[2022] CoCoKARAnext articles related to Hanyu

[yuzurujenn]

Compilation of some articles/columns related to Yuzuru Hanyu published on the online sports magazine, CoCoKARAnext in 2022.

 

 

*Please do not comment in this thread other than translations*

[yuzurujenn]

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

2022.03.08

 

Source: https://cocokara-next.com/athlete_celeb/eriyamada-interview-01/

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250621210826/https://cocokara-next.com/athlete_celeb/eriyamada-interview-01/

 

‘He Looks Like Ichiro!’ – What Makes Yuzuru Hanyu So Admirable According to Tokyo Olympic Gold Medalist? Interview with Former Japan Softball Star Eri Yamada

 

The Japanese women’s national softball team clinched a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, achieving back-to-back Olympic victories following their triumph at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Eri Yamada, who played a pivotal role as team captain of this dominant squad, made a significant contribution to their gold medal win.

 

"CoCoKARAnext" conducted an exclusive interview with Yamada. The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics also saw many Japanese athletes shine, with Japan winning a record 18 medals—the most in its Winter Games history. In the interview, Yamada shares her impressions of the Beijing Olympics, including what she felt and learned from watching the athletes perform.

 

Spoiler

Yamada said that she had been watching various competitions on TV, but among them, the performance of figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu, who drew attention for attempting a quadruple Axel (a four-and-a-half-rotation jump), left the strongest impression.

 

She mentioned that she also watches competitions outside of the Olympics, and even when she can't watch his performances live, she always makes sure to check them afterward, revealing just how closely she follows Hanyu. When asked about what makes Hanyu so remarkable that even top athletes are captivated by him, she responded:

 

“I really like Hanyu-kun. His way of thinking is almost superhuman, isn’t it? I think it’s amazing that he can captivate people not only through his performances but also through what he says. He has a strong sense of self and he can move people’s hearts, which I think is similar to Ichiro-san.”

 

She praised him, saying that his way of thinking and his words conveyed a charisma similar to that of Ichiro, the great hitter whom Japanese baseball is proud of. However, in this Olympic Games, Hanyu unfortunately finished in fourth place, and was seen shedding tears of frustration.

 

Regarding Hanyu’s performance, Yamada said:

 

“Compared to the two previous Olympics where he won gold medals, his expression this time looked different to me. It was as if you could see the pressure and fear he had been carrying. But even so, despite the result not being what he had hoped for, I think it’s truly amazing that he can still captivate people.”

 

As someone who has also competed on the world stage, Yamada sensed the immense pressure and sense of responsibility that Hanyu was bearing, and expressed understanding toward the emotional burden he carried.

 

Furthermore, she said:

 

“Despite not winning a medal, I think the reason he is still so highly praised is because he’s truly an amazing person. Even though I am in a position to convey this to others, I still feel like I can't fully convey it.”

 

“It wasn’t like he was doing it for himself. You could tell he was skating while thinking about the figure skating world and the people watching him. That really came through. That’s something I can relate to as well, approaching things with the mindset of doing it for someone else. I realized that those kinds of feelings really do reach people, and I learned a lot from that.”

 

She revealed that, as a fellow athlete, she learned a lot from everything about Hanyu, not just his performance, but also the way he carried himself.

 

She also shared that there were words from Hanyu’s post-competition interview that left a lasting impression on her:

 

“What stuck with me was when he said, ‘There are efforts that go unrewarded.’ Also, he said something like, ‘I think everyone is challenging something in their lives. I think that’s what living is. Even protecting something is a kind of challenge. I believe there’s nothing in life that isn’t a challenge, and for me, that challenge was the quadruple Axel and the Olympics. Maybe that's all there is to it.’ I feel like those words resonated with many people and gave them courage.”

 

She expressed deep respect for Hanyu not just for his skating, but for the words and presence he showed outside of his performance as well.

 

Precisely because Yamada has experienced the pressure of winning back-to-back Olympic titles, she seemed to deeply resonate with the words spoken by Hanyu as a fellow Olympian.

 

[yuzurujenn]

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

2022.07.27

 

Source: https://cocokara-next.com/athlete_celeb/yuzuruhanyu-outstanding-presence/

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250726033716/https://cocokara-next.com/athlete_celeb/yuzuruhanyu-outstanding-presence/

 

Yuzuru Hanyu’s Presence Grows Even More Prominent After Turning Pro — Why He’s Considered a ‘Savior’ by Sports Media

 

It can be said to be the beginning of a new chapter in life.

 

This refers to figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu, who announced his turn to professional status at a press conference on July 19. On the morning of the conference, some media outlets reported “Hanyu’s retirement,” but at the conference, Hanyu expressed his determination with his unique humor.

 

Spoiler

“It feels strange that ‘active’ only means amateur status. It’s like a high school baseball player working hard, winning the Koshien tournament, and then turning pro. That’s not retirement, right? It’s the same thing. Rather, that’s just the start. What matters is how you show yourself from there and how hard you keep working.”

 

An online news source comments:

 

“Certainly, he is graduating from amateur competitions, but to regard that as ‘retirement’ may be trapped in an outdated way of thinking. By turning professional, the options for his activities naturally increase, and fans will be able to experience the unique athlete ‘Yuzuru Hanyu’ from many different angles.”

 

They continue:

 

"Sports newspapers and publishers are currently buzzing with a 'Hanyu special demand.' This is precisely because his story has a 'continuation.' If he were an athlete who was 'retiring,' there wouldn't be this much excitement."

 

A sports newspaper reporter testifies:

 

“Regarding Hanyu, each company is competing with special features, series, special poster pages, photo books, and other projects. In today’s world, where all breaking news is consumed online, Hanyu’s fans place great value on preserving his story carefully in print. There’s no more appreciated presence than this."

 

The aforementioned reporter analyzes the fierce competition among newspapers:

 

“Hanyu’s fans have very high literacy. They read every single word of the articles carefully, and they also pay close attention to the quality of photos and layouts, observing the respect and affection the publishers show toward the athlete. Since the investigative ability and passion of each company are compared, there’s absolutely no room for slacking off. The phrase “Let’s create pages that won’t lose to other companies” naturally raises morale within the teams producing Hanyu’s coverage. It’s fair to say that this creates an ideal dynamic where both the content creators and the audience engage with a healthy sense of mutual respect and tension."

 

Furthermore, the previously mentioned online news person explains the current situation:

 

“In a world where people are moving away from print media and the idea that 'information is free from the internet' has become the norm, Hanyu's presence is revitalizing the somewhat stagnant sports newspaper industry. As long as strong reader demand continues, each company will assign top reporters and photographers to cover him and invest great effort. Young reporters and photographers, seeing their seniors’ efforts, sharpen their skills thinking, ‘I want to become a media person supported by readers too.’ It is not an exaggeration to say that Hanyu is nurturing sports media professionals.”

 

All eyes will continue to be on this one-of-a-kind shining man's future.

 

The frenzy doesn't seem to be stopping anytime soon.

 

[yuzurujenn]

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

2022.08.24

 

Source: https://cocokara-next.com/athlete_celeb/yuzuruhanyu-5-minutes-interview/

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250621203456/https://cocokara-next.com/athlete_celeb/yuzuruhanyu-5-minutes-interview/

 

Why were Yuzuru Hanyu's "5 minutes per company" interviews so outstanding?

 

For reporters, it became a setting that tested their interviewing skills.

 

On August 10, after a practice session open to the public at "Ice Rink Sendai" in Sendai City, Yuzuru Hanyu, now a professional, agreed to a solo interview of “five minutes per company.”

 

Spoiler

A sports media source said:

 

“The solo interviews were arranged after a roughly 20-minute group press conference. This was at Hanyu’s strong request. Since he hadn’t had many opportunities for individual interviews before, he wanted each media outlet to write about him from their own perspective.”

 

A sports newspaper editor commented on the “five minutes per outlet” limit:

 

“There were 25 media companies gathered. Including the preparation time between interviews, it would take nearly three hours. For someone of Hanyu’s stature, most would find this too much hassle and wouldn’t do it (laughs). Still, the fact that he agreed to these solo interviews showed his gratitude toward the media and his genuine desire to contribute to energizing the skating world.”

 

He continued:

 

“Usually, when you try to explore an athlete’s inner thoughts, interviews last about an hour. From there, you cut out the unnecessary parts to create a polished story. Even with a superstar, you’d need at least 20 minutes. At first, I thought ‘five minutes per outlet’ was way too short, but when I saw the final pieces, each one was a great read. I was really surprised.”

 

The same sports media source analyzed further:

 

“I imagine each outlet’s reporter, upon hearing ‘five minutes per outlet,’ carefully crafted their questions and focused intensely on not wasting a single second during those five minutes with Hanyu. And Hanyu gave it his all in response. The intensity of this ‘serious showdown’ came through strongly in all the interviews. I think Hanyu’s wish to have each outlet express their unique ‘color’ and write about him authentically was clearly conveyed to the media.”

 

The relationship between sports media and athletes can be quite complicated. It’s common, especially with professional baseball or J-League reporters, for the closeness to players to become too cozy, resulting in relationships so tight that journalists sometimes find it difficult to write objective, critical commentary.

 

In that sense, the recent “five minutes per outlet” interview where both sides approached the process with professional pride and a serious mindset can be seen as an ideal example of sports journalism done right.

 

Lastly, the most challenging part of this coverage wasn’t for the reporters asking questions, but for the photographers. They were given only a very short window, yet those skilled professionals managed to capture proud, striking shots that graced the next day’s newspapers and upcoming magazines.

 

Going forward, fans will likely keep a close eye on the tense but respectful “bond” between Hanyu and the media covering him.

 

[yuzurujenn]

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

2022.08.29

 

Source: https://cocokara-next.com/athlete_celeb/yuzuruhanyu-changed-sports-newspaper/

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20220829093410/https://cocokara-next.com/athlete_celeb/yuzuruhanyu-changed-sports-newspaper/

 

Yuzuru Hanyu Changed Sports Newspapers — Progress Made on the Eternal Challenge of ‘Breaking Away from Old-School (Male-Dominated) Journalism’

 

Sports newspapers are facing a historic turning point. The door to this new era was opened by one great super athlete… Yuzuru Hanyu.

 

Spoiler

A veteran sports newspaper reporter says:

 

“There are six morning sports papers just in Tokyo, and for many years, attracting female readers has been a long-cherished goal for each paper. Sports papers used to be mainly targeted at middle-aged men who liked baseball and horse racing, what comedian Koshima calls an ‘Oyaji Journal,’ meaning ‘old men send it out and old men receive it.’ But now, every paper has adopted a ‘Hanyu shift,’ which has directly led to increased sales.”

 

Regarding Yuzuru Hanyu, who turned professional, every media outlet is covering his every move with heightened enthusiasm. Among them, the sports newspapers are especially intense.

 

“Each paper features large photo spreads and columns by their assigned reporters to highlight their unique angles, competing fiercely on quality. Photographers, in particular, are highly motivated because their work is turned into merchandise in incredible sizes. Each paper assigns their ace figure skating reporters,” the aforementioned journalist explains.

 

However, the editorial leadership at these sports papers is mostly men who rose through the ranks covering professional baseball. Initially, not everyone was eager to feature Hanyu so prominently.

 

The turning point came when the sales data for “Hanyu front-page editions” showed remarkably high numbers.

 

“With the widespread use of smartphones, society tends to think ‘information is free,’ but it became clear that issues featuring Hanyu on the front page were noticeably increasing in sales. There’s a definite reader demand there. What’s more, even women, who had been considered a ‘hard-to-crack’ demographic, were buying these papers at convenience stores. Once the data became clear, the internal skeptics in the companies had nothing left to say. On the contrary, these vibrant front pages have energized the editorial departments, and the proportion of female reporters is steadily increasing.”

 

No matter how many meetings were held in the past, or how much advice was sought from consultants, gaining female readers seemed impossible. Until one superstar athlete made it a reality.

 

This is likely one of the reasons all the papers are putting so much energy into following Hanyu closely.

 

[yuzurujenn]

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

2022.08.30

 

Source: https://cocokara-next.com/athlete_celeb/yuzuruhanyu-great-ability/

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20220830082313/https://cocokara-next.com/athlete_celeb/yuzuruhanyu-great-ability/

 

Yuzuru Hanyu, whose abilities were acknowledged even by the harsh evening papers — What was the "headline" that caused a stir in the industry?

 

The “common sense” of mass journalism is gradually being overturned.

 

Since the Showa era, the three evening papers — Tokyo Sports, Nikkan Gendai, and Yukan Fuji — have been known for their harsh tone, serving as companions to salarymen on their way home, soothing their weary minds and bodies after work.

 

Spoiler

A media insider explains:

 

“The evening papers distinguish themselves from the morning sports papers with their sharp, tough writing style. Tokyo Sports covers pro wrestling and horse racing, Nikkan Gendai takes a strong anti-establishment stance, and Yukan Fuji leans ‘pro-Abe’—each with a distinct flavor and a devoted readership. Yet all consistently pursue issues with relentless scrutiny.”

 

However, when it comes to a certain top athlete, their usual biting tone seems to soften.

 

That athlete is none other than Yuzuru Hanyu.

 

The same insider recalls:

 

“Nikkan Gendai’s coverage of the 2014 Sochi Olympics remains legendary. After Hanyu delivered a flawless performance, Gendai ran the headline, ‘Even We Can’t Find Fault This Time,’ sending their highest praise. The headline, laced with humor that acknowledged the paper’s own character, sparked talk that ‘It’s amazing Hanyu made Gendai write that.’ For Hanyu, it was arguably his greatest achievement (laughs).”

 

And it’s not just Gendai. Even Tokyo Sports, known for mercilessly ‘grilling’ countless superstars, delivers proper journalism when it comes to Hanyu.

 

“Tokyo Sports entered the audio platform ‘Voicy’ this past May but struggled to grow their playback numbers. However, on August 12th, when they shared some behind-the-scenes stories from their exclusive interview with Hanyu, the playback count soared to nearly 30 times the usual number, leaving the company astonished. New ventures always involve trial and error in any industry, but there’s no doubt that this ‘Yuzuru effect’ has given media companies a boost of courage.”

 

Tokyo Sports is known for skillfully getting close to stars like Hideki Matsui in the past and Yuuki Saito more recently, landing exclusive news that often headlines their front pages.

 

Could it be that Hanyu, too, is being drawn into Tokyo Sports’ “magnetic pull”? From Tokyo Sports’ side, it is probably their wish to publish a photo of Hanyu enjoying  their signature “Tokyo Sports Gyoza.”

 

We can only look forward to the day when that image graces their front page.

 

[yuzurujenn]

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

2022.09.16

 

Source: https://cocokara-next.com/athlete_celeb/yuzuruhanyu-presence/

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20221004232529/https://cocokara-next.com/athlete_celeb/yuzuruhanyu-presence/

 

Yuzuru Hanyu's presence remains undeniable. The 'preciousness' spoken of by the 17-year-old who succeeded in the world’s first 4A, saying he was inspired.

 

Another door to a new era has opened, one could say.

 

On September 14, at the beginning of the free program at the ISU-sanctioned US International Classic figure skating competition held in Lake Placid, USA, 17-year-old American Ilia Malinin successfully landed that quadruple Axel (4-and-a-half rotation jump).

 

Spoiler

According to the organizer, U.S. Figure Skating, this was the first successful attempt in the world. Malinin, who was 6th after the short program, came in 1st in the free skate and achieved a dramatic come-from-behind victory with a total score of 257.28 points.

 

After the competition, in a comment released through the association, Malinin expressed his respect for those who came before him:

 

“I’ve been working through a lot of trial and error regarding the quadruple Axel. I started working on improving the technique around March or April, with an idea in mind, but there’s no question that I was inspired by Yuzuru Hanyu. That’s why I decided to try it here today.”

 

Yuzuru Hanyu.

 

Behind this historic feat, the sweat shed by that man undeniably existed.

 

A sports newspaper editor says:

 

“The quadruple Axel is an extremely difficult and high-level jump. Yuzuru Hanyu boldly attempted it during the free skate at the Beijing Winter Olympics this February. Though he under-rotated and fell, he was officially recognized as the first in a major international competition to have attempted the 4A. Malinin said he was inspired by that courage. Indeed, Hanyu didn’t achieve the best result at the time, but the 17-year-old has proven, across borders and time, that the attempt was worthwhile."

 

Furthermore, the previously mentioned editor continues:

 

“To be honest, Hanyu has many critics. After that attempt, there were sneering comments online saying things like, ‘He fell,’ or ‘It was a failure.’ But even after that bold attempt, there were young talents who were clearly watching Hanyu closely and have now achieved something remarkable. And they’re expressing their respect for him. As a fellow Japanese, I can’t help but feel proud.”

 

There are always people who are truly watching.

 

The “chemistry” sparked by Yuzuru Hanyu’s challenge that day, which reached even a fearless 17-year-old. Even though he has now stepped away from competitions after declaring his transition to the professional world, it served as a reminder that Hanyu continues to radiate a powerful presence.

 

[yuzurujenn]

*machine translation, inaccuracies exist*

 

2022.09.18

 

Source: https://cocokara-next.com/athlete_celeb/yuzuruhanyu-related-books-rank-high/

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250516072601/https://cocokara-next.com/athlete_celeb/yuzuruhanyu-related-books-rank-high/

 

Yuzuru Hanyu-related books dominate the top rankings of sports books, publishing industry cries out, "It’s not even a fair fight"

 

　Sales of books related to Yuzuru Hanyu , or so-called "Hanyu books," are booming.

 

Spoiler

In Amazon’s “Sports Non‑Fiction” category as of September 15 at 9:00 PM (Japan time), the rankings are as follows:

 

1st – Yuzuru Hanyu Quotations II (Published by Pia)

 

3rd – TV Guide Special Edition KISS & CRY Vol. 46 – Yuzuru Hanyu: ShareHearts Issue, Limited Cover Version
(Tokyo News Service)

 

4th – Yuzuru Hanyu: The Driving Force Behind His Leap – Premium Collector’s Edition
(AERA Special Edition, Asahi Shimbun Publishing)

 

5th – Figure Skating Life Extra: “Life on Ice – Yuzuru Hanyu” [Limited Cover Version]
(Fusosha Mook)

 

6th – KISS & CRY Special Edition – Yuzuru Hanyu Postcard Book: Dawn–Backyard
(Tokyo News Service)

 

7th - TV Guide Special Edition KISS & CRY Vol. 46 – Yuzuru Hanyu: ShareHearts Issue
(TOKYO NEWS MOOK, Tokyo News Service)

 

8th - KISS & CRY Special Edition – Yuzuru Hanyu Postcard Book: Moonlight–EXHIBITION–Mook
(Tokyo News Service)

 

9th - [Yuzuru Hanyu: Special Report & Exclusive Interview] Japan National Figure Skating Team 2022 Fan Book
(Special Supplement: 2022/2023 Season Viewing Calendar)
(Yama to Keikoku Publishing)

 

In other words, out of the top 10, eight are "Yuzuru Hanyu books," creating an abnormal situation.

 

A publishing industry insider sighs and says:

 

"Even Shohei Ohtani and Katsuya Nomura can’t compete with Hanyu right now. If a book ranks number one even once in any category on Amazon, you can use 'Amazon ranking number one achieved' as a newspaper advertisement or a POP display in bookstores. In this world, there is also the saying, 'A book that sells is a book that sells.' Once it becomes a best-selling book, a good flow naturally builds up. But even if you release books about baseball, soccer, or martial arts now, they can’t match Hanyu books. It’s a losing battle commercially (laughs)."

 

However, another media source testifies as follows:

 

“With the decline in reading printed materials progressing, and both publishers and bookstores seeing sales drop, in these times Hanyu’s fans still buy books and carefully critique their quality. There's no room for rushing. Editors do ego searches and check Amazon reviews in detail to see how their own books are being read. Books sell because there is a demand there. In fact, he is a welcomed presence in the publishing world.”

 

Before editors at other companies lament the monoply, what they should do is put their heads together and bring out sports non-fiction books that sell better than the ‘Hanyu books.’ However, currently that hurdle seems quite difficult to overcome.