22 hours ago22 hr Info: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/448422223X https://books.cccmh.co.jp/list/detail/2417/ A look back at his journey of dedication and growth, documenting his unwavering commitment to figure skating through 528 photographs. This book is a definitive collector's edition that looks back on Yuzuru Hanyu's skating career to date, featuring an extensive collection of 528 press photographs and news reports from the time. A must-have for fans, this book is also a valuable documentary record of his skating career.Table of contents2004 – 2010-2004 All-Japan Novice B Championships: Gold Medal in First Appearance-2nd place in the 2005 All-Japan Novice B Championships-First appearance at the 2006 All-Japan Junior Championships-In 2007, he won the All-Japan Novice A Championship and placed third in the Junior Championships-A strong performance at the 2008 All-Japan Championships-In 2009, he swept all the tournaments, setting the record for the youngest male to win-He made her senior debut at the 2010 Grand Prix Series NHK Trophy2011-Second place at the Four Continents Championships-Winner of the Nebelhorn Trophy-4th place in the Cup of China-Winning the Russian Cup – First Grand Prix Series title2012-Third place in his first appearance at the World Championships-Finished second at Skate America-First victory at the NHK Cup-Second place in the Grand Prix Final-First victory at the All-Japan Championships—as a new ace2013-Second place at the Four Continents Championships-World Championships secure three Olympic berths-Signed a sponsorship contract with All Nippon Airways (ANA)-Second place at Skate Canada: "Extremely disappointed"-Second place at the French Grand Prix-First Grand Prix Final victory-Achieved consecutive victories at the All-Japan Championships-First Olympic Representative2014-Entering Sochi as a gold medal contender-Sochi Olympics - Figure Skating Team - Men's Short Program: First Place-Sochi Olympics: Top score in the short program with the highest score in world history-Expressing gratitude through performance-Japan's first male figure skater to win a gold medal-The gods of the "sacred place" give their support-Q&A 01: "The Olympics are amazing."-Holding the gold medal, I express my gratitude-Sochi Olympics closing ceremony-Returning home with a medal around their neck-A delightful reward-Reporting the gold medal to my hometown-World Championships: First victory with a comeback win-Guinness World Record awarded for the highest-ever short program score-I was invited to the garden party-Extremely busy with press conferences and award ceremonies-90,000 people attended the victory parade-Recipient of the Purple Ribbon Medal, an honor that ignites hope-Appearing in a chocolate commercial-Injured after colliding with a Chinese skater-He advanced to the Grand Prix Final after finishing 4th in the NHK Trophy-Two consecutive Grand Prix Final wins-Q&A 02: Thanking fans for winning the finals again-"A desire for improvement" to reach the top - Yuzuru Hanyu brings a ray of hope to disaster-stricken areas.-Three-time All-Japan Championship winner / Abdominal surgery2015-Unable to win a second consecutive world championship-Third place in the World Team Championships-Winner of the NHK Cup with the highest score in world history-Q&A 03: "This score will become another obstacle."-Grand Prix Final, first-ever three-peat-Four consecutive victories at the All-Japan Championships2016-Reconstruction support ice show-Second place at the World Championships-I suffered a ligament injury in my left foot and will be resting for two months-Three Guinness World Records and a certified quadruple loop jump-2nd place at Skate Canada-NHK Cup, second consecutive victory, third overall-First ever four-time consecutive winner of the Grand Prix Final-Withdrawn from All-Japan Championships2017-Second place at the Four Continents Championships – the competition for quadruple jumps intensifies.-Second World Championship title-Commemorative monument in Sendai City-World Team Championship-JOC Cup Winner / New Program Unveiled-Free program once again chose "SEIMEI" as his music choice-Instructing at a skating class-Second place at the Autumn Classic-Second place at the Russian Cup-Injured his leg during official practice and withdrew from the NHK Trophy2018-Setting off with the goal of winning two consecutive Olympic gold medals-Starting in first place after the short program at the Pyeongchang Olympics: A fiercebattle of catches and chases with three young skaters—opening the door to a new era-Q&A 04: Aspirations for winning consecutive Olympic gold medals-Celebrating two consecutive Olympic victories-Q&A 05: "Above all, I was able to overcome myself."-A cold and heavy gold medal-The day after winning two consecutive titles-A battle of perfection / Putting my feelings into the swan...-Pyeongchang Olympics conclude, athletes return home with smiles on their faces.-Produced an ice show-108,000 people in Sendai celebrated the team's consecutive victory-Attended the garden party-Recipient of both the Purple Ribbon Medal and the People's Honor Award-Q&A 06: Receiving the People's Honor Award-Special letter of appreciation from the Reconstruction Agency-Winner of the Autumn Classic-Winner of the Finnish competition-Winning the Rostelecom Cup – achieving a record 10th Grand Prix victory for a Japanese male skater-Absent from the Grand Prix Final and the All-Japan Championships2019-First time ranking #1: "Favorite sports player"-Return to competition at the World Championships after a four-month absence-"My mind went blank" - Started in 3rd place in the short program-Second place overall at the World Championships-The high wall I returned to-The competition for quadruple jumps is fierce—"I'm willing to do all six types"-New monument installed / Quadruple toe loop landed in show-Won the Autumn Classic, the first tournament of the season-Q&A 07: "I don't want to show a pathetic side of myself." ~Yuzuru Hanyu talks about this season and beyond~-Overcoming pressure, he achieved a personal best score and won his first Skate Canada title-Winning the NHK Trophy, he will advance to the Grand Prix Final-Grand Prix Final: Unable to make a comeback, finished in second place-Quadruple Axel, aiming for the World Championships-Q&A 08: Talking about Quad Axel-Ranked #1 among "Athletes who performed well this year"-First All-Japan Championships in four years, a short program in pursuit of "perfection"-What will Hanyu do after suffering consecutive losses?2020-Program change: "It's not my own breathing"-Four Continents Championships: World record, takes first place in short program-First Four Continents Championship victory, achieving a Super Slam-Received the Most Valuable Skater award at the ISU Annual Awards-All-Japan Championships, determination amidst conflict-In his first competitive race in a long time, he started in first place-All-Japan Championships, winning for the fifth time in five years-In his first match during the pandemic, he showed his true strength, overcoming doubts and reclaiming the championship-Selected to represent Japan at the World Championships-The "ultimate goal" of a quadruple axel remains unwavering-With heartfelt wishes, "Come, spring!"2021-Ten years of continuous running, and then stopping-"I don't know what to say or what to convey"-World Championships begin, the short program was fun and enjoyable-Third place at the World Championships, unable to reclaim the title in this special year-"I want to leave my mark" - World Team Trophy begins-A mistake in the free skate leads to a second-place finish.-Japan finished third in the World Team Championships, while Russia won its first title-He attempted a quadruple axel, but fell six times during official practice-"Challenging the limits": Talking about the quadruple axel, "I will definitely"-Withdrew from the NHK Trophy due to a right ankle injury-Aiming for the Beijing Olympics, attempting a quadruple axel at the All-Japan Championships-Despite the break, a stunning performance, taking the lead in the short program-Despite not landing the quadruple axel, he took a step closer to his dream-Q&A 09: "Because it's everyone's dream"-He will also attempt the quadruple axel at the Beijing Olympics2022-First practice session in Beijing ahead of third consecutive victory; quadruple axel "absolutely necessary"-Q&A #10: "I still have a lot of room for growth"-Beyond the struggles of the COVID-19 pandemic—Hanyu returns to battle once again- "The ice hated me" - even with all preparations in place, there were pitfalls-Q&A 11: "I fell into a hole. Oh well."-Identifying with Kenshin—"Heaven and Earth" where the God of War resides-Taking on the challenge of a quadruple axel, carrying "everyone's dreams"-Q&A 12: My take on the "quadruple axel"-Yuzuru Hanyu talks about his future-The champion's courageous challenge, a record of his way of life-Performing in an ice show – his first performance in three months since the Beijing Olympics-Yuzuru Hanyu spoke about his future plans at a press conference upon turning professional-As a professional skater, this is just the beginningOfficial Match Program Track List
20 hours ago20 hr Author * machine translation, inaccuracies may existSource: https://weibo.com/ttarticle/p/show?id=2309404845458202951823https://weibo.com/ttarticle/p/show?id=2309404852347347010275https://weibo.com/ttarticle/p/show?id=23094048527365786834142004 – 20102004 – Victory at His First All-Japan Novice B CompetitionOn October 23–24, 2004, the 8th All-Japan Novice Figure Skating Championships were held at Meiji Jingu Ice Skating Rink in Tokyo. Yuzuru Hanyu (KSC Izumi) competed in the Novice B category (ages 9–10). His performance to the Cossack-style music “From Russia With Love” left a particularly strong impression. He delivered a beautiful performance and won the competition.Koichi Nakamura, a sports photographer who began photographing Yuzuru Hanyu around that time, recalled the competition as follows:“The 2004 All-Japan Novice B Championships marked Yuzuru Hanyu’s first appearance in a national competition. Even before the competition, people involved in the sport were saying, ‘A remarkable skater has emerged this year!’ I was also filled with anticipation as I travelled to Tokyo, and I still vividly remember the Meiji Jingu ice rink. Generally speaking, male skaters tend to emerge later than female skaters. Many do not attract attention until the Novice A or junior categories. Considering this, Yuzuru Hanyu, who had already attracted so much attention in his very first year in Novice B, was truly an exceptional presence.”At the age of nine, Hanyu won his very first gold medal. Even then, he already had the mindset, “I absolutely have to win.” That strong competitive spirit had already been part of him from such a young age. In 1999, at the age of four, Hanyu began learning figure skating at the Izumi Ward DSC ice rink in Sendai, under the guidance of his first coach, Mami Yamada. Yamada coached him until just before the end of his second year of elementary school. In 2002, Hanyu met Shoichiro Tsuzuki and began training under him in his third year of elementary school. The choreography for this competition's program was also done by Coach Tsuzuki.2005 – Second Place at the All-Japan Novice B ChampionshipsThe 9th All-Japan Novice B Figure Skating Championships were held on October 29–30, 2005, at the Tobu Kawagoe Skating Rink in Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture. Yuzuru Hanyu (Katsuyama Figure Skating Club) competed with “From Russia With Love,” the same program he had performed the previous year. He achieved a new personal best score of 67.44 points. However, despite improving his previous record, he fell nearly 10 points short of the first-place finisher. Victory eluded him this time, and he finished in second place.2006 – First Appearance at the All-Japan Junior ChampionshipsYuzuru Hanyu made his debut at the 75th All-Japan Junior Figure Skating Championships, held on November 25–26, 2006, at Hiroshima Big House in Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture. This was Hanyu’s first-ever competition in the junior category. For his short program, he performed “Amazonic”, while his free skate was set to “Summer Storm.” He finished the competition in 7th place.2007 – All-Japan Novice A Champion and Third Place at the All-Japan Junior ChampionshipsOn October 27–28, 2007, the 11th All-Japan Novice Figure Skating Championships were held at the Niida Indoor Rink in Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture. Competing in the Novice A category, Yuzuru Hanyu (Miyagi FSC) achieved a new personal best score of 103.87 points, winning first place. He then went on to compete at the 76th All-Japan Junior Figure Skating Championships on November 24–25, where he scored a total of 161.02 points to secure third place. This was a historic achievement: Hanyu became the first Novice-level skater to win a medal at the All-Japan Junior Championships.For both competitions, he performed “The Firebird” by Igor Stravinsky, a powerful yet graceful piece. His program incorporated elements such as the Ina Bauer, showcasing the elegance and beautiful lines of his skating. For the short program at the Junior Championships, as well as the All-Japan Medalists on Ice (MOI) exhibition that followed, he performed “Sing, Sing, Sing.” With his exceptional control and natural sense of rhythm, he captivated the audience with his swinging, jazz-inspired performance.2008 – Making His Mark at the All-Japan ChampionshipsThe All-Japan Figure Skating Championships were held on December 25–27, 2008, at Big Hat in Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture. Fourteen-year-old Yuzuru Hanyu made his first appearance at the senior national championships, delivering a confident and impressive performance. In the men's short program, Hanyu broke into the 60-point range, and his face lit up with genuine, childlike delight. The following day, he secured his place in the free skate and finished 8th overall.In 2008, while in his second year of junior high school, Hanyu began competing more seriously in the junior category. At the All-Japan Junior Championships in November, he made his third appearance and became the youngest skater in history to win the title. He expressed his gratitude, saying: “I owe this to my parents, my coaches, and everyone in Sendai who provided me with such a wonderful skating environment. I hope to follow in the footsteps of Shizuka Arakawa.” His words reflected the growth and maturity of a young skater who was beginning to look towards a much bigger future.Memo: Standing 168 cm tall and weighing less than 50 kg, Hanyu had a slender, highly flexible physique. He was able to perform elements rarely seen among male skaters, such as the Biellmann spin and the Ina Bauer, while making full use of his long limbs to enhance the elegance of his movements. While aiming to become a skater with outstanding artistic expression, he also worked hard to improve his jumping technique. Beginning in 2008, he incorporated the triple Axel (3A) into his programs, demonstrating his determination to raise his technical level. His coach, Nanami Abe, had great expectations for him, saying: “He looks beautiful on the ice and has the ability to attract the audience's attention.” Due to age restrictions, Hanyu was unable to compete at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Instead, he set his sights on the following Winter Games in Sochi. He declared his ambition: “I want to build up my physical strength and win the Olympics.”2009 – Sweeping Titles and Setting Records as the Youngest Male ChampionPerforming in an Ice Show Alongside Japan's Top SkatersOn June 19, 2009, Japan's Dreams on Ice (DOI) opened at the Shin-Yokohama Skate Center. Yuzuru Hanyu, the reigning All-Japan Junior Champion, also took part in the ice show, performing alongside Japan's national team skaters, including several prominent athletes who were considered strong contenders for the upcoming Vancouver Winter Olympics. This was another opportunity for the young Hanyu to share the ice with some of Japan's leading figure skaters.First Victory on the ISU Junior Grand Prix CircuitOn September 12, 2009, the third event of the ISU Junior Grand Prix series was held in Turin, Italy. Yuzuru Hanyu, who had placed first in the men's short program the previous day, continued his outstanding performance in the free skate, taking first place once again. With a combined total of 198.65 points, Hanyu claimed his first-ever Junior Grand Prix title. This marked an important milestone in his young competitive career, as he secured his first victory on the international Junior Grand Prix circuit.Second Victory on the ISU Junior Grand Prix CircuitFrom October 7–11, 2009, the sixth event of the ISU Junior Grand Prix series was held in Croatia. Yuzuru Hanyu delivered an outstanding performance in the men's competition, finishing first in the free skate and securing first place overall. With a combined score of 201.15 points, he claimed his second Junior Grand Prix victory. Winning two Junior Grand Prix titles in the same season marked another significant milestone in his rising international career.Second Consecutive Victory at the All-Japan Junior ChampionshipsThe 78th All-Japan Junior Figure Skating Championships were held from November 21–23, 2009, at the Shin-Yokohama Skate Center. Yuzuru Hanyu placed first in the short program and second in the free skate. With a combined total of 194.15 points, he secured first place overall. This victory marked his second consecutive All-Japan Junior Championships title, successfully defending the championship he had won the previous year.Victory at the Junior Grand Prix Final (JGPF)On December 4, 2009, the Junior Grand Prix Final (JGPF), the season-ending competition featuring the top-performing skaters from the Junior Grand Prix series, began. Yuzuru Hanyu placed third in the short program but delivered an outstanding free skate, rising to first place and staging an impressive comeback. With a combined score of 206.77 points, he claimed the overall victory. Hanyu became only the second Japanese male skater to win the Junior Grand Prix Final, following Takahiko Kozuka (Toyota) in 2005. At just 14 years old, he also became the youngest male skater in the competition's history to win the overall title. This victory marked a major milestone in Hanyu's rapidly developing international career.World Junior Championships ChampionOn March 15, 2010, Yuzuru Hanyu returned to Japan after winning the men's title at the World Junior Figure Skating Championships in the Netherlands. Speaking to reporters at Narita Airport, he said: “I will do my best to perform at my highest level this time. I want to compete at the Sochi Winter Olympics four years from now.”After returning to Japan, Hanyu reflected on his achievement and said: “I'm glad I was able to perform at my very best.” Daisuke Takahashi's bronze medal at the Vancouver Winter Olympics had also provided him with considerable motivation. :ooking ahead, Hanyu expressed his ambition to challenge the quadruple jump, saying: “In order to win a medal at the Olympics, I will consider attempting a quadruple jump in the future.”A Promising Performance at an Ice ShowOn April 3, 2010, Hanyu appeared at the 7th Nagoya World Figure Skating Championships exhibition, held at the Nippon Gaishi Arena in Aichi, Japan. As one of the most highly anticipated young skaters, he performed “Vertigo” as the finale of the figure skating gala. The performance was unveiled to the audience for the first time, showcasing his growing stage presence and offering a glimpse of what was to come as he prepared to move into senior-level competition.Selected as a Special Reinforcement SkaterOn May 24, 2010, the Japan Skating Federation announced its designated figure skating training athletes for the upcoming season at a board meeting. Yuzuru Hanyu, who had won the World Junior Championships in March, was among the skaters selected for the highest designation: Special Reinforcement Athlete.Received the Japan Olympic Committee's Newcomer AwardOn June 19, 2010, the 2009 Japan Olympic Committee Sports Awards ceremony was held in Tokyo. Hanyu attended the ceremony alongside other award recipients after receiving the Newcomer Award in recognition of his achievements in figure skating. Having won the World Junior Championships in March, he was preparing to make his debut in the senior Grand Prix series in the coming season. He explained his reasoning: “I want to win at the Sochi Olympics, so I think it would be best to gain experience by competing in the senior level.”Preparing for His Senior Grand Prix DebutOn October 3, 2010, ahead of the opening of the ISU Grand Prix series, Japan's leading participating skaters gathered for a press conference in Tokyo. Among them was Yuzuru Hanyu, the reigning World Junior Champion, who was preparing to make his senior Grand Prix debut at the NHK Trophy. The Grand Prix series consisted of six events, with the top six skaters qualifying for the Grand Prix Final. The 2010 season was also notable because the NHK Trophy was being held as the opening event of the series for the first time. For Hanyu, this marked the beginning of a new chapter in his career: his transition from a successful junior champion to an international senior competitor.2010 – Fourth Place at the NHK Trophy in His Senior Grand Prix DebutOn October 23, 2010, the second day of the NHK Trophy, the opening event of the ISU Grand Prix series, was held at the Nippon Gaishi Arena in Nagoya. Yuzuru Hanyu, the reigning World Junior Champion, made his senior Grand Prix debut. In the men's short program, he scored 69.31 points, placing fifth. Reflecting on his performance, Hanyu said: “I was more nervous than I had expected, but my jumps went quite smoothly. I concentrated on completing my program, and I want to make up for my short program result in the free skate.”On the final day of the NHK Trophy, the 15-year-old Hanyu finished fourth in the free skate. Moving up the standings from his short program position, he secured fourth place overall with 207.72 points. He commented: “I was able to land the quadruple jump despite feeling nervous, but I realised that I still lacked physical stamina. I don't want people to see me merely as a junior skater. I want to become a senior skater and challenge for a place on the podium.”First Place at the East Japan ChampionshipsOn November 7, the final day of the East Japan National Championships, the men's competition was held at the Niida Indoor Rink in Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture.Yuzuru Hanyu, who had finished fourth at the NHK Trophy, claimed the overall title with a combined score of 240.72 points.Seventh Place at the Rostelecom Cup (Cup of Russia)On November 19, 2010, the fifth event of the ISU Grand Prix series, the Rostelecom Cup, opened in Moscow, Russia. In the men's short program, Hanyu improved his personal best to 70.24 points, placing sixth. He said: “I'm happy that I was able to achieve a score that shows my progress. My triple Axel wasn't at its best, and there's still room for improvement. In the free skate, I definitely want to land the quadruple jump.”On November 20, during the final day of the competition, Hanyu scored 132.42 points in the free skate and finished seventh overall with a combined score of 202.66 points.One of his jumping elements received no points because it violated the competition requirements. Reflecting on the experience, he said: “I was determined to attempt the quadruple jump, but I put too much force into it before getting into the air and couldn't commit to the jump. It was a real blow. I also realised just how high the standard of the other skaters was. I had become too fixated on my placing.”Fourth Place at the All-Japan ChampionshipsOn December 24, 2010, the All-Japan Figure Skating Championships, which also served as the final selection competition for the World Championships team, opened at Big Hat in Nagano City. In the men's short program, the 16-year-old Hanyu scored 78.94 points, placing second. The following day, the men's free skate took place. Takahiko Kozuka claimed his first national championship title, while Hanyu, who had been second after the short program, ultimately finished fourth overall. Hanyu expressed his disappointment: “I wasn't able to show the full extent of my abilities, and I'm really frustrated. Although I wasn't particularly concerned about my placing, I still wanted to perform to the best of my ability.”This season marked an important stage in Hanyu's transition to senior competition. Despite facing the challenges of increased physical demands and a higher competitive standard, he was already attempting the quadruple jump and competing against Japan's leading senior skaters.
20 hours ago20 hr Author * machine translation, inaccuracies may existSource: https://weibo.com/ttarticle/p/show?id=23094048563796588627082011Silver Medal at the Four Continents ChampionshipsOn February 18, 2011, the second day of the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Taipei, Taiwan, 16-year-old Yuzuru Hanyu competed in the men's short program. He scored a personal best of 67.43 points, placing third. Hanyu commented: “Since this is the final season of my junior eligibility, I'm glad I was able to perform at the level I had shown before. Achieving such a high score at an overseas competition gives me confidence.”On February 19, the third day of the competition, the men's free skate took place. Hanyu finished third in the free skate, moving up from third place after the short program to secure second place overall. At his first Four Continents Championships, he had earned his first medal at a major senior international competition. Looking back on his performance, Hanyu said: “My jumps weren't in the best condition, so I made a conscious effort to perform every movement carefully. Towards the end, fatigue began to make things a little difficult.”Nebelhorn Trophy ChampionOn September 23, 2011, Yuzuru Hanyu competed in the men's free skate at the Nebelhorn Trophy in Germany. Having placed first in the short program, Hanyu also finished first in the free skate, securing the overall victory with a combined score of 226.26 points. Earlier that year, the 16-year-old Hanyu had endured the devastating Great East Japan Earthquake in March. Having overcome considerable difficulties, he was now looking forward to making further progress in his second season as a senior skater. The Nebelhorn Trophy served as an important competition ahead of the official start of the season. Although he still had several areas to improve, Hanyu managed to finish first in both the short program and free skate. His total score was close to his personal best, marking a convincing victory. For his free skate that season, he chose the famous music from Romeo and Juliet. Hanyu spoke about making the program his own: “Others might associate the music with the original characters, but I want to turn it into my own performance. Even if it's Hanyu and Juliet.” His next challenge would be the ISU Grand Prix series, beginning with the third event of the season, the Cup of China.Memo: After steadily developing throughout his first season in the senior category, Hanyu finished second at the Four Continents Championships in February 2011. However, on March 11, while training at an ice rink in Sendai, he was caught in the devastating Great East Japan Earthquake. He was forced to take refuge in an evacuation centre and did not resume training until ten days later. Leaving behind his severely damaged training rink, Hanyu travelled to Hachinohe City in Aomori Prefecture, where he worked on the choreography for his new programs. He continued preparing for the upcoming season by travelling between different locations to train on the ice. Due to the earthquake's impact, the ice rink in Sendai remained closed until late July. During this difficult period, Hanyu took part in ice shows, making the most of every opportunity to get back on the ice. He reportedly said: “During this time, I was able to get on the ice at ice show venues earlier. I wanted to skate as much as possible.” Although he was still young and retained his boyish appearance, the hardships he experienced had made him stronger and more resilient.Fourth Place at the Cup of ChinaOn November 4, 2011, the third event of the ISU Grand Prix series, the Cup of China, opened in Shanghai, China. In the men's short program, Yuzuru Hanyu scored a personal best of 81.37 points, placing second. He successfully landed his quadruple jump and delivered an impressive performance, demonstrating his growing technical ability. On the following day, the final day of the Cup of China, the free skate competitions took place. Hanyu finished fourth overall with a combined score of 226.53 points. For the first time, he missed out on a place on the podium at a senior international competition. Speaking to reporters after the competition, Hanyu reflected: “I was too focused on each individual element.” Despite his disappointment, he also offered a positive assessment of his performance: “Last year, I finished fourth at the NHK Trophy with a performance I was satisfied with. This year, I finished fourth after a rather messy performance, and I was still quite far from the podium. So, in that sense, I received a pretty strong evaluation.” Although he was disappointed with the result, the competition gave him valuable experience in recognising areas that needed improvement as he continued developing in the senior category.Rostelecom Cup Champion - His First-Ever Victory on the Senior Grand Prix CircuitOn November 25, 2011, the sixth event of the ISU Grand Prix series, the Rostelecom Cup, was held in Moscow, Russia. In the men's short program, 16-year-old Yuzuru Hanyu placed second, trailing the leader by just 0.76 points. It was an encouraging start to the competition. During his quadruple jump attempt, he had to put both hands on the ice to steady himself after landing. However, rather than allowing the mistake to affect the rest of his performance, he demonstrated his ability to recover and move forward. Although mistakes on difficult jumps can place considerable physical and psychological demands on a skater, Hanyu refused to dwell on the failure. Instead, he focused entirely on what came next. He successfully completed his three spins and incorporated a Level 4 step sequence for the first time, the highest difficulty level available. His performance to the classical music remained composed and expressive throughout. His program also received particularly strong marks for its Program Component Scores, with several components earning scores above 7 points.Although these scores can involve a degree of subjective judging, Hanyu's improved performance components reflected his artistic development in only his second senior season. His combined score became a new personal best at an international senior competition, bringing him closer to his target score. Hanyu expressed his happiness, saying: “I've come close to the score I was aiming for.”With this victory, Hanyu had secured his place in the Grand Prix Final. He remained determined not to become complacent, saying: “I must not let my guard down. I also want to mentally rehearse the quadruple jump and make sure I can land it. I want to successfully land my signature jump and make a strong impression.” On November 26, the men's and women's free skate competitions took place. Yuzuru Hanyu, who had been second after the short program, staged a comeback to win the competition. This was his first-ever victory in the senior ISU Grand Prix series.Having suffered through the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011, Hanyu overcame tremendous difficulties and transformed adversity into motivation, eventually claiming the championship. He reportedly reflected on the experience of facing death and the fragility of life: “I only live once. I feel that my life is very short.” On the day of the earthquake, schools were closed, and Hanyu was practising at the Sendai ice rink, his home training base, when the powerful tremors suddenly struck. The ice beneath his skates became uneven and unstable, making it impossible to stand properly. His home was also affected by the disaster, and he and his family spent several days living in an evacuation centre.On November 27, the leading skaters from the sixth event of the Grand Prix series, the Rostelecom Cup, participated in the exhibition gala. As the newly crowned champion, Hanyu also took to the ice. With youthful energy and an upbeat style, he performed to a lively, romance-themed song, showcasing a different side of his skating. During a press conference that day, Hanyu expressed his sense of accomplishment: “Being able to push myself during the second half of the free skate gave me a great sense of achievement. Staying focused and skating through the entire programme was the biggest reason I won.”Memo: Hanyu explained that experiencing the fear of death had changed his thoughts and values. Things he had previously taken for granted no longer seemed so certain. He began to appreciate and cherish every moment. The earthquake also changed his attitude towards competition and training. Because his home training rink was forced to close for more than four months, Hanyu travelled between different locations and participated in more than 60 charity ice shows to support disaster relief efforts. To make time for training, he would sometimes arrive at ice show venues early. Whenever he performed, he approached the ice with the same intensity and dedication as he would in a competition, never treating a single performance carelessly. Over time, this attitude became part of his approach to skating and contributed to his eventual breakthrough as a champion. Following the earthquake, Hanyu had also struggled with doubts about whether he should continue skating. However, he gradually developed a stronger sense of purpose. He wanted people to see him skating with energy and vitality, and hoped that his performances could offer encouragement to others. He also wanted to contribute in whatever way he could. His determination to keep skating and bring hope to his hometown of Sendai had become an important source of strength. His first senior Grand Prix victory was therefore more than a sporting achievement. It was also a reflection of the resilience he had developed through one of the most difficult periods of his young life.
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