[2018.02.09] Yomiuri Shimbun - Yuzuru Smiles Again: An Autistic Friend, His Father and the Support Team

[yuzurujenn]

*Machine-translation. Inaccuracies exist*

 

2018.02.09

 

Source: https://x.com/mamiyuzu1207/status/961689769376759808

https://ameblo.jp/silubia-ran/entry-12353201804.html 

https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASQ2M6SNXQ2MUTIL008.html (paid)

https://mainichi.jp/articles/20220203/ddm/041/050/127000c (paid)

 

 

Yuzuru Smiles Again

An Autistic Friend, His Father and the Support Team

 

The PyeongChang Olympics open today. Men’s figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu (23), who injured his right ankle, will skip the team event that begins on the 9th and instead focus on the men’s singles starting on the 16th.

 

Yuuki Sakata (23), who was in a special support class in the same grade as Hanyu during their elementary and junior high school years, and his father Toshiaki (58) are cheering him on by sending handmade gyoza and a club newsletter to Hanyu.

 

Spoiler

Yuuki had autism and attended the special support classes at Nanakita Elementary and Junior High School in Sendai. Hanyu, who was in the same grade, would come to visit the special support class whenever he had time. During skating lessons, he taught Yūki how to skate, and they also went on school trips together. The two called each other “Yuzuru” and “Yuuki-kun.” Even after entering junior high school, whenever Yuuki spotted Hanyu, he would run up to him with a smile, calling out, “Yuzuru!”

 

In March 2011, during the Great East Japan Earthquake, Yuuki’s home was damaged, and he moved to Kanazawa City. He looked sad as he left his hometown. Then, three months later, Hanyu came to Kanazawa for an ice show. The Sakata family went to see Hanyu during practice, but Yuuki, who had been looking forward to it, fell ill and had to give up going. His father, Toshiaki, spoke to Hanyu in his place, asking, “Do you remember Yuuki?”

 

“How could I forget?” Hanyu replied, smiling as he spoke of their memories.

 

Moved by the fact that Hanyu had remained the same even after becoming a star, Toshiaki established the "Hanyu Yuzuru Support Group" based out of his home in Kanazawa City.

 

“I will be appearing in the show.”

 

“I will include five quadruple jumps and aim for the top.” The group's newsletter, "羽NEWS," chronicles Hanyu's latest developments. Since its launch in October 2011, the newsletter has published 60 issues to date.

 

The club currently has about 150 members. In the latest issue dated January 10, members’ messages of support were featured, including “Your best performance in Pyeongchang! Your biggest smile! Go Yuzuru!!” The newsletter is also sent to Hanyu himself, and from him they received a signed autograph card bearing the message, “I always enjoy it. Thank you very much.”

 

Toshiaki says, “More than wanting him to win, I want him to grow. I'm rooting for Yuzuru as a person.”

 

After graduating from high school, Yuuki has been attending a facility aimed at fostering independence. When Hanyu appears on television, he calls out to the screen, “Yuzuru.” When Toshiaki says, “Yuuki, let’s do our best at work too,” he replies, “I'll do my best! A gold medal.”

 

Every year, as the season approaches, Yuuki sends Hanyu gyoza made at the facility. Hanyu’s father once contacted them, saying, “Yuzuru really likes them.” “I’m worried about his foot injury, but I want him to enjoy himself to the fullest,” Toshiaki said, speaking with a gentle gaze.

 

 

From Yomiuri Shimbun Hokkaido Edition 20180209:

Spoiler

Captions:

 

- Yuzuru Hanyu (left) and Yuuki Sakata during a class visit to a skating rink in Sendai City when they were in the fifth grade of elementary school
(Photo provided by Yuuki Sakata’s father, Toshiaki)

 

-Yuzuru Hanyu performing at last October’s Rostelecom Cup (in Moscow)

 

-Toshiaki Sakata holding a signed message of thanks he received from Hanyu, standing in front of the newsletters that have been published to date