[2025.09.27] TJapan

[Wintek]

Release date: 2025.09.27

T JAPAN is the Japanese edition of T: The New York Times Style Magazine, published by The New York Times Company. T JAPAN is made up of carefully selected translated articles from the US edition as well as articles exclusive to the Japanese edition. It is an intellectual style magazine that conveys the latest news from around the world and Japan from a global perspective, with a unique style in every article, covering fashion, art, interviews, travel, food, beauty, and more.

 

To commemorate its 10th anniversary, the September 27th issue features a paid edition available for purchase in bookstores in addition to the standard free edition delivery to subscribers of the Asahi Shimbun. Yuzuru Hanyu appears on the cover and in a special interview feature.
The pages are adorned with a number of breathtakingly beautiful photographs that express his extraordinary creativity.

The paid edition features a special cover different from the standard free edition and includes a double-sided cardboard pinup (the same size as the magazine itself). You can fully enjoy Hanyu's expressive worldview.

Both editions have Hanyu on the cover.

Photos and interview from pages 51 to 59. Nine photo inside the normal edition, 10 with the cover. The 10th anniversary edition has an additional photo in the form of a poster.
 

More information about the 10th anniversary edition (1000 yen):
https://www.shueisha.co.jp/books/items/contents.html?isbn=978-4-08-102504-6&fbclid=PAb21jcANEZY9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp6VXiXCd77Uo8ocO0BZBETXHuga-SltFXzeuXmKLoyV2jJgUrhvjGgxMfq-Q_aem_SKeiF5Vv0xiANpETCs84Pw

Archive:
https://web.archive.org/web/20250927163214/https://www.shueisha.co.jp/books/items/contents.html?isbn=978-4-08-102504-6

Normal edition available for purchase (550 yen):

https://store.hpplus.jp/fs/shop/g/g4349390000FS_r20247/?fbclid=PAb21jcANEZYFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABpzt3vL0J15kBMSCEzLMn9NMxXagCRNwEcsvQIFETMNpCBE7EsdPwr3g8mHOF_aem_wgk3tsqzw1m8yxtmWW8ywA
 

Also available as an e-magazine through Rakuten Magazines:
https://magazine.rakuten.co.jp/

You can sign up for 1-month free

[Wintek]

*Machine translation from Japanese to English. Inaccuracies exist*

[P. 16]

Letter from the Editor
Being Like Water
Netsue Hanawa

Thank you very much for always reading T JAPAN. Nice to meet you all; my name is Natsue Hanawa, and I am serving as editor-in-chief starting with this issue. From now on, I will continue to strive to deliver pages that allow readers to sense the “now” of Japan and the world from a globally curious perspective.

In this issue, we had Yuzuru Hanyu appear on the cover and in an interview. He is a unique performer who won two gold medals at the Sochi and PyeongChang Winter Olympics and is now active as a professional figure skater. When Hanyu appeared in front of the camera during the photoshoot, the air in the studio was sharpened in an instant, wrapped in tension and exhilaration. Moving with breathtaking beauty according to the flowing music, his creativity bursts forth from within. It was also very striking how he kindly offered words of encouragement to the staff working on the background setup.

Spoiler

From Hanyu’s presence, a certain phrase came to mind. That is the famous saying left by Bruce Lee: “Be water, my friend.” Bruce, a world-renowned action star and unparalleled martial artist from Hong Kong, also had a philosophical side. Water can pour into any shaped vessel; it can flow quietly or strike violently. To live is to freely express oneself within contingency. Sometimes flexible, sometimes strong, always flowing like water—
In a world where division and conflict never cease and the future is uncertain; where technology such as artificial intelligence and communication tools evolves at a dizzying speed and the rules of the game change daily, giving rise to the sense of urgency that “if I don’t, I won’t survive”—in such days when one feels indescribable vague anxiety, the phrase “Be water” gives courage to take a step forward.

Hanyu, pursuing unprecedented expression in the world of figure skating, and furthermore continuing recovery support activities inspired by his experience of the Great East Japan Earthquake; Hitomi Kanehara, a writer who depicts human figures living through the times while carrying various wounds; Chie Hayakawa, a film director who sharply illuminates social issues while empathizing with people in weak positions; Akira Gun, a Butoh dancer who for over half a century has spread Japanese-origin “BUTOH” worldwide and established unique bodily expression; Mahiro Onoe, a young kabuki talent showing overwhelming expressiveness at just 13 years old; and Aoki, an architect exploring the “neutral point” between humans and technology and thinking about a third intelligence—
Those we interviewed in this issue are all people who embody the concept of “Be water,” holding a firm perspective while living powerfully in this chaotic era, and also connecting it to hope for the future.

As the first issue I was involved in as editor-in-chief, it has fortunately become a once-in-a-lifetime issue that encourages the heart wishing to someday be like water. I hope that readers can also fully enjoy the words of these heroes of our times.

 

Photo Caption

In response to Yuzuru Hanyu’s beautiful dance, feathers rise into the air as part of the photoshoot background. Please pay attention to the many dramatic photos by photographer Miss Bean, based in Hong Kong and Tokyo, who is pioneering new forms of expression (page 51).

 

[Wintek]

*Machine translation from Japanese to English. Inaccuracies exist*

[P. 51-59]

 

Yuzuru Hanyu – Beyond the Flight

What is the driving force behind continuing to express an unprecedented and unique worldview as a professional figure skater?

 

A well-trained body and expressiveness that only grows with age.

Figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu is a presence to behold in his current state. He has built an unwavering foundation with sincerity, and it is precisely because of this foundation that he is able to soar. What, then, is the nature of his quietly burning, utterly sincere^[1] soul—?

 

By Michino Ogura

Photographs by Miss Bean

Styled by Tetsuro Nagase

Hair by Tomihim Kono

Makeup by Tomomi Shibusawa
at beauty direction

 

“I can only keep going step by step, and if I fix an image too firmly, it won’t become anything beyond that.”

 

Early in the morning, as the photography staff left their hotel heading to the studio, snow began to dance in the Sendai sky, which had been clear until the day before. The atmosphere was filled with a chilly sense of tension, befitting the day they would be meeting the king of ice, Yuzuru Hanyu.

Serving as brand ambassador for Gucci, Hanyu put on the look chosen for this day, and at times quietly, at times dynamically, he expressed with the movements of his body the story held by the clothing. Since turning professional in July 2022, he has been piling up practice in dance even more broadly than during his competitive days.

 

Spoiler

His movements on land appear to have evolved into something even more beautiful.

 

“Even so, I really do feel that I am a figure skater. I studied many styles—jazz, ballet, hip-hop—but even if I practice those movements on land, there are moments when I can’t bring out the sense of speed I imagine unless it’s on the ice. That makes me feel a bit of frustration.”

 

Hanyu, who won two gold medals at the Sochi and PyeongChang Winter Olympics and has collected numerous honors, still continues to update his skills, aiming to approach the very essence of expression. What drives him?

 

“After the Pyeongchang Olympics ended, from there it was four painful (苦しい) years. After that, when the Beijing Olympics ended and I turned professional, I was able to meet wonderful people, and I was released^[2] from competitive figure skating. I realized just how much of a frog in a well^[3] I had been, and I was made to realize that there is still so much for me to learn.

 

It was the idea of "Ice Story" that really brought out his creative side. Hanyu himself serves as performer, executive producer, and even scriptwriter for this grand entertainment set on ice, directed by MIKIKO (director and choreographer). In his own words, "What is ‘life’? What am ‘I’? I hope to provide some clues to such enormous questions, and so I have written this story and program."

 

The tours held from 2023—“GIFT,” “RE_PRAY,” and “Echoes of Life”—were all great successes.

 

“To perform alone continuously for two and a half hours in one show is something unthinkable for a normal ice show. But the audience has come to see me, so I want to move them with every single program. I incorporate various methods and viewpoints, and I create with attention to detail. Unlike when I was competing and showing one program, in my Ice Story, each program is one piece (within the overall story). Of course, each has its own story and may seem complete, but I think of them as connecting to the next.”

 

When asked about his vision for the future, Hanyu’s expression shifted slightly to a severe one. He said that what lies ahead is something one cannot reach without daily effort, that is where his sincerity lies.

 

“Honestly, I wonder what the future holds and sometimes I think it's dark and scary.. I can only keep going step by step, and if I fix an image too firmly, it won’t become anything beyond that, and I would only be able to reach that one place. It was the same when I challenged the quadruple axel, pioneering a path that no one knows means facing fear. Precisely because that place looks pitch dark, I think that’s why it holds many possibilities. Right now, I cherish that.”

 

Another project he took on after turning professional is the ice show notte stellata, led by Hanyu since March 2023, together with trusted skaters and guests. Having experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake himself, he proposed it out of a wish to send out some light of hope from the disaster-stricken region. This interview took place just after the 2025 performance, which welcomed Kyogen actor Mansai Nomura as guest. In this year’s notte stellata, two representative works were specially staged: Hanyu’s “SEIMEI” (his free program from the 2015–16 season, using music from the film Onmyoji starring Nomura), and Nomura’s past piece “MANSAI Boléro,” created as a requiem for the earthquake.

 

“It was because I created "SEIMEI" that I was able to meet Mansai-san. I feel like this program established the starting point of my own expressive technique. Mansai-san taught me about the rhythm of breathing that Japanese people have culturally. Since then, I have always been conscious of the presence of Japanese culture in my own expressions.

When I first performed SEIMEI ten years ago, even listening to Mansai-san, I could barely keep up with his words, focusing only on thinking step by step. But this time, as we talked together, I felt we were able to match the ways we imagine each other’s inspiration. These three years since becoming a professional, I have been desperately struggling and running forward, but I feel that perhaps I’ve been able to grow as well."

 

Even now, fourteen years since 3.11, Hanyu continues unceasing support for the affected areas. His feelings toward reconstruction are a driving force for him.

 

“I think my role is something like that of a storyteller. Fortunately, I realized that there are so many people who, because of me, think they want to try support. I believe I must continue activity regarding 3.11 forever, making full use of my name recognition and the records I’ve built. As someone who is also a victim and experiencer (当事者 ),^[4] I can recall everything from that time, but the scenery of the towns keeps changing. Memory is something that fades. Precisely because I am someone who knows the original landscape, I want to keep conveying the things I learned at the time of the disaster that must be valued. Through my performances, not only fundraising but also inspiring people to actually visit Tohoku, or think about the local products—even really small things—if I can keep being such a starting point, that’s what I want.”

 

Yuzuru Hanyu
Professional figure skater, born December 7, 1994, in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. He began skating at the age of four. In the 2016-17 season, he achieved the first-ever consecutive Grand Prix Finals. He won gold medals at two consecutive Olympics: the 2014 Sochi Olympics and the 2018 Average Speed Olympics. After turning professional in July 2022, he will hold his first solo performance, “Prologue,” the first solo performance by a skater at the Tokyo Dome “GIFT,” “RE PRAY,” “Echoes of Life,” and “note stellata”.

 

NOTES:

[1] 清廉 (seiren), “pure,” “upright,” “incorruptible,” “honest,” “sincere.” Often used to describe moral character or integrity.

[2] 「解き放たれました」(tokihanata remashita): to had been released, set free, liberated.

[3] 「僕はどれだけ井の中の蛙だったのかとわかったし…」(Boku wa dore dake inonakanokawazudatta no ka to wakattashi) from the Japanese proverb「井の中の蛙大海を知らず」(i no naka no kawazu taikai o shirazu) “a frog in a well does not know the great ocean.”

[4] 当事者 (とうじしゃ, tōjisha), literally means “a person directly involved” or “a person concerned/affected.” In social contexts, it refers to someone who has directly experienced an event and whose perspective, memory, and responsibility are inseparable from that experience. In this sense, choosing “experiencer”for the translation emphasizes the active engagement and personal impact of the event on the individual. Yuzuru and Rei Nagai reflect deeply about the term 当事者 during part 3 of the philosophical dialogue.

 

Description of photos

 

Spoiler

[P.52]
Yuzuru instantly heightened his concentration and quietly stood in a dramatic space where countless feathers danced.
The denim top with a vivid GG pattern in jacquard construction is an intricate piece. It is an item that contains the contradictory charms of casualness and couture feeling.

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[P.53]

Just by standing there smoothly, Yuzuru exudes a presence that makes you feel the beginning of a story.
He stylishly wore a denim set-up that creates a gradient from deep indigo blue to white.

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[P.55]
He wore a bandana-print shirt casually, evoking youth culture.
Even while wearing elegant horsebit loafers, he expresses the world of the clothes with supple movements.
Capturing a magical moment where he controls his breath and body at will, in tune with the music.

---

[P.56]
Having reached 30 years old, Yuzuru exudes even more mature charm.
He casually wears a cotton blouson with dancing GG patterns—cool in appearance.
By adding sparkle through bracelets and the metal fittings on the pit loafers, he can style the outfit more luxuriously and stylishly.
With a chic Boston bag as his companion, I imagine him moving toward his next destination without hesitation.

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[P.58]
The single tear that gently ran down his cheek happened in the moment he struck a pose in the wind. In the midst of the background fabric, prepared to express the lightness of the outfit, billowing dynamically in the wind, his beautiful profile looking up at the sky was miraculously captured in one shot.
Even during the shoot, he gently spoke to the staff: “Let’s do our best.”
A professional attitude glimpsed, trying to further elevate the creative scene.

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