[2025.07.08] Newsweek Japan August Issue -Gifted Words

[Wintek]

The August issue of Newsweek Japan comes with a special contribution by Yuzuru Hanyu. The cover features Motoki Ohmori, Mr. Green Apple vocalist and lyricist. Yuzuru's column is dedicated to his songs.

The issue is available in printing (520 yen) and digital (430 yen) formats on Amazon Japan

[Wintek]

[2025.07.08]

 

*Machine translation from Japanese to English, inaccuracies exist*

I added hyperlinks to the MVs of the songs and their translated lyrics.

[Page 26-27]

Gifted Words
Written by Yuzuru Hanyu: “I Was Saved by This Song”

Special Contribution —Professional figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu, who has long publicly said he is a fan of Mrs. GREEN APPLE (referred to as ミセス/ Misesu for Mrs. in Japanese), incorporated their song Boku no koto into his own artistic expression when he used it for the end credits video of his solo Tokyo Dome show GIFT in February 2023. In this special column, Hanyu writes about the power of lyricist and vocalist Motoki Ohmori’s words.

---

Spoiler

Ever since the song "About me" [僕のこと/Boku no koto] was released, I’ve been saved by it. It was like I could project myself onto it, but also be affirmed, told that I’m okay just the way I am. And I was pushed forward with the feeling that I want to do my best to become someone who can be a source of hope for someone else.

 

When I was little, I just desperately jumped, with everything I had. As I got older and came to know society, jumping came to carry many meanings, and I began thinking about it more in terms of technique too. I also started assigning a lot of meaning to skating itself.

I struggled, anguished over how I could land the quad Axel, tried hard, but things wouldn’t go well, and in those days when nothing was rewarded, I became completely worn out, both physically and mentally. I was afraid, afraid that my dream would end while still being just a dream, afraid that I wouldn’t be able to meet someone’s expectations.

But in the lyrics “I know how to fly into the sky” [空への飛び方 is part of Boku no Koto's lyrics], I could think, “Ah, I’ve already jumped so many times.” I had just gotten too caught up thinking about so many things, swept up in so many things, and had simply forgotten. I could remember: “I already knew how to fly a long time ago.”

The scenery I saw as a child, and the scenery I see now, it’s so different. And it’s only natural for things to change, but still, people tend to forget even what’s most important at times. Even so, as my heart trembles, even as I try to act tough, I want to believe, and say, “It’s a wonderful day” [part of Boku no Koto's lyrics]. That’s how I listen to this song. And I’ve put those feelings into my skating, at least, that’s what I’ve intended.

The first song by Mrs. I ever heard was Samama Festival! [サママ・フェスティバル lyrics]. From there, I fell head over heels, and I immediately started listening to all their songs. At the Beijing Olympics, I think I probably hummed CHEERS [lyrics] to keep myself encouraged.

I remember breaking down in tears, all alone, after the competition, listening to Ao to Natsu [青と夏 / “Blue and Summer” lyrics]. I was already 27 at the time, so I felt it was too late to call it “youth” [青春] [1], but it felt like the time I had spent pushing forward with everything I had, chasing victory, obsessed with perfection, was coming to an end. And I thought, “Ah, the journey I’ve taken through skating was my youth.” “I don’t want it to end.” That said, I still feel like I’m living in my youth even now (laughs).

As for my favorite song, that’s something that changes over time, so I can’t really choose just one. But lately, I often listen to CONFLICT  [lyrics], Nachtmusik [ナハトムジーク lyrics], and Darling [ダーリン lyrics].

I also had the chance to listen to two songs recently released by Ohmori-san as a solo artist. With Kaiga [「絵画」 / “Painting” lyrics], from the music to the lyrics to the way he sings, it all felt like I was being drawn into what’s inside, as if the outer shell of “Motoki Ohmori” had been peeled away. Though the song is sung in a way that others can hear it, it still feels like it’s being sung only for me, being written just for me. At the same time, I also thought that it’s a song that people—including myself—who are struggling within society can resonate with, where each person’s solitude gathers together.

As for Kotaeawase [こたえあわせ / “Checking the Answers” lyrics], I thought it was a song that doesn’t sing about special days, but gently walks alongside people who are doing their best in their everyday, ordinary lives. It felt like it sang, on my behalf, all the murky emotions and things I couldn’t say aloud. Not just on the hard days, it felt like the kind of song that stays by your side quietly, like a friend you just want to be with even without saying anything.

Ohmori-san’s lyrics [歌詞たち/ kashi-tachi] [2] feel like they don’t let anyone be alone. They seem to say to everyone: it’s okay for you to be alive. They stay close to loneliness, stay close to people’s efforts, and at times even stay close to memories. The way the words are arranged, in a way that’s pleasant as sound, the singing style that gently slips into your heart, the color and tone of the music, all of it, I think, is truly the best!

—Yuzuru Hanyu (Professional Figure Skater)

 

NOTES

[1] 青春 literally means “blue spring”: 青 (sei / ao) = blue or green (symbolizing freshness, innocence, youth); 春 (shun / haru) = spring (the season of beginnings and growth). Together, they evoke the prime of life. 青春 refers more to a phase of life filled with passion, dreams, heartbreak, effort, failure, and fleeting beauty.

[2] 歌詞 (kashi) = lyrics; たち (-tachi) = a pluralizing suffix, usually used for people or personified things (like “friends,” “teachers,” “children,” etc.).

 

[yuzurujenn]

*Machine translation from Japanese to English, inaccuracies exist*

 

2025.07.08

 

Source: Newsweek Japan August issue 2025.07.15 pg 26-27

 

Gifted Words
Written by Yuzuru Hanyu : “I was saved by this song.”

 

Special Contribution-

Professional figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu has long openly expressed his admiration for Mrs. GREEN APPLE. In February 2023, during his GIFT performance at the Tokyo Dome, he featured a video of himself performing to their song “Boku no Koto” in the end credits, incorporating their music into his artistic expression. For this feature, we asked Hanyu to reflect on the power of the lyrics written by Motoki Ohmori, who writes all the songs for both the band and his solo work.

 

Spoiler

Ever since the release of Boku no Koto, I’ve always been saved by this song. It’s a song that allows me to project myself onto it, but also gives me affirmation that it's okay to be who I am. It has continued to push me forward, making me want to do my best so I can be someone’s hope.

 

When I was little, I jumped simply out of sheer determination. But as I grew older and came to understand the world more, “jumping” came to carry all kinds of meanings. I started to think more deeply about the technique, and began assigning greater significance to my skating as well.

 

I worried, struggled, and tried my best to figure out how to do a quadruple axel jump, but my efforts were unsuccessful and unrewarded, and I was worn out both physically and mentally. I was scared that my dream would remain just a dream, and that I wouldn’t be able to live up to people’s expectations.

 

But when I heard the lyrics about knowing “how to fly to the sky,” I thought, “Oh, haven’t I already made so many jumps?” I realized I had known how to fly all along, but I had just been overthinking and caught up in too many things, and ended up forgetting along the way.

 

The scenery that I saw as a child and the scenery I see now are just too different, and I myself have changed too, but people are such that we sometimes forget even the important things. But even as I tremble inside, even as I pretend to be strong, I want to believe and say "what a wonderful day." That’s the feeling I have when I listen to this song. And it’s that feeling that I’ve tried to pour into my skating.

 

The first song by Mrs. GREEN APPLE that I listened to was “Samama Festival!” From there, I got completely hooked and soon started listening to all of their songs. During the Beijing Olympics, I think I was probably encouraged by “CHEERS” and found myself humming it.

 

I remember breaking down in tears alone after the competition, listening to “Aonatsu.” I was already 27 at the time, so maybe a bit old to still call it “youth,” but it felt like the time I had spent recklessly pushing forward, hungry for victory, and desperately striving for perfection was finally coming to an end. I thought, “Ah, my skating journey up to now really was my youth,” and “I don’t want it to end.” That said, I guess I’m still living days I can call youth, even now (laughs).

 

If you asked me what my favorite song is, I wouldn’t be able to decide since it always changes. But right now, I often listen to CONFLICT, Nachtmusik, and Darling.

 

I was able to listen to two songs recently released by Ohmori-san as a solo artist. With “Kaiga” (絵画), the music, lyrics, and singing felt as if I were being drawn into his core essence, stripped of the outer shell known as “Motoki Ohmori.” Although it’s sung as if for someone to hear, it really feels like it’s sung and written just for himself. At the same time, I felt that people struggling in society, including myself, could empathize with the song, and that it brings together our individual feelings of loneliness.

 

As for “Kotaeawase” (こたえあわせ), I felt it was a song that doesn’t sing about special days but rather stays close to and walks alongside people who are simply doing their best in everyday life. It feels like someone singing beside you, expressing the confusing emotions and things you can’t put into words, and delivering them for you. It’s not just for tough times but like a friend you want to be with even without saying anything.

 

Ohmori’s lyrics never leave anyone completely alone and give the feeling that it’s okay for everyone to live. They embrace loneliness, support those who are doing their best, and sometimes comfort memories. The way the words flow is pleasing, and the singing style and tone of the music, which smoothly touch the heart, are truly the best!

 

—Yuzuru Hanyu (Professional Figure Skater)