[2021.12.16] Nikkan Sports Special Feature - Yuzuru Hanyu and Words

[yuzurujenn]

*Machine translation, inaccuracies exist. Please do not comment in this thread other than translations*

 

Source: https://www.nikkansports.com/olympic/beijing2022/yuzuru-hanyu.html

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20211216033020/https://www.nikkansports.com/olympic/beijing2022/yuzuru-hanyu.html

 

Yuzuru Hanyu and Words - Yuzuru Hanyu said... -

 

 A collection some of the past words of figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu, who won the Winter Olympics twice in a row.

 

Olympics

Spoiler

When I started skating, I never thought I would compete in the Olympics. I didn't even know what the Olympics were when I was four years old. But after I started skating, I watched the Olympics and became very influenced by them. I don't remember exactly which Olympics it was, but I think it was in Salt Lake City (2002). From then on, I absolutely wanted to win a medal at the Olympics.

-On February 18, 2018, at a press conference the day after winning the Pyeongchang Olympics for the second consecutive time.

 

As a Japanese person, I am proud of this performance.

-On February 13, 2014, in the SP at the Sochi Olympics, he achieved the feat of being the first skater in the history of ISU-sanctioned competitions to score over 100 points.

 

I know this sounds strange coming from winning a gold medal at the Olympics, but I'm a little disappointed.

-At the Sochi Olympic medalist press conference on February 14, 2014. Although he was the first Asian athlete to win a gold medal, he humbly reflected on his fall on the quadruple Salchow in the free skate.

 

I know the Olympics, and while some might say I’m talking big, I am a former Olympic champion. I want revenge… though calling it ‘revenge’ might be strange. But I think the mistake in the free skate at the (last) Sochi Games is one of the reasons I’ve been able to become stronger over these four years. So I want to take revenge again, heading into tomorrow.”

–February 16, 2018, after the short program at the Pyeongchang Olympics, which he skated coming off an injury and without prior competition. He was asked about the reason for his good performance and his thoughts heading into the free skate.

 

Being able to skate like this, I’m truly happy. With the Olympic rings there, and being cheered on by so many people… Honestly, truly, deep down, I just really don’t want to be disliked. The more people watch me, the more I speak, the more I get disliked, and the more things get written about me. I feel like there will be even more articles coming out from now on that seem totally made up. But, the things I’ve said, the history I’ve built, those won’t change, not one bit. And within myself, I believe, with real pride, that I was able to become an Olympic gold medalist this time. So from here on, I want to live my life fully as an Olympic gold medalist.

— February 18, 2018, the day after achieving his second consecutive Olympic gold medal at the Pyeongchang Olympics, when asked about his mental state from injury through to the Games.

 

I think that the Olympics is the No. 1 goal that competitive figure skaters should aim for, as a sport. Only by winning that can someone truly be called a 'champion,' I think. From now on, I want to spend my time looking forward to seeing who will become the champion at the Beijing Olympics.

— After the World Championships, March 2019

 

If I just keep going as I am, I’ll probably end up competing. But honestly, if I’m going to lose, then I’d rather quit. I mean that very clearly. I absolutely don’t want to show a disgraceful version of myself. So if I’m still competing until then, I’ll probably be aiming for the 4A (quad Axel). I want to stay strong at all times. I can’t say anything for sure, but… if that (Olympics) lies ahead, maybe everyone would be happy about it… what kind of crappy comment. I’ve been doing interviews for how many years now? (laughs) But in my mind, it’s something that’s just on the extension of my competitive career. At the moment, I’m not feeling an intense desire to compete there, or to win there.

— September 14, 2019, after the Autumn Classic in Oakville, Canada

 

At the time of the Sochi Olympics, I had finished 4th at the World Championships the previous season, and for the Pyeongchang Olympics, I went in as the World Champion. So I very, very much pray that good fortune comes to him (Nathan Chen), who won this season’s World Championships. As for myself, I have a lot of thoughts when it comes to the Olympics—good memories and bad memories, good things and bad things—there are many. But I also believe it’s because of all those experiences that I’ve been able to grow to where I am now. I don’t know whether I’ll have that kind of experience again, and I don’t know how the global situation will change moving forward either, but I still want to give my best and look forward to the arrival of the Olympics once again.

— March 2021, at the World Championships medalist press conference

 

Unlike during the Pyeongchang season, I don’t particularly have the feeling of ‘I absolutely want to win the gold medal.’ However, I do have a strong determination that this season, I will land the quad Axel. I want to face the challenge with that firm intention and resolve.

(In the past, he had said that the Olympics lie beyond the successful completion of the quad Axel.) If it lies along the path I’m on, then so be it. But, as I said earlier, compared to the heat and intensity I felt during Sochi or Pyeongchan, I don’t have that same level of passion this time.

— July 9, 2021, at the ice show "Dreams on Ice"

 

For me, up until the Pyeongchang Olympics, it was completely a dream stage. I won gold at both Sochi and Pyeongchang, and achieved back-to-back victories. That was a dream I had pictured since I was little, and also a concrete goal. To be honest, I hadn’t really spent much time thinking about a third consecutive gold. But I’m the only one who has the right to go for a three-peat. It may not have been something I originally dreamed of, but now I want to clearly envision the continuation of that dream, and take on the Olympics with a different kind of strength from back then, different from the last two times.

— December 26, 2021, at the press conference confirming his spot on the Beijing Olympic team

 

I already have two consecutive Olympic titles, and yes, the fear of losing that is definitely there. Without a doubt, I think the chances of losing are higher now than they were during the Pyeongchang Olympics, at least at this point in time. But when I put on this jersey, it really made me think again: ‘I’m going to fight to win,’ and ‘I have to fight to win.’

— December 27, 2021, the day after being officially named to the Beijing Olympic team

 

For me, the Olympics is not just a presentation, it's a place where I have to win. I absolutely don’t want to lose my two consecutive titles, and that’s exactly why I once again felt a strong determination—I definitely want to win.

— December 27, 2021, the day after being officially named to the Beijing Olympic team

 

[yuzurujenn]

Great East Japan Earthquake

 

Spoiler

Even just living is already so hard, why am I still skating… maybe I should quit.

— After experiencing the disaster during practice at Ice Rink Sendai, where he couldn’t take off his skates and escaped kneeling on the ice. For four days, he and his family of four lived in an evacuation shelter, sharing just one blanket on a single tatami mat.

 

I realized that I was the one really being supported.

— March 2012, at the World Championships held in Nice, France. He performed with fierce determination and placed third. After the earthquake, he moved around the country, performing in over 60 shows as a form of practice. During that time, he responded to 500 fan letters.

 

I’m very glad to have been able to observe the 11th, a significant day, at the World Championships. I hope it can serve as even a small reminder of the earthquake.

— March 2013, in London, Canada, where he was staying for the World Championships. At 1:46 a.m. Japan time, he faced the direction of Japan and observed a moment of silence.

 

Precisely because I became a medalist, I want to do what I can for disaster recovery. This is just the beginning. Even if not directly through my performance, I hope it can serve as an opportunity for people to remember. I have to start from winning the gold medal.

— February 2014, one month before the third anniversary of the disaster, winning gold at the Sochi Olympics. In the exhibition, he performed the program ‘White Legend,’ wishing for recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake.

 

Those were truly difficult days. I’m from an inland area, so I only experienced the earthquake damage itself. Even so, living without gas, electricity, or water was really tough. More than that, when I visited the areas affected by the tsunami and the nuclear power plant disaster, I realized there were many people suffering even more.

— June 2015, after visiting Iwaki City and Hirono Town to see the situation at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. He reflected on visiting the site with large amounts of black flexible containers filled with decontamination waste and touring tsunami-affected areas, recalling this shortly after the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics.

 

I’m happy to be able to do even a little bit for Tohoku. I want to work hard and give my best in this region.

— January 2016, attending a press conference in Morioka City for the “NHK Cup Special Exhibition.” He participated in a special show praying for the recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake, marking five years in March.

 

By borrowing this rink, I somehow managed to keep skating. There were many hard times, but when I skated, there were also moments of joy. I skated hoping that everyone could be happy.

— August 2017, participating in the 90th anniversary event of Kanagawa Ward. The venue, Yokohama Bank Ice Arena, was one of his training bases after the disaster, where he performed ‘Hana ni Nare’.

 

Even at the Sochi Olympics, I was asked questions like this. I didn’t know how to answer then, and I still don’t quite know what I would say to that version of myself. But one thing I can say is that I am proud to have won the gold medal again at the Olympics, the competition I hold most dear. Above all, when I went to greet the disaster-affected areas with the gold medal in hand, I saw many smiles. So this time, I hope I can have a bit more confidence and bring smiles to everyone once again.

— February 2018, after winning his second consecutive Olympic gold at Pyeongchang. Immediately following his performance, when asked about the disaster, he said, “Please let me think about that a bit.” Later, at the medalists’ press conference.

 

It has been eight years since the disaster, but many areas are still in the process of recovery. I also want to be of help, so I am participating again this year.

— March 11, 2019, at the Yahoo-hosted charity auction for disaster recovery, marking his fourth consecutive year of participation. His beloved skating boots were sold for approximately 7.12 million yen. All proceeds were donated.

 

I think it’s difficult to find a light of hope in a pitch-dark tunnel. But just like the night sky on March 11, I believe that precisely because it’s so dark, there is a light that can be seen.

— In March 2020, the World Championships were canceled for the first time in 59 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In April, he appeared on the official Japan Olympic Committee (JOC) Twitter, and in May, he shared choreography from the programs he skated after the disaster, totaling 311 seconds, on the Japan Skating Federation’s Twitter.

 

Please let me say this. I believe I am the person who has been most supported by these words, and I believe I am the person who understands the meaning and power of those words the most. So please, let me say it: ‘Hang in there.’ Since that day, I have received many ‘hang in there’ messages from all of you. Truly, thank you very much. I will also do my best.”

— March 2021, marking 10 years since the disaster. Hanyu, who was a high school freshman at the time and has since achieved two consecutive Winter Olympic golds, returned the words of support that had sustained him. He expressed his gratitude in 1,182 characters, believing it would reach the disaster-stricken areas.

 

 

[yuzurujenn]

Injured - Injury

 

Spoiler

I focused more on sensation than on the pain.

— March 2013, at the World Championships in London, he competed despite pain in his left knee and right ankle. Rising from 9th in the short program to 4th overall, he secured the maximum of three Olympic spots for Sochi. He received painkiller injections and took medication. Although a shiatsu therapist treated him tirelessly through the night, his recovery was only 30–40%. To make matters worse, he sprained his right ankle during morning practice. He limited his painkillers and fought through the intense pain.

 

I did my best. Even though I was feeling unwell, so many people took care of me physically and mentally, and I am so grateful. When it was over, I collapsed, and I’m really thankful to the ice too!

— March 2013, at the World Championships in London, he competed despite pain in his left knee and right ankle. Rising from 9th in the short program to 4th overall, he secured the maximum three Olympic spots for Sochi.

 

In reality, sports are about challenging our limits, and in a way, it’s a matter of life and death. In the recent collision accident, if the timing had been even less than a second different, I might not be here.

— On November 8, 2014, during a practice session just before the free skate at the Cup of China, he collided with another skater. After returning home, he was diagnosed with five injuries, including a head contusion and a left thigh bruise. Despite this, he competed in the NHK Trophy later that month. In the pre-competition press conference, when asked if he was afraid to skate, he answered without hesitation, “No, I’m not.”

 

It was the right choice. Regardless of the result, I skated through it completely. I did not back down.

— After completing the free skate at the NHK Trophy on November 29, 2014.

 

Even though I couldn’t go back (to before the collision accident), I was given this many walls to overcome. There’s nothing more enjoyable than that. Rather than breaking down those walls, I want to properly overcome them. I experienced a rare incident. I am happy that the issue was brought to light. How happy I am.

— November 30, 2014, the day after qualifying for the Grand Prix Final at the NHK Trophy.

 

From my very first competition (after the 2014 Sochi Olympics) , there was the accident at the Cup of China. Then I had surgery, and I sprained something. I really spent that whole time suffering from injuries and illness. But I never imagined that. To be honest, I couldn’t have imagined it (laughs). But honestly, what I can say is that if none of that had happened, if everything had gone perfectly smoothly until I got injured at the NHK Trophy in November 2017, then I probably wouldn’t have won the Olympic gold medal. It’s precisely because I had all those experiences that I was able to learn a lot and study many things. I believe I was able to use that to come back from this injury.

— February 18, 2018, the day after winning his second consecutive Olympic gold at PyeongChang, when asked if the four years after Sochi had gone as he wanted.

 

Precisely because I couldn’t skate, I was able to sit at my desk, face the computer, and learn many things. Of course, my foot injury was slow to heal, and there were times I felt very anxious. But I actively researched about the injury myself, and while facing the pain, I studied how I could recover faster. While studying, I also learned about training methods to avoid re-injury, how to reach peak condition, and the mental approach for competitions. In fact, the pain in my foot only decreased by about 20 to 30 percent, but in the end, with the help of painkillers, I was able to win the gold medal. I am truly grateful to the support members who helped reduce my pain by that 20 to 30 percent, and I feel I must continue skating going forward.

— February 2018, after winning gold at the PyeongChang Olympics, at a press conference held by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan, touching on the condition of his right ankle.

 

I’m really sorry, but what I’m very frustrated about myself is that since last year’s NHK Trophy, my previously weak right ankle has become even looser. Even a slight impact quickly causes a sprain, leading to a major injury. I truly feel frustrated about this, and to me, that’s part of being Yuzuru Hanyu. If I’m still falling in such a way, it means my technique is still insufficient, and that frustration remains. Including this fragility, I have to keep building up and work hard to perform strong routines again.

— November 16, 2018, after the free skate at the Russia Cup, where he pushed through despite injuring his right ankle again.

 

(Regarding the damage to the right ankle ligament before the NHK Trophy) It was during the full run-through practice of the free skate. I did the quadruple Axel, and then went straight into the next Salchow, but my edge caught on the ice. I had just had my edges sharpened, so the feeling was different. When I tried it, the edge really caught on the ice. Normally, I should have been able to free myself, but I couldn’t, and it snapped. So, the direct cause of the right ankle injury was the Salchow, but if it had been a single Salchow jump, there wouldn’t have been a problem. It was also because I had just done the 4A (quadruple Axel) before that.

— December 23, 2021, after official practice at the All Japan Championships, discussing the injury to his right foot.

 

Regarding the sprain in my right ankle, since I know it thoroughly, I kept thinking about how to heal it quickly. I tried various things, such as using pressure training to promote healing, ultrasound, and low-frequency waves. The things I could do in Sendai were limited, but I healed it that way.

— December 23, 2021, after official practice at the All Japan Championships.

 

 

 

[yuzurujenn]

All Japan Championship

 

Spoiler

After all, it is precisely because seniors like Takahashi, Kozuka, and Oda were there that we exist. There are still many areas where we haven't caught up yet. We want to become a "strong Japan" like our seniors.

— After leading the Short Program in 2012.

 

Since it was my first time standing on the top podium, I got so excited that I jumped with both feet.

— At the 2012 competition, when he stood on the center of the podium for the first time in his fifth appearance.

 

After overcoming one wall, there was only the next wall. But maybe that’s how people are. Once they overcome one challenge, they move on to the next. I guess I’m more greedy than most.

— After achieving a three-peat at the 2014 competition, despite injuries from the collision at the Cup of China and having limited practice time.

 

It was clearly a bad performance. I thought I was terrible. I'm burning with anger. I'm boiling with rage. Finding so many issues means I get to practice more, which makes me happy.

— At the 2015 competition, after achieving a fourth consecutive win but falling on the latter part of the free skate’s quadruple toe loop and triple Axel.

 

I'd like to chase and threaten them. This isn’t it. At the World Championships, I might face Nathan (Chen), and there is also the wall called Shoma Uno, who just defeated me. I need overwhelming weapons, so I want to try the quadruple Axel.

— After finishing second at the 2019 competition, marking his first loss to a Japanese rival in five years, he was so confused that he described himself as “weak, I'm weak,” said “if I talk about the bad points, it would take 30 minutes,” and said it was a “mess,” but gradually regained his fighting spirit and became positive.

 

I felt like I couldn’t fight anymore. At times, I even thought about quitting… I felt guilty doing the skating I love. Everything I was doing felt pointless, and it was like I was sinking alone into total darkness. Until October, I couldn’t even land a triple Axel. I was exhausted from fighting. But from that darkness, I reached out and grabbed for the light I wanted to hold onto. Quitting is always an option, but it’s not what I want. I have people who support me. I realized I love the sense of accomplishment from competing, and the struggle I overcome in the process. Heaven and earth, and Yuzuru Hanyu — ‘Between heaven and earth, here I stand.’

— In 2020, after sitting out the entire Grand Prix series due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he won the All-Japan Championships — his first competition back — and reflected on the more than 300 days away from the public eye.

 

Around when I was about 24 or 25, I felt like my growth had really stopped, and there was a time when I couldn’t even complete my free skate. But I think, now, I’m definitely the best I’ve ever been. That’s because I was able to establish my own training method, and I can plan by myself. I think the biggest thing is that I established what figure skating training means for Yuzuru Hanyu, and I’m able to carry it out.

— December 27, 2021, the day after winning the All-Japan Championships for the sixth time in a row at age 27.

 

 

 

[yuzurujenn]

Quad-Axel / Quadruple Axel

 

Spoiler

Probably, I can manage up to about five types of quadruple jumps. I love doing things that are the first ever or completely new. I got as far as stepping out on one foot on the loop, I can rotate the Lutz, and I can spin the Axel to some extent — technically, I might fall due to underrotation.

— February 22, 2014, at the Sochi Olympics exhibition, where he won the first gold medal outside Europe and North America. At that time, the only quadruple jumps done were the toe loop and Salchow. He spoke of his goal in the absence of anyone in the world who had successfully completed a loop or an axel.

 

I want to do the Axel. When I was little, I probably would have said, ‘Because it’s never been done before.’ But now, how I feel is that, in the very end, the triple Axel was what really supported me. The passion, the time, and the amount of practice I’ve put into the Axel jump are more than any other jump. Above all, my mentor, Coach Tsuzuki Shoichiro, said, “The Axel is the king of jumps.” Because of that, I’m grateful that I’m good at the Axel jump and that I still love it. With that feeling, I want to aim for the quadruple Axel.

— February 18, 2018, at the press conference the day after winning his second consecutive Olympic gold at PyeongChang

 

Jumps where you take off facing backward allow you to swing your arms sideways during the jump, which makes it much easier to generate rotation. But with the Axel jump, you have to bring your arms behind you and then bring them forward—you can’t just swing them out sideways. Because of that, it’s much harder to generate centrifugal force. On top of that, you have to spin four and a half times, which makes it very difficult. No one has successfully landed it in competition yet, and I think very few people are even practicing the quadruple Axel. But even if I can't be the first person to do it, I want to succeed in my dream of landing the quadruple Axel.

— February 27, 2018, at the Japan Foreign Correspondents’ Club press conference

 

I was practicing the quintuple Salchow and my foot caught on the ice. I want to increase my rotational power even more in order to practice the quadruple Axel (4.5 rotations). When I do the 4A on the harness, I land it very cleanly. I’m going to jump it cleanly. I really will land it beautifully. Watch me, world!

— November 2019, after official practice at the Autumn Classic, when asked about a left ankle sprain, he suddenly confessed this. The press was stunned. He also said that he had landed the quadruple flip "three times in practice."

 

I want to land the quadruple Axel in competition. If I’m being true to myself, the reason I keep working hard on skating during this COVID-19 pandemic, the reason I push myself to train even when the world around me is like this, is to succeed with the quadruple Axel. The wall I have to climb is so high there’s not even a handrail. But I don’t want it to be just an illusion. I want to see beyond the wall, even if it’s not there. That alone is the reason I’m skating in this world right now.

— After winning the All Japan Championships in December 2020, when asked about his "ultimate goal"

 

My ultimate goal isn't winning another Olympic gold medal, it's landing the quadruple Axel. If I can’t land the quad Axel, I know I’ll never be satisfied for the rest of my life.

— March 2021, after the World Championships.

 

Haha, you’re asking that so directly. Honestly, I don’t know. I think it depends on how it happens. The real question is whether I’ll be satisfied, if my heart feels fulfilled. If I do feel that way, maybe I’ll think about it. But one thing’s for sure: Yuzuru Hanyu is definitely getting better.

— March 2021, after the World Championships, when asked, “Will you retire if you land the quadruple Axel?”

 

If I’m training with multiple people and someone is in the path of the quadruple Axel, it can distract me. But when I’m alone, that doesn’t happen. I can land it if I rotate just one-eighth more. But to get to that point, I’ve been pushing my body to the limit, and the pain and damage have definitely been accumulating. I had decided that if I could land it by the end of February, I would include it (in competition), but I couldn’t. I really pushed myself to the brink. There were days I’d jump nothing else—just the 4A for two straight hours. On average, I’d say I was practicing it about 45 minutes a day.

— March 2021, after the World Championships, on training conditions and the status of his quad Axel attempts.

 

When the jump gets higher, my body completely goes into a kind of rejection mode. Balancing both the height and the rotation is extremely difficult.

— April 2021, during official practice at the World Team Trophy, where he publicly attempted the quadruple Axel for the first time in about 14 months, speaking on the difficulty of mastering the jump.

 

I realized it’s not just my jump anymore. I’m the one who jumps it, and I’m the one who first spoke about it, but if everyone is saying, ‘Only you can do it,’ then maybe fulfilling that is my mission.

— December 2021, after official practice at the All-Japan Championships, he explained why he wouldn’t give up on the quadruple Axel, making his first public appearance in eight months.

 

I’m tired. I was exhausted to a degree that is incomparable to the loop. In the morning practice, I just couldn’t land it at all, and I was honestly so disappointed. Mentally, I was a mess leading up to the actual performance. Including all of that, it really made me realize how difficult it is to use a jump in competition that you haven’t fully mastered yet.

— December 26, 2021, after attempting the quadruple Axel for the first time in competition during the Free Skate at the All-Japan Championships.

 

No one’s ever landed it. Everyone says it’s impossible. The process of trying to make it happen feels like walking endlessly through darkness. I honestly trained thinking, ‘I might hit my head and get a concussion and die.’ That’s how intense it was.

— December 26, 2021, after the Free Skate at the All-Japan Championships, when asked about the training process for the quadruple Axel.

 

[yuzurujenn]

Victory or defeat

 

Spoiler

I keep saying ‘Final, Final,’ don’t I? But right now is right now. This is the NHK Trophy, after all—that’s what I finally felt. I realized I should have been more focused.

— November 28, 2014, speaking after the short program at the NHK Trophy, reflecting on his mindset being too fixed on the Grand Prix Final.

 

To be honest, I was in despair after the short program. I knew Nathan (Chen) would be landing five quads in the free. But in this hopeless situation, I had a strong sense of mission to "leave something behind" in the free program, and I think it would have been nearly impossible to perform a perfect, error-free program with that composition (five quadruple jumps of four different types). So I thought, if I can’t win by going all in, I thought, "Let's do what I have to do here." I felt like, "I want to complete the Axel here."

— Reflecting on the 2019 Grand Prix Final. After falling behind Chen by 12.95 points in the SP, Hanyu explained why he suddenly attempted a quad Axel in the following day’s official practice.

 

It's tough, isn't it? But it's fun. Next time, I don’t just want to shed one layer, I want to shed ten, twenty. I want to train so that people will say, ‘This is the Yuzuru Hanyu we’ve been waiting for.’

—October 2016, after skating a free program with four quadruple jumps for the first time in competition at the Autumn Classic. Reflecting on the challenge and using the setbacks as motivation.

 

I purely thought “I want to win,” and losing only has the meaning of losing. To be honest, to me, losing is the same as death. I really, really want to win.

—2019 World Championships, after scoring over 300 points but finishing with a silver medal.

 

[yuzurujenn]

Off time / Off Ice

 

Spoiler

I have gained a new perspective on how to think about things. By calculating things this way and figuring out where the errors occurred, each way of thinking directly benefits my performance in the sport.

— December 27, 2014, after winning the All-Japan Championships for the third consecutive time. About studying not only body-related subjects such as ecological psychology but also computer programming through the correspondence course at Waseda University's School of Human Sciences, which he have been attending since spring 2013.

 

I also play shogi, and when a piece flips over, it’s called “nari” (promotion), right? I think I’ve advanced step by step like a pawn to get this far, so I feel like I’ve finally arrived here. But now is the time to start moving forward again, so in that sense, I have to become even stronger.

— December 13, 2015, when asked about the kanji that represents this year, he answered “成” (nari, meaning “growth” or “promotion”).

 

(For Yuzuru Hanyu, the power of words is…) Up until now, I’ve absolutely wanted to make my words come true through actions. In a way, my own words can be chains or pressure on me. But maybe it’s thanks to those words that I can keep going without giving up. For me, words don’t so much encourage me as help me organize my thoughts. By voicing my feelings, my plans, or how I felt when I jumped, I can sort things out, and often good results come from that.

— December 27, 2021: the day after being officially named to the Beijing Olympic team.

 

(During the COVID-19 pandemic, while training in his hometown Sendai) The streets of Sendai have always stayed with me inside. Of course, there’s been urban development and things have been changing more and more, but just that feeling of nostalgia for the place brings a sense of comfort. It really warms my heart.

— December 27, 2021: the day after being officially named to the Beijing Olympic team.

 

 

[yuzurujenn]

Program

 

Spoiler

I want to show the delicacy that only I can express, and the powerful spirit of harmony.

— June 12, 2015, announced that his free skate program for the upcoming season would be “SEIMEI.”

 

‘SEIMEI’ and ‘Ballade No. 1’ are truly like children* who already hold records that will be spoken of as legends. Ideally, I would have liked to let them rest. But when I borrowed their strength during 'Medalist on Ice,' maybe it was because of my mental state at the time, I felt an incredible sense of being myself. So I thought, 'Maybe I can lean on their power just a little longer.'

— February 2020, during official practice at the Four Continents Championships, when asked why he returned to his PyeongChang Olympic programs.

 

This program, I've really skated countless times already, but it’s like wine or cheese—maybe there’s never been a figure skating program quite like this before, but the more I skate it, the more time I spend with it, the more it matures and gains all kinds of depth. That feels very much like me. From the heart, I can perform jumps and steps to the music.

—After performing “Ballade No. 1” at the 2020 Four Continents SP for the first time in 721 days since the PyeongChang Olympics, setting a new world record of 111.82 points.

 

‘Ballade No.1’ and ‘SEIMEI’ are my signature programs, but this new program may not yet be as polished or valuable as those. However, it has a very strong, concrete story and emotion that I want to convey through the music. At first, memories flickered out of the darkness, and the memories of everyone and the path I had walked suddenly spread out like the light of a firefly. After the first spin, I use all of that as energy to charge forward recklessly toward something. In the end, I’m not really sure myself, but it feels like my consciousness is flying away and I’m grasping something. It’s a story like that. I was able to skate with emotion, almost like an exhibition.

— December 24, 2021, after performing the new short program “Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso” at the All Japan Championships

 

 

*Yuzuru Hanyu likes to refer to his programs as his 'children'