yuzurujenn Posted 3 hours ago Author Posted 3 hours ago *machine translation, inaccuracies exist* 2026.03.11 Source: https://hochi.news/articles/20260310-OHT1T51430.html?page=1 Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20260310214043/https://hochi.news/articles/20260310-OHT1T51430.html?page=1 Yuzuru Hanyu: "I want to keep sharing this message forever" - 15 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake [Interview Part 1] In men’s figure skating, Yuzuru Hanyu (31), a professional skater who won back-to-back Olympic gold medals at the 2014 Sochi and 2018 PyeongChang Games, gave an exclusive interview to Sports Hochi on the 10th in his hometown of Sendai. With the 11th marking 15 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake, he spoke about his feelings regarding the disaster. He has continued supporting and encouraging the affected areas, including holding his ice show “Yuzuru Hanyu notte stellata 2026” in Miyagi. “I’ve finally started to be able to carry things in a way fitting of being 31, and in a way befitting an Olympic gold medalist,” he said. Spoiler Hanyu had just completed the run of notte stellata on the 9th as its lead performer. Centered on the theme of “sending out hope,” he poured his soul into the performance and skated through all three days. “I feel like, I've made it to today, I’ve lived through to now. In the show I said, ‘I want you to feel that you’re alive,’ but on that day 15 years ago, I truly didn’t feel alive at all. And yet, we were kept alive. Skating was there too, and my skates were still there.” At the time, Hanyu was a first-year student at Tohoku High School in Miyagi and was practicing at a rink in Sendai when the disaster struck. His home was completely destroyed, and he was forced to live in an evacuation shelter with his family. “I remember everything vividly: the way the ice rippled during the earthquake, the sound of the ice cracking, the sound of the building splitting. The sounds of rental skates, glass doors, and lights falling, I remember it all.” In the show, he performed a new program, “Happy End,” depicting a person moving forward while carrying wounds, captivating more than 6,000 spectators each day. "It was a time when I realized how fortunate and happy I am to still be able to skate like this, using up all my energy and strength, and feeling that I've managed to live properly for 15 years since then." Living while carrying pain and trauma. Little by little, he came to accept that. “At the time, I didn’t want to be called ‘someone from a disaster area.’ It felt like people were cheering me on not because I represented Japan, but because I was from a disaster-hit region. That kind of pain existed back then. Now that 15 years have passed, I’m being asked again in interviews, ‘Looking back, what was it like?’ and I’ve entered a phase where I have to reexamine those memories, thinking, ‘Ah, this happened,’ or ‘This is how I felt.’ Only then was I finally able to revisit those wounds, dig them back up, and think, ‘It’s okay to recognize how much I suffered.’” After winning gold in Sochi, he visited the disaster areas many times, living with a sense of mission. “I feel like I’ve gradually starting to be able to shoulder it. Those things were always there, things placed upon me, things around me that I should carry, but I didn’t know how to carry them, or how to express them, and I think my resolve wasn't quite there yet. Looking back, that's how I feel. Even now, there are probably still pieces of resolve I haven’t picked up yet, feelings I haven’t fully gathered, but I think I’ve finally become able to carry things in a way that suits who I am now at 31, and in a way befitting an Olympic gold medalist.” He continues to speak out while staying close to those affected, and feels the importance of passing these experiences to the next generation. “In this notte stellata, there were elementary and middle school students in the Tohoku Youth Orchestra. Some of them don’t remember that time, some weren’t even born yet. Thinking that those children are now standing on stage and sharing their music, it shows that we’re entering an era where more and more people won’t know those days. That’s why I have to keep doing these activities, and keep passing on what can be conveyed. It’s not that I want people to feel pain, but by learning from it, there are lives that can be protected, things that can be safeguarded. I want to keep conveying that.” In past ice shows he often performed with professionals, but this time he created the work together with the Tohoku Youth Orchestra. “It made me think again that an orchestra really is something special. There was so much youthful energy, and many of them were from Tohoku. Through the music, I could deeply feel the strength of their feelings for this performance. It reminded me how wonderful music really is.” Source: https://hochi.news/articles/20260310-OHT1T51431.html?page=1 Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20260310213523/https://hochi.news/articles/20260310-OHT1T51431.html?page=1 Yuzuru Hanyu expresses "overwhelming trust" in his teammates and is "moved" by the prospect of younger skaters competing in the Olympics, 15 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake [Interview Part 2] “Notte Stellata” has now been held for the fourth consecutive year. The usual “family” members such as Javier Fernández, Akiko Suzuki, Takahito Mura, and Keiji Tanaka gathered once again. Sharing the passion of its chairperson, their teamwork has only deepened year by year. Spoiler “I feel they’re people I can completely entrust things to. Not just as skaters, but as individuals. The way they empathized with the disaster, their choice of music, the programs they bring, the choreography… even the feelings behind them. I skate together with them with an overwhelming sense of trust. There’s a reassurance that they won’t deliver anything half-hearted. They all have their own jobs and limited time to train, yet you can feel that they continue to put in effort toward each performance. So I can simply say, ‘Please just do what you do.’ Even without words, it’s fine. I trust them.” After entering a maintenance period last summer, this ice show marked his first time performing in front of fans in eight months. Even during that time, he remained busy. “I’d always thought I’d been refining on my dance and expression skills within figure skating’s unique culture, where you’re given choreography and perform it. But this time, I went back and really reexamined everything from the ground up, starting again from the basics. Figure skating isn’t exactly a mainstream sport, so training methods aren’t fully established. We have a general sense of which muscles are important, but there’s no training system specifically tailored to it. So I revisited the fundamentals: what’s actually needed as an athlete, what kind of physical awareness and conditioning mattered, and worked through everything step by step, starting with rebuilding my body. It’s been a pretty low-key, unglamorous process.” He continues to devote significant time to evolving as a skater. His determination to “become an even better figure skater” remains unwavering. “This is my own personal belief. I’m a figure skater, but specifically a men’s singles skater. I don’t want to express everything through dance, nor do I want to rely on speed alone. If there’s a spin I want to use to express something, I want to fully realize that spin. And if a jump is needed, I want to execute it completely as an integral part of that expression as well. I believe that’s simply what’s required of a men’s singles skater. To me, physical expression includes all of that. Figure skating is about the seamlessness of jumps and the lightness of movement. And I think it’s because of the approach I have that people can watch and feel, ‘Yes, this is Yuzuru Hanyu.’ I want to keep pursuing all of it, endlessly.” Junior skaters from his hometown, who had trained with him at Ice Rink Sendai, competed in their first Milan–Cortina Olympics. Shun Sato (22) won team silver and individual bronze, while Mone Chiba (20) placed fourth individually. “I felt like I was watching over them. I’ve known both of them since they were little and working hard. As for Shun, he was already something special from a young age. He would take the initiative and practice all day, he truly loved skating. Seeing someone who genuinely loves skating put in that much effort and reach that level really stirred my heart. I think the team event brought a lot of pressure, too. To carry everyone’s expectations there and deliver a flawless performance, that’s real strength. And knowing his personality, I think he probably felt that pressure even more. It really made me feel that it’s something he could achieve only because of how hard he’s worked to get there.” He has known Chiba, who is 11 years younger, since she first started playing and skating on the ice. They even played tag on the rink. “I’m sure Mone feels frustrated about not winning a medal. But I’m not the kind of person who says, ‘Even without a medal, it was a good performance, so that’s fine.’ Not getting one is definitely frustrating, and that feeling won’t just disappear. But I believe that result will become a strong source of energy for her in her life going forward, and in how she continues to approach skating. I hope she holds onto it and lives strongly.”
yuzurujenn Posted 2 hours ago Author Posted 2 hours ago **ARTICLE IN ENGLISH** 2026.03.11 Source: https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260311/p2g/00m/0sp/004000c Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20260312082132/https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260311/p2g/00m/0sp/004000c Figure skating icon Hanyu hopes performances allay future disaster damage SENDAI (Kyodo) -- Figure skating icon Yuzuru Hanyu believes it is his mission to maintain the memory of the March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami disaster that devastated his home region of northeastern Japan, using his talents on the ice to honor its victims. Spoiler Speaking on Tuesday in his native Sendai, the biggest city of the Tohoku region, where the magnitude-9.0 quake and tsunami struck, claiming some 15,900 lives, the two-time Olympic gold medalist said he was still physically affected by the experience. "My body stiffens like a conditioned reflex, even during a minor tremor of 1 (on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7). I feel the fear," said Hanyu, who was a first-year high school student practicing at his local rink when the earthquake struck. His house was "completely destroyed" by the disaster, which impacted large swathes of Miyagi, Iwate and Fukushima prefectures and triggered a nuclear disaster. More than 2,500 people remain unaccounted for. Hanyu spent time in an evacuation center just three years before winning his first Olympic gold in Sochi in 2014. Since then, he has strived to be a "ray of hope" for the region, where some 26,000 people continue to live away from their homes. "I've attached great importance to the thoughts of staying by the side (of the local people) while acknowledging my own hardship as one of those affected," Hanyu said. He has also been connecting with victims of other disasters, including the M7.6 quake that jolted the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture on New Year's Day in 2024, killing more than 200 people. Hanyu has been performing in charity exhibitions and donating proceeds from merchandise sales to aid the restoration of the damaged regions. "I want to keep being the catalyst to avoid the disaster fading (from people's memory)," he said. "I want to keep conveying messages in order to protect the lives and towns that need to be protected." Hanyu, who defended his Olympic title in Pyeongchang in 2018 and retired after the 2022 Beijing Games, has been continuing his journey on the rink as a professional figure skater, performing in his own three-day event through Monday. "With 15 years passing, I can send my message out more strongly," said the skater, who performed his new program "Happy End" to a 6,000-plus audience on each of the days. "We need to keep preparing in the face of disasters that could happen again at any moment. As someone who experienced March 11, I want to keep the message alive five, 10 years from now for disaster mitigation."
yuzurujenn Posted 2 hours ago Author Posted 2 hours ago *machine translation, inaccuracies exist* 2026.03.11 Source: https://jbpress.ismedia.jp/articles/-/93694 Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20260311025306/https://jbpress.ismedia.jp/articles/-/93694 What was the mission that Yuzuru Hanyu felt when he was 16 years old, as he spoke about the 15th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake? The ice show "Yuzuru Hanyu notte stellata 2026," starring Yuzuru Hanyu, a two-time Olympic figure skating champion, was held from March 7th to 9th at the Sekisui Heim Super Arena (Grande 21) in Miyagi Prefecture. This year marked the fourth consecutive year the show was held, and it also coincided with the 15th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Spoiler Hanyu performed together for the first time with the Tohoku Youth Orchestra, which was formerly overseen by the late Ryuichi Sakamoto as its music director. As in previous years, notable skaters with ties to Tohoku, as well as those who shared his competitive years, gathered once again. With a sense of compassion for those affected by the disaster, he delivered a dance of requiem imbued with hope and prayer. Through the show, what Hanyu conveyed was a sense of “bonds” that do not easily come undone, no matter how many years have passed since the disaster. The “bonds” that Hanyu continues to cherish At the venue, filled to capacity with 6,500 spectators, countless penlights lit up from the audience seats played an important role in creating a “star-filled sky.” At the beginning narration, Hanyu reflected on the time of the disaster, when he was 16 years old. The streets of his hometown were destroyed, and infrastructure such as electricity and gas was cut off. What frightened Hanyu most was not only the destruction itself, but the way the disaster caused communities to collapse and threatened the connections between people. That is why, on the opening day performance on March 7, Hanyu took the microphone and gently spoke these words: “May each and every skater become, even in a small way, a star of hope for everyone here. And may this performance allow you to feel a sense of connection, and a sense of bonds, even just a little. That is the kind of performance we hope to create.” The opening performance was “Notte Stellata,” which also served as the show’s title. In harmony with the gentle music, he captivated the audience with one of his signature elements, the delayed Axel, after which Rika Hongo, Akiko Suzuki, Takahito Mura, Jason Brown, Javier Fernández, and others carried forward the baton of “bonds” through programs filled with heartfelt expression. One of the highlights of the first half was “Happy End,” a collaboration with the Tohoku Youth Orchestra. It was also a new program choreographed by Hanyu himself. Within it was woven his thoughts on the 15 years that have passed since the disaster. Hanyu later shared this in a post-performance press briefing. The “mission” that Hanyu etched into his heart 15 years ago “Fifteen years have passed since the earthquake, and I feel that I’ve gradually come to understand how to face and live with my own pain and wounds, moving forward little by little. Because those 15 years have passed, I’ve reached a point where I feel able to face those wounds again. And because the disaster happened, I wanted to express the idea that I am now learning from it and living strongly as a result, so I choreographed ‘Happy End’ myself.” In the performance, Hanyu, dressed in white, began the program lying on his back with his arms and legs spread wide. With original and expressive movements, he moved in harmony with the live music. In past years, the special guests have included gymnastics legend Kohei Uchimura, former top star of the Takarazuka Revue and actress Mao Daichi, and kyogen performer Mansai Nomura. Taking on such an important role, the Tohoku Youth Orchestra is said to consist of about 90 members ranging from elementary school students to university students, primarily from Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima. On this day, 50 of them performed. One of the performers reflected with joy, “I really felt how difficult it is to combine live art with music, but when our music came together with Hanyu’s performance, I was able to feel that ‘music is fun.’” Among the members who continue their activities to bring vitality to Tohoku through music are individuals who were born after the disaster. Across generations, there was again a shared “bond” rooted in thoughts for the disaster-affected regions. For Hanyu, these 15 years have also been a period of great momentum. He achieved back-to-back Olympic titles at the 2014 and 2018 Games, becoming the first man in 66 years to do so in men’s figure skating. He repeatedly broke the world’s all-time highest scores in competition and was called the “absolute champion.” His exceptional expressive ability transcended competition, shining endlessly on the professional stage. Reflecting on this milestone, he said, “To be honest, I don’t feel that I’ve changed dramatically,” and added that “the affected areas will never return to how they were.” The sentiment behind those words did not seem like despair, but rather a determination that accepting reality is what allows one to move forward. Hanyu also said: “I’ve come to understand that I will continue to carry the wounds and traumas from the disaster for a long, long time, and I feel that I’ve become able to live alongside them.” After the disaster, Hanyu resolved to take on a certain mission as he continued skating. What is his commitment as someone in a ‘position to convey’? “At the time, I was 16, and through the many interviews I was given and the various articles written about me, I came to feel that I had to do my best as someone in a ‘position to convey’ things. Even at a young age, I felt as though I had taken on a kind of mission. And now, in places like Noto, Ōfunato, and also in regions such as Iburi in Hokkaido and Kumamoto… when I’ve visited areas affected by disasters that occurred after that, I believe that because of the Great East Japan Earthquake, awareness of disaster prevention changed, and there were likely lives and livelihoods that were protected as a result.” Since turning professional, his ice shows have been held for four consecutive years, with media previews on opening day becoming a regular feature. This time as well, many media outlets, including those based in Tokyo, came to cover the event. His level of attention remains high; on the front page of a sports newspaper (regional edition) dated the 8th, which reported on the opening day performance, Hanyu was featured, outshining even the international baseball tournament, the World Baseball Classic (WBC). Even by itself, this clearly reflects Hanyu’s desire not to let the memory of the disaster fade from public awareness. As part of the ice show period, in a sub-arena at the venue, a “Wajima Morning Market” was set up, featuring crafts and local specialties from Noto as part of reconstruction support following the Noto Peninsula earthquake that occurred in January 2024. An outreach initiative encouraging people to visit Ishikawa Prefecture, where life-size panels and posters of Hanyu were displayed at tourist facilities across the region, was extended for another year, which he readily agreed to. These connections were born from the charity performance Hanyu held in Ishikawa Prefecture in September 2024 to support reconstruction efforts. For Hanyu, this ice show marked his first public performance in about eight months, following his “maintenance period.” “I was extremely nervous. That sense of tension, or rather, the feeling of being surrounded by so much expectation and the very strong desire to meet it was overwhelming. My hands and feet were literally trembling with nerves, but I feel that I was able to skate while properly putting both my feelings and my technique into it.” When Hanyu looked back on it, his face was filled with relief. Even after finishing the opening day performance and with the next show ahead, he continues to engage with the media, conscious of his role as someone who must “convey” messages. That day, when he appeared before reporters, Hanyu greeted them with a gentle expression, saying, “Thank you for waiting,” and “Thank you for coming all this way.” Then, as the cameras began rolling and the interview started, the “Yuzuru Hanyu” who bears the responsibility of conveying messages shifted to a more focused, sharp gaze. “Little by little, bit by bit,” “forever and ever”—when he repeats his words quickly like this, it can feel like a habitual way he emphasizes what he wants to convey. His words carried the very sentiment described by the young orchestra members as “straightforward.” Source: https://jbpress.ismedia.jp/articles/-/93695 Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20260311070350/https://jbpress.ismedia.jp/articles/-/93695 What Yuzuru Hanyu developed during his “maintenance period”: his skating shifted from “self-taught” to “theoretical” The ice show “Yuzuru Hanyu notte stellata 2026,” led by Yuzuru Hanyu and opening on March 7, marked his first public performance since July 2025. After successfully staging solo ice shows as a professional skater following the 2022 Beijing Olympics, this return to the rink came after his “maintenance period.” For the first time, including his competitive years, he devoted extended time to confronting and refining both his physical body and his performance. Spoiler Hanyu is said to have spent considerable time theoretically analyzing the “movement and use of the body” in the expression he had developed through his own methods. With his solo ice show “REALIVE,” where he serves as executive producer and performer, scheduled for April, his expressive performance in the new program “Happy End” offered a glimpse of further evolution. A new program upon returning after eight months The collaboration with the Tohoku Youth Orchestra, “Happy End,” which served as the final program of the first half of “Yuzuru Hanyu notte stellata 2026,” was distinctive from the very beginning. Dressed in white, Hanyu opened the performance lying on his back in a star-like “spread-eagle” position. It was an immediate debut of a new program upon his return after eight months away from the public eye. “This season, in order to further evolve, I’ve decided to set aside a maintenance period! I want people to feel from the heart that it’s ‘good!’—and even more than that. Toward next spring, I will study extensively, work on physical conditioning, and push myself further, so please look forward to it! I will keep working hard in the present moment for a future that cannot yet be seen.” Hanyu made this announcement regarding his “maintenance period” on his official X account in August 2025. After completing the Beijing Olympics and announcing his transition to a professional skater in July 2022, he continued, as in his competitive years, to perform solo ice shows that placed extreme demands on his body, with almost no breaks. Professional athletes in sports such as baseball and soccer typically have defined off-seasons. In Hanyu’s case, however, his schedule, filled year-round with preparation and performances, left no clear off-period. For that reason, some viewed this “maintenance period” as a short rest to recover from accumulated fatigue and regain condition. In reality, however, it was not time to simply come to a stop at all. His skating was “self-taught” “I’ve been studying various ways the body moves. Through that process, I realized once again how much of what I’ve done up to now has been self-taught. Figure skating is truly a popular sport, but in terms of how many people actually practice it competitively, it’s not that large a number. And if you ask whether there is a lot of scientifically grounded research, that’s not really the case either.” “In a sport that is still underdeveloped from a research standpoint, I was made to realize how much I had been building my training and techniques without a clear scientific basis. It wasn’t a very long maintenance period, but step by step, I think I was able to learn at least the basics, the very fundamentals, not only as a figure skater, but also as someone involved in sports and dance, about how the body should be used.” The fluid and delicate movement he described as “self-taught” has been regarded as one of a kind. Even during his competitive years, not only his skating technique but also his expressive range received the highest level of acclaim. However, rather than being satisfied with that, his resolve to pursue further exploration was what he referred to as his “maintenance period.” At the roundtable interview that day, Hanyu touched on a part of his “maintenance period” as follows: “There was a lot of practice focused on dance. I also studied academic aspects, especially sports-related concepts like how to use the body. On top of that, I thought about what works best for figure skating, and while dancing, I experimented with and adjusted various training methods.” In that day’s “Happy End,” which he choreographed himself, he also suggested that he had broadened his knowledge: “I increased the dance elements. I think it’s about the kind of connectivity that became possible because I understand the theory behind body movement.” Then, a comment that hinted at that sense of connectivity followed: “I also had the feeling of fully incorporating spins into the steps, almost eliminating the boundary between spins and the performance.” As an example to explain his theory of body usage, Hanyu referred to boxing, a combat sport that appears to be the opposite of figure skating. Common ground with boxers: advancing to the next stage backed by “theory” “The punches of very strong boxers are executed with very clean body movement. There’s a kind of curved beauty in them that is very elegant. In the same way, I think that in our physical expression as figure skaters, there are movements that come across as ‘beautiful’ precisely because they are grounded in sound principles.” In nearly 15 years of covering him, there is no recollection of Hanyu having referenced boxing as an example in this way. It may indicate just how broadly he sought to learn theory, across such a wide range of fields, with great curiosity. The period in which he sought to fill in the lack of scientific and logical grounding in the expression and artistry he had developed through his “self-taught” approach may, on the other hand, have also led him to realize that the direction he had pursued through that approach was not fundamentally misguided. What gives that impression is the way Hanyu described his own body, in choreographing “Happy End,” as “a foundation for carrying emotion,” expressing the idea in the following words: “After the PyeongChang Olympics, I spoke about how expression and artistry are grounded in technique (※Author’s note: On February 27, 2018, after winning back-to-back Olympic titles, Hanyu responded at the Japan National Press Club to a question about the balance between jumps and artistry, stating, ‘Artistry is based on absolute technical prowess.’). Revisiting that idea after going through the maintenance period, I came to realize that in order to carry emotion, there must first be technical and fundamental elements, and only on top of that can emotion finally be layered. With that awareness, this program was carefully built by working through each element one by one.” His career as a professional skater has started moving forward again. His new solo ice show, “Yuzuru Hanyu ‘REALIVE’ an ICE STORY project,” scheduled about one month later on April 11–12, will also take place at the same Miyagi venue, Sekisui Heim Super Arena. What kind of “chemical reaction” will emerge now that his expressive artistry, cultivated through his self-taught approach, is joined by new theoretical understanding? The full picture of his renewed and evolved form will soon be unveiled.
yuzurujenn Posted 43 minutes ago Author Posted 43 minutes ago *machine translation, inaccuracies exist* 2026.03.11 Source: https://www.sanspo.com/article/20260311-XZZQ7NPPZ5IWBNYFSXXF7RRGVY/ Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20260311003232/https://www.sanspo.com/article/20260311-XZZQ7NPPZ5IWBNYFSXXF7RRGVY/ Yuzuru Hanyu: "I want to continue speaking out and sharing my message 5 or 10 years from now" - 15 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake, he speaks of his determination for disaster mitigation. Fifteen years have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11th. Yuzuru Hanyu (31), who won consecutive gold medals in men's figure skating at the 2014 Sochi and 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, gave an interview to Kyodo News in his hometown of Sendai on the 10th. Spoiler He himself experienced the disaster when it struck in 2011. “In the face of disasters that may happen again at any time, it’s necessary to keep preparing. As someone who experienced 3.11, I want to keep sharing my message 5 and 10 years from now as well, so that it leads to disaster mitigation,” he said, expressing his determination. On March 11, 2011, Hanyu, then a first-year high school student at Tohoku High School in Miyagi, was training at Ice Rink Sendai in Izumi Ward, Sendai, when the disaster struck. His home was deemed a total loss, and he experienced life in an evacuation shelter. “I still carry the feeling of ‘what if that earthquake had never happened,’ even now,” he said candidly. He also revealed, “Even with a tremor as small as a level 1 earthquake, my body stiffens reflexively. I can still feel the fear from back then.” After winning his first gold medal at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, he took on the role of a “beacon of hope” for disaster-affected areas. “While acknowledging my own hardships as a disaster victim, I’ve always valued the feeling of empathy.” From March 7 to 9 this month, he performed in “notte stellata 2026” at the Sekisui Heim Super Arena in Rifu, Miyagi. Marking the fourth consecutive year since its debut in 2023, he emphasized its significance: “Because it’s the 15th year, I feel I can convey the message even more strongly.” He added, “In the face of disasters that may happen at any time, it’s necessary to keep preparing. As someone who experienced 3.11, I want to continue speaking out 5 and 10 years from now so that it leads to disaster mitigation. I want to keep conveying this so that the lives that should be protected, and the towns that should be protected, are properly safeguarded.” Wearing a vivid yellow costume and smiling, Hanyu Yuzuru continues to walk alongside disaster survivors. Endless drive for improvement At “notte stellata 2026” held from the 7th to the 9th, he made his first joint performance with the Tohoku Youth Orchestra, composed mainly of elementary school through university students from Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima. He performed new pieces, including “Happy End” and “Yae no Sakura.” For “Happy End,” which he choreographed himself, he reportedly drew inspiration from the movements of boxers. “The punches of very strong boxers move the body in such a beautiful way, and there’s a kind of elegance in those curves. I tried to build that kind of quality as the emotional foundation,” he said. His drive for improvement shows no sign of fading. ◆ Hanyu’s journey since the Great East Japan Earthquake: ★ March 11, 2011 — He was practicing at the time of the 2:46 p.m. earthquake at Ice Rink Sendai, his base then, and experienced the disaster there. ★ April 2011 — Performed at a charity exhibition in Kobe supporting recovery efforts, calling for donations alongside Shizuka Arakawa, the gold medalist at the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics, and other skaters. ★ March 11, 2012 — Participated in an exhibition at Ice Rink Sendai, which had been temporarily closed. ★ March 11, 2014 — While based in Toronto, Canada, he observed a moment of silence facing the direction of Japan. ★ Summer 2015 — Visited temporary housing in Iwaki, Fukushima, and interacted with about 20 members of a handicraft class making items using kimono fabric. ★ January 9, 2016 — Appeared in the “NHK Trophy Special Exhibition” in Morioka; proceeds were donated to disaster victims via the Japanese Red Cross. ★ April 2018 — After the PyeongChang Olympics, he donated his ¥10 million prize money, giving ¥5 million each to Miyagi Prefecture and Sendai City for reconstruction support. ★ March 2021 — Marking 10 years since the disaster, he contributed a 1,182-character message to the press, expressing prayers for recovery and encouragement to affected areas. ★ March 2023 — Held the first “notte stellata” in Rifu, Miyagi at the Sekisui Heim Super Arena, serving as the lead performer for his first ice show in his hometown after turning professional. Source: https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202603110000477.html Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20260320101839/https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202603110000477.html Yuzuru Hanyu, 15 years after the earthquake, said, "Life was saved thanks to progress in disaster prevention and mitigation," and performed at the site of remembrance, promising to "continue to support." Today, March 11th, at 2:46 PM, marks 15 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake. Yuzuru Hanyu (31), the only Asian figure skater to win two consecutive Winter Olympic gold medals and now in his fourth season as a professional, also lived in an evacuation center at the time after his home in Sendai was declared completely destroyed. Spoiler “When I was 16, through interviews and articles, I felt that I had taken on a kind of mission to do my best as someone in a position to convey things,” he reflected. Since then, he has consistently been involved in reconstruction support, and this year as well, he held his lead-starring show “notte stellata” for the fourth consecutive year. Over three days through the 9th, he offered prayers for repose and for renewal, at a venue that, after the disaster, had once served as a morgue. The amount of his personal donations to Ice Rink Sendai, where he was practicing when the earthquake struck, has also exceeded 109.97 million yen as of last month. He has continued to stand in support of disaster-affected areas following subsequent disasters as well, including through charity performances for the Noto Peninsula Earthquake. “I’ve visited regions that experienced earthquakes afterward, such as Noto, Kumamoto, and Iburi in Hokkaido. Because of the Great East Japan Earthquake, disaster preparedness and mitigation have advanced, and lives have been saved. Fifteen years… people tend to feel milestones in multiples of five, but while some areas have made progress in recovery, there are also regions that have been left behind, so I want to keep supporting them continuously and without end.” This year, he also performed alongside the Tohoku Youth Orchestra, composed of children and students from the three affected prefectures. “Among those who were born after the earthquake, and those who were too young to remember it, there are many. As someone who knows what happened at the time, I want to continue doing this, protecting and sharing what I’ve learned (as a way to prevent the memory from fading).” Hanyu's support knows no bounds.
yuzurujenn Posted 28 minutes ago Author Posted 28 minutes ago *machine translation, inaccuracies exist* 2026.03.11 Source: https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/380507 Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20260312090413/https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/380507 Yuzuru Hanyu on 3.11 and his mission to “connect lives” in figure skating: “We’re often described as something ‘non-essential’… but…” — Exclusive interview (Part 1) The Great East Japan Earthquake, which occurred on March 11, 2011, caused immense damage, mainly in the Tohoku region. It claimed the lives of approximately 16,000 people, and the whereabouts of about 2,500 people remain unknown. Yuzuru Hanyu (31), a professional figure skater who achieved two consecutive Olympic gold medals in men's figure skating, was a first-year student at Tohoku High School when the earthquake struck while he was at the Sendai Ice Rink, and he also experienced life in an evacuation center. What does the skater, who has continued to run as a symbol of recovery, think now, 15 years later? In the first of two parts of our exclusive interview, we delve into his vow as a "messenger" of the disaster. Spoiler — It will be 15 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake on the 11th. Hanyu: I feel like 15 years have passed, and when I look back, there were many intense days as well as many that simply went by, so it really feels like 15 years have gone. — Have there been more opportunities recently to reflect on the earthquake? Hanyu: Until now, most of my work has been about ice shows, being asked things like “What do you think?” or conveying the emotions I felt at the places I visited, and the thoughts of the people there. Because of that, I haven’t really focused on my own experience as a disaster survivor. But reaching the milestone of 15 years gave me an opportunity to look back. Gradually, I’ve come to reflect on my own hardship, my past, the days I’ve lived since then, and also how, while I’ve moved forward, there are parts of me that haven’t changed, and there are still scars that remain. — In your recent “notte stellata” performance, your emphasis on themes like “life” and “living” was particularly striking. Hanyu: When I think back to 3.11, and also considering how unstable the world situation is now, as well as during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s easy to say that what we do is “non-essential,” isn’t it? During the pandemic, there were times when we couldn’t even use the rink, so I think a future where we might not be able to skate isn’t impossible. That’s why I feel we have to live while valuing the life we have now, the feeling of being able to skate, and the sense of being able to have people watch our skating. — As the tourism ambassador for your hometown, Sendai, what motivates you to continue activities outside the rink? Hanyu: I believe it’s something only someone who holds an Olympic gold medal can do. When I visit my alma mater or disaster-affected areas with the gold medal, I’ve felt that even just seeing or touching the medal can become a moment that gives people a bit of encouragement. That’s something special. While the message I convey through skating is of course important, I think activities outside of skating are also an essential part of my mission. — How do you think the Great East Japan Earthquake should be passed on in the future? Hanyu: I felt that there are more and more children who have no memory of 3/11, like the elementary and junior high school students of the Tohoku Youth Orchestra with whom I performed at "notte stellata." Rather than sharing painful memories with them, I hope that we can remain something that serves as an opportunity for them to learn about disaster preparedness and mitigation. I believe we learned from 3/11 the importance of protecting what matters most, and I feel that this is something we must continue to learn and pass on with care. Source: https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/380561 Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20260312114333/https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/380561 Yuzuru Hanyu expresses his thoughts on social media 15 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake: “I'll pray.” Yuzuru Hanyu (31), a professional figure skater and two-time consecutive Olympic gold medalist in men’s singles, updated his official X (formerly Twitter) account on the 11th, sharing his current thoughts. Spoiler That day marked 15 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake, which caused devastating damage primarily across the Tohoku region. Hanyu himself experienced the disaster while he was a first-year student at Tohoku High School, when he was at Ice Rink Sendai, and he also lived through life in an evacuation shelter. On X, he began with “15 years,” and wrote, “So many thoughts and memories come flooding back. I cannot return to that time, but I want to keep it carefully in my heart. I'll pray.” He went on to conclude, “And to everyone born on this day, happy birthday. I truly wish you happiness.” In response to the post, messages such as “Even though he must be in pain himself, he always thinks of disaster victims,” “Thank you for your meaningful message,” and “I will join you in praying” were shared.
yuzurujenn Posted 15 minutes ago Author Posted 15 minutes ago *machine translation, inaccuracies exist* 2026.03.11 Source: https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/shinsai311/news/20260311-GYT1T00073/ Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20260311032806/https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/shinsai311/news/20260311-GYT1T00073/ Yuzuru Hanyu: "I'm proud to live with the weight of having been affected by the disaster and being a gold medalist"... Yomiuri Shimbun interview A reconstruction-support ice show: “I will continue it forever” Fifteen years have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake on the 11th. Yuzuru Hanyu (31), a professional figure skater who was affected by the disaster in his hometown of Sendai and went on to win back-to-back Olympic titles in men’s figure skating, gave an interview to the Yomiuri Shimbun, expressing his determination to continue standing alongside disaster-affected areas. Spoiler On that day, while he was practicing at a rink in Sendai, he was struck by shaking so severe that he felt his life was in danger. The ice began to ripple, doors warped, and cracks appeared in the walls. Still wearing his skate boots, he fled on all fours. He was 16 years old. “Those memories are vivid, I can recall every movement I made. I remember the smells and the sounds. I don’t think I’ve had an experience greater than that. I remember it more clearly than even very happy moments like the PyeongChang Olympics.” The shock was such that, even now, it feels “unreal.” In the following season, as he was seen as a “representative of disaster victims,” he began to make strides, finishing third at the World Championships among other achievements. “At the time, I really disliked being seen as a representative of disaster victims when competing at the World Championships or being selected for the national team. I felt pressure and fear,” he reflected. Over time, however, his perspective changed: “By achieving results, there were many people who were happy. Some said they received courage from me. I came to feel that it was truly meaningful to be able to be part of that.” At the press conference following his gold medal at the Sochi Olympics, he said, “Even if I win a medal, there’s nothing I can directly do for reconstruction. I feel a sense of helplessness.” However, as he continued to visit disaster-affected areas year after year, his mindset gradually changed. “When I visit disaster-affected areas with my gold medal, people are genuinely happy. I believe there are things only I can do, as someone from a disaster-affected area, someone who experienced the disaster, and an Olympic gold medalist. Being from Sendai, having experienced 3/11, and being a gold medalist, I take pride in carrying all of these with me as I live. I want to continue to carry those things with me and use the medal with a strong sense of responsibility.” Fifteen years later, another change has also taken place: he has finally become able to face his own experience as a disaster survivor. “When I visited disaster-affected areas, I met many people along the coastal regions struck by the tsunami who had lost loved ones and endured deeply painful experiences. I was in inland Sendai, where I didn’t lose anyone close to me, nor did I lose skating. At one point, I felt I couldn’t even call myself a disaster victim. But at last, I’ve come to feel that it’s okay to face my own experience and acknowledge, ‘I was affected too. I carry scars too.’” In addition to his reconstruction support ice show, he has also expanded his efforts to support other disaster-affected areas, such as organizing a local products exhibition from Ishikawa Prefecture, which was affected by the Noto Peninsula earthquake. “I hope that people continue to learn from disasters, whether 3.11 or the Noto Peninsula earthquake, about how damage could have been reduced and how lives could have been saved. If I can serve as a reminder of that importance, that would be enough. As a skater, I will continue supporting others for as long as my body allows. Beyond that as well, I feel a sense of mission that I will carry on indefinitely. Even if the form changes, I want to keep doing what I can.” **English article version** Source: https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/figure-skating/20260311-315874/ Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20260320104858/https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/figure-skating/20260311-315874/ Japan Figure Skating Legend Yuzuru Hanyu Is Proud Disaster Survivor and Gold Medalist, Vows to Continue Support Efforts Wednesday marked the 15th anniversary of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Professional figure skater and gold medalist at two consecutive Winter Olympics, Yuzuru Hanyu, 31, expressed his determination to keep supporting affected areas in a recent interview with The Yomiuri Shimbun. Spoiler He experienced the disaster in his hometown of Sendai. On the day of the earthquake, Hanyu had been training at a rink in Sendai when struck by shaking so violent he feared for his life. The ice rippled, doors warped and cracks appeared in the walls. He crawled out on all fours, still wearing his skates. He was 16 years old. “My memories from that time are vivid, so I can recall every single movement. I remember the smells and the sounds. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced anything like it. I remember it more clearly than even incredibly happy events such as the PyeongChang Olympics.” The shock was so profound that “even now, I can’t believe it was real.” The following season, while drawing attention as a “representative of the victims of the disaster,” Hanyu began his rise, achieving a third-place finish at the world championships. “Back then, I really hated being seen as a disaster victim representative, competing in the world championships or being selected as a member of the Japanese national team. I felt the pressure and was scared,” he recalls. Gradually, however, he came to think, “There were so many people who were happy for my achievements, telling me, ‘You gave me courage.’ I felt truly fortunate to be involved in something like that.” At a press conference for his Sochi Olympics gold medal, Hanyu stated, “Even winning a medal doesn’t directly contribute to reconstruction. I feel powerless.” However, his mindset changed as he visited the disaster-affected areas almost every year. “When I visit the disaster areas with my gold medal, everyone is genuinely happy. I believe there must be things only I can do — someone from the disaster area who experienced the disaster — and is an Olympic gold medalist,” he said. “Being from Sendai, having experienced the disaster on March 11, and being a gold medalist — I take pride in living with all of that. I want to carry that gold medal forward and use it responsibly.” Fifteen years later, another change occurred. He finally became able to confront his own experience. “Visiting the disaster areas, I saw many people in the coastal areas hit by the tsunami who suffered terribly, losing loved ones. I was in inland Sendai, so I didn’t lose anyone close to me, and I didn’t lose my skating. I couldn’t call myself a disaster victim anymore.” “But finally, I started thinking, maybe, it’s okay to face my own experience and say, ‘I was affected. I have scars.’” Alongside ice shows to support reconstruction for affected areas, Hanyu has expanded his efforts to other disaster areas, such as holding a product exhibition for Ishikawa Prefecture, which was affected by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake. “Whether it’s the March 11 quake or the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, I hope people continue to learn from disasters — what could have reduced damage, what could have saved lives. I want to be a reminder of that importance.” “As a skater, I’ll keep supporting for long as my body allows. I feel a sense of duty to carry this mission forward indefinitely. Even if the form for support changes, I want to keep doing what I can.”
yuzurujenn Posted 5 minutes ago Author Posted 5 minutes ago *machine translation, inaccuracies exist* 2026.03.11 Source: https://www.web.nhk/tv/an/telemasa/pl/series-tep-M917RJ4V72/bl/p8jzAREJp8/bp/p76qnEzOdA Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20260320105120/https://www.web.nhk/tv/an/telemasa/pl/series-tep-M917RJ4V72/bl/p8jzAREJp8/bp/p76qnEzOdA?_reload=1774003880806 Earthquake-related interview with figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu This is another installment in our series of interviews about the earthquake and tsunami. This time, we interviewed Yuzuru Hanyu, a figure skater from Sendai City. We asked him about his thoughts now, 15 years after the earthquake. (Interviewer: Keita Miyazaki, Teremasa caster, NHK Sendai Broadcasting Station) Spoiler (Hanyu): “It feels both long and short, like it flew by in an instant, yet at the same time it’s been very full and dense. Looking back, so many things have happened—there were three Olympics for me, and many other events in everyday life as well. But when I actually see it as the number of 15 years, I also feel like, ‘So much time has already passed.’” (Miyazaki, anchor): “Over the past 15 years, both the tsunami-affected areas and Miyagi Prefecture have changed significantly. How do you feel about the changes in Miyagi?” (Hanyu): “Of course, the town where I live as well... back then, for example, there were traffic lights that had fallen over, and buildings where all the glass had shattered. In that sense, new buildings have been going up one after another, the roads have become very clean, and things like fallen utility poles are no longer there. I feel that the area has become much cleaner. However, what was lost cannot be brought back. For example, the view from Hiyoriyama in Ishinomaki is completely different now. In that sense, the changes are probably a positive thing, as they represent progress toward the future. But as time passes and we move forward, we must never forget the original way of life that existed in those places, or the things that were lost at that time. That’s how I feel.” (Miyazaki, anchor): “I’m from Sendai as well, and as things have continued to change, I think there are still many people whose hearts haven’t quite caught up yet. How do you feel about that?” (Hanyu): “I think everyone perceives and interprets these 15 years differently. There are people who feel that they’ve been able to sort things out in their minds now that 15 years have passed, and at the same time, there are surely people who, even within those 15 years, still don’t want to face certain things. There are also people whose hearts haven’t been able to keep up at all with the changes in the town. I think it’s fine for each person to experience time in their own way. There will likely come a day when they have no choice but to face it, and a day when they come to understand how to live with that pain. I believe that time, like a kind of medicine, will eventually take effect in a positive way. Until then, I hope we can continue to stay close to and support those people with our hearts.” (Miyazaki, anchor): “As you just mentioned, through ice shows and in various other ways, you have continued to stay close to Miyagi. What kind of mindset have you had in doing so?” (Hanyu): “The damage caused by 3.11 was of an overwhelming scale, and of course, I don’t think it will ever be forgotten. However, as generations change, the way we convey it also has to continue evolving. Even if the form may change, it’s something we want to keep passing on. What I’ve felt through visiting places affected by disasters, such as Noto or Ofunato, is that because of 3.11, disaster preparedness drills have become more concrete and manuals have been developed in more detail. I’ve seen many regions where disaster damage was mitigated as a result. I would never say that the earthquake was a good thing, of course. But I do think it’s important that we continue to convey that there are lessons learned from it, and that there are lives and communities that have been protected because of those lessons.” (Miyazaki, anchor): “Finally, Hanyu-san, how would you like to continue staying close to Miyagi going forward?” (Hanyu): “Ultimately, I believe each person has a completely different mindset and feelings toward 3.11. It may not be possible to stand by everyone, but I want to remain, in a kind way, someone who is always on their side, someone who continues to be a supporter for them.” He will appear live on “Teremasa” on Thursday, March 12, where we will ask him about his thoughts on the earthquake disaster and Miyagi. Please note that there will be no public audience for that day’s broadcast of “Teremasa.” ▽ You can watch the interview video “In Conversation with Yuzuru Hanyu” at the URL below: https://news.web.nhk/newsweb/na/nb-6000035477
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now