredible facility now available, I think this is a step forward, not just in terms of training but also in hosting competitions and growing interest among people who want to come watch or try skating themselves. I think The First Skate was a great start.

 

—(To Hanyu) Could you share your thoughts on skating with the children of Sendai and your own outlook on continuing your skating career?
Hanyu: As long as my body can still move, I want to keep skating with everything I have and with all my heart and soul. It’s not about being a role model for the younger skaters, or about pioneering new possibilities for figure skating. I simply want to keep pursuing what I aim for, discovering new things, chasing after my ideals, and constantly updating myself. I want to work hard to share something good with Japan and the world. As for skating with the younger skaters, when I was a child, I had the chance to skate in ice shows with people like Honda-san and Suzuki-san. Every time, I was incredibly inspired. I started appearing in senior ice shows from sixth grade, and seeing the power of their jumps, the expressiveness, the contrast in speed, it all left a huge impression on me. It was a great learning experience. So I’d be really happy if even just one of the kids who skated today feels inspired, or learned something, or thinks, “I’m going to be better than those guys someday!”

 

—Why did you choose the music for your solo performance today, and what did it mean to you?
Hongo: The program I skated today, “Love Never Dies,” was a real challenge for me. It’s a genre I didn’t really perform to when I was a competitive skater. It’s one of the new things I’ve tried since becoming a professional, so I thought it would be nice to perform it in this new space. Also, it’s simply one of my favorite programs.

Suzuki: “Clair de Lune” is a program from quite some time ago, but I really love it. For me personally, when I’m feeling down, I look up at the sky and see the moon shining, and I find it really comforting and encouraging. So I hoped that, just like the moonlight that gently lights the darkness, my skating could do the same and bring a sense of peace and warmth to people’s hearts.

Hanyu: Since the theme was "beginnings," I chose “Haru yo, Koi” (Come, Spring), which to me evokes the feeling of the season of beginnings—spring. I hoped that, for the kids skating today, and for everyone who came to watch, something would begin—not just a season, but maybe a new motivation or a first step sparked by what they saw. I skated with that prayer in mind. Personally, Honda-san’s Riverdance was really exciting! (laughs)

Honda: As for why I chose Riverdance, well... there wasn’t any special reason. While there are difficult steps in today's skating rules, "Riverdance" is a program from a slightly unique era, so I thought that I could show that kind of thing as skating. When you think of Takeshi Honda, it’s either Aranjuez Concerto or Riverdance.

Hanyu: What about Don Quixote?

Honda: Don Quixote (from the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics SP)? That one’s been sealed away! (laughs) I thought Riverdance had a more upbeat musical feel. Also, I wanted to get the energy up right from the start for myself and the audience.

 

—How did it feel skating on the ice at this new rink?
Hongo: It took a bit of time to get used to, but the rink felt really spacious, the audience was huge, and the venue itself was so clean and cool-looking. I thought it was a really impressive space.

Suzuki: The ice was newly laid, and I’m so thankful to the people who worked hard to make it good in time for today. I think it was solid ice to skate on. And with the bright lighting, the audience, even those seated up high, felt really close. I thought it was a great venue.

Hanyu: To speak a bit technically, this venue was originally designed for basketball and concerts, not for having a permanent rink. So just creating and maintaining ice here is already a huge challenge. And on a hot day like today, managing the indoor temperature and humidity must have taken a lot of trial and error. I really felt that anew and I’m filled with gratitude. Since the ice is still new, I think as the rink gains experience, it’ll become better and better—good enough to host competitive events. Also, as Suzuki-san mentioned, it’s a venue where you can really see the skaters’ expressions. You can feel the quality of the performance up close. I hope people will come and experience it in person.

Honda: From a skating perspective, I found it quite easy to skate on. It was a bit hot, so it did take more stamina, but… You know, in all of Japan, we didn’t really have venues like this where you can host skating, basketball, and concerts all in one place. Having a multi-purpose facility like this is wonderful. I think it’ll become a very user-friendly venue going forward.

 

[yuzurujenn]

*Please do not reply in this thread. Machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2025.07.07

 

Source: https://www.fnn.jp/articles/-/897969
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250707123344/https://www.fnn.jp/articles/-/897969

 

[Full article] Yuzuru Hanyu and others appear! A luxurious collaboration between skaters with ties to Sendai on a permanent rink. We'll show you all of the interviews after the performance.

 

A long-awaited rink opens in Sendai, the birthplace of Japanese figure skating. Xebio Arena Sendai, located in Taihaku Ward, Sendai City, reopened on July 5, 2025 as a year-round skating rink. Sendai is said to be the birthplace of figure skating in Japan, and has produced two Olympic gold medalists, Yuzuru Hanyu and Shizuka Arakawa. However, due to a lack of adequate training facilities, many players moved their base outside of Sendai.

 

Spoiler

The newly built skating rink is the first in Miyagi Prefecture that can host international competitions. By laying insulation on top of the rink, it can also be used as a basketball court or concert venue, but the plan is to make it usable as a skating rink year-round as much as possible. A commemorative ice show was held on the first day of the reopening.

 

The performers were figure skaters with ties to Sendai, such as Honda Takeshi , Suzuki Akiko , Hongo Rika , and Hanyu Yuzuru. It attracted an audience of approximately 3,400 people. After the performance, the four performers were interviewed by the press. Below, we publish the full text of the interview, which could not be broadcast on terrestrial television.

 

--What are your honest thoughts after finishing the performance?

 

Rika Hongo:

I was very happy to be able to perform on a new rink.

Akiko Suzuki:

It was a really valuable opportunity to be able to skate together with my seniors and juniors here in Sendai, which I consider my second hometown, and I really enjoyed it.

Yuzuru Hanyu:

My seniors...Hongo-san is my junior, but I also think it was great to be able to create a show like this with all the local skaters, and to experience the joy of creating something together in Sendai, and to be able to share that with the people of Sendai and those who gathered in Sendai.

Honda Takeshi:

I am really happy to have been able to skate here in Sendai, and I think the excitement of having two Olympic champions from Sendai is something that is unique to us. With these two medalists in the mix, I hope that the skaters who skated with me today will grow into athletes who can win medals on the world stage.

 

--What kind of place do you want the new skating rink to become for Sendai?

Hongo Rika:

When I started skating in Sendai, there were many amazing seniors, and I felt that figure skating was strong here. I wanted to chase after those seniors and practiced hard, but then the rink closed and I had to move my training base to Nagoya. I hope future skaters won’t have to go through that, and can continue skating in a good environment without interruption. I also hope people who didn’t feel close to skating before can feel connected now and that more people in Sendai will take up skating.

Akiko Suzuki:

When I was in Sendai, the rink closed once, and I was directly involved in petitioning to keep it open. Skaters can’t practice if there’s no rink, so they can’t continue their careers. Now with a new rink and an improved training environment, I hope that dreams can become goals, and that skaters will aspire to perform in shows or big competitions here. I also hope the audience will feel closer to figure skating and get excited about it together.

Yuzuru Hanyu:

Hongo-san and Suzuki-san have said everything already (laughs).

Akiko Suzuki:

Everyone wants to hear Yuzu's words!

Yuzuru Hanyu:

They really spoke exactly what I wanted to say.

Akiko Suzuki:

Everyone here experienced losing their rink before, so…

Hanyu Yuzuru:

Also, like Honda-san, for those of us trying to keep practicing in Sendai while aiming for the top of the world, we often had no choice but to go to a more privileged training environment. I went through that too. And when that happens, there are days when everything, your thoughts about your hometown, your family, your friends just come flooding in. So I truly wished: It would be wonderful if I could always skate in the place I love, with the people and coaches I love.

Honda Takeshi:

Everyone has really said everything so I don't have anything to say (laughs), But with such an amazing venue now, not just for training but also for holding competitions, I feel like we're one step closer to creating an environment where more people will want to watch or even try skating. So I really think The First Skate was a great start.

 

--What are the thoughts behind your solo performance?

 

Hongo Rika: (Love never dies)
The program I skated to this time was a very challenging genre for me, in that I tried out a genre of music that I hadn't really skated to even when I was a competing skater. So, as a new beginning since turning pro, I wanted to skate it in this new space. Also, it’s one of my favorite programs, which is why I chose it.

Akiko Suzuki: (Clair de Lune)

Although “Clair de Lune” is an old program, I love it. Even when I’m feeling down, I look at the sky and think, “the moon is so beautiful tonight,” and it cheers me up. I hoped that, like the moonlight, my skating could shine on and comfort people’s hearts, giving them a sense of calm. That’s why I performed it today.

Yuzuru Hanyu: (Haru yo, Koi)

Since "beginnings" was one theme, I chose “Haru yo, Koi” (“Come, Spring”), which evokes the season of beginnings for me. I hoped that, for the kids who skated today and the audience who came, something would begin—not just a new season, but perhaps a new dream or motivation sparked by what they saw. I skated with that prayer in my heart. Personally, I thought Honda's "River Dance" was really exciting.

Takeshi Honda: (River Dance)
Yes (laughs). Honestly, there wasn’t a particularly deep reason for choosing “River Dance.” Under today’s skating rules, step sequences are often highly complex, and “River Dance” is from a different era—a bit unusual, but I thought it shows that such programs can still be part of skating. And when you think of Takeshi Honda, it’s usually either the “Aranjuez Concerto” or “River Dance.”

Everyone:
What about "Don Quixote"?

Honda Takeshi:

“Don Quixote” is kind of... sealed away for now (laughs). I thought “River Dance” had a better musical buildup and it felt right to hype thing up early here in Xebio Arena Sendai. I also wanted to get my own energy up from the start.

Yuzuru Hanyu:
(Whispering to Takeshi Honda) That was great.

 

--What I thought about the venue:

 

Rika Hongo:
It took a bit to get used to, but it felt very spacious, packed with audience members, clean, and really cool-looking. I thought it was a great venue.

Akiko Suzuki:
The ice was newly made, and I’m grateful to those who worked hard to make good ice for today. I think it was very good for performance. And with the bright lighting, even the upper seats felt close, I thought it was a venue where the audience could really feel connected.

Yuzuru Hanyu:
Technically speaking, since this venue was built for basketball and concerts, laying permanent ice here was a huge undertaking. Given the heat today and the challenges of managing room temperature and humidity, I’m truly grateful and feel renewed admiration. The ice is still fresh, but as the rink gains more experience, it’ll get even better, maybe good enough for competition-level events. As Suzuki-san said, this is a venue where you can clearly see the skaters’ expressions and feel the quality of the performance up close. I’d love for people to come and experience that.

Takeshi Honda:
I personally found it very easy to skate on. Though, as Yuzuru said, it was a bit hot, which made stamina more of a factor. But aside from that, this kind of multi-purpose venue—skating, basketball, concerts—is rare in Japan. It’s wonderful and I think it’ll become very user-friendly over time.

 

—What about Hanyu’s future plans?

Yuzuru Hanyu:
For now, as long as my body can move, I want to continue skating with full effort and all my heart. It’s not about setting an example for juniors or breaking new ground in figure skating. it’s about constantly pursuing my own goals, exploring new things and ideals, updating myself, and working to share something good with Japan and the world.

 

—Your thoughts on skating with local kids?

 

Yuzuru Hanyu:
Since I was a child, I’ve skated in ice shows with people like Honda-san and Suzuki-san. Each time I was hugely inspired. I started doing senior ice shows in sixth grade, and seeing the power of their jumps, expressive depth, and speed variations up close, I really learned so much from that. So if even one child who skated today feels inspired, learns something, or thinks, “I’m going to get better than those guys,” I’ll be so happy.

[yuzurujenn]

*Please do not reply in this thread. Machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2025.07.08

 

Source: https://mainichi.jp/articles/20250708/k00/00m/050/056000c
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250708061223/https://mainichi.jp/articles/20250708/k00/00m/050/056000c

 

<1-minute explanation> Yuzuru Hanyu holds commemorative ice show in Sendai saying "Come Spring!"

 

The ice show "The First Skate" was held at the Xebio Arena Sendai in Sendai City, featuring Yuzuru Hanyu, the two-time Olympic gold medalist in men's figure skating. This time, we will explain about the "Sendai City Arena Opening Commemorative Ice Show" in "Quick News," which is useful and can be read in one minute.

 

Spoiler

Q: What kind of event was it?
A: An ice show titled "The First Skate", commemorating the opening of the Sendai City Arena, was held at Xebio Arena Sendai.

 

Q: Who performed?
A: Yuzuru Hanyu, along with Takeshi Honda, Akiko Suzuki, Rika Hongo, and other skaters with ties to Sendai, performed in the show.

 

Q: Why was it held?
A: Xebio Arena Sendai was completed after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and has served as the home arena for the B.League basketball team, Sendai. A new year-round skating rink was recently added to the facility, and the ice show was held to commemorate its opening.

 

Q: What kind of performance did Yuzuru Hanyu give?
A: Hanyu performed to "Haru yo, Koi" ("Come, Spring"). He said, “Since the beginning of the rink is one of the themes, I chose spring, a season of beginnings for me. I skated with the hope and prayer that those who came to watch would not only feel the season but also be inspired to start something new or move forward.”

 

Q: What did he perform for the encore?
A: For the encore, he performed "Let Me Entertain You", greatly energizing the audience.

 

Q: How many people attended?
A: 3,378 people attended and enjoyed the ice show by local skaters.

 

[yuzurujenn]

*Please do not reply in this thread. Machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2025.07.08

 

Source: https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/351251
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250708061155/https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/351251

 

If Yuzuru Hanyu were to hold a solo performance at the new rink in his hometown of Sendai... University professors calculate the surprising "economic impact"

 

　Yuzuru Hanyu (30), a professional skater who won two consecutive Olympic gold medals in men's figure skating, once again captivated fans in his hometown. He appeared in the ice show "The First Skate" held on the 5th at the newly reopened indoor sports facility "Xebio Arena Sendai" in Sendai, Miyagi. The packed venue was filled with cheers as he performed "Haru yo, Koi" as the final act and "Let Me Entertain You" as an encore. Hanyu is also enthusiastic about his future activities, saying, "As long as my body can move, I want to keep skating with all my might and with all my heart and soul. I want to keep updating myself and do my best to send good things to Japan and the world." This one-of-a-kind skater has also exerted a tremendous influence off the ice rink.

 

Spoiler

The "Xebio Arena Sendai," where the recent ice show was held, is the second year-round skating rink in Sendai City and is equipped with approximately 4,000 spectator seats. With the cooperation of Professor Shinya Kato from Meijo University’s Faculty of Economics, an analysis was conducted on the potential economic impact if Yuzuru Hanyu were to hold a solo performance at this venue. The result was astonishing.

 

Professor Kato and four students from the Kato Research Lab at Yamaguchi University’s Faculty of Economics studied the economic effect of a hypothetical two-day solo show by Hanyu at the venue. Based on past solo shows by Hanyu, they accounted for rehearsal and preparation periods. Taking into consideration the full seating capacity (including movable seating), along with costs such as utilities, venue rental, audio, lighting, and staffing, the total cost was estimated at approximately 85 million yen.

 

Merchandise revenue was estimated by categorizing items into fabric goods, paper goods, and other products. Based on estimated purchase rates and per-person spending, total merchandise sales came to around 31 million yen. Advertising revenue was estimated at 10 million yen, and sponsorship revenue—including 3 million yen from the organizer and 500,000 yen from an official partner—was modestly estimated at 20 million yen. Ticket revenue was about 26 million yen, and tourist spending by show attendees reached approximately 183 million yen.

 

Using these figures, the total economic ripple effect across Japan was calculated to be an astonishing 650 million yen. Furthermore, the induced added value to Japan’s GDP was about 345 million yen, and the total income of employees across the country increased by about 165 million yen.

 

According to Miyagi Prefecture, the economic effect of one home game by the J2 League soccer team Vegalta Sendai last season was approximately 120 million yen. In comparison, Hanyu’s potential to generate over 600 million yen from just two days of performances highlights his exceptional influence. Kohei Kawada, a second-year student who led the study, said in amazement, “Even though the event was held in a regional city like Sendai, the fact that such a large economic ripple effect was generated shows how special Hanyu is to the local people.”

 

Yuzuru Hanyu once again proved his one-of-a-kind presence. Although no official plans for a solo performance in Sendai have been announced, a city official stated, “Hanyu-san serves as a tourism ambassador for Sendai, and if he expresses a desire to use the new facility, we are willing to cooperate as much as possible with scheduling and other support. We’d be happy to discuss it with him if the opportunity arises.”

 

If a solo performance in his hometown becomes a reality, it is likely to spark a tremendous and unprecedented response.

 

[yuzurujenn]

*Please do not reply in this thread. Machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2025.07.08

 

Source: https://wedge.ismedia.jp/articles/-/38189
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250708061144/https://wedge.ismedia.jp/articles/-/38189

 

What was the "uniqueness" that Yuzuru Hanyu showed at the new rink in his hometown of Sendai? His performance, words, and even his finale captivated viewers.

 

　A new international standard year-round rink was completed at Xebio Arena Sendai in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, the hometown of Yuzuru Hanyu, a professional skater who achieved two consecutive Olympic gold medals, and an opening event was held on July 5th. The ice show, entitled "The First Skate," featured Hanyu and other skaters with ties to Sendai, captivating an audience of about 3,400 people, including standing room only.

 

Spoiler

"Dreams of an Olympic gold medal from Sendai"

 

The show was electric from the very beginning. Following performances by local skaters, internationally renowned athletes Rika Hongo, Akiko Suzuki, and Takeshi Honda took the ice—culminating with the day’s leading star, Yuzuru Hanyu. Dressed in a blue-toned costume, Hanyu made his entrance to the music of Turandot, thrilling the audience with his signature deep backbend and a high-speed Ina Bauer that swept across the rink.

 

After that, local skaters gave it their all, performing in the packed arena with heartfelt passion. Their performances seamlessly handed the spotlight over to the professional skaters. And then, closing out the night, Hanyu returned to the ice once again.

 

Before his final performance, a message from Hanyu echoed throughout the arena, celebrating the opening of the new rink and offering words of encouragement to the next generation of skaters:

“From Sendai, I hope young skaters will dream of the Olympics—dream of winning Olympic gold—and work hard to make that dream come true.”

 

Appearing now in a costume inspired by the colors of cherry blossoms, Hanyu was met with a thunderous round of applause as he stepped onto the rink.

 

The music he had chosen for this new beginning was "Haru yo, Koi" (Come, Spring)—a program perfectly suited to a fresh start.

 

“Since the theme was beginnings, I chose spring—a season that represents a new start. I skated with hopes and prayers that those who came to watch would feel not just the change of seasons, but a sense that something new could begin for them too, or that they might be inspired to move forward.”

 

From a dynamic delayed single Axel to elegant hydroblading and a flowing Ina Bauer, his mesmerizing performance brought out the full emotional power of the delicate piano piece. It was a breathtaking display, carefully crafted and deeply expressive.

 

And yet, that wasn’t the end.

 

"Everyone, let’s give a round of applause!"

 

With that call from the announcer, the crowd erupted, clapping and cheering in anticipation of an encore.

 

Then, Yuzuru Hanyu returned to the rink, transforming the atmosphere entirely with "Let Me Entertain You." Engaging with the audience, he brought the entire arena to life in a high-energy, unifying performance.

 

“With senior skaters like Akiko Suzuki and Takeshi Honda, and Rika Hongo—who’s my junior—and all the local skaters, we were able to create something special together. Being able to build a show with everyone here in Sendai, and share that with the people of the city and those who gathered here, meant a lot to me,”

Hanyu shared these thoughts in a group interview following the show, joined by Honda, Suzuki, and Hongo.

 

Gratitude for the Permanent Rink, A Milestone for Sendai

 

Sendai, known as the birthplace of figure skating in Japan, has now produced two Olympic gold medalists: Shizuka Arakawa (2006 Torino) and Yuzuru Hanyu. The city’s newly opened rink is a major development for the community. Conveniently located just one local train stop from JR Sendai Station, the facility features around 3,400 seats and promises to serve not only as a training ground, but also as a venue for future ice shows and competitions.

 

Xebio Arena Sendai was completed in 2012 following the Great East Japan Earthquake. It has served as the home court of the professional basketball B.League team, the Sendai 89ERS. Recently, it was upgraded to include a year-round ice rink. The new arena isn’t limited to skating use—by laying insulation over the ice, the venue can also host basketball games and music concerts, making it a truly multi-functional facility.

 

When asked for his thoughts after skating on the new rink, Yuzuru Hanyu responded with a deep awareness of the facility’s background:

 

“To speak technically, the arena was originally designed for basketball games and concerts by artists. So, installing a permanent ice rink here must have been a huge challenge. Within those conditions, managing things like temperature and humidity inside the venue—trying many things to finally make the ice—really made me realize how much effort went into it, and I’m truly grateful. Since the ice was just recently installed, I believe that through continued experience—including today—it will become better and better, and eventually be the kind of ice that will support great performances and competitions.”

 

He also reflected on the arena’s atmosphere from a performer’s perspective:

“As Ms. Suzuki also mentioned, this venue allows you to really see the expressions of the audience. It’s one of those places where people can truly feel the texture of the performance up close. I’d be so happy if people come and experience that for themselves.”

 

The environment in which the main skaters can skate is supported by many people behind the scenes. This comment was made with the people who worked hard to set up the ice and venue in order to make this day possible in mind.

 

During the group interview held backstage near the rink, Hanyu spoke with characteristic thoughtfulness. As he expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the efforts behind the scenes, one staff member observing nearby was seen nodding repeatedly, seemingly overwhelmed with appreciation. It was as if Hanyu’s words had validated all the hard work and preparation that went into making the event possible.

 

One person remained and waved to the audience

 

At the end of the show, Hanyu repeatedly waved with a warm smile to the crowd in the stands—“close enough to see their expressions,” as he had earlier described. During the finale, the performers skated around the rink, greeting the audience. On the first lap, Hanyu directed his attention to the front rows; on the second, he looked upward, waving both hands to those in the higher seats.

 

As he glided slowly, taking time to acknowledge the cheers, a small “traffic jam” of skaters formed behind him. Eventually, Hanyu broke away from the group, continuing to respond to the crowd’s applause. Before long, he found himself at the very back—and as always, the last one left on the ice. Standing alone, he raised his voice in gratitude: “THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!”

 

The weather on this inaugural day was clear and sunny, an auspicious start. Even before the show began, long lines had formed outside the arena. Inside, the venue was packed to capacity. Compared to Hanyu’s usual solo performances, the audience on this day stood out for its diverse range of ages, a testament to his far-reaching appeal.

 

This is probably because a "resident quota" for locals was set aside from the general ticket sales quota. There were more than 30,000 applications from Sendai residents and the general public combined, and it was undoubtedly a high competition to get the 3,400 tickets, but the resident quota may have given some locals the chance to see their hometown superstar Hanyu perform live for the first time.

 

For fans, especially those who follow Hanyu’s solo performances, tickets are always in extremely high demand. That’s precisely why Hanyu values every single encounter, treating each moment as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to express his deepest gratitude and connect with his audience. That’s the essence of Yuzuru Hanyu. The interview and finale were full of the "characteristics" of Hanyu, the great absolute champion born in Sendai.

 

[yuzurujenn]

*Please do not reply in this thread. Machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2025.07.08

 

Source: https://jbpress.ismedia.jp/articles/-/89316
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250708061128/https://jbpress.ismedia.jp/articles/-/89316

 

Yuzuru Hanyu sends words of encouragement to children at the new rink in his hometown of Sendai... The birthplace of figure skating in Japan connects hope for the world

 

 

On July 5th, in Sendai, the birthplace of figure skating in Japan, a new year-round permanent rink was unveiled at the Sendai City Arena (Xebio Arena Sendai) after renovation work was completed. At the ice show "The First Skate", an opening event held at the brand new rink, skaters with ties to Sendai performed magnificent routines together with the next generation of skaters who are training locally. The star of the show was Yuzuru Hanyu, a professional skater who has won two consecutive Olympic gold medals.

 

Spoiler

"Welcome to a new stage where the future is woven."

 

These welcoming words were displayed on the arena’s large screen.

 

As the opening of the show was announced, the arena was instantly filled with loud applause.

 

During the in-arena announcements, it was shared that Sendai is considered the birthplace of figure skating in Japan. The exact place is Goshikinuma—a pond located in Aobayama Park, adjacent to central Sendai. This city, often called the “City of Trees,” would go on to produce two Olympic gold medalists.

 

One is Shizuka Arakawa, who won gold in women’s figure skating at the 2006 Turin Olympics. The other is Yuzuru Hanyu, who electrified the audience at this very show and captured back-to-back Olympic gold medals in the men’s event at Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018.

 

Also featured in the show were Takeshi Honda and Akiko Suzuki, both of whom competed in two Olympic Games, as well as Rika Hongo, who has represented Japan at the World Championships.

 

However, Sendai hasn't always enjoyed ideal conditions for figure skating. In the group interview following the show, both Hongo and Suzuki reflected on the challenges they faced when their training rinks were shut down, forcing them to overcome difficult circumstances during their competitive careers.

 

Skaters Reflect on the Closure of the Rink

 

Ms. Hongo said, "I started skating in Sendai, thinking I would work hard and practice to follow the footsteps of my seniors, but the rink disappeared once, and so I moved my training base to Nagoya."

 

Ms. Suzuki also said, "The rink in Sendai was once closed for me as well. (Ms. Hongo) is one of my friends who helped with the petition campaign. For athletes, without a rink, there is no place to practice, and it becomes impossible to continue."

 

Currently, the only rink in Sendai city is the privately operated Ice Rink Sendai, from which Mr. Hanyu graduated. The creation of a new rink aimed at further enriching the competitive environment has long been a heartfelt wish of the local skating community.

 

Basketball games on the ice rink, too!

 

Xebio Arena Sendai, which opened in 2012, has been familiar to the local community as the home arena of the professional basketball B-League team “Sendai 89ERS.” Xebio Holdings (located in Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture), the owner, renovated the facility to install a year-round ice rink and donated it to Sendai City.

 

The new arena, managed by the company as the designated administrator, features the only international-standard rink in the prefecture where official figure skating competitions can be held. When basketball games or music concerts are held, insulation materials and wooden flooring are laid over the ice, enabling dual use as both an ice rink and arena. This form of multifunctionality is said to be rare even nationwide.

 

On the day of the show, a commemorative opening ceremony was held in the morning before the event. Sendai Mayor Kazuko Kori expressed hope that “players who will soar to the world will emerge from this skating rink.”

 

Hanyu’s feelings behind “Haru yo, Koi”

 

For the grand finale of this memorable opening event, Hanyu chose one of his signature programs, “Haru yo, Koi” (“Come, Spring”).

 

“(The opening event of the arena) was one of the themes, and I chose the image of spring, which is also the season of beginnings. I skated with the thoughts and prayers that those who came to watch could feel not only the season but also that something is starting or that they can move forward in something.”

 

At the opening, Hanyu performed a beautiful Ina Bauer to the music of “Turandot.” His finale performance of “Haru yo, Koi” was met with loud cheers from about 3,400 spectators who had won tickets through a high lottery rate. Thirty-nine media outlets covered the event. Photographers pointed their lenses, and reporters wrote furiously in their notebooks.

 

The rink erupted in loud cheers at the sight of Hanyu

Riding on the warm piano melody that enveloped the venue, Hanyu executed a dynamic delayed Axel and performed a delicate skate, sharpening his nerves down to his fingertips. He captivated the audience with his hydroblading, sinking his body to the extreme limits, and in the next moment, he threw ice particles high into the air with his hand. Just as it seemed the highly polished and sophisticated performance had quietly come to an end, an announcement echoed through the venue.

 

“Everyone, let’s give a round of applause.”

 

Once again, the venue was wrapped in loud cheers and applause. Responding to the audience’s anticipation, Hanyu stepped back onto the rink.

 

For the long-awaited encore, he changed the atmosphere of the venue and enveloped it in excitement with “Let Me Entertain You.”

 

“Always together with beloved friends and coaches”

At the group interview after the show, the reporters faced the lineup from left to right: Hongo-san, Suzuki-san, Hanyu-san, and Honda-san. They answered representative questions in this order. When asked about their thoughts on the new rink, Hanyu-san listened attentively to the already stated comments from Hongo-san and Suzuki-san, nodding in agreement. When it came to his turn to speak, he tried to hold back, saying, “Hongo-san and Suzuki-san have already said everything.” Then, Suzuki-san whispered from beside him: “We want to hear your words, Yuzu (Hanyu-san).”

 

Encouraged by that, Hanyu added to the hard environment of the rink mentioned by the two, the importance of a soft approach.

 

“I was listening and thought, ‘That’s exactly right’ to what Hongo-san and Suzuki-san said, but also Honda-san said the same, that when you keep practicing at the rink in Sendai while aiming for the top of the world, you inevitably have to move to a better environment, including myself. When that happens, there are definitely times when you are reminded of your feelings for your hometown (Sendai), your family, and friends. I hope we can always do this in a place we love, with friends we love, and with coaches we love.”

 

It was a comment unique to Hanyu-san, who left his beloved Sendai in his teens to go to Toronto, Canada, aiming for the top of the world.

 

The world’s best example right before your eyes

　We can't be satisfied with just having the facilities. How can we make the most of this wonderful environment? It seemed like he was stressing the importance of the awareness of coaches, choreographers, and the skaters who practice hard. Practicing continuously in their beloved Sendai, and to be able to aim for the "top of the world" even from Sendai.

 

His performance today with local skaters could be an important step in that direction.

 

“I have been participating in senior ice shows since I was in the sixth grade of elementary school, and at that time, I was extremely stimulated by seeing up close the power of the jumps, the expressiveness, the variations in skating speed, and so many other things. It was a great learning experience. I hope that the kids I skated with today will feel even a little bit of that stimulation from us, learn from it, or think, ‘No, I’m definitely going to become better than these guys.’ If kids like that come out, I would be very happy.”

 

That’s what Hanyu said.

 

Even without going abroad, you can see the "world's best example" right in front of you. Sendai, with its new rink, has the greatest added value.