[2026.02.04] Anan

[Wintek]

Anan no. 2482, special edition
2026/02/04

 

The Special Edition has Yuzuru Hanyu on the cover. The magazine is available in printing and digitally (e-magazine). The digital version is available on Amazon Japan for Kindle and on Rakuten Japan for Kobo.

 

More information:

https://ananweb.jp/magazine/82671

[Wintek]

Yuzuru Hanyu

The art called YUZURU HANYU.

After turning professional, Yuzuru Hanyu has been challenging new possibilities in music, lighting, costumes, and more. The world expressed by his programs could be called 芸術 (Geijutsu) = ART without exaggeration. Through an interview and photographs by Sunao Noto, who has continued photographing Hanyu for many years, we approach the essence of the beauty called Yuzuru Hanyu.

To evolve even further,
he pursues without limit
what he should do.
That attitude itself
is probably Yuzuru-kun’s charm.

Special Interview

Photographer Sunao Noto speaks about the miracle called Yuzuru Hanyu.

Photographer Sunao Noto, who has continued photographing Yuzuru Hanyu’s skating and is also in charge of the photography for the currently available-for-preorder THE ART CALENDAR, speaks with us. From their first encounter in Sendai to Hanyu’s present position as a professional, we asked him for his candid thoughts from the standpoint of the one who photographs.

A deluxe calendar titled “Yuzuru Hanyu THE ART CALENDAR 2026.4–2027.3”, woven together with beautiful performance photographs of professional skater Yuzuru Hanyu. On the occasion of its long-awaited release, we asked photographer Sunao Noto—who handled the photography this time and has continued photographing him since his junior days—about Hanyu’s appeal as a skater and as a person.

 

“The first time I learned about Yuzuru-kun was at the All-Japan Junior Championships in the autumn of 2007. At the time, he had moved up by skipping a level from novice to junior and immediately placed third. I was based in Sendai then, photographing figure skating, and I remember thinking, ‘There’s an incredible kid here locally.’ That was my encounter with Yuzuru-kun.”

After that, when he met him in person, Noto says he was captivated not only by Hanyu’s talent as a skater, but also by his character as a person.

“The Yuzuru-kun I met for the first time was a bright, lively, and articulate boy. And he remembered the names of people he had met and interacted with them accordingly. Of course his skills as a skater were impressive, but what left a strong impression was his ability to accurately convey his thoughts to those around him, and his solid sense of courtesy toward others. Even now that he’s a top skater, once he steps away from the rink he greets you with an affectionate smile, that’s also part of his charm.

On the other hand, from my perspective as the photographer, Yuzuru-kun is now ‘the most difficult skater to photograph’ (laughs). Especially after turning professional, his movements have become even more intense, and there are c so the difficulty level just keeps rising. Of course, photography always feels like a single, do-or-die live performance. Yuzuru-kun’s strong desire to ‘deliver the best performance for the audience’ really comes out more in the actual stage than in practice, so I expand my own imagery to match that and go into the real thing with tension and focus. If the photographer doesn’t make the effort to accurately understand what he wants to express in a given program, it’s impossible to capture it fully — the scale is that large. In that sense, it’s important to expand your own image as well. He really is a high-difficulty subject (laughs).”

Holding his camera rink-side with a passion that does not lose to Hanyu’s, Noto carries in his heart a sincere respect for a genius skater of rare historical magnitude.

“Even after turning professional, he continues to refine his technique and expressive power, carries shows entirely on his own, and fills arena-scale venues to capacity… I don’t think another skater like this will be born again while I’m alive. That’s why, if I’m allowed to photograph him, no matter what happens, I want to be there and take the pictures.”

Having continued photographing Hanyu for over ten years since their first encounter, how does Noto see Hanyu’s evolution and changes after turning professional?

“I think his core hasn’t changed, but I feel that his desire to skate for the fans has become even stronger than during his competitive days. Even in the production of the solo show series ICE STORY, Yuzuru-kun himself plays a major role.

The movies and staging are overflowing with a desire to make everyone happy. Technically as well, I think he’s challenging things that are even more difficult than in his competitive days. And if he can’t land a jump to his satisfaction in practice, he still gets frustrated just like he did as a competitor… His stance of endlessly pursuing what he should do in order to evolve further… that, I think, is Yuzuru-kun’s true charm. He always treats me casually, like a friendly neighborhood uncle, but for me, there’s nothing but respect for the greatness of his existence.”

Among the photographs featured in this magazine, the one that left the deepest impression on Noto is said to be the image used for the special edition cover.

“I like aiming my camera at Yuzuru-kun’s profile, and this is also, in a sense, a profile shot. This instant, like he suddenly discovered a single beam of light in the sky he looked up at, left a deep impression on my own heart as well.”

Light and shadow; Noto believes that this is precisely why Hanyu’s skating draws people in.

“I’m more strongly captivated by the light that Yuzuru-kun emits. For example, the way he encouraged people with his gold medal at the Sochi Olympics after the Great East Japan Earthquake. But depending on the person, some are captivated by his shadowed side, his battles with injury, or the struggles that come from being a solitary existence. Strong light, and deep, dense shadow. He’s someone who possesses the appeal of both extremes, and depending on who is watching, the gradation between that light and shadow, and the charm they feel, is different. I think that’s exactly why he attracts so many people.”

Having continued to pursue Hanyu’s charm and limitless evolution through the viewfinder, what does Noto hope for Hanyu going forward?

“I want him to keep skating for even one moment longer. Of course I understand that he’s taking on content that’s even harder than in his competitive days, and because Yuzuru-kun is strict with himself, if he ever feels he can no longer reach a level he’s satisfied with, he might cleanly step away from the front line. But for me, he’s the person who gives me the greatest joy as someone who photographs. So if I could be allowed to take photos for even one moment longer, even one more image, there would be no greater happiness than that.”

 

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Sunao Noto

Noto Sunao, born in 1976 in Miyagi Prefecture. Photographer. Active in photographing athletes—including figure skaters—and people. His representative works include the “YUZURU” photo series of Yuzuru Hanyu.