yuzurujenn Posted April 11 Author Posted April 11 *machine translation, inaccuracies exist* 2026.04.11 Source: https://www.khb-tv.co.jp/news/16491828 Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20260420193739/https://www.khb-tv.co.jp/news/16491828 KHB's 50th Anniversary Finale Begins with Yuzuru Hanyu's Solo Performance As the grand finale of its 50th anniversary, khb East Japan Broadcasting has opened a solo performance by Yuzuru Hanyu in Rifu Town, Miyagi Prefecture. Spoiler The show is part of the “Yuzuru Hanyu ‘RE_PRAY’ an ICE STORY project,” for which Hanyu serves as general producer. Organized by khb as the closing event of its 50th anniversary, the performances are being held on the 11th and 12th. At the venue, Sekisui Heim Super Arena in Rifu Town, many fans had already gathered before the 5:30 p.m. start time, lining up to buy merchandise and more. Fan from Osaka: “I love him because he tries to bring kindness and hope to people all over the world.” Fan from Chiba: “After this period of maintenance , I’m sure he’ll show us something incredible again. I’m really looking forward to it.” Fan from Taiwan: “Yuzuru Hanyu, we love you!” The performance will also be held on the 12th, with a total of about 15,000 people expected to attend over the two days.
yuzurujenn Posted April 11 Author Posted April 11 *machine translation, inaccuracies exist* 2026.04.11 Source: https://deepedgeplus.kyodonews.jp/news/172920/ Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20260411231308/https://deepedgeplus.kyodonews.jp/news/172920/ Yuzuru Hanyu's magnificent performance in Miyagi: "REALIVE" special edition announced, sequel also announced: "Still in the growth stage" Yuzuru Hanyu , the two-time Winter Olympic gold medalist in men's figure skating , appeared in the ice show "REALIVE" at the Sekisui Heim Super Arena in Miyagi Prefecture on the 11th. This was his first solo performance in about 14 months, for which he served as executive producer, and he showcased his magnificent performance in front of approximately 7,000 spectators. At the end of the show, he announced a sequel and expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "I'm still in the growth stage. (My body movements) are changing rapidly right now. I myself am looking forward to what's to come and want to continue skating." This is a spin-off of "ICE STORY," a project launched after he turned professional that weaves stories through words and skating. In "Otonal," which he performed during his competitive days, he brilliantly landed a triple axel (3.5 rotation jump), and in "SEIMEI," his free program at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, where he won the gold medal, he captivated fans with her beautiful skating.
Wintek Posted April 11 Posted April 11 *machine translation, inaccuracies exist* 2026.04.11 DeepEdge Source: https://deepedgeplus.kyodonews.jp/comment/172938/ Archive: https://web.archive.org/web/20260418064350/https://deepedgeplus.kyodonews.jp/comment/172938/ Yuzuru Hanyu begins again from his hometown, Miyagi – First solo performance in 1 year and 2 months: “If it’s only my own feelings, it ends up being something self-indulgent, something small…” By Shinya Fujiwara April 11, 2026 On the 11th, Yuzuru Hanyu, men’s figure skating two-time Winter Olympic champion, appeared in the ice show “REALIVE” at Sekisui Heim Super Arena in Miyagi Prefecture, his hometown. This was his first solo performance in about one year and two months, for which he also serves as executive producer, and at the end of the show he announced a sequel. Hanyu’s full comments are as follows. Spoiler 【Main Questions】 —This is your first solo performance since last year’s “Echoes of Life.” How was it after finishing the first day? “I was very tired. I feel like I had practiced a lot, but after all, continuing to skate alone like this, for me, it had been a season since doing that, so I was nervous. Also, as a first attempt this time, as my solo programs, there were quite a lot of very dense pieces continuing one after another. And for the first time, I did the entire second half without leaving the ice at all. There were various challenges, but if something like a new kind of value for myself could be born, I would be happy.” —You took more than a year in preparation for this performance. Please tell us again about your physical and mental changes. “There was some time where I stepped away from skating a bit, and also a period where I had no choice but to be away… Regarding body maintenance—places that had been damaged, or places I had overused—I worked on maintenance with the thought of moving even a little in a better direction, and toward continuing for a long time from here on. Because of that, once again, things like biomechanical ways of using my body, or things from a kinematics perspective, and the sensations of my own body… the sensation of each individual joint… While carefully examining each one, and studying again, I have come this far. On top of that, including how I dance and how I jump, little by little, I’ve become able to do things that are more reasonable. I’m still very much in a stage of growth, but right now I’m in a place where things are changing rapidly, so I myself am looking forward to it. I want to continue skating from here on.” —Part 1 is “REALIVE,” Part 2 is “PREQUEL.” Please tell us the concept and intention of each. “‘REALIVE’ is, within what I have skated so far in ‘ICE STORY,’ taking those programs, maintaining them like this, and through my body, which has become new, showing everyone how they have changed, and showing that I am alive here now. For me, those programs are truly once-in-a-lifetime encounters. Of course, depending on how the jumps turn out, how the spins turn out, how the steps turn out, also the audience’s cheers, the warmth of the venue, even the weather at that time, the atmosphere is completely different. So I feel they are really things that are alive there. That’s why, when musicians say ‘live,’ it feels very natural to me, and in that sense as well, thinking of it as live, I created this ‘REALIVE.’ And ‘PREQUEL’ is something I created while first keeping in mind that we will do ‘ICE STORY 4th.’ With that in mind, I wanted to make something that could give a sense of anticipation toward the 4th, something exciting. The protagonist gradually comes to know the colors of the outside world from a monochrome world. Through encounters and various journeys, they[1] come to know that outside world little by little… and various emotions begin to emerge, that’s the kind of story I intended to make. Yes.” —How far have you envisioned the 4th? “The concept is already done, and the story is roughly at a stage where I can write it within myself. Of course, since it’s a prequel, I can’t write it without that. So in a sense, when I wrote—created—the prequel, the ‘4th’ is already almost completed within me. After that, while discussing various things together with everyone, I want to work hard toward what comes next. There’s also tomorrow. Yes.” 【TV Coverage】 —Part 2 was about 20 minutes long and felt like watching a play. Who handled the choreography? “Um, with MIKIKO-sensei, it’s more or less like a co-creation. While conveying various concepts to her, and also listening to the concepts of choreography she gave, and together with the direction she has formed in her mind, I would ask for choreography like ‘I want it this way’ or ‘that way.’ Then, for example, ‘I want this choreography for this part, but how should it be done on skates?’ We really worked through each one, taking a lot of time, communicating closely, and built it up into a single work.” —After the maintenance period, you chose Miyagi for your first solo performance. Why, and what are your thoughts after the first day? “After all, I wanted the first start to be in my hometown[2]. For me, this place, Miyagi, is a special place… how should I say it, it’s my hometown. And for this solo performance, people from all over the world are paying attention and gathering, and also through various media they are watching, so in that sense, being able to show my hometown makes me very happy. I wanted to start from here.” —After finishing a performance in your hometown, what are your thoughts? “I want to do my best tomorrow as well. Yes.” —Part 2 was something surprising, like “a skater can even do this?” Did the original story come from things you’ve thought since childhood? How did this worldview emerge? “Yes… Usually in ‘ICE STORY,’ there are lines as a base, and I write all of those, like ‘at this line, this kind of scene.’ But this time, I wrote everything as text describing movements.[3] As for emotions, it’s not so much about myself… though that’s generally the case for ‘ICE STORY’—I wrote it by expanding my imagination, thinking, ‘If this child existed, how would they feel, and how would I want them to explore the world?’ The feelings at the root are probably the same, and of course the words and scenes come from within me, so I think they are things inside me. But, if it’s only my own feelings, it won’t become anything more than something closed-off and small[4], so I wanted to make a story with blank space[5] where everyone can imagine.” 【Print Coverage】 —Please tell us the intention behind the structure and music selection of Part 1, and the timing of the 4th. “As for the timing of the 4th, I can’t say that yet. I can’t say it, right? (to staff) I can’t say it yet, but we will do the 4th. This time was for that. For ‘REALIVE,’ from among the programs of ‘GIFT,’ ‘RE_PRAY,’ and ‘Echoes of Life’—for example, from ‘Echoes,’ ‘Mass Destruction’ and ‘UTAI,’ from ‘RE_PRAY,’ ‘Megalovania’ and ‘Chicken, Snake, Pig.’ And from ‘GIFT,’ ‘Ano Natsu e’ and ‘Otoñal’—I hadn’t skated it, but deliberately. Since I had used the music but hadn’t skated it yet, I wanted to skate ‘Otoñal’ with a sense of surprise. So I selected ‘Otoñal’ and ‘Ano Natsu e’ from ‘GIFT,’ and then, in a sense, from the origin, ‘PROLOGUE,’ I structured it with ‘SEIMEI.’” Since almost all of them are strong pieces, it was very difficult. Especially this time, for the first time, there was only a little over one minute between the first and second pieces… I didn’t take off my skates backstage, changed quickly and went straight out, that kind of new thing. Technically as well, I was doing very new things, but everyone’s reactions felt really good, and although it was difficult, I felt it was worth working hard.” —In Part 2, a crystal-like child character appeared. Is that child an embodiment of hope, or a guide to the outside world? “I wonder… I’m a bit unsure how much to say. As I said earlier, I do have an idea of how I would like it to be seen, but saying it might narrow it. But I would be happy if people could see that child [Kaku] as something like a precious person, a precious thing, or a precious encounter.” —In Part 2, there is a scene where a white cloth descends. How should we interpret that? “In the original, that part has a very strong image of ‘wind.’ Climbing the stairs, being cut by the wind, but not being swept up in it, and instead pushing forward by one’s own will—that kind of feeling. It’s like lines of wind stretched out. And also, since there is the element of entering a torii gate, there is a sense of sacredness. As one climbs the stairs, it’s like gradually bringing one’s heart into a more sacred place, that kind of feeling, and the staging was created like that.” —It’s a large-scale staging that makes use of the space. “Yes, it’s really nerve-wracking. But it’s something that can only be done in ‘ICE STORY,’ something only possible with that kind of staging, and I myself have been doing it while looking forward to it. You can’t practice it until entering the venue, so it’s difficult, but I hope people can enjoy the sense of scale.” —About asking Marihiko Hara to compose the music, and how it felt performing it. “This time, I wanted to make the entire work original, and from there, after creating the original, I thought about who to ask… While discussing with the direction team and video team, within the ‘ICE STORY’ team, we selected several candidates. Among them, I wanted to ask Marihiko Hara, so I made the request. Originally, it wasn’t planned for all the pieces. Since he’s very busy, I asked thinking even one or two pieces would be enough, but he said he wanted to write everything. He even wrote everything including the video parts. He added color to the story I wrote, adding more and more the color of sound, making it so the story can be felt through hearing. So for me as well, skating feels good… I myself… from zero… how should I say it… it might be a spoiler, so I’ll stop. As the original author, I’m skating while strongly feeling that story.” NOTES [1] “They” refers to the protagonist, there is no grammatical gender specified at all in Japanese. [2]「ふるさと」, “furusato” refers to a somewhat idealized "home of the heart". It evokes intense nostalgia, representing a cherished place associated with childhood, ancestry, and emotional comfort. [3] The difference between the way Yuzuru wrote REALIVE in relationship to previous Ice Stories is that instead of a script-driven storytelling, he defined first the movements/actions (non-verbal expression). [4] 「僕だけの思いだけだと、全然、独りよがりの、ちっちゃいものにしかならない」, literal: “If it’s only my own feelings, it would only become something self-centered and small,” but this can be read as just ‘egotistic,’ but it carries It carries the sense of closed-off (not reaching others), internally complete but externally limited, something that exists only within oneself. The use of ちっちゃい instead of 小さいadds a tone of softness and humility. [5] 「余白」 blank space, margin, empty area, reference to leave room for interpretation.
yuzurujenn Posted April 11 Author Posted April 11 *machine translation, inaccuracies exist* 2026.04.11 Source: https://hochi.news/articles/20260411-OHT1T51341.html?page=1 Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20260421031321/https://hochi.news/articles/20260411-OHT1T51341.html?page=1 Yuzuru Hanyu's first solo performance in two years restarts in his hometown of Miyagi, captivating a sold-out crowd of 7,000. Professional figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu's solo performance, "YUZURU HANYU “REALIVE” an ICE STORY project," in which he both stars and serves as executive producer, opened on the 11th at the Sekisui Heim Super Arena in his hometown of Miyagi. The show captivated 7,000 spectators, with some standing. Spoiler In addition to programs from after turning professional, such as “MEGALOVANIA” and “Mass Destruction – Reload –,” he also performed the short program “Otonal (To Autumn),” which he skated over two seasons starting in 2018–19. He successfully landed a triple axel (three-and-a-half rotation jump). After that, the program moved from “Chicken, Snake and Pig” to “One Summer’s Day,” and then into “Utai IV ~Reawakening~.” As he struck his finishing pose, that familiar music began to play. The excitement in the arena rose even higher. He performed the choreographic sequence from his signature piece “SEIMEI,” wearing the golden “Utai” costume. Since turning professional in July 2022, Yuzuru Hanyu has been expressing a grand, self-woven story on the ice. The “ICE STORY” series began with the Tokyo Dome show “GIFT” in February 2023. In its second installment, “RE_PRAY,” he explored the theme of “living,” and in the third, “Echoes of Life,” he presented programs and a narrative addressing his own question of “life,” continuing to create a new world of expression. This latest performance marks his return after a gap of one year and two months. 2026.04.12 Source: https://hochi.news/articles/20260412-OHT1T51008.html?page=1 Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20260421031530/https://hochi.news/articles/20260412-OHT1T51008.html?page=1 Yuzuru Hanyu: "Still in the growth stage" - He breathes new life into his programs and updates his "present." "REALIVE" - his first solo performance in 1 year and 2 months in his hometown of Miyagi. Professional figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu (31) opened his solo show, "YUZURU HANYU “REALIVE” an ICE STORY project," which he both stars in and executive produced, on the 11th at the Sekisui Heim Super Arena in his hometown of Miyagi. The show captivated a sold-out crowd of 7,000 people, with some standing. After the performance, he announced the fourth installment of the Ice Story project. Spoiler Large “5, 4, 3, 2, 1” countdown numbers appeared on the arena screen. The moment Yuzuru Hanyu stepped onto the ice, the anticipation and energy of the 7,000 spectators surged instantly to their peak. His solo show “REALIVE,” held in his hometown of Miyagi, marked his return after one year and two months. “It had been a whole season since I skated continuously by myself, so I was nervous. A lot of things were challenges, but I’d be happy if new value could come out of it.” A sense of fulfillment showed in his expression. He breathed new life into past programs that are part of “Yuzuru Hanyu” himself. Pouring his soul into each performance, he brought the ever-evolving present to life. In addition to programs from after turning professional, he performed for the first time in a while his short program “Otonal (To Autumn),” which he skated over two seasons starting in 2018–19, landing a triple axel (three-and-a-half rotation jump). From “Utai,” the program transitioned into his signature piece “SEIMEI,” where he performed the choreographic sequence in a golden costume. Since turning professional in July 2022, he has been creating his “Ice Story” series, for which he handles writing, performing, and overall production. Following this performance, he also announced a fourth installment, though the timing has not been disclosed. In the second half, there was also a surprise performance of “PREQUEL,” newly composed by Marihiko Hara, known for his work on the film “Kokuho.” The large-scale piece, consisting of ten parts, serves as a prequel to the upcoming fourth installment. “I’m still in the middle of growing. I feel like I’m changing rapidly right now. I’m looking forward to it myself, and I want to keep skating from here on.” In Miyagi, where the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, Yuzuru Hanyu marked a fresh new start.
Wintek Posted April 11 Posted April 11 *machine translation, inaccuracies exist* 2026.04.11 Hochi Part 1: https://hochi.news/articles/20260412-OHT1T51011.html Archive: https://web.archive.org/web/20260412050937/https://hochi.news/articles/20260412-OHT1T51011.html Part 2: https://hochi.news/articles/20260412-OHT1T51012.html?page=1&utm_abtest=G Archive: https://web.archive.org/web/20260412051445/https://hochi.news/articles/20260412-OHT1T51012.html?page=1&utm_abtest=G Yuzuru Hanyu: “Right now I’m in a place where things are changing rapidly. I’m also looking forward to it myself.” – “REALIVE” Q&A (First Part) (April 12, 2026, 6:05 AM) The solo performance “YUZURU HANYU ‘REALIVE’ an ICE STORY project,” in which professional figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu both performs and serves as executive producer, opened on the 11th at Sekisui Heim Super Arena in his hometown of Miyagi. He captivated a completely full audience of 7,000, with even standing-room-only attendance. After the performance, he announced the holding of the fourth installment of the Ice Story series. Below is the first part of the Q&A. —A solo performance since “Echoes of Life.” After finishing the first day. “I was really tired (laughs). I feel like I had prepared a lot, but after all, continuing to skate by myself like this the whole time is something that, for me, is the first time in a season. So I was nervous, and also, as a first attempt this time, as my solo programs, there are quite a few very dense pieces continuing one after another. Also, it was the first time I did the entire second half without leaving the ice at all, and there were various challenges, but I would be happy if something like a new kind of value for myself could be born from that.” Spoiler —After more than a year between solo performances, could you tell us again about the physical and mental changes? “There was also some time away from skating, and a period where I had no choice but to be away. Regarding maintenance of my body—places that had been damaged, or places I had overused—I worked on maintenance with the thought of moving even a little in a better direction, in order to continue for a long time from here on. Through that, once again, things like biomechanics—how I use my body—or things from a kinematics perspective, and the sensations of my own body, the feeling in each individual joint—I examined those one by one, studying them, as I’ve come this far. On top of that, in things like how I dance, and also including how I jump, I’ve started to be able to do things that are, somehow, little by little, more rational. I’m still very much in a stage of growth, but right now I’m in a place where things are changing rapidly, so I myself am also looking forward to continuing to skate from here on.” —Part 1 is “REALIVE,” Part 2 is “PREQUEL.” Could you tell us the concept of each? “‘REALIVE’ is, within what I’ve done so far in Ice Story, taking the programs I have skated and, through this kind of maintenance, through my body that has become new, showing everyone how they have changed, or showing that I am alive here now. For me, programs are truly ichigo ichie (once-in-a-lifetime encounters). Of course, depending on things like how the jumps turn out, how the spins turn out, how the steps turn out, also the cheers of the audience, the warmth of the venue, even the weather at that time, the atmosphere is completely different. So I really feel that they are things that exist there, alive in that moment. That’s why, when musicians say ‘live,’ it feels very natural to me, and in that sense as well, thinking of it as live, I created this ‘REALIVE.’ And ‘PREQUEL’, with the idea first in mind that we will do Ice Story 4th, I wanted to create something that could give a sense of anticipation toward the 4th, something that could make people feel excited in some way, so I worked hard to create it. The protagonist, from a monochrome world, gradually, gradually comes to know the colors of the outside world. Through various encounters and various journeys, they gradually come to know that outside world, and various emotions begin to be born, that’s the kind of story I intended to make.” —How far have you envisioned the 4th already? “The concept is already done, and the story is, roughly, at a stage where I can already write it within myself. Of course, since it’s a prequel, I can’t write it without that. So in a sense, when I wrote and created that prequel, the 4th is already almost completed within me. After that, while discussing various things together with everyone, I want to work hard toward what comes next. Though there’s also tomorrow (laughs).” —The second part, “PREQUEL,” is about 20 minutes alone. It felt long, but like watching a play. “Thank you.” —Who did the choreography? “With MIKIKO-sensei, it’s more or less like a co-creation. While conveying various concepts to MIKIKO-sensei, and also while listening to the concepts of the choreography that she gave, together with the direction that is formed in her mind, I would have her add choreography like ‘I want to do it this way,’ ‘like that.’ Then for parts where I thought, ‘I want this choreography here, but how should that be done on skates,’ we really took time on each and every part, communicating closely, and worked hard to build it up as a single piece.” —Why did you choose Miyagi for your first solo performance after the maintenance period, and what are your impressions now after finishing the first day? “After all, I have a feeling that I want the first start to be in my hometown. For me, this place, Miyagi, is a special place—how should I say it—it is my hometown. And with this solo performance, people from all over the world are paying attention and gathering, and also through various media they are watching, so in that sense, being able to show my hometown is something that makes me very happy. I wanted to start from here.” —And after actually finishing the performance in your hometown, what are your thoughts now? “I want to do my best tomorrow as well. Yes (laughs).” Yuzuru Hanyu: “With a sense of surprise, I wanted to include ‘Otonal’”-- “REALIVE” Q&A (Second Part) (April 12, 2026, 6:03 AM) —While creating the original work for Part 2, “PREQUEL,” was it something where what you had thought since childhood overflowed, or how did the worldview come into being? When writing the original, do you put it down in words like a scriptwriter and show it, or how did you create it? “So, usually with Ice Story, there are basically lines (dialogue), and I write all of those out, and then I write it like, at this line, this kind of scene. But this time, it was all in text, like writing out all of the movements. And as for emotions, rather than being about myself, this is the case for Ice Story in general, but I wrote it while expanding my imagination, like, if this child were to exist, how would they feel, and how would I want them to explore the world. But the feelings at the root are probably the same, and of course the words and scenes that come out are from within myself, so I think they are something that exists within me. But if it were only my own feelings, I feel like it would become something very self-indulgent and small, so I wanted to make it into a story with space where everyone can imagine, and I created it with that in mind.” Spoiler —“Otonal”, it’s been a while. “Yes. Thank you very much.” —Please tell us the intention behind the structure and music selection of Part 1, and if the timing of the 4th has been decided. “As for the timing of the 4th, I can’t say that yet. (To staff) I can’t say it, right? I can’t say it, right? The timing of the 4th can’t be said yet, but we will do the 4th. This time was for that. For ‘REALIVE,’ from among the programs from ‘GIFT,’ ‘RE_PRAY,’ and ‘Echoes,’ for example, from ‘Echoes,’ the two pieces ‘Mass Destruction’ and ‘Utai,’ from ‘RE_PRAY,’ the two pieces ‘Megalo(vania)’ and ‘Niwatori hebi’ (Gate of Living–Chicken, Snake, Pig), and from ‘GIFT,’ ‘Ano Natsu’ (One Summer’s Day), and although I hadn’t skated ‘Otonal,’ I deliberately used that piece. Since it was a piece I had used but not yet skated, I wanted to skate ‘Otonal’ with a sense of surprise. So from ‘GIFT,’ I chose ‘Otonal’ and ‘Ano Natsu e.’ And then, in a sense, from the origin, ‘PROLOGUE,’ I structured it with ‘SEIMEI.’ Since almost all of them are strong pieces, it was very difficult. Especially this time, for the first time, there was only a little over about one minute between the first and second pieces. I didn’t even take off my skates backstage, changing quickly and going straight out—that kind of new thing as well. So technically as well, I was doing very new things, but everyone’s reactions felt really good, and although it was tough, I felt it was worth working hard.” —About the crystal-like character that appeared in “PREQUEL,” is that child like an embodiment of hope, or more like a guide to the outside world? “I wonder. I'm a little unsure how much I should say (laughs). Like I said earlier, there is how I would like it to be seen within myself, but by saying that, it might narrow it, so there is that. But I would be happy if people could see that child as something like each person’s precious person, or precious thing, or a precious encounter.” —In “PREQUEL,” a white cloth descends. I think there are many ways to interpret it—how should we view that part? “As the original work, that part has a very strong image of wind. Climbing the stairs, being cut by that wind, but not being swept up into it, instead pushing forward by one’s own will… That’s the feeling. It’s like lines of wind stretched out, and also since there is the element of entering a torii gate, there is a sense of sacredness as well. As one climbs the stairs, it’s like gradually bringing one’s heart into a more sacred place—that kind of feeling, and the direction was created with that.” —It makes a lot of use of the space. “Yes, it’s really nerve-wracking. But, how should I say it, it’s something that can only be done in Ice Story, something that can only be done with Ice Story staging, and I myself have also been doing it while really looking forward to it. You can’t practice it until you actually enter the venue, so there are various difficulties, but I would be happy if people could enjoy that sense of scale.” —How did it come about that you asked Marihiko Hara to compose “PREQUEL,” and how was it skating to it? “This time, first of all, I had the feeling that I wanted to make the whole thing original. From there, after creating the original work, I thought about who I would want to ask—like, maybe this kind of person, or this kind of person—and while discussing with the direction team and the video team, within the Ice Story team, we picked up several candidates. Among them, I wanted to ask Marihiko Hara, so I made the request. Originally, it wasn’t a plan for all the pieces—since he is really a very busy person, I asked thinking even just one or two pieces would be enough. But he said he wanted to write everything. Not only my parts, but even the video parts, he composed everything. He added color to my story, the story I wrote—adding more and more of that color of sound, making it so that the story can be felt through hearing. So for me as well, skating feels very good, or rather, I myself, in that… how should I say it… I thought it would be a spoiler, so I’ll stop (laughs). As the original author, I’m skating while strongly feeling that story.” —(Moderator) That’s all the time we have. “Thank you very much. Please have me again. Thank you very much. It’s windy, so please be careful. There was an earthquake, so please take care.”
Wintek Posted 20 hours ago Posted 20 hours ago “REALIVE” Official Pamphlet [English Translation] April 11, 2026 40 pages Pamphlet available at: https://axelstore.net/products/realive-143 Machine translation from Japanese to English revised and edited by YuzuMilk (infinite thanks!) Content [Message - Hanyu Yuzuru] Hanyu Yuzuru – Interview, “The scenery I can see now has so many colors.” MIKIKO – Interview, “On the occasion of a new opening act for the story on ice” Read full text (click on the link, the document will open like a webpage, no need to request permission): https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vR-3j-egSZRaaQB4_WBKIhDZO-wNbR5PMca-Dk5lbWB1ROLA81jG8SEbAjYQ2mdZLqk5xiVRkJNQMGx/pub
yuzurujenn Posted 1 hour ago Author Posted 1 hour ago *machine translation, inaccuracies exist* 2026.04.11 Source: https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/384395 Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20260412033502/https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/384395 [Figure Skating] Yuzuru Hanyu announces new event, collaborates with music composer of the film "Kokuho": "I want to write everything." Yuzuru Hanyu (31), the professional figure skater who achieved two consecutive Olympic gold medals in men's figure skating, is setting his sights on even greater heights. Spoiler The solo concert "YUZURU HANYU “REALIVE” an ICE STORY project" opened on the 11th at Sekisui Heim Super Arena in Miyagi. It was held as a spin-off of the previously performed "ICE STORY" and featured performances of his signature song "SEIMEI" and others. "I thought I had practiced a lot, but it had been a whole season since I'd skated continuously by myself, so I was nervous." On this day, he also announced that his next solo performance is in the works. While he said he “can’t say yet” when it will take place, he noted that details are currently being finalized. He revealed that Marihiko Hara, who composed the music for the film "Kokuho," will be writing all the songs, and expressed his gratitude, saying, "He is a very busy person, so when I asked him if he could just write one or two songs, Mr. Hara said he wanted to write them all." Having completed his maintenance period, Hanyu has taken a new step forward. What kind of performance will he show us next time? Source: https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/384399 Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20260412014939/https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/384399 [Figure Skating] Yuzuru Hanyu: "Things are changing rapidly right now" - Preparing "new works" for upcoming solo performance Yuzuru Hanyu (31), a professional figure skater who achieved two consecutive Olympic gold medals in men's figure skating, reflected on his own room for growth. Spoiler His solo show, “YUZURU HANYU ‘REALIVE’ an ICE STORY project,” opened on the 11th at Sekisui Heim Super Arena in Miyagi. After a period of maintenance, this marked his first solo performance, captivating an audience of about 7,000 people. He spoke solemnly, saying, “I wanted my first restart to be in my hometown. For me, Miyagi is truly a special place.” During his maintenance period, he worked not only on physical conditioning but also incorporated academic study and other training methods to improve his overall level. He explained his decision, saying, “There were areas of my body that were worn down and heavily overused, and I wanted to improve them even slightly so I can continue for a long time in the future, and move things in a better direction.” He also said that new solo performance is planned in the future. “My skating, including how I dance and how I jump, has gradually become something more rational. I’m still in a stage of growth, but things are changing rapidly right now, so I myself am looking forward to continuing to skate from here on.” Looking ahead, he also mentioned plans for new solo performance. “My skating, including my dancing and how I jump, is gradually becoming more rational and refined. I’m still in a stage of growth, but things are changing rapidly right now, so I’m looking forward to continuing to skate,” he said, expressing his ongoing pursuit of his ideal form.
yuzurujenn Posted 1 hour ago Author Posted 1 hour ago *machine translation, inaccuracies exist* 2026.04.11 Source: https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2026/04/11/articles/20260411s00079000265000c.html Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20260421033327/https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2026/04/11/articles/20260411s00079000265000c.html Yuzuru Hanyu successfully completes the first day of his solo concert "REALIVE," with his famous programs making a comeback in Miyagi and a preview of a new chapter. Yuzuru Hanyu (31), a two-time Olympic gold medalist in men's figure skating who now works as a professional, held the opening performance of his solo show "YUZURU HANYU REALIVE an ICE STORY project" at the Sekisui Heim Ice Arena in Miyagi Prefecture on the 11th. Spoiler In this one-day-only live performance, Hanyu himself took on the roles of performer and executive producer, bringing to life the programs he has created so far. In the first part, he performed seven songs from various genres, including "MEGALOVANIA," "Mass Destruction -Reload-," "Otonal (To Autumn)," "Chicken, Snake and Pig," "To That Summer," "Utai 4 ~Reawakening~," and "SEIMEI," accompanied by video. In the second part, he showcased a new performance that unfolded like a story, synchronized with animation projected onto a large screen. At the end, he announced "To be Continued ICE STORY 4TH 'WHITE…'," hinting at the next chapter. Hanyu said, "I look forward to seeing you again at ICE STORY 4TH."
yuzurujenn Posted 1 hour ago Author Posted 1 hour ago *machine translation, inaccuracies exist* 2026.04.11 Source: https://mainichi.jp/articles/20260411/k00/00m/050/121000c Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20260411123536/https://mainichi.jp/articles/20260411/k00/00m/050/121000c Yuzuru Hanyu successfully completes the first day of his solo concert "REALIVE," with his famous programs making a comeback in Miyagi and a preview of a new chapter. Yuzuru Hanyu (31), who won two consecutive gold medals in men's figure skating at the Winter Olympics and is currently active as a professional skater, opened his solo performance "Yuzuru Hanyu “REALIVE” an ICE STORY project" on the 11th at Sekisui Heim Super Arena (Rifu Town, Miyagi Prefecture). This was a special edition of the ice story produced by Hanyu. He performed programs from his competitive days, such as his free skate "SEIMEI," which won him a gold medal at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, and his short program (SP) "Otonal," which he skated for two seasons from 2018 to 2019, as well as programs he created after turning professional, thrilling a packed audience including standing room only. It will also be held on the 12th. 2026.04.11 Source: https://mainichi.jp/articles/20260411/k00/00m/050/154000c Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20260411142256/https://mainichi.jp/articles/20260411/k00/00m/050/154000c "Creating new value": Yuzuru Hanyu announces the fourth installment of his ice story. Yuzuru Hanyu (31), who won two consecutive gold medals in men's figure skating at the Winter Olympics and is now active as a professional skater, opened his solo performance "Yuzuru Hanyu “REALIVE” an ICE STORY project" on the 11th at Sekisui Heim Super Arena (Rifu Town, Miyagi Prefecture). Towards the end of the performance, there was a surprise announcement that he was producing the fourth installment of his ice story series. The performance was divided into two parts. In the first part, he performed a total of seven programs, including his free program "SEIMEI," which won him a gold medal at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, and his short program (SP) "Otonal," which he skated for two seasons from 2018 to 2019, as well as programs he created after turning professional. The 7,000-strong audience filled the venue to capacity, with some people standing.
yuzurujenn Posted 1 hour ago Author Posted 1 hour ago *machine translation, inaccuracies exist* 2026.04.11 Source: https://mainichi.jp/articles/20260411/k00/00m/050/177000c Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20260412072812/https://mainichi.jp/articles/20260411/k00/00m/050/177000c Yuzuru Hanyu: "I want to create a story with room for interpretation" REALIVE/1 Yuzuru Hanyu (31), who won two consecutive gold medals in men's figure skating at the Winter Olympics and is currently active as a professional skater, opened his solo performance "Yuzuru Hanyu “REALIVE” an ICE STORY project" on the 11th at Sekisui Heim Super Arena (Rifu Town, Miyagi Prefecture). Spoiler The following is an exchange I had with Hanyu after the first day. [Hitoshi Kurazawa] "If a new value emerges within myself" --After the first day. ◆I'm so tired (laughs).I thought I had practiced a lot, but still, skating alone continuously like this was quite nerve-racking. Also, as a first attempt this time, I had a series of very dense solo programs one after another, and it was also the first time that I was on stage for the entire second half without ever leaving the ice. It was a challenge in many ways. Source: https://mainichi.jp/articles/20260411/k00/00m/050/187000c Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20260412065044/https://mainichi.jp/articles/20260411/k00/00m/050/187000c Yuzuru Hanyu: "Enjoy the sense of scale..." REALIVE/2nd Yuzuru Hanyu (31), who won two consecutive gold medals in men's figure skating at the Winter Olympics and is currently active as a professional skater, opened his solo performance "Yuzuru Hanyu “REALIVE” an ICE STORY project" on the 11th at Sekisui Heim Super Arena (Rifu Town, Miyagi Prefecture). Spoiler This is a special edition of the ice story produced by Hanyu. He performed programs from his competitive days, such as his free skate "SEIMEI," which won him a gold medal at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, and his short program (SP) "Otonal," which he skated for two seasons from 2018 to 2019, as well as programs he created after turning professional. The following is an account of my conversation with Hanyu after the performance. [Hitoshi Kurazawa] "If I say it, it'll be a spoiler (laughs)." -- What was the reason for choosing "Otonal" (To Autumn), and if the timing for the fourth installment of Ice Story has been decided, please let us know. ◆I can't really say when the 4th was... (wry smile). (To the staff around him) I can’t say it, right? I can’t say it, right? I can't say when yet, but I'll be doing a 4th. That's what this was all about. REALIVE is a selection of past programs (from Ice Story). I haven't skated to "Otonal" yet, but since it's a program I've used but haven't actually performed, I thought I'd like to skate to "Otonal" as a surprise. Most of the music is really intense pieces, so it was very demanding. Especially this time, for the first time, there was only a little over a minute between the first and second programs. So I was doing a lot of new things, like changing quickly backstage without even taking off my skates, and rushing out right away. Technically as well, it was a completely new challenge. But the audience’s reactions were really great, and it felt good. It made me feel like all the hard work was worth it. --Regarding the character that appeared in the second half, "Prequel." ◆How far should I say this… I'm a little unsure how much I should say (laughs). Like I said earlier, I do have an image of how I want it to be seen. But if I explain it too much, it might narrow how people interpret it, so I hesitate a bit. Still, I’d be happy if people view that character as representing something like an important person to them, something precious, or an important encounter. --In the "Prequel," there's a scene where a white cloth hangs down from the ceiling onto the ice, and you skate using it. There are many ways to interpret this, but what is the best way to look at it? ◆In the original story, that part has a very strong image of wind. And as you go up the stairs, even though you're being torn apart by the wind, you have this feeling that you're not being swept away by it, but rather pushing forward of your own free will. The shape resembles lines of wind being woven around you, and the fact that you're entering a torii gate adds to the sacred feeling. As you ascend the stairs, the idea was to gradually bring the heart into a more sacred state. --It feels like you've made great use of the space. ◆Yes, exactly. I'm really nervous though (laughs). But ultimately, this is something that can only be done in an Ice Story production. I was really looking forward to it myself. Well, I couldn't really practice until I got to the location on-site, so it's a bit of a challenge (laughs). But I hope people enjoyed the sense of scale and everything else. --What was the process behind having composer Marihiko Hara write the music specifically for this "Prequel"? ◆I had the feeling that I wanted the whole production to be original this time. So I first created the concept, and from there I thought about who I should ask. After making that concept, I discussed with the directing and visual teams, like "maybe this kind of person, or that kind of person." Within the Ice Story team, we talked it through and shortlisted several candidates. From there, we decided we wanted to ask Marihiko Hara. Initially, the plan wasn't for him to do all the songs. He’s extremely busy, so we asked him thinking "even one or two pieces would be enough," but he said, "I want to write everything." And he went out of his way to compose not just my parts, but also all the music for the visual sections as well. He’s really adding color to the story I wrote. He keeps layering "color" in the form of tone (sound), making the story something you can actually feel through sound. For me personally, it feels really good to skate to it, like I’m starting from zero… how should I put it… (laughs). I’m not quite sure how to say it. I thought it might be a spoiler, so I stopped myself from saying it. As the original writer, I am skating while strongly feeling the story. (After the interview) Thank you very much. I look forward to working with you again. The wind is strong, so please be careful.
yuzurujenn Posted 1 hour ago Author Posted 1 hour ago *machine translation, inaccuracies exist* 2026.04.11 Source: https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202604110001974.html Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20260413161001/https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202604110001974.html [Figure Skating] Yuzuru Hanyu announces the fourth installment of his solo concert series, "WHITE..."! Collaboration with composer of the film "Kokuho". Yuzuru Hanyu (31), the two-time Winter Olympic gold medalist in men's figure skating and now in his fourth year as a professional, made a surprise announcement on the 11th that he will be holding the fourth installment of his solo performance series "ICE STORY," titled "WHITE...". He made the announcement after the opening night of "Yuzuru Hanyu 'REALIVE' an ICE STORY project" (Realive), in which he is both the sole performer and executive producer, at the Sekisui Heim Super Arena (Grande 21) in Miyagi Prefecture, where he performed "PREQUEL," a prequel to the fourth installment. Spoiler After the show, he responded to reporters, declaring, "I can't say when yet, but we're going to do it!" It's an original story written by Hanyu, and the concept is already finalized. It was also announced that Marihiko Hara (43), the composer who worked on the film "Kokuho," will be writing all the music. Regarding the collaboration, Hanyu said, "First of all, I had the desire to make the entire production original. From there, I thought about who I should ask. I created the original concept first, and after discussions, we decided on Mr. Marihiko Hara… He is really an extremely busy person, so at first it wasn’t planned as a full-score project. We were asking in the sense of ‘if we could just get one piece, that would be enough,’ but he said he wanted to write everything. And he composed not only my parts (in the performance) but also all the parts for the video. He added color to the story I wrote (with white as its theme)," he said gratefully. The "ICE STORY" series, which is unprecedented worldwide in featuring only a single performer, continued with a spin-off story, "REALIVE," this spring, following "GIFT at Tokyo Dome," "RE_PRAY," and "Echoes of Life." The latest installment, the fourth in the series, "WHITE…," was announced in the latter half of that performance. This day marked a restart of his solo performances after 426 days, about one year and two months, since February 9, 2025. Hanyu re-enacted his most famous programs, etching them onto the ice "with his current body and technique." In the short program “Otonal”, which he skated from the 2018–19 season into the middle of the following season, he beautifully executed elements including the triple Axel. He also performed popular pieces from his past three show series. In REALIVE, he brought out his signature program “SEIMEI” early on, further raising expectations. In the latter half, he performed “Prequel.” Then, at the very end of the show, he announced the upcoming main work, “WHITE…”. Yuzuru Hanyu took a break from August 2025. After announcing that he would “set a maintenance period in order to further evolve,” he restarted in March of this year, the 15th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake, and performed for the first time in about eight months in “Yuzuru Hanyu notte stellata 2026.” This time marked a complete solo restart as well. He delighted a fully packed audience of 7,000 fans, including standing-room spectators. While the announcement of the fourth installment drew attention, he firmly focused on the performance to be held at the same venue on the 12th, saying, "There's another show tomorrow, so I'll do my best!"
yuzurujenn Posted 56 minutes ago Author Posted 56 minutes ago *machine translation, inaccuracies exist* 2026.04.12 Source: https://hochi.news/articles/20260412-OHT1T51013.html?page=1 Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20260412134445/https://hochi.news/articles/20260412-OHT1T51013.html?page=1 Yuzuru Hanyu premieres a collaborative program with the music composer of the film "Kokuho," and announces the fourth installment of his ice story series. Professional figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu's solo show, "YUZURU HANYU 'REALIVE' an ICE STORY project," in which he both stars and serves as executive producer, opened on the 11th at the Sekisui Heim Super Arena in his hometown of Miyagi. The show captivated a sold-out crowd of 7,000 people, with some standing. After the performance, he made a surprise announcement about the fourth installment of the Ice Story project. Spoiler This performance was divided into two parts. In the first part, "REALIVE," the program was selected from past ice stories. In addition to programs from after he turned professional, he performed a total of seven programs, including "SEIMEI," the free program from the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics where he won back-to-back Olympic gold medals, and "Otonal" (To Autumn), the short program (SP) he skated for two seasons from 2018-19. Part 2, "PREQUEL," is a prequel to the fourth installment of the ice story. He premiered a long program consisting of 10 songs written by Marihiko Hara, who composed the music for the hit movie "Kokuho." "Mr. Hara is a very busy person, so I asked him if he could write just one or two songs, but he said he wanted to write all of them," Hanyu said with a look of gratitude. "He is adding color to the story I wrote. He is adding more and more colors with the sounds, making the story feel like it can be felt through sound, and it feels really good for me to skate as well," he said. Since turning professional in July 2022, Hanyu has been expressing a grand narrative of his own creation on the ice. The “Ice Story” series began with the Tokyo Dome performance “GIFT” in February 2023. In the second installment, “RE_PRAY,” he explored the theme of “living.” In the third, “Echoes of Life,” he presented a story and programs centered around his own question of “life,” creating an entirely new world. ▼ Part 1 "REALIVE" Setlist ・MEGALOVANIA ・Mass Destruction -Reload- ・Otonal ・Gate of Living ・One Summer's Day ・Utai IV ~Reawakening~ ・SEIMEI
yuzurujenn Posted 50 minutes ago Author Posted 50 minutes ago *machine translation, inaccuracies exist* 2026.04.12 Source: https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/384421 Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20260412040150/https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/384421 [Figure Skating] Yuzuru Hanyu's solo show was a great success, leading taxi drivers to exclaim in delight: "It's beyond amazing." The “influence” of Yuzuru Hanyu (31), the professional skater who achieved two consecutive Olympic gold medals in men’s figure skating, has drawn surprise even from the host region of his performances. Yuzuru Hanyu's solo show, in which he both stars and produces, opened on the 11th at the Sekisui Heim Super Arena in Miyagi Prefecture. After performing his signature piece "SEIMEI," he unveiled a new piece, "PREQUEL," in the latter half of the show, eliciting a huge roar of applause from the 7,000 spectators gathered in the venue. Hanyu’s overwhelming popularity is also reflected in unexpected ways. The venue is located far from nearby train stations, and many fans are seen using taxis. One taxi driver commented, “It's especially crazy today. It's incredibly crowded because of the ice show, beyond anything you’d normally see.” The driver, who repeatedly shuttled between the venue and nearby stations, added, “It really helps us. Without taxis, passengers would have had a very hard time finding rides just waiting around.” One of the remarkable aspects of Hanyu’s performances is how they draw in and affect the surrounding area as well. While he avoided specifying when his next solo show will be held, saying only “I can’t say yet,” he noted that plans are already taking shape. Having completed his maintenance period, Hanyu said, “Things are changing rapidly right now, so I’m looking forward to continuing to skate from here on.” The exceptional skater continues to evolve further.
yuzurujenn Posted 8 minutes ago Author Posted 8 minutes ago *machine translation, inaccuracies exist* 2026.04.12 Source: https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2026/04/12/articles/20260411s00079000374000c.html Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20260421043512/https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2026/04/12/articles/20260411s00079000374000c.html Yuzuru Hanyu captivated a sold-out audience of 7,000 on the opening day of his solo show "REALIVE," saying, "I want to continue skating." Yuzuru Hanyu (31) , a two-time Olympic gold medalist in men's figure skating who now works as a professional, held the first performance of his solo show "REALIVE" at the Sekisui Heim Super Arena in Miyagi Prefecture on the 11th. Spoiler He captivated the sold-out audience of 7,000 with seven songs from various genres, including his famous songs from his competitive days, "Otonal" and "SEIMEI." This was his first solo performance in 14 months, including his break period, and he renewed his resolve, saying, "I'm still in the growth stage. I'm changing rapidly right now. I'm looking forward to it myself, and I want to continue skating." In the latter half of the show, he surprised the audience with “Prequel,” a prologue to the next installment, with all 10 tracks newly composed by Marihiko Hara, known for his work on the hit film "Kokuho." He also announced the holding of his next solo performance and said, "I look forward to seeing you all again." Source: https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2026/04/12/articles/20260412s00079000113000c.html Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20260421043719/https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2026/04/12/articles/20260412s00079000113000c.html [Yuzuru Hanyu Speaks (1)] Long-awaited solo performance: "To show that I am alive here and now... Truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience" Spoiler Yuzuru Hanyu (31), a two-time Olympic gold medalist in men's figure skating and now a professional skater, performed seven programs on the opening day of his solo show “YUZURU HANYU REALIVE an ICE STORY project” at Sekisui Heim Super Arena in Miyagi on the 11th, his first solo performance in one year and two months. He also surprised fans by announcing the fourth installment of his self-produced and executive-directed Ice Story series, and performed a 10-program prologue titled “PREQUEL: Before the WHITE,” a collaboration with Marihiko Hara, known for composing music for the hit film “Kokuho.” The show thrilled a sold-out audience of 7,000. The post-performance interview is as follows: --On finishing the first day of your solo show since "Echoes of Life": "I'm incredibly tired. I thought I had practiced a lot, but it's been a whole season since I've skated continuously by myself like this, so I was definitely nervous. Also, as a new challenge, I had a series of very dense solo programs one after another. And for the first time, I performed continuously throughout the entire second half without ever leaving the ice. It was all a series of challenges, but I hope it leads to something like a new value for myself.” --After taking more than a year off solo shows, what physical and mental changes have you noticed? "There was also a period when I stepped away from skating, and a period when I had no choice but to step away. I took time for maintenance, addressing areas of the body that were damaged or overused, and tried to improve them in a better direction so I can continue skating long-term. Because of that, I went back to studying things like biomechanics in how the body is used, movement mechanics, and the sensation of each individual joint in my body. I’ve been carefully observing and studying all of that step by step as I’ve worked my way here. As a result, my skating, my movement and even my jumping, has gradually become more rational. I’m still in a stage of growth, but things are changing rapidly right now, and I’m looking forward to continuing to skate from here on." -- What are the concepts behind Part 1 “REALIVE” and Part 2 “PREQUEL”? “REALIVE is about taking the programs I’ve skated so far in the Ice Story series, and showing how they’ve changed through my body after maintenance—how I am now, and how things have evolved. For me, a program is truly a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Of course, it depends on the quality of the jumps, spins, and steps, and also the audience’s cheers, the warmth of the venue, and even the weather at the time, everything changes the atmosphere. I really feel that it only exists in that moment. That’s why I naturally relate to musicians doing live performances. In that sense as well, I created REALIVE with the idea of it being a ‘live’ experience.” And for PREQUEL, with the main point in mind that we're going to do Ice Story 4TH, I worked hard to create something that would make people excited and hopeful for 4TH. The protagonist gradually learns about the colors of the outside world from a monochrome world. I tried to make it a story where he learns about the outside world little by little through various encounters and journeys, and different emotions begin to emerge." --What is your vision for the fourth installment, and what you have in mind? "The concept is already there, and the story is also at a stage where, within myself, it is already more or less in a state where I can write it. Of course, since it is a prequel, I couldn’t write it without that foundation. So in a sense, when I wrote and created that prequel, the fourth is already almost in a completed state within me. From here, I would like to talk and discuss various things with everyone and work hard toward what comes next. And well… we still have a show tomorrow (laughs).” Source: https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2026/04/12/articles/20260412s00079000115000c.html Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20260421045052/https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2026/04/12/articles/20260412s00079000115000c.html [Yuzuru Hanyu Speaks (2)] His new work "PREQUEL" is "a story with room for everyone to imagine." Spoiler --About the choreography of the second part “PREQUEL” “It was almost like a co-creation with MIKIKO-sensei. I would communicate various concepts to MIKIKO-sensei, and also listen to the choreography concepts she had in mind. Then, together with the staging that was already forming in MIKIKO-sensei’s head, I would say things like ‘I want it to be like this’ or ‘I want it to be like that,’ and she would add choreography to it. Then, for example, I would say, ‘For this part, I want this choreography, but if it’s skating, how should it be done?’ We really spent a lot of time on each and every detail, communicating closely, and worked hard to create it as one piece of work.” --Why did you choose Miyagi for your first solo performance after the maintenance period? "I wanted my first restart to be in my hometown. Miyagi is a special place for me, how should I put it? It's my hometown, and since this solo performance is being watched by people all over the world and attracting attention from various media, I felt very happy that people could see my hometown, so I wanted to start from here.” --After actually finishing the performance, how do you feel? "I want to do my best tomorrow too. Yes. Hehehe." --Was the original story for Part 2 something that naturally came from thoughts you’ve had since you were little, and how did you build that worldview? Also, when you write the original story, do you actually put it into words, and how do you go about creating it? “Usually in Ice Story, there are basic lines, and I write everything out like ‘at this line, this kind of scenery,’ but this time I wrote everything in words describing all the movements. Emotionally, it’s not so much about myself. As with Ice Story in general, I think about things like: if this character existed, how would they feel, and how would I want them to explore the world? That’s how I expanded my imagination. Of course, the core feelings are probably the same, and the words and scenes come from within me, so it is probably something that comes from me. But I also feel that if it’s only my own thoughts, it would become something very self-contained and small. So I wanted to create a story that leaves space, something with room for the audience to imagine.” --There was also the return of ‘Otonal,’ which you haven’t performed in a while. What was the intention behind the structure and song selection of Part 1? Has the timing for 4TH been decided?” "I can't really say when the 4th will be... I can't say, right? I can't say, right? (laughs) I can't say yet, but we will be doing the 4th. This time was for that purpose. REALIVE was structured using programs from GIFT, RE_PRAY, and Echoes. For example, from Echoes, there were two songs: 'Mass Destruction' and 'Utai.' From RE_PRAY, 'Megalovania' and 'Gate of Living.' From GIFT, 'One Summer's Day,' and... 'Otonal' is a program I haven’t actually skated, but I had used the music, and it was a piece I hadn’t performed yet despite that, so I wanted to include it as a surprise and decided to skate ‘Otonal,’ so two pieces. From GIFT, I selected ‘Otonal’ and ‘One Summer's Day,’ and then in a sense, as the origin, I structured it with ‘SEIMEI’ from Prologue. Almost all of the songs are really strong, so it was very difficult. Especially this time, for the first time, there was only about a little over one minute between the first and second programs… so backstage I was doing things like not taking off my skates, quickly changing and going straight out. So I was doing very new things technically as well. The audience’s reactions were really great, and although it was hard, I felt it was worth the effort.” Source: https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2026/04/12/articles/20260412s00079000118000c.html Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20260421050621/https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2026/04/12/articles/20260412s00079000118000c.html [Yuzuru Hanyu Speaks (3)] Collaboration with Hara, who is in charge of the music for "Kokuho": "You can feel the story through sound" Spoiler ――About the character in PREQUEL “I wonder… I hesitate a bit about how far I should say. So, like I said earlier, I do have in my mind how I want it to be seen, but if I say it, it might narrow it down, so I feel that’s a bit… well… But I would be happy if people see that character as something like an important person to them, an important thing, or a precious encounter.” ――There is a scene in PREQUEL where a white cloth descends. How should we interpret that? “Originally, that part has a strong image of wind. It’s like climbing stairs while being cut by the wind, but not being swept away by it, and moving forward with one’s own will. It's like a kind of network of wind lines, and at the same time it includes entering a torii gate, so it has a sacred feeling as well. As you go up the stairs, it’s like gradually bringing your heart into something more sacred. That’s the kind of direction in which we created that staging.” ――So it is a form that makes use of the space. “Yes. It’s really nerve-racking, but it’s something that can only be done in Ice Story productions. I was really looking forward to it myself. I can’t rehearse until I arrive on site, so there are many difficulties. But I hope people enjoy the scale and the experience of it.” —Is it okay to say that 4TH has been announced? "Yes, it's fine. It's fine. It's totally fine. Yes, it will be held." —How did you come to ask Marihiko Hara? "First of all, I wanted to make this completely original, and then I wondered, who should I ask to do it? I first created the story, and after creating it, I discussed with the directing team and the visual team, and within the Ice Story team we shortlisted several candidates. Among them, we decided we wanted to ask Mr. Marihiko Hara. When I asked him, I actually didn't initially plan for him to compose all the music. Mr. Hara is a very busy person, so I asked if he could just compose one or two songs, but he said he wanted to write all of it. He went to the trouble of writing not only my performance parts, but also the video parts, and he really added color to the story I wrote. He added more and more color with the sound, and he made the story feel like it could be felt through sound, and I myself felt really good skating, or rather, I myself... what should I say (laughs). How should I put it? I stopped myself because I thought it might be a spoiler. As the original author, I really feel the story as I skate."
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