[2025.11.28] From Yuzuru Hanyu to the world — the expanding circle of “Irene” (The Mainich)

[Wintek]

***Machine translation, inaccuracies exist ***
 

Source: https://mainichi.jp/articles/20251127/k00/00m/050/364000c (Paid Article)

Archive: https://web.archive.org/web/20251128213623/https://mainichi.jp/articles/20251127/k00/00m/050/364000c 

 

One with the Ice

From Yuzuru Hanyu to the world — the expanding circle of “Irene”

Kodai TamaiWhen you watch practice sessions, you can often spot a cute “skating rink fairy” on the gloves of many top skaters. That fairy is “Irene,” the mascot of Ice Rink Sendai (Sendai City). The gloves became widely known after Yuzuru Hanyu—two-time Olympic champion in men’s singles figure skating at the 2014 Sochi and 2018 Pyeongchang Games—started wearing them, and they have gained overwhelming support from both fans and athletes. We take a closer look at how these goods were created and why they became so popular.

Spoiler

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It all began with earthquake recovery

After the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, Ice Rink Sendai—the only year-round skating facility in the Tohoku region—also suffered enormous damage and was forced to suspend operations. Skaters based in Sendai, including Hanyu, had to evacuate outside Miyagi Prefecture or move from rink to rink across the country.

Ishimoto Noriko (54), president of Fan Corporation (Kawasaki City), which now runs the Irene Shop, had always loved figure skating and had supported Hanyu since his novice days (the category below junior). Hearing about the situation skaters faced after the disaster and the uncertainty of when the rink could reopen deeply pained her. Many figure skating fans shared the same feeling and asked, “Is there any way we can help?”

However, Kato Shokai, the company operating Ice Rink Sendai, had a policy—both then and now—of not accepting individual donations. At the time, crowdfunding was not yet widespread, and there was no established way to deliver personal goodwill to the rink.

Isn’t there something we can do?
As Ishimoto considered various possibilities and spoke with many people, she learned that Ice Rink Sendai had a mascot character called “Irene.”

“What if we created a way for donations to reach the rink by selling Irene goods, and helped support disaster recovery that way?”

Ishimoto had previously worked at the office of the late manga artist Sakura Momoko, known for Chibi Maruko-chan, and she had knowledge of character-goods development and copyright management. Drawing on that experience, she made a heartfelt proposal to Kato Masahiko, president of Kato Shokai. After many rounds of discussion, they finally received the green light.

The first goods were four items: a blanket featuring Irene, a keychain, gloves, and a can badge. A major bedding manufacturer that supported the initiative agreed to produce the blankets specially. Packed with the desire of many people “to support Tohoku,” the goods were labeled as “disaster recovery products,” and part of the proceeds would be sent to Ice Rink Sendai.

With support from skaters like Shizuka Arakawa, who had also trained in Sendai, the goods were first sold at the ice show Friends on Ice in August 2011. Fan Corporation vice-president Okayasu Keiji (59), who now also serves as manager of the Irene Shop, recalls, “At the beginning we only had four items, so it felt like a little flea market. But so many customers came and told us, ‘Please keep up the good work.’ We were incredibly grateful.”

During the ice show, 16-year-old Hanyu ran across the rink holding the blanket as if he were doing a victory lap with the national flag. On the board installed at the venue explaining the purpose of the goods, he even wrote his own message: “Thank you all for your support!”

Following Hanyu’s rise to superstardom and eventual two consecutive Olympic gold medals, Irene’s presence also gradually grew within the figure skating world. The biggest turning point came with the “Irene Gloves.”

Top athletes who order them themselves

The signature item—the Irene Gloves—had been part of the lineup from the very beginning, following a request from Ice Rink Sendai to “release Irene gloves for customers who skate at the rink.” Hanyu wore them during practice from the start, and once that was shown through media coverage, they spread rapidly among fans.

The gloves were sometimes given by Hanyu or people around him as gifts to other skaters, and awareness of them slowly spread among athletes as well. Today, skaters like Chiba Mone and Sato Shun, who both trained at Ice Rink Sendai, as well as Kao Miura, Kaori Sakamoto, and Yuma Kagiyama, all wear them during practice. They have even drawn attention when worn by Korea’s ace Cha Jun-hwan and U.S. world champion Ilia Malinin.

Skaters who grew up admiring Hanyu now wear the same gloves and shine on the world stage. The next generation looks up to today’s top skaters and practices wearing the same gloves. The circle centered around Irene has grown not only in Japan but overseas.

While many athletes receive the gloves as gifts from fans, there are also top skaters who order them directly from the website themselves. And not just one or two. Ishimoto and her colleagues say that whenever such orders come in, they widen their eyes in surprise—it’s proof of just how loved Irene has become.

What began with just four items has now grown into a wide variety of goods. Drawing on fan feedback and developing products through trial and error, the lineup now includes practical items such as tote bags, stainless steel bottles, and bag-hanger/phone stands. The popular apron was also created based on fan suggestions, and it has now become “standard equipment” for some staff members working at Ice Rink Sendai.

Design details are carefully considered as well. On aprons and tote bags, Irene performs an Axel jump. On clear files and handkerchiefs, Irene draws figures into the ice with her skates—the motif is compulsory figures, the foundational skating discipline. The figures were supervised by professional skater and coach Haruka Imai. This attention to detail is one of the reasons figure skating fans love the goods.

A circle of sport created through a character

Although the goods were originally created with disaster recovery in mind, about five years after sales began, Ishimoto and her team received a proposal from Kato Shokai.

“If we keep calling them ‘disaster recovery goods’ forever, it gives a backward-looking impression. We’d like to let Irene stand on her own as a skating character and help her grow in a more forward-looking way.”

Ishimoto and her colleagues agreed. They removed all the “disaster recovery product” stickers and gradually shifted toward spreading Irene as a beloved skating character in a positive, future-oriented way.

In the beginning, most buyers were people who strongly wanted to support Sendai or fans of Hanyu. But recently, more and more people are saying simply, “I just like Irene.” Above all, local children and people connected to the rink have come to love the character.

At the same time, a portion of the proceeds still goes toward supporting Ice Rink Sendai. “Ice skating really is expensive to maintain. We want to offer some kind of encouragement so that the next generation of skaters working hard in Sendai can skate in the best possible environment,” Ishimoto explains.

It all began with the desire to support Tohoku’s skaters and save the rink. Born from that feeling and supported by many people, Irene goods now sit at the very center of the figure skating world. From Sendai—where the support was directed—strong skaters like Sato and Chiba have grown, and many powerful young skaters are emerging in the generations below.

Ishimoto says, “We’re truly grateful, and I think it’s wonderful that through this character, a new culture has taken root, one that creates a circle and a passing-on of support that leads to better environments and athlete development. In a sense, I think it contributes to the sport itself, so it feels like a very original initiative. I expect that things will keep getting more and more interesting.”

Hanyu and the other skaters, the local people and fans who love Irene, the people involved in making the goods. Arai Marie, the manager of Ice Rink Sendai, and her staff. The Japan Skating Federation, ice show promoters. And President Kato of Kato Shokai, who embraced the idea of supporting the rink through merchandise. Throughout the interview, words of gratitude toward many people never ceased.

At Friends on Ice—the event where the goods were sold for the first time—Hanyu wrote a message on the board calling for support.

“Everyone, let’s move forward together!”

Hanyu overcame adversity to reach the top of the world and continues to challenge himself even now. Irene, created to help people through adversity, has grown into a character loved by many.

Two paths that show no sign of stopping. They will likely continue to move forward together and bring new growth with them.
—Kodai Tamai