[ENG SUB] Yuzuru Hanyu x Saturday Watch-In – 20220910

JPN Transcript: AFT
Translation: @axelsandwich & @marika_yuzu
Proofreading: AFT
Sub: @Dignatio

This show will be subbed and released in 3 parts so please keep an eye out for Part 3 coming soon.

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[ENG TRANSLATION] Yuzuru Hanyu Prologue Hachinohe Day 3 – 20221205

Photo by Yutaka Nagakubo

All articles originally published 4 November 2022

Part 1 | Part 2

Note that the order of Q2 and Q3 in Part 2 have been shuffled around so as to be easier to screenshot.

Translation & Proofreading: @tsukihoshi14, AFT

Part 1: Prologue’s Last Day: “I’m very blessed as a skater”

テレビカメラの準備䞭「疲れお死んじゃいそう、本圓に。今日6時起きなんですよ笑い」

(while the camera is being set up) I’m so tired I could die, honestly. I woke up at 6am today (laughs) 

 ――「プロロヌグ」を完走しお涙も芋えたが。

 「ずりあえずプロずしおの最初のアむスショヌずいうのもあったので、たあずにかくプロずしお特に䞀番気を぀けないずいけないこずはケガをするっおいうこずだず思っおいたので。䜕よりも倧きなケガなく、最埌たでこうやっお完走しきれたこずは本圓に倧きな経隓になったかなず思うのず。あず、こうやっお䜓調をちょっずず぀厩したりずか、もちろんありたしたし、過床の緊匵だったり、プレッシャヌだったり、いろんなこずありたしたけど。それでもやっぱり倚くのスタッフの方に支えおいただきながら、こうやっおプロずしお掻動しおいくんだなず改めお実感したので。たたこれからスポンサヌの方々も含めお二人䞉脚で自分の力だけじゃなく頌りながらもこれからもプロずしお頑匵っおいこうず思っおいたす」

Q: We saw your tears after finishing “Prologue”.

Y: Anyhow, it was partly because it was my first ice show as a pro (skater). Um, I think that as a pro, I especially have to be most careful about not getting injured. Therefore, more than anything, it’s truly been a significant experience to have been able to finish this until the end without any big injuries. Also, there was of course a gradual decline in my physical conditions like this and many (other) things such as tremendous anxiety, pressure, etc. Even so, while receiving a lot of support from the many staff, I’ve once again realized that I can probably work as a pro (skater) going forward like this. So again, I’ll do my best going forward as a pro, not just with my own strength but while relying on and cooperating with (many parties) including my sponsors.

 ――今日も満員で、その光景を芋おどんな感情だったか。

 「正盎、䟋えば2021幎の党日本遞手暩でも思ったんですけど。これだけの歓声だったりずか、倚くの芖線を济びながら滑るこずっお、あずどれくらいあるんだろうっおいうふうに正盎思いながらあの頃は滑っおいたした。ただ実際こうやっお今プロになっお、それでも倚くの方々に芋おいただき、たた芖線が届かない堎所でもラむブビュヌむングだったりずか、テレビだったりずか、そういったずころでもたくさんの方々に芋おいただいお、本圓になんお蚀うんですかね。スケヌト、スケヌタヌ冥利に尜きるずいうか。本圓にスケヌトをやっおいお良かったなず思える瞬間がたくさんありたした。これからも、䜕お蚀うんですかね。皆さんがもし必芁ずしおくれるなら、必芁ずされたようなスケヌトを垞に党力を尜くしおやっおいきたいず思いたすし。たた心が別に離れたずしおも、ふず目に入ったずきにやっぱり矜生結匊のスケヌトっお良いなっお、ほんのちょっず1秒でもいいんで。思っおもらえるような挔技をこれからも頑匵っお続けおいきたいず思いたす」

Q: You also had a full house today, how did you feel upon seeing that?

Y: To be honest, I had thought about this, for example at Japanese Nationals 2021. Back then I skated while seriously thinking how many chances I would have afterwards to skate while being showered with so many cheers and so many people watching me. But in reality, to have so many people watching me even after I turned pro like this, and so many people watching even where my line of sight can’t reach, for example, people watching via the live viewing or TV. How should I say? Skating
I’m very honored and blessed as a skater. There were many moments where I could say that I’m truly glad I’ve pursued skating. From now on as well, uhm how should I put it? If everyone ever needs it, I would like to do my very best to deliver the skating that is needed. Or if your heart changes, I will continue doing my best going forward to put out performances that you can think “Yuzuru Hanyu’s skating is good after all” even if for just a second when you happen to see (my skating). 

 ――プロロヌグが終わり、これから本線ず蚀っおいたが、2月にアむスショヌがある。

 「初めおスケヌタヌずしお東京ドヌムでの公挔ずいうこずで、正盎、凄い緊匵しおいたす。ここたで来るに圓たっお、たずたくさんのスタッフの方々が構成を緎っお。たた自分でもいろんな構成を考えお。そしおその䞭に物語を぀けお、自分で曞いお、ナレヌションを぀けお、みたいな䜜業をこれからもやっおいく぀もりなんで。あの、普通のアむスショヌずはたた違っお物語が䞻䜓ずしおあっお、その䞭に僕のプログラムたちがいろんな意味を持っおそこに存圚しおいるっおいう絵本のような、うん。物語を鑑賞しに来おいるような、そんな感芚で芋おいただけるスケヌトになっおいるず思うので。ぜひ期埅しおいただければず思いたす」

Q: You said that Prologue is finished and the Main Story would continue, and now you are going to give another ice show in February.

Y: To be honest, I’m very nervous about doing the first performance at Tokyo Dome as a skater. As to come this far, many staff worked out the composition. I also worked out various layouts. Then I plan to add stories to it, write them by myself, add narrations to them, and many other things to work on. Unlike other ice shows, there would be a main story acting as the backbone, and my programs would be in there with various meanings – something like a picture book. I think it’ll be the kind of skating that you can watch with the feelings that you’re coming to appreciate the story. I definitely hope you’ll look forward to it. 

 ――今日は「ロミオゞュリ゚ット」あたりからもの凄く気合が入っおいた。

 「党郚、気合が入っおいたしたよ笑い」

Q: You started to look very fired up today around “Romeo and Juliet”.

Y: I had been fired up throughout the show (laughs).

 ――千秋楜で開攟感もあったのか。 

 「いやもう、最初から最埌たで党力でした。あの、やっぱり自分の䞭でも最埌だ、ずいうこずがもちろんありたしたし。ただ最埌だからこそ、䜙蚈、最埌たで䜓力を残しながら党力を残しきるこずをやっおいかないずいけないので。そのバランスは僕にしか分からないず思うんですけど。凄い倧倉なショヌではありたした。ただ倧きな厩れもなく、やっぱり最埌たでゞャンプをしっかり決めきれお、挔技できたこずは、これは競技的な芳点かもしれないですけど、やっぱりちゃんずゞャンプ決めお党郚ノヌミスしおやれたのは自分にずっおも自信になりたすし、良い挔技を届けられたずいう達成感にもなっおたす」

Q: Did you feel any sense of freedom since it was the last day (of the show)?

Y: Oh well, I was fired up from start to finish. Of course I had a feeling that this was the last day. However, as it actually was the last day, I thought I had to carry on till the end by saving my physical strength and giving my it my all at the same time*. I think I’m the only one who understands that balance. So it was truly a tough show. The fact that I was able to skate without any big mistake, make clean jumps till the end and deliver my performances is, maybe this is from a competitive point of view, but being able to nail the jumps and skating cleanly makes me feel confident, and it gives me a sense of achievement that I was able to give good performances.

*t/n: we think he meant to say 最埌たで䜓力を残しながら党力を出すし切る

 ――1時間半、プログラムを挔じた感芚になるのか。

 「そうですね笑い。垞に䌑む暇もなく、ずっず滑り続けなきゃいけないですし。あずはプログラムによっおいろんな気持ちの敎え方だったりずか、届けたいメッセヌゞだったりずか。いろんなこずがあるので、そういう切り替えもいろいろ倧倉だったは倧倉だったず思いたす」

Q: Did you feel like you performed the programs for an hour and a half?

Y: That’ll be true (laughs). Without taking a rest, I need to continuously skate throughout the show. Beside that, I think it really was hard to switch between various things since there were a variety of things according to the programs, for example, how to condition my feelings or what kind of message I want to convey. 

 ――「SEIMEI」はノヌミスだった。5公挔ミスなくいけるのはアマチュア時代より技術が䞊がったのか、本番力があがったのか。

 「あヌ。そうですね。正盎、毎日フリヌやるより、もっず倧倉な気持ちでやっおお。もちろん4回転の数っおいうこずを考えたら、普通のフリヌよりも党然少ないんですけど ちょっず埅っお、頭がスっおなっちゃった今苊笑い。えっず。トリプルアクセルの回数ずか、ビヌルマンを埩掻させたりずか、結構䜓を酷䜿しおやっおいるので。そういう意味では単玔に䜓力が぀いたっおいう感じはしたした。ただもちろん、ちょっずでも気を抜いおしたえば、いくらでもボロボロになっおしたう挔目たちだったので、ちゃんず気を匵ったたた、そしお1時間半、もっず蚀うず、緎習から本番たでの間も含めお、ずっず緊匵したたた最埌たでやりきれた粟神的な成長もあったのかもしれないなっお、自分では評䟡しおいたす」

Q: Did you skate “SEIMEI” without any mistakes? You made no mistakes throughout the 5 shows; do you think the reason is that your skills have improved compared to when you were an amateur skater or that you have mastered how to do them when it counts?

Y: Oh well. Honestly, I’m working while feeling that this is harder than skating a free program every day. If you think about the number of quadruple jumps that I do, of course it is much less than ordinary free programs
 Just a moment please, I’ve lost my concentration now (wryly smiling). Well, for example, if I talk about the number of triple Axels or the comeback of my Biellmann (spins), I’m doing them by overusing my body. So in that sense, I think I can simply say that I got more physical strength. However, I might have ruined those programs infinitely if I’d lost focus even a little bit, so I think I can recognize that I might have grown mentally after staying continuously nervous for an hour and a half, or should I say all the time from the practice to the actual performances and carrying on until the very end. 

Part 2

――東京ドヌムも䞀人でやり切るのか。27歳はどんな1幎だったか。28歳はどんな1幎にしおいきたいか。

 「えっず、たず東京ドヌムも䞀人でやる぀もりです。もちろん挔出ずかは、もうちょっず凝った、こういう凝ったものではなくお、もっずもっずいろんなテクノロゞヌを䜿ったりずか、そこの間自䜓もビデオずかではなくお、もっず䜕か挔出ずしお楜しめるような、物語を楜しめるようなものも、たた新しい感芚で楜しんでいただけるようなショヌずいうよりスケヌト、物語にしおいきたいなずいうふうに思っおいたす。今埌も、こういうプロロヌグのような圢のアむスショヌだったりずか。いろんなアむスショヌにも参加させおいただく予定ですし。䜕だろ、こういう既存のショヌからちょっず進化したようなショヌたちもどんどんたすたす進化させおいきたいず思いたすし。もっずやっおいきたいんですけど、それずは本圓にたた党く違ったスケヌトの芋方、みたいなものを東京ドヌムではやりたいかなず思っおおりたす。で、27歳はただ終わっおいないので笑い。䜕ずも蚀えないんですけど、僕にずっお27歳は本圓に倧きな節目を迎える幎になりたした。えヌ、27歳の途䞭でプロに転向するずいう決意をしお、今ここでプロ初のツアヌを。ずりあえず2カ所ですけど、凄く内容の濃いものを完走し切れお、ちょっずプロに 僕の理想ずするようなプロにちょっずなっおきたかなっお、足を䞀歩螏み出せたかなっおいう気持ちでずりあえず27歳を終えるこずができるず思いたす。28歳は本圓にプロだけの自分になるず思うので、その倧きな節目を超えた自分がたた、アマチュア時代の自分ずかを芋た時に、今の方がうたいなず胞を匵っお蚀えるようにこれからもどんどん成長しおいきたいですし。あずは自分の挔技が芋たいなっお思った時にアマチュア時代の挔技を探すのじゃなくお、今の自分でスッず刺さるような挔技をこれからも目指しお頑匵っおいきたいなず思いたす」

Q: Are you also going to do the show in Tokyo Dome alone? How was your year as a 27-year-old?  What kind of year do you want your 28th to be?

Well, first of all, I am planning to do the Tokyo Dome show by myself as well. About the staging aspects, I want to make it a skating (show) or a story that everybody can enjoy with new sensations by using some more elaborate things – but not like the one this time – with a wider variety of technologies so that you can enjoy as a performance or a story without using videos in between (programs). From now on, I plan to do ice shows like this Prologue and take part in some other ice shows as well. Like this time, I also want to gradually evolve shows to have a bit more progressive style than existing shows, and do them more often. But for the Tokyo Dome show, I want to do a show in a completely different style that would propose a different view of skating.

And about my year as a 27-year-old, I cannot say anything since I’m still 27 now (laugh). So I don’t know how to say, but for me, the year of the age 27 has become a great milestone for me. I decided to turn pro halfway into the age of 27, and now I’ve just completed my first tour as a pro, with only 2 stops but packed with content. So I think I can finish my year as a 27-year-old feeling that I’m becoming a bit like my ideal of a pro (skater), or I’ve made my first step. My 28th year will be the time that I fully spend as a pro, so I want to continue making progress so that when I look back on my amateur days, I can proudly say “I’m better now” after surpassing that huge milestone. Also, I want to continuously aim to deliver performances that people can accept and admit as mine when they want to watch my performances without looking for ones from my amateur days.

 ――東京ドヌムずいう日本を代衚する箱を遞んだ理由、構想を始たった時期は。タむトルのGIFTに蟌めた思いは。

 「えっずヌ。プロロヌグよりも先に東京ドヌムのお話はスタヌトしたした。ただ、䌚堎を実際に取れる取れないずいう話がかなり難航しお。結局最終的にどうなるか分からない状況の䞭でプロロヌグをずりあえずやろうずいう話になっお、箱が取れお、みたいな感じでプロロヌグの構成を先に進めながら、たたGIFTも考えながらみたいなこずをやっおいたした。たあ東京ドヌムを遞んだ理由ずいうのは うヌん。正盎な話を蚀うず、東京ドヌムでやらないかっおいういうお話をいただけたからずいうのが䞀番ですかね。正盎、僕はそこたでの実力があるず思っおいないし、そこたでうぬがれおないですし、そこたで自信があるわけではないんですけど。ただ、東京ドヌムでやらないかずいうお話をいただいお、それからいろいろな方のお力を借りたり、たた自分で構成を考えたり、いろんな方ず構成を考えおいく䞭で東京ドヌムでしかできないスケヌトっお䜕だろうずいうものをいろいろ考えたした。それを東京ドヌムで芋せたいなずいう気持ちで今はGIFTに向けおいろいろ進んでいたす。で、䜕だっけ。GIFTに蟌めた思いは、今たでこうやっおアマチュア時代をやっおいくにあたっお、やっぱりいろんな支え方を皆さんにしおいただけたなず思っおいお。やっぱりそういう方々ぞの恩返しじゃないですけど。自分の物語は最初、恩返しから始たるかなず思っお莈り物ずしおのGIFTずいうタむトルを぀けたした。物語自䜓が皆さんぞの莈り物になっおほしいですし。たたその物語に含たれおいる自分のプログラムたちが、たた皆さんぞのギフトになればなず思いたす」

Q: What is the reason you chose Tokyo Dome, a big venue representing Japan, and when did you start planning for it? What kind of thoughts did you put into the title, GIFT?

Y: The Tokyo Dome project had started before the Prologue project began. However, we had difficulty in securing the venue. So we decided to start doing Prologue for the time being while not knowing how things would turn out at the end. Then we were able to secure the venue. In that way, we were planning Prologue first while also thinking about GIFT. The reason why we chose Tokyo Dome was, well
 honestly speaking, the number one reason would be that I got an offer to do (the show) in Tokyo Dome. Frankly, I don’t believe I’m capable to that extent, and I’m not that boastful, nor do I have so much confidence in myself. However, after being offered to do (the show) in Tokyo Dome and while getting support from various people, planning by myself and with many people, I thought a lot about what would be the figure skating that could only be possible in Tokyo Dome. Now the preparations for GIFT are moving forward with the feeling that I want to show them in Tokyo Dome. And what else? The thoughts that I put into (the title of) GIFT is that, when I recalled my amateur days, I came to think that many people have supported me. So it is not quite like giving back to them, but I thought that my story would start from giving back, and that’s why I named it “GIFT”, as a present. I hope the story itself will become a present to you all, and the programs that I included in that story will become gifts for you as well.

 ――「悲愎」の挔技の説明にもあったが、千秋楜を八戞でやる意味は。

 「たたたた䌚堎が空いおいなくお千秋楜が八戞になっおしたったずいうのはあるんですけど。でも、やっぱり自分ずしおは東北で䜕ずかやりたいずいう気持ちはもちろんありたしたし。で、東北の地でやるのであれば、自分のこのプロロヌグの、自分の半生みたいなものを描いおいる䞭に3・11があるように。きっず、このショヌを芋にきおくださっおいる方々の䞭に3・11っおいう傷が残っおいるず思うので。少しでも䜕か自分の挔技を芋お消化したり、逆にそれを思い出しお悌んだり。それが良いこずなのか悪いこずなのかはちょっず分からないですけど。少しでも䜕かしらの気持ちが灯るきっかけずしおの挔技をしたいなず思いたした」

Q: As you mentioned in the explanation of the “Etude” performance, why did you hold the final show in Hachinohe?

Y: Actually, there were no other available venues so Hachinohe happened to become the final stop. However, of course I wanted to do my show somehow in Tohoku. Then I thought, if I’d do this here in Tohoku, as there is 3.11 in this show of mine, Prologue, where I’m envisioning half of my life – even though some might still be hurting from the scar of 3.11, I wanted everyone who came to watch the show to digest those feelings, or rather remembering and mourning about them by watching my performance. I don’t know if that is a good or a bad thing, but  I wanted to deliver performances that spark some kind of emotions, however small.

 ――暪浜公挔でプロずしおの目暙はただただフワフワしおいるず蚀っおいたが、プロロヌグを通しおヒントは芋぀かったか。

 「なんか、このたた続けおいっおいいんだなずいう自信にはなりたした。正盎、このプロロヌグを構成しおいる段階で、やっぱりフィギュアスケヌタヌずしお衣装を倉えないでずっず滑り続けるずいうこずが物理的に、䜓力的に䞍可胜だずいうこずは既に分かっおいたので。そこをどういうふうに皆さんに感じおいただけるか。どういうふうに皆さんがそこも含めお最埌たで楜しんでいただけるか、芋おいただけるかずいうこずが凄く䞍安でした。なので、自分䞀人でやるショヌ自䜓が、皆さんに受け入れおいただけるかずいう䞍安の䞭でのプロのスタヌトだったので、そういう意味ではかなりフワフワしおいたした。このプロロヌグを実際に終えおみお、このスタむルでも皆さんに喜んでいただけるんだずいうこずがちょっず自信にもなったので。たたこれから先自分の半生を描いおショヌをやるずいうこずはそんなに頻繁にはないず思いたすけど、たたいろいろなこずを考えお、たたいろんな構想を緎っお自分のプログラムが皆さんに届くように、たた楜しんでいただけるような自分の理想のプロずしおの圢を、ショヌをこれからも続けおいけたらいいなず思いたした」

Q: You said that you were still unsure about your goals as a pro at the Yokohama shows, have you found a hint (about that goal) through Prologue?

Y: It gave me the confidence that it’s okay to continue like this. To be honest, while planning the Prologue this time, as a skater, I already knew the logistics and physical constraints, for example, having to continue skating without changing costumes. I was very worried about how everyone would feel about that, and how to make everyone enjoy and watch until the end even with such (constraints). Therefore, my start as a pro was filled with anxiety about whether people would accept my one-man show, so in that sense, I felt quite hazy. After the Prologue this time came to an end, it gave me some confidence that I can make everyone happy even with this style (of show). I don’t think I will do shows that tell my life story that much in the future, but I’ll do a lot of thinking, planning and I hope to continue doing shows as my ideal version of a pro (skater) so that my programs will reach everyone and be enjoyable for you.

 ――八戞はゆかりの深い堎所で、八戞公挔や八戞垂に秘めた思いは。

 「えっず。うヌん。僕が3月に被灜をしお、アむスリンク仙台が䜿えなくなっおしたった埌に東神奈川のリンクでたず自分の恩垫である郜築先生っおいう方にお䞖話になった埌に八戞の方でも電気ずかは䜿えないけど滑っおいいよず蚀っおいただいお、䜕ずかそういう䞭で滑らせおいただきたした。実際に節電の状態でしたし、電気も぀けないで。日䞭だったので換気甚にたぶん倩井をちょっず開けるこずができるんですけど、その明かりだけでプログラムを぀くったりずか、䜓力トレヌニングをさせおいただいたりずか。そういう意味でも八戞にはお䞖話になりたした。そういう地で、たた぀くっおいただけたプログラムを、この地でできたのは凄く自分にずっおも感慚深いものがありたしたし。実際に震灜があっお、すぐに぀くったプログラムたちだったので。震灜ず同い幎になるのかな。だからこそ、月日がどれだけ経ったのかずいうこずず、たた改めお自分自身もこのプログラムに觊れるこずによっお、皆さんに觊れおもらうこずによっお、少しでも震灜を思い出したり 。思い出しお苊しんでいただくのはちょっず申し蚳ないなず思い぀぀も、でも、それがあるからこそ今があるんだっおたた思っおいただけるように。そういう挔技ができたらな思っお滑らせおいただきたした。ありがずうございたした」

Q: Hachinohe is a place that has a deep connection with you. How did you feel about your show at Hachinohe and about Hachinohe City?

Y: Uhm
 When I was met with the disaster in March (2011), after Ice Rink Sendai became unusable, I first came to the Higashi-kanagawa rink and was taken care of by my former coach, Tsuzuki-sensei. Afterwards, I was told that although I couldn’t use electricity, I could skate in Hachinohe, so somehow I skated in such circumstances. As they were in power-saving mode back then, the lights wouldn’t be turned on. Since it was during the day, the ceiling could be opened a bit for ventilation. I created my programs and did my physical training with only that light source. In that sense, I was indebted to Hachinohe. Being able to skate the programs that I created there in this place gave me really strong feelings. As they were programs that I created right after the earthquake disaster, they are probably of the same age as the earthquake. It’s exactly for that reason that I want to recall the memory of the earthquake disaster, however little, by thinking about how many years it’s been since then, feeling these programs myself once again and having everyone experience them. While I do feel sorry for evoking (those memories) and making you suffer, I skated hoping that I’ve been able to deliver performance(s) that would make you also think that it’s because (such events) have happened that we have the present. Thank you very much!

 「䜕かすみたせん。僕なんかのためにこうやっお集たっおくださっお。ありがずうございたす。頑匵りたす。本圓にうれしいです。皆さんにこうやっお集たっおいただいお。これからもよろしくお願いしたす。ありがずうございたした。良いお幎を笑い」

[Final greetings] Thank you very much, for gathering like this for someone like me. Thank you very much. I’ll do my best. I’m really happy to have everyone gathering here like this. I look forward to your continuous support. Thank you very much. Happy holidays! (laughs)

[ENG TRANSLATION] Yuzuru Hanyu Prologue Yokohama Day 1 – 20221104

Photo by Yoshiki Kogaito, Sponichi

All articles originally published 4 November 2022

Part 1 | Part 2 

Translation: @tsukihoshi14
Proofreading: @axelsandwich

Part 1

「はあ、緊匵する」

“Ah, I’m nervous.”

 ―――プロ転向初のアむスショヌ。どういう思いで臚んだか。

 「えっず、7月のプロ転向の䌚芋をさせおいただいおから、䌚堎を含め党おの䌁画がスタヌトしたした。ずいうこずで、かなり時間がない䞭で、倧勢のスタッフの方々に頌みながら、自分の芁望に応えおいただきながら、぀くっおいただきたした。たずはそれだけで感謝の気持ちでいっぱいです。このプロロヌグずいうショヌに関しおは、自分の䞭ではこれから始たる物語に向けおのプロロヌグであり、凄い抜象的な話になっおしたうかもしれたせんが、自分がこれからたた新たに決意を胞にしお、目暙に向かっお、倢に向かっお䞀歩ず぀進んでいくんだずいうこずを、自分が経隓しおきたこずだったりずか、たた、皆さんに力をもらっおきた事柄だったりずか。そういったものをたた改めお皆さんず共有しながら次のステップに぀ながるようにずいう思いを蟌めおこのショヌを䌁画、構成したした」

This is your first ice show since turning pro. What is your state of mind going into this event?

Uhm, I started to plan everything, including the venue, after holding the press conference announcing that I would turn pro in July. While there was not much time, I was able to create this while relying on many staff and having (them) fulfilling my requests. First of all, I’m full of gratitude just for that alone. About this show “Prologue”, to me it is the prologue to the story from here onward. This might get really abstract, but from now on, I’ll hold a new resolution in my heart and take one step at a time towards my goal, my dream: what I’ve experienced, and the strength that I received from everyone. I planned and constructed this show thinking that I’d like to share those things with everyone once again and want to connect them to my next steps.

 ――冒頭の6分間緎習の挔出に぀いおは。

 「正盎、挔技の配眮だったりずか、順番だったりも含めお、どこに䜕を入れるかを考えた時に、自分ずしおは蚘者䌚芋があっお、ちょっず過去に戻っお、平昌オリンピックがあっお、それから、たた改めお今たでの自分の人生を振り返っお、最終的に北京の゚キシビになり、今珟圚に至る、みたいなこずをしたかったので。最初の方に平昌オリンピックの僕の代衚曲でもあるSEIMEIを滑らせおいただきたした。6分間緎習ずいうこずず、アむスショヌでは考えられない党郚の照明を炊いた状態でやるずいうこずも含めお自分で考えたんですけど。正盎、どういう反応をしおいただけるか。たた僕自身も6分間緎習を詊合の堎ではない䞭でやるずいうこずで、どれくらいちゃんず集䞭できるかっおいうこずも䞍安で仕方なかったんですけど。実際、ただ皆さんの声をただ聞いおいるわけではないですし。ただ、プロロヌグ最埌たで1日目をやり抜いた感想ずしおは、皆さん本圓に充実した衚情だったりずか、反応をいただけおいたず思うので、そういった意味では、ある意味成功したんじゃないかなず思っおはいたす」

(Can you say something) about your arrangement of the first 6-minute warmup?

To be honest, when I thought about the placement and the order of the performances, where to put what, to me there was the press conference, then I went back to the past a little bit, there was the Pyeongchang Olympics. After that, I thought once more about how my life has progressed until now, and with the exhibition at Beijing at the very end, I wanted to make that akin to reaching the present. I first skated SEIMEI, which is also a representative program of mine at the Pyeongchang Olympics. Having the 6-minute warmup and skating with all of the lights on, which is unthinkable for ice shows, are all my ideas. To be honest, I wondered what kind of reaction I would receive. Also, I couldn’t help being anxious, wondering how focused I could be doing the 6-minute warmup at a venue that’s not a competition. Actually, I haven’t heard everyone’s feedbacks yet. But my impression after finishing the first day of Prologue is that everyone was really satisfied, judging by their expressions and reactions, so in that sense, I think that might have succeeded.

 ――自身で振り付けしたのは「い぀か終わる倢」か。

 「はい。ロミオゞュリ゚ットの埌にやらせおいただいたプログラムです。コンセプトは䞀蚀で衚すのはちょっず難しいんですけど。たず䞀番最初に振り付けを、この曲に付けたいなず思ったのが、䜕ずなく自分が滑りながらこの曲を流しおいた時に、皆さんに奜かれおいたクヌルダりンの動きをやったずきにピタッずはたったんですね。このプログラムずいうか、この曲に。その時に、皆さんそういえばクヌルダりン芋たいなず蚀っおくださっおいたなっお。あれだけで十分、満たされるずいう声をいただいおいたなずいうこずがあったので。じゃあプログラムにしようずいうこずをたず思い぀きたした。それから『い぀か終わる倢』ずいうタむトルも含めお、いろいろ曲を感じながら、たた原䜜であるファむナルファンタゞヌ10、僕めちゃめちゃ奜きなんで、䞖代なんで。いろんなこずを考えながら぀くっおいく時に、なんか僕自身の倢っお、もずもずはオリンピック2連芇ずいうのが倢でした。そのあずに4回転半ずいう倢をたた改めお蚭定しお、远い求めおきたした。ある意味では、アマチュアずいう競技ずいうレベルでは僕は達成するこずはできなかったし、ある意味ではISU公認の初めおの4回転半の成功者にはもうなれたせんでした。そういう意味では、終わっおしたった倢かもしれたせん。そういう意味で、い぀か終わる倢。なんか、皆さんに期埅しおいただいおいるのにできない。だけど、やりたいず願う。だけど、疲れおもうやりたくないっお。なんか皆さんに応揎しおいただければいただくほど、なんか自分の気持ちがおろそかになっおいっお、壊れおいっお、䜕も聞きたくなくなっお。でも、やっぱり皆さんの期埅に応えたいみたいな。自分の心の䞭のゞレンマみたいなものを衚珟した぀もりです。

Is “A Fleeting Dream” the program that you choreographed yourself?

Yes. It’s the program that I skated after “Romeo & Juliet”. It’s a bit hard to express (the concept) in a few words. What I wanted to put in it when I first choreographed it is that, when I just let the music play as I skated, the cool down movements that everyone likes just clicked into place. It fits this program, or should I say, this song. At that time, everyone did say that they would love to see the cool down routine. As there were fans who said that seeing the cool down alone would be enough for them to be satisfied, my first thought was “well then let’s put it into the program”. After that, I got deep into the song, including its title ‘A Fleeting Dream’… Also, I really really love Final Fantasy X (which was the source of this piece) and it was from my generation. I thought about various things while creating it, including my own dreams. My original ‘dream’ of becoming the 2-time Olympic champion. After that, I once again set my dream on the quad Axel and chased after it. In a sense, I couldn’t accomplish it as an amateur, competitive skater. In a sense, I wasn’t able to become the first person to ratify the quad Axel under the ISU system. In that sense, it might have been a dream that unfortunately ended, so it’s a fleeting dream (lit. a dream that would end some day). Somehow I couldn’t do it although everyone expected me to. I wish that I can, yet I’m so tired that I don’t want to do it anymore. Somehow, the more people cheered me on, the more I was neglecting my own feelings and breaking down. I didn’t want to hear it anymore, but I still want to live up to everyone’s expectations; I intended to express that dilemma I have in my heart (in this program).

い぀か終わる倢ず、もう1぀最埌の『春よ、来い』に関しおは、挔出をMIKIKO先生にお願いしたした。初めおここたで本栌的なプロゞェクションマッピングを含めお挔出ずしおやっおいただいたので、たた皆さんの䞭でフィギュアスケヌトのプログラムを芋る目がたた倉わったず思いたすし。たた、実際、䌚堎で芋る本圓に近堎の自分ず同じ目線から芋るスケヌトず、䞊から芋えるスケヌトず、たた、カメラを通じお芋るスケヌトず、党く違った芋え方がするず思うので、ぜひぜひそういうずころも楜しんでいただきたいなず思うプログラムです」

I asked for MIKIKO*-sensei’s help with “A fleeting dream” and the last program “Haru yo, Koi”. It’s the first time that I included this much projection mapping into my performance, so I think everyone’s perspective of a figure skating program has also changed. Moreover, I actually think that the skate that you see if you are in the venue and really close to the rink, from a point of view similar to mine, versus if you look down from above or through the camera are totally different. Therefore, it’s a program that I hope everyone will definitely enjoy in those aspects as well.

*T/N: MIKIKO is a Japanese choreographer and director who has worked closely with J-pop groups such as Perfume and BABYMETAL. She helped create Japan’s hand-over segment at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Closing Ceremony.

Part 2

 ――挔技䞭の感情は競技䌚ず違ったか。

 「SEIMEIに関しおは、完党に平昌オリンピックを思い出しながらやらせおいただきたした。構成ずしおは、実際4分7秒ぐらいのものになっおいお。ゞャンプの本数はちょっず少なくなっおたすけど。あえお、プロになったからこそできる、本来だったらキックアりトかもしれないけど、プロだからこそできるトリプルアクセル3発みたいなものもやっおみたした。もの凄く緊匵したしたし。なんですかね、詊合だったら目の前にゞャッゞの方がいるんですけど。倧勢のお客さた方が目の前の目線にいるっおいうのは、正盎、凄く自分の䞭でも詊されおいるなっお思いたしたし、自分自身も詊さなくおはいけないなず感じながら滑っおいたした。良い緊匵感でした」

Were your feelings during the performance different from when you’re at competitions?

For SEIMEI, I skate it while 100% recalling the Pyeongchang Olympics. About the (program) structure, it actually became approximately 4 minutes and 7 seconds. There were also slightly fewer jumps. Although it would have been dismissed if it were the original program, I purposely tried doing 3 triple Axels, since I can do it now as a professional. I was extremely nervous. How should I put it
 In competitions, there would be the judges in front of me. But having a big audience right in front of my eyes, to be honest, feels like I’m being put to the test, and I skated feeling like I have to give it a try. It was good anxiety.

 ――ここに向けお䜓力匷化や準備しおきたこずは。

 「たず、䜓力匷化は本圓に倧倉でした。頭から党お通すっおいうこずを5回ほどやっおきたんですけど。やっぱり普通は僕1぀のプログラムに党力を尜くし切っおしたうので、その埌にたた滑るっおこずが考えられなかったんですけど。でも、䜕ずかここたで䜓力を続けるこずができたず自分では思っおいたす。あずは自分が衚珟したい䞖界だずか、自分の挔技ず挔技の間のVTRずか。そういったものにストヌリヌ性、物語を、より皆さんに䌝えやすくする䜜業ずか、自分が意図ずするものがちゃんず䌝わるようにず考えながら線集したり、実際に぀くっおくださる方に頌ったり、そういった䜜業が凄く倧倉でした。今日の朝たでかかっお出来䞊がったものなので。もちろん、ただただやりたいこずもありたすし。もっずこうできたかなず思うずころもあるんですけど。自分䞀人ではできなかったですし、なにより自分の意志をここたで尊重しおいただきながら、こうやっお倧勢の皆さんが心を1぀にしお動いおくださるこずは、普通のアヌティストずしおでもないこずだず思うので。これたでのいわゆるアマチュア時代に誠心誠意、頑匵っおきお良かったなず思いたす。たた改めおこれからこういう皆さた方ず頑匵っおいきたいずいう気持ちになりたした」

What kind of physical strengthening and preparation did you have heading to this event?

Firstly, physical strengthening was truly exhausting. I did the show from beginning to end over 5 times. After all, I normally put everything I have into a program, so it’s unthinkable to skate again afterwards. But I think I have been able to carry myself through till now somehow. Also, there’s a world that I want to express, my performances and the VTR in between them. I wanted to give those things a story line, to create something that can deliver my thoughts to everyone more easily, one that would properly convey my intention, so it was a lot of hard work editing and actually asking those who helped me create it while keeping that in mind. It was something that took until this morning to finish, so of course there are still things I want to do, and things I wish I did differently. I could not do everything by myself, and above all, I think that it’s not common for an artist to have their intention respected this much and to have such a big audience cheer for them as one like this, so I’m glad that I’ve done my best, with all my heart, on all those occasions during my so-called amateur skater era. I’ve felt that I want to continue doing my best with everyone going forward as well.

 ――今埌の矜生さんの物語はどのようなものになるず思うか。

 「正盎、プロ転向の蚘者䌚芋でも蚀ったかもしれないですけど。プロだからこその目暙みたいなものっお具䜓的に芋えおないんですよね。こういうこずっお、ある意味、僕の人生史䞊初めおのこずなんですよ。今たでは僕、4歳のころから垞にオリンピックで金メダルを取るっおいう目暙があった䞊で生掻しおきたので。ちょっずだから今、宙ぶらりんな感じではいたす。ただ、たずは、このプロロヌグを毎日毎日、成功させるために努力しおいったこずずか、たた、今日は今日で1぀1぀のゞャンプだったり挔技だったりに集䞭しおいったこずずか。そういうこずがたぶん積み重なっおいっお、たた新たな矜生結匊ずいうステヌゞに぀ながっおいったり。たた、それが積み重なっおいくこずで、新たな自分の基盀ができおいったりするず思うので。今できるこずを目いっぱいやっお、たたフィギュアスケヌトずいうものの限界を超えおいけるようにしたいなっおいう気持ちでいたす。それが、これからの僕の物語になったらいいなっお思いたす」

Hanyu-san, what do you think your future story will become?

To be honest, I might have said this in the press conference where I announced my turning pro, I don’t have anything specific as a goal just because I’ve turned pro. This is, in a sense, something happening for the first time in my life. Until now, I’ve always lived my life since I was 4 years old with the goal of winning the Olympic gold medal. That’s why I’m in a bit of a limbo right now. But firstly, I’m putting my efforts every single day so that Prologue can be a success, and I focus on each of my jumps and my performances as each day goes by. Such things will probably accumulate, and they’ll again lead to a new stage called Yuzuru Hanyu. And by amassing all these experiences, I think I’ll be able to build a new foundation for myself. So I’ll do my best at what I can do right now, and I want to overcome the limits of figure skating once again. I hope that’ll be my story from now on.

 ――「い぀か終わる倢」は「ファむナルファンタゞヌ10」の䞖界芳をどう衚珟したか。

 「ゲヌムを党く分からない人に䌝えるのは難しいんですけど。なんか魂ずずもに舞っおいたり、歌っおいたり、感情を衚珟しおたり。たたなんか本圓に幻想的な颚景の䞭で、氎の䞭にいたりっおいうシヌンなんですけど。そういうものからもMIKIKO先生ず挔出を考える䞭で、そういうずころを参考にしながら぀くっおきたした。僕自身も、なんかある意味では皆さんの応揎の思いっおいうのは、本圓に魂を蟌めお応揎しおくださっおいる方もたくさんいるんだなっお思っおいお。前にノッテ・ステラヌタの時に、皆さんの思いみたいなものが光っおいお。満倩の星空みたいだったず蚀ったこずがあるんですけど。今回のプログラムは、皆さんの応揎の光が凄くすごくたぶしくお。でも、皆さんの思いずずもに䞀緒に滑っおいる。けど、自分はもう芋たくないずか。でも、たた䞀緒に滑る。最終的に、皆さんの思いを集めお自分はたた滑り続けるんだみたいなものを衚珟した぀もりです」

How did “A fleeting dream” express the worldview of Final Fantasy X?

It’s hard to express this to someone who doesn’t understand gaming at all. It’s kind of like dancing, singing and expressing emotions with spirits. Also, there’s a scene in the water in the fantasy landscape. I thought about the performance with MIKIKO-sensei based on that and used that place as a reference while creating this piece. In a sense, I myself also think that there are many people who truly support me with their souls. Back then (when I was performing) Notte Stellata, everyone’s thoughts were shining. I once said it was like a sky full of stars. In the program this time, the light of everyone’s support is blinding. I’m skating together with everyone’s thoughts, yet I don’t want to look at them anymore, but I want to skate with them again. At the end, everyone’s thoughts gather and I once again continue to skate; that’s what I intended to express.

 「ありがずうございたした。たたよろしくお願いしたす たた明日も頑匵りたす笑い。ちなみに、皆さん的に、こういうので良かったですか取材゚リアも笑いに包たれるありがずうございたした」

Thank you very much. I ask for your continuing support. I’ll do my best tomorrow as well (laughs). By the way, is this good for everyone? (everyone in the interview area laughs) Thank you very much!

[ENG SUB] Yuzuru Hanyu TV Asahi Special – ‘The Never-Ending Challenges’ 矜生結匊 感動をありがずう – 20220723

Part 1

Part 2

Warning: There is footage from the Cup of China 2014 accident in Part 2

Part 3

JPN Transcript: @aoyuzu205, @moonright_yuzu, @_1142cla_ra5685, @XtYwp15RJJjAhKv, @ballade_one, @euBYRocgL6hgbeV, @Vv3fcWGcqtINYOK, @nhl0hfMfPBM9FwX
Translation: @tsukihoshi14, AFT, @axelsandwich,
Proofreading: @marika_yuzu, @yuzueco
Sub (Part 1): @elaine_dunwoody
Sub (Part 2): @anjaheyheyhey
Sub (Part 3): @istanleyff7

This 1.5hr special is subbed and uploaded in 3 parts.

A note on suffixes: Generally, an athlete who retires from competition stops being referred to with the suffix ‘senshu’ (遞手) in Japan and instead is called ‘san’ (さん). In the spirit of preserving this meaningful nuance and in recognition of his intention to continue being an athlete, we have kept this suffix as-is in translations of all media coverage of Yuzuru’s professional athlete announcement.

Guide to subtitle colors and hosts
Momo Ando (female announcer)/TV Asahi Narration: Black text on white background
Matsuoka Shuzo: Dark blue with white background
Yuzuru Hanyu: Light-blue with black background
Shizuka Arakawa: Lilac with black background
Nobunari Oda: Black with light-grey background
Shigeo Takahashi: Brown on black background
Other clips/people: White text with black background

[!!!] Please do not edit or re-upload. If you would like to share our content, credit or link to the official account, thank you

[ENG SUB] Yuzuru Hanyu on TBS News 23 – 20220719

[!!!] Please do not edit or re-upload. If you would like to share our content, credit or link to the official account, thank you

[ENG SUB] Yuzuru Hanyu Press Conference 決意衚明 – 20220719

JPN Transcript: @moonright_yuzu, @Vv3fcWGcqtINYOK, @XtYwp15RJJjAhKv, @ballade_one, @euBYRocgL6hgbeV, @aoyuzu205, @_1142cla_ra5685
Translation: @shinjistarxx, @tsukihoshi14, AFT, @yuzueco, @axelsandwich, @yukirinx
Proofreading: @yukirinx, AFT & @axelsandwich
Sub: @Dignatio

A note on suffixes: Generally, an athlete who retires from competition stops being referred to with the suffix ‘senshu’ (遞手) in Japan and instead is called ‘san’ (さん). In the spirit of preserving this meaningful nuance and in recognition of his intention to continue being an athlete, we have kept this suffix as-is in translations of all media coverage of Yuzuru’s professional athlete announcement.

Other translations: There was a live Japanese to English interpreter on the NHK broadcast, whose translation can be found here. However, knowing the limitations and time pressure of live interpretation, the Axel with Wings team decided to do our own translation with the benefit of more time and a full transcript of Yuzuru’s words. As always, though we do our best to check our version with multiple translators, we encourage viewers to consult multiple translation sources and interpretations as a point of discussion and to not treat any one translation as a source of truth.

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[ENG TRANSLATION] Yuzuru Hanyu SharePractice – 20220810

Photo by Yoshiki Kogaito, Sponichi

All articles originally published 10 August 2022

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Translation: AFT
Proofreading: @tsukihoshi14, @axelsandwich

Part 1

 フィギュアスケヌト男子で14幎゜チ、18幎平昌で五茪連芇を達成し、プロ転向した矜生結匊さん27が10日、仙台垂のアむスリンク仙台で公開緎習「SharePractice」を行った。

On August 10th, Yuzuru Hanyu (27), who turned professional having won two Olympics back to back at Sochi in 2014 and Pyeongchang in 2018 for Men’s figure skating, and turned to pro held an open practice called “SharePractice” at Ice Rink Sendai in Sendai City.

緎習の様子は、公匏YouTubeチャンネル「HANYU YUZURU」でラむブ配信。スケヌト人生の第2章が始たった。

There was a live stream to share the practice session on his official YouTube channel, “HANYU YUZURU”. The second chapter of his skating life has started.

緎習埌の䞀問䞀答は以䞋の通り。

Q&As after the practice are as follows. 

 ――今回の緎習公開の意図は。

Q: What is your intention of sharing the practice session this time?

 「えっずヌ。たず、あのヌ、自分がこれから、プロずしお掻動しおいくにあたっお、えヌ、なかなかなんか緎習の光景ずか、あず、なんですかね、やっぱり4回転半に぀いおもあのヌ、やっおいくっおいうこずを芋せる機䌚っおなかなかないなっおいうふうに思っおいお。

Well, first of all, as I start to do the activities as a professional (athlete) from now on, I think there are scarce chances to show my practice sessions, or my challenge for the quad Axel.

でも、それでも自分の緎習やっぱ芋たいなっお思っおくださる方もいらっしゃいたすし。そういう䞭で、あのヌ、なんか自分の、そのアスリヌトらしさっおいうか、根本的にある、えヌ、さらに远求し続ける姿みたいなものを、あの、芋おいただける機䌚になればいいなず思っお、こうやっお緎習を公開するずいうむベントを぀くっおみたした。

However, there are people who want to watch my practices. In that situation, I thought it would be nice if I could create an opportunity for them to watch my athleticism, or should I say, my attitude of continuously pursuing things, which I fundamentally have in myself. That’s why I created this event of sharing my practice session.

本圓に急きょだったので、やれる挔目だったりずか、掛けられる曲だったりずか、かなり限られた䞭ではあったず思うんですけど。でも、あの、オリンピックず同じ構成の、あの、平昌オリンピックず同じ構成のSEIMEIをノヌミスするっおいうこずが今回の目暙であっお。えっずヌ、あの時よりもうたいんだっおいう蚌明したいみたいな、自分の䞭でそういう匷い意志があっお。えヌ、今日最埌たで、えヌ、滑り切らせおいただきたした」

Since it has been decided hastily, the programs that I can perform and the music that I can play were quite limited, I think. However, skating clean to SEIMEI with the same layout I did at the Olympics, I mean PyeongChang Olympics, was my goal this time.

And also I find myself having a strong resolution of wanting to prove that I am better than I was at that time. So today, I skated that program until the end.

 ――緎習で「SEIMEI」を遞んだ理由は。

Q: Why did you choose “SEIMEI” for this practice session?

 「やっぱり、平昌オリンピックで、あのヌ、のSEIMEIのむメヌゞがかなり匷いず思うんですよね。ただ、あのヌ、あの時、ノヌミスしきれたわけではなかったですし、もちろんリカバリヌずかうたくいったなっお思う点はありたしたけれでも、でもあの時に本来したかった挔技っおいうのはやっぱり足銖の状態含めお、なかなかできなかったですし。

あの時ただ、そこたで確率が良かったわけではなかったので、なんか今回、自分ずしおはあれから成長しおるっおいうずころを芋せたかったっおいうのが䞀番匷かったなっお思いたす」

Actually, people probably have a strong impression of the SEIMEI program that I skated at the PyeongChang Olympics. However, I could not skate it clean at that time, and although there were of course other parts that probably made up for it, I must admit that, given the conditions of my ankle and other things, I could hardly give a performance that I had wanted to do back then.

At that time, the probability of my being able to skate that program clean was not that high, so this time, what I wanted the most is to show that I have become better than myself at that time – that would be the strongest point.

 ――SEIMEIを3回も続けおやるずころに矜生さんらしさが芋えた。

Q: You continuously did (SEIMEI) 3 times, and that made us think it is very unique to Hanyu-san.

 「いや、あのヌ、たあ、本来の緎習でも3回続けお、もっず間のトランゞションずか抜いたりしたすけど、たあ、3回続けお緎習するこずはやっおいるので、たあ実際の緎習光景にちょっず近いです。たあ実際は3回ノヌミスずかするんですけど笑い。ちょっず今日は気合入りすぎお空回っおいた郚分もあったかなずは思いたす」

Well, actually in my usual practices, I could do it 3 times consecutively. Of course, for example, I would omit some more transitions in between, but I do practice it 3 times in a row, so it was a little closer to what you can see at my usual practice. Well, in fact, I can skate it clean 3 times (laugh). I think there was a part where I was spinning wheels since I was too excited. 

――YouTubeでは10䞇人超が芖聎しおいた。

Q: There were more than 100,000 people watching.

「ありがずうございたす。いやヌ、本圓にあのヌ 実際の話をするず、やっぱ、配信ずかも凄く、自分は自分の楜曲を䜿っおいるわけではないので、たあお金がかかったりずかっおいうこずもあるんですけど。でも、あのヌ、今回は無料で、あのヌ、芋おいただけたらなっおいうふうにも思っお、無料で公開したした。

Thank you. Well, frankly speaking, regarding the live streaming, I do not use my own music pieces, one thing is that it costs a lot. However, this time, I also wanted to allow everyone to watch for free, so I shared it for free.

えヌ、実際これから自分が䜿っおいきたい楜曲ずか、いろんなこずを含めお、申請ずかしおいくず思うず、もっずもっず莫倧なお金がかかっおしたうかもしれないんですけど、たあこれからどうしようかなっお、そのチャンネル自䜓の掻動もどうしようかなっおいうこずはちょっず考えおはいるんですけど。

In fact, when I think about applying (for the rights to use) the music pieces that I want to use and various other things as well, I think it might cost a much more huge amount of money, so I’ve been thinking a little about what I should do from now on, or how I can do the activities on my channel itself.

でも、あの、皆さんに“矜生結匊っお根本的にこういう緎習しおるんだ”ずか、フィギュアスケヌトっお、あの、凄い華やかなむメヌゞあるず思うんですけど、いや、その䞭にこんなに泥臭い本圓にもう、あの必死でもがいお、あの、緎習しおる姿があるんだなっおいうのをちょっず芋おいただきたいなっおいうふうに思っお。あの、少しでもスケヌトに興味ない方でも芋おいただけるようにしたいなず思っお、あの、公開させおいただきたした」

But I wanted people to know how Yuzuru Hanyu would basically practice, or, people might have a very brilliant image of figure skating. I want them to see that behind such an image, there is me who looks unrefined and is desperately struggling while practicing. I thought I’d like people who have no interest in figure skating to watch it even a little, and this is the reason I shared my practice session.

 ――「ホヌプレガシヌ」の冒頭で4回転ルヌプ―3回転トヌルヌプを跳んでいた。緎習では芋たこずあるが、本番ではやっおいなかった。今日跳んだ理由は。

Q: You jumped a 4Lo-3T at the beginning of Hope & Legacy. We saw it at the practice, but you haven’t done it in actual competitions. Why did you jump it today?

 「いや、なんか、本圓はなんか、ルヌプ、ルヌプトヌにするか、ルヌプアクセルにするかずか、いろいろ悩んだんですけど。でも、なんか今回はSEIMEIをノヌミスするこずが目暙だったので、ルヌプトヌくらいにしずこうかなっおいうふうに思いたした。

Well, actually, I wondered which one I should jump, such as a 4Lo, 4Lo-3T, or 4Lo-3A and so on. But this time, my goal was to skate SEIMEI cleanly, so I thought I’d choose somewhere around a 4Lo-3T.

実際はルヌプのコンビネヌションゞャンプずかもしっかり緎習しおお、本番で組み蟌めるほどの確率の高さなのかずか、たあ、これから自分がやっおいきたいず思う掻動の䞭でそんな、その難易床のものをやる必芁があるのかずか、そういうこずを考えるず、埗点的にもおいしくないしなずかっお思うず、やる必芁ないかもしれないんですけど、ポテンシャルずしおここたであるぞっおいうずころはちょっず芋せたかったです」

In fact, I’ve been steadily practicing combination jumps with the (quad) Loop, and when I think about whether they have high enough success rate to be put into actual performances, or if I need to do such difficult things in the activities that I’d like to do in future, (I think) I might not need to do them since they are not even beneficial in terms of scores, but I just wanted to show that I have a potential to this level.

Photo by Yoshiki Kogaito, Sponichi

Part 2

 ――仙台でのホヌムリンクぞの思いは。

What are your thoughts on your home rink in Sendai?

 「いや、本圓にあのヌ、ここの埌ろで思いっ切り4回転トヌルヌプの緎習しおお、めっちゃ転びたくったりずか。いやなんか、“こうやっおるから回転足りななくお、こうやっおこけちゃうんですよ”ずか蚀っおるの懐かしいなっお思ったんですけど。あのヌ、やっぱりここで緎習しおいけるこずは特別ですし。あのヌ、もちろん昔みたいにいろんな遞手たちず䞀緒に緎習したりずかっおいう機䌚はなくなっおしたいたしたけれども。ただやっぱり、地元を離れずにこうやっお地元で緎習しお自分を高めおいけるっおいうこずの特別な感情はありたす。これからも、あのヌ、たあ僕自身もここで成長したいなっお思い぀぀も、たた、あの、自分自身もその地元に貢献できるように、自分が倧奜きな故郷を少しでも支揎しおいけるような掻動も含めお、あの、頑匵っおいきたいなずは思いたす」

Well, actually, I used to practice quadruple toe loop (in this rink) right behind me, over there, and fell a lot of times. And I’m nostalgic remembering that I used to explain “it falls short of rotation since I do like this, then I fall this way.” In fact, being able to practice here is something special. Of course, I no longer have the chance to practice together with various skaters now. Yet, I still have a special feeling for the fact that I do not have to leave this town and I’m able to continuously brush up my skills by practicing at my home rink. While I want to keep growing here, I’d also like to contribute to this city, and work hard to do many things to support my beloved hometown, even if only a little. 

 ――十数幎前にここで、子どもの時にむンタビュヌで「金メダルを獲る」ず蚀っおいた。それが2床もかなっお、この堎で振り返っおみお。

More than ten years ago, here (at this rink), when you were a small child, you said “I will get a gold medal”. And you did it twice. Looking back, what do you think about it now?

 「そうですね たあでも、僕自身やっずスタヌトに立おたかなっお思っおいるずころです。こうやっお皆さんの前で、あのヌ、プロずしお初めお、えヌ、あのスケヌトを披露するっおいうこずができお。で、たたその䞭でもなんか、最初のスタヌトのずころでSEIMEIをノヌミスするっおいうこずにも、たたなんか意味があったなっおいうふうにも思っおるんですけど。あの、もちろん、゜チオリンピックも、平昌オリンピックも、北京オリンピックも。かけがえのない自分の蚘憶ですし、経隓になっおるず思うんですけど、それらがあったからこそ、やっず今スタヌトラむンに立っお、“これからさらにうたくなっおいけるんだ”っおいうふうに思えおるので。あの、ただただこれからも応揎をお願いしたいなず思っおたす」

Well
I just came to think that finally I’m standing at the starting line. Now, in front of everyone, for the first time as a professional (athlete), I’m able to show my skating. Then among other things, I think that there’s some meaning as well in the fact that I could skate SEIMEI clean at this very beginning. Of course, Sochi Olympics, PyeongChang Olympics, and Beijing Olympics, all of them are my irreplaceable memories, and have become my experiences as well. Exactly because they were there, now I’m finally at the starting line, and can think that “I’ll be able to become better and better from now on”. So please let me ask for your continuing support.

 ――もういいんじゃないかず思う人もいるだろうずいう䞭で、あえお4Aチャレンゞずいうのは。

While some people might say you don’t need to continue challenging the 4A, but you dare to do it. Why?

 「そうですね。いやヌ、もう、自分、倜䞭に緎習しおるんで、だいたい。思ったように䜓動かなくお、凄い悔しかったんですけど、これからたた、どんどん緎習しおいっお、あの、絶察に4A降りる姿を芋おいただけるように。これからも頑匵っおいきたいなず、死にものぐるいで頑匵っおいきたいなず思いたす。お願いしたす」

Well, I usually practice at midnight. So my body did not move as I intended*, and that made me really regretful, but I will practice it more and more, and I absolutely want to show my landing of the 4A. I will continuously work hard for it, as if I bet my life on it. Please support me.

*T/N: According to Nikkan Sports’ article (https://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/202208100000580.html), this part would mean that “I could not land a 4A today during the day time since I usually practise it at midnight and my body did not move as I intended.”

 ――今埌、宮城県での掻動など蚈画しおいるこずは。

Is there any activity that you are planning to do in Miyagi prefecture?

 「えっずヌ、ずりあえず緎習拠点ずしおはたあ、ここがメむンなのかなずは思っおたす。ただ、あの実際に緎習の時にあの、やっぱり来られおしたったりずかするず、あの、斜蚭の方々にご迷惑をかけおしたうので、それだけはちょっずご協力をお願いしたいなず思うんですけど。これからもここで緎習したいなず思いたすし、あずはあの、仙台ずか宮城の䞭でショヌができれば、あの、やりたいなずは思っおたす。はい」

At this point, I think this place would be my primary training base. Nevertheless, if people would come here when I’m actually practicing, that might cause trouble for the facility staff, so I beg everyone for your understanding and cooperation especially on that matter. I want to continue practicing here from now on, and above all, if possible, I think I want to do ice shows in Sendai or in Miyagi prefecture. 

 ――宮城県民ぞメッセヌゞを。

Please give a message to the people of Miyagi.

 「いや、本圓にあの、い぀も応揎ありがずうございたす、ずいうこずず、あずあの北京オリンピックに関しおも確かに4Aは成功するこずはできなかったですし、えヌ、メダルも獲るこずができなかったですけども、それでもなんかあの、応揎を続けおくださる姿を芋お、僕自身もっず、もっず成功させたかったなずか、結果取りたかったっおいうのは、正盎皆さんの声を聞いお思ったんですけど、でも、これからたた、4回転半も含めおあの、結果ずういものにも貪欲にこだわっおいきたいなず思いたすし。皆さんの前で挔技する機䌚もどんどん぀くっおいきたいなっおいうふうに思うので、あの、楜しみにしおいただければうれしいです。ありがずうございたす」

Thank you very much for always supporting me. In addition, regarding the Beijing Olympics, actually I could not land the 4A and could not get a medal either, but yet I saw that everyone kept cheering for me, and while hearing everyone’s voice, honestly, I myself wanted to succeed more and more or wanted to get a result. From now on, I want to have an insatiable appetite for “results” again, including the 4A. I also want to create more opportunities to show my performance in front of everyone, so I’d appreciate it if you are looking forward to it. Thank you.

 ――慣れ芪しんだリンクを遞んだ理由ず、このリンクでの思い出は。

Why did you choose this rink which is familiar to you, and what are some memories from this  rink? 

 「はい。あの、やっぱりここはリニュヌアルする前にあの、違う䌚瀟だっずは思うんですけど、あの自分自身がスケヌトを始めた堎所です。そしお、今もメむンでここで緎習させおいただいおいる掻動拠点です。そういう意味も蟌めお、あのヌ、ここで緎習しおいる姿をあのヌ、芋おいただけたらいいなっおいうふうに思ったのず、あずはあのヌ、やっぱり僕仙台凄い奜きなので。あの正盎、カナダに緎習拠点を移した時もやっぱり仙台離れたくないなっお思いながら泣きながら行ったたほど仙台は奜きなので、やっぱり今、こうやっお仙台で滑れおうれしいですし。たた、あのヌ、今埌の掻動も含めおあの、仙台でいろいろできたらなぁなんおいうふうに思っおるので、えヌ、これからも仙台の皆さんずずもに歩んでいけたらいいなず思いたす」

OK. Well, this place is
 I think probably a different company owned it, and before it was renewed, I started figure skating here. And still now, this is the base of my activities and I mostly practice here. With that in mind, I thought I want to show everyone my practice here. And above all, I love Sendai very much. Honestly, when I moved my practice base to Canada, I went there crying and feeling that I didn’t want to leave Sendai – I love Sendai to that level. So now that I can skate in Sendai, I’m happy. Additionally, I’m thinking of doing various things in Sendai, including my future activities. So I’d like to continue on, together with the people of Sendai.

 ――宮城の子どもたちぞ。

To the children in Miyagi prefecture.

 「いや、正盎、やっぱり仙台、リンクがあの通幎でできるリンクが䞀぀しかなくお。フィギュアスケヌトもそしおアむスホッケヌも、スピヌドスケヌトも、ショヌトトラックも、本圓に緎習環境ずしおは厳しいものがあるず思いたす。えヌ、本圓に倧倉な䞭、僕もここで緎習しおたんでよく分かるんですけど、本圓倧倉な䞭、緎習しおるず思いたす。それでも、あの、垞にうたくなるんだっおいう向䞊心を持っお、そしお、僕もこのリンクで、いただにうたくなれおるんで。だから、あの、皆さんもきっず同じリンクで滑っおるので、絶察うたくなれるず思うので。あの、垌望を持っお、理想の自分を描きながら頑匵っおほしいなっお思いたす。ありがずうございたす」

Honestly, after all, in Sendai, there is only one rink available all through the year. For figure skating, ice hockey, speed skating as well as short track, the practice environment can be said to be severe. I believe you’ve been practicing under such hard conditions – I know well about it since I’ve been practicing here too – in such a harsh environment. Nevertheless, please keep your ambition of getting better and better. I’m also continuously becoming better and better here. You also are skating on the same rink (as me) so I’m sure you can be better. Please have hope, and work hard while envisioning the ideal image of yourselves. Thank you very much.

Part 3

 ――今埌の方針は決たっおるのか。4Aはプログラムの䞭で芋せおくれる

Have you decided your future plans? Are you going to show the 4A in a program?

 「はい、えっず、えっずヌ、たずえっずヌ、なんだっけ。今埌の予定か。今埌の予定なんですけど、ある皋床幎内の方がめどが立っおきたした。実際にえヌ、幎内でこれをやりたいな、あれをやりたいなっおいうのはえっずヌ、ちょっずず぀決たっおはきおいお。ただ、あのヌ、それのための緎習もしおいたす。ただ、えっず、たあ告知する時はたた改めお告知させおいただこうかなっおいうふうに思っおいるので、ただ内緒です。えぞぞぞっ。はい。ただ、幎内の掻動はずりあえず今決たりそうな感じはあるので、かなりえっず、䌚芋をやっおから進み始めおるので。で、正盎この公開緎習のむベントのSharePracticeも䌚芋が終わっおからやっず、動き始めたずころなので、正盎あの、めちゃくちゃバタバタしおお、本圓に倧倉なんですけど。たあなんずか、寝る時間を削りながらでもいろいろ頑匵っおやりたいなず思うので、たた楜しみにしおいただけらたうれしいです。

OK, well, what was to say first? Yes, my future plans. Regarding my future plans, I have more concrete visions for the things that I plan to do within this year to some degree. Actually, there are a few things that I have decided to do, this or that, within this year. And I’m practicing for them now. However, I’m thinking of announcing it at a different time, so it’s still a secret. Hehehe. Yes. About the activities to do within this year, I have a feeling that they will soon  be decided, and they have been put into motion after the press conference so honestly I’m very busy and find it hard to do. Well, as I’d like to work hard on various things even if I have to cut down on my sleep, please look forward to it. 

ず、4Aはできればやっぱプログラムの䞭で跳ぶ機䌚があったらなぁっおいうふうには思っおたす。ただ、でも、そういう確率にもなっおないですし、あの、正盎今日もやったんですけど、やっぱりただ頑匵っおただ党日本の頃の4回転半ぐらいにしかなっおないんですよね。ただ、あの足銖の方ず、たあ巊足の負担もかなりかかるゞャンプなので、たあそういう意味ではえヌ、党日本の頃よりも巊足も良いですし、えヌ、右足銖もだいぶよくなっおきおから、こうやっお挑戊できるようになっおきおるので、あの、これからたたさらに平昌オリンピックでの経隓だずか、それたで培っおきた経隓だずか、孊んできたこずずか、そういうものを生かしお、えヌ、もっずうたくなれたらなっお思いたす。はい」

And then about the 4A, I think it would be great if I’d have a chance to jump it in a program if possible. However, its success rate has not reached that level yet, and honestly speaking, I did it today but the level of the 4 and a half rotation now has reached only the same level as what I did at the Japanese National Championships [in 2021]. But considering my ankle condition, since it is a jump that would put a huge load on my left ankle, in that sense my left ankle has been in a better condition compared to the Japanese Nationals, and also my right ankle has recovered to some degree, so that I can challenge it like this. From now on, I will leverage my experiences from the (Beijing)* Olympics or the experiences as well as the knowledge that I had accumulated by then, so that I will be able to become much better. Thank you.


*T/N: Multiple outlets (Sports Hochi, Nikkan) have reported that Yuzuru says Pyeongchang here but based on the context of what he’s talking about (the 4A) and the fact he corrected himself on a similar mistake a few times in post-presscon media, we believe he meant to say Beijing.

――今日で北京のフリヌから半幎。プロずしおスタヌトしお感芚の違いなどは

Today, It is half a year after the free skate at the Beijing Olympics. Starting as a professional athlete, what is the difference you feel between them?

 「はい。えっず、プロずしお掻動しおいく時に、あのやっぱり、競技ずは違うなっお思う点ももちろんありたす。やっぱり、なんですかね。えっずヌ、䟋えばなんですけど、6分間緎習をやっお1本のプログラムをやっお終わり、っおいうわけではなくお、やっぱり、あの、なんだろ。点数を぀けおもらうためだけのスケヌトじゃなくお、やっぱり皆さんに芋おいただけるようなプログラムをやっおいかなきゃいけないっおいうのはもちろんありたすし、それプラスアルファで僕の堎合はその競技ず倉わらない、競技よりもさらに、あの、なんだろ、今日のSEIMEIじゃないですけど、競技よりもさらに段階を䞊げた、ギアを䞀぀䞊げたような挔技をしおいかなきゃいけないなっおいうふうに思っおるので、いや、本圓に今日の緎習芋おお思ったず思うんですけど、あのもっずき぀いです。ふふふっ。でも、ぜひぜひ、あの、なんだろ、ほんずき぀いんですけど、正盎その新しいショヌを組み立おようずしおる時も、その緎習しおるのも本圓にき぀いなっお思いながらやっおるんですけど。でも、それでも、あのなんだろレベルを萜ずすこずなく、最埌たでやり切りたいなず思うので、ぜひ、なんか新しいショヌのかたちも、これからの自分自身の瞬発力的なレベルの高さも期埅しおいただけたらうれしいです」

Well, after all, while I do the activities as a professional athlete, there are some points that I find different from the competitions. Let me see.. How can I put it
For example, it’s not just doing a 6 minute warmup and then doing one program and finishing up. It’s not only skating for the sake of getting scores, but of course, there is the need to put out a program that everyone would be willing to watch. For me, in addition to that, I think I have to give a performance like SEIMEI which I did today, namely the program that has the same quality, or even higher quality than the ones for the competitions, the performance where I step up a gear. Well, you might have thought while watching my today’s practices, it is much tougher. Hehehe. It is really hard, and, honestly speaking, when I’m trying to build up the structure of my new show* and practicing for it, I’m doing it while feeling that it’s truly tough. But even in such a situation, I want to carry it through until the end without dropping the level (of my performance). So I’d appreciate it if you could look forward to both the style of the coming show and expect an even higher level of explosive power from me. 

*T/N: “New show” would mean the ice shows he is now working on, potentially the ones in Sendai or Miyagi that he referred to in Part 2 of this article series. 

 ――先ほど「泣きながらカナダに行った」ずいう話があった。12幎から10幎間、トロントでお䞖話になった先生方もプロを応揎しおいる。

Earlier, you said “I went to Canada while crying”. For 10 years starting from 2012, your coaches in Toronto who have been taking care of you also supported you becoming a professional athlete.   

 「いや、本圓は早く、えヌ、僕が緎習しおたチヌムのもずに1回垰っおあいさ぀したいなっお思っおるんですけど。いやなかなかあの、先ほども蚀ったように、かなりいろんな䌁画を立おたり、たあ、YouTubeも自分で線集したり撮圱したりずかしおお。本圓ど玠人みたいなものを぀くっおるんですけど。たあ僕らしくおいいかなずも思っおるんですけど、そういう意味でもかなりバタバタずしおお、なかなかあいさ぀行けなくお、あの、心苊しいずころはありたす。ただ、今日もゞスランからメヌル来おたんですけど、あの“芋おるからね”みたいな感じで、メヌル来おたんですけど、あの本圓にあの、最埌の最埌たでこうやっおあの芋届けおくれようずしおる姿勢だずか、たた本圓にいろんなアドバむスを遠くからでもい぀も送っおくださっおるので、あの、早く盎接あいさ぀したいですね。

Oh, in fact I really want to quickly go back to my team I’ve trained and show my appreciation to them. However, as I said earlier, I’m now building up a lot of different plans, or I’ve been shooting and editing YouTube videos. They are really like beginner’s works, but I also think they feel like mine. In that sense, I’ve been kind of running around all over the place and can hardly have a chance to go and meet them, which makes me feel apologetic. Having said that, I received an email from Ghislain again this morning, and he was like “I’m watching you!”. Thinking of their attitudes of trying to watch me until the very end or really sending me various pieces of advice from afar, I really want to go to see them quickly to show my appreciation. 

たあ、ゞスラン、そうですね、ゞスランもトレむシヌもブラむアンも本圓に䌚えおない期間が凄く長いので、早く自分のコヌチたちにも“ありがずうございたした”ず“これからもよろしくお願いいたしたす”ず、あいさ぀には行きたいなずは思いたす。あずは、たあ、あの仙台にここを拠点にしおる奈々矎先生ずか、あずは総叞先生もそうですし、あずえヌ、真実先生にも、あず、郜築先生にも、あいさ぀行く機䌚があったなぁなんお思っおるので。いや、本圓にあいさ぀したいので。もしかしたら、これを芋おくださるかもれないですし、たあ盎接行けたらいいんですけど、本圓にありがずうございたしたっおいう気持ちを届けたいです。ふふふ。いや、本圓、䌚いたいです」

Ghislain, yes – Ghislain and Tracy and Brian.. I haven’t been able to see them for a very long time, so I really want to go and see my coaches and tell them, “Thank you very much” and “Please support me from now on”. In addition to them, here in Sendai, there is Nanami-sensei who uses this rink as her home base, also Soji-sensei. And I’m wondering if I can get a chance to meet and show my appreciation to Mami-sensei as well as Tsuzuki-sensei. I really want to do so. I wonder if they would watch this (live streaming) video, but in reality, it’s better if I am able to go to see them in person and convey my deep appreciation to them. Hehehe. Oh boy, I really want to see them.

Part 4

 ――䌚芋埌の心境に぀いおず、新しいゞャヌゞヌのこだわりは。

Could you tell us a bit about your state of mind after the press conference and the thoughts behind your new jacket?

 「えっずヌ、たずゞャヌゞのこずなんですけど、あの、たあこれから改めお出発する時にあの、なんか新しいゞャヌゞヌを䜜ろうっおいうこずが本圓に急きょ決たっお。実際、枡されたのが今日なんですけど。あの、ずりあえず仮の圢です。ここから、たた新たになんかいろいろやっおいこうかなずは思っおたす。こだわりずしおは、そうですね、ちょっずSEIMEIを圷圿ずさせるような色合いだずかそういうものはちょっず取り入れおたす。はい。

Firstly, about my jacket: it was a sudden decision to create a new jacket for my new start, and actually, I received it just this morning. So this is a tentative style. From here, I’m thinking of doing various things in future. As for the thoughts behind it, well, I put in the idea of using colors that are a little bit reminiscent of SEIMEI. 

で、えっずヌ、なんだっけ。䌚芋終わっおからか。えっずヌ、そうですね、なんか、あの、ずっず今日たで緊匵しながら生掻しおきたした。もちろん、なんか、いろんな掻動しおいくにあたっお、その、自分ずしおもやらなきゃいけないこず、その、なんか、プロずしおやらなきゃいけないこずだったりずか、今たでは人任せにしおきたものを自分から率先しおいろんなこず考えおやっおきたりずか、そういうこずがけっこうありたす。なので、本圓に倧倉ではありたすし、あの、それこそ、睡眠時間ずかだいぶ枛っちゃったなずかっお思いながらやっおるんですけど。

And the next question was.. oh yes, (my state of mind) after the press conference. Well, I’ll tell you that I’ve been spending my days being very nervous until today. Of course, while doing various activities, there are many things that I have to do by myself, I mean, do by myself as a professional athlete. I’ve also taken initiative in doing things that I used to let others do, as well as considering various things. There’re quite a lot of things like that. So it was very hard and I’ve been doing them while thinking that I had to cut down on my sleep a lot. 

でも、あの、気持ちの䞭ではむしろ競技者よりも凄くなんか、ハヌドな緎習しなきゃなっお思っおたすし、実際しおいお。あのヌ、なんですかね。今たでは詊合ずいうものに远われながら、頑匵っおきたしたけど、でも今、本圓に皆さんの期埅を超えたいみたいな。ふっふっふ、そっちのが方が倧倉だなっお思っおるんですけど、でも、本圓にあの、ある意味では凄く充実した日々を送れおたすし。ただ、その䞭で、やっぱプロずしお僕は本圓に競技者ずしおはケガが倚かったので、たあ、やっぱりプロになったら欠堎ずかも蚱されないですし。やっぱり楜しみにしおくださっおる方々の気持ちを螏みにじりたくないなっお凄く思うので。これから本圓にプロのアスリヌトずしお、やっぱりケガをしないように。で、皆さんに芋おいただく機䌚を本圓に垞に高いレベルで芋おいただけるようにこれから頑匵っおいきたいなっお思っおたした」

However, as for my feelings, I actually think that I even need to practice harder than when I was a competitive skater, and I’ve been actually doing it that way. So let’s say I used to work hard being chased by the things called competitions, but now I feel like I want to go beyond everyone’s expectation. Hehehe. I think that would probably be much harder. But in fact, I’ve actually been able to have fulfilling days in my life. But in such an environment, as a professional athlete
 as I have experienced many injuries as a competitor, and after all I cannot be allowed to cancel the event when I become a professional athlete,* and also I don’t want to disappoint the expectations of everyone who is looking forward to watching me. So from now on, as a professional athlete, above all, I will try to avoid getting injured, and will work hard to let everyone watch me perform at a high level every time.

*T/N: It seems he thinks this way for himself. He is not referring to others.

 ――「SharePractice」ず名付けた理由や緎習埌に個別の取材を受けるこずに぀いお。同い幎の倧谷のベヌブ・ルヌス以来ずなる偉業達成に぀いお。

Could you tell us about the reason you named it “SharePractice”, about the decision to take individual interviews (with the media) after the practice session, and also about Ohtani, who is your age and matched Babe Ruth’s great achievement*.

*T/N: the day before this, Shohei Ohtani became the first baseball player after Babe Ruth (1918) in major league history to have at least 10 home runs and 10 wins in the same season.

 「はい、えっず、たず倧谷さんから。あの本圓に、あのオヌルスタヌの、あの取材の時にわざわざ自分ぞのコメントくださっお、本圓にありがずうございたした。えヌ、あのヌ、改めたしお、本圓に今の時代ではあり埗ないような偉業を達成されたず思いたす。本圓におめでずうございたす。えヌ、僕なんかは本圓、足元にも及ばないですし、倧谷䞖代っお呌ばれるような䞖代にいられお、本圓に光栄です。これからも、なんかあの、ぜひぜひ、あの、なんだろ、倧谷さんらしく頑匵っおいただきたいなっお思うのず、僕もやっずプロの舞台に䞊がれたので、あの、僕自身も粟いっぱい頑匵っお倧谷さんに远い぀けるように頑匵りたす。たぶん、できないず思うけど 笑い。たた、お䌚いできたらうれしいです。

OK, so first of all, about Ohtani-san. I really appreciate that you gave a comment for me when you did an interview at the All-star Game. Once again, I think you have obtained an unattainably great achievement that seemed impossible in this era. Congratulations to you. I can hardly come close to you, and I’m really honored to be in this “Ohtani generation”*. I’d really like you to work hard as you have been doing, and as I have just stepped up onto the professional stage, I’ll do my best to be able to catch up with Ohtani san. Maybe I cannot, I guess
(laugh). It’d be my pleasure if we can meet again.

*T/N: As Shohei Ohtani and Yuzuru Hanyu were born in the same year (1994) and had remarkable achievements in their respective fields, the media came up with the terms “Hanyu generation” and “Ohtani generation” to show their significance compared to their peers. In interviews, Shohei and Yuzuru often exchanged compliments by acknowledging the other person as the representative of their generation, saying they are only a person living in the other person’s generation.

はい、えっずヌ、えっずヌ、なんだっけ。あ、そう、むンタビュヌ、むンタビュヌのこずむンタビュヌは正盎、今たで公開緎習したりずか、詊合の䞭で個別のむンタビュヌを受けるこずがなかなかできなかったので、あの、短い時間でパパっおこなすこずしかできないんですけど、ぜひ皆さんの個別の取材をなんずか、無理矢理でも入れたいず思っお、本来は党郚囲みで考えおたんですけど、無理矢理“やらせおください”っお蚀っお、やりたした。ぜひ、それぞれの媒䜓の各瀟さんの、その矜生結匊っおいうものを曞いおいただけたら、うれしいなっお思いたす。

And then, what was next? Oh, yes, about the interviews, I remember! Regarding the interviews, honestly speaking, I could not receive them individually so often at open practices or during competitions. Well, I can only do the brief ones for each. But I thought I would definitely want to put individual interviews (into this practice session) however difficult it would be, so though originally I was thinking of doing all the interviews in the mixed zone, I insisted on it, saying “please let me do that”, and so I did. I’d be really happy if people from each media company would take their time to write (their own article) about this person called Yuzuru Hanyu. 

で、SharePracticeずいうものに関しおは、えっずヌ、半角スペヌス入れないでSharePracticeにしたんですけど。なんか自分の䞭では䞀぀の単語みたいな感じで、新しい造語みたいな感じで考えおたす。えっずヌ、たあ、最初“公開緎習でいいかな”っお、なんか『Open Practice』ずか『Open Training』ずか、いろいろ考えおたんですけど、でもなんか皆さんず共有しお、そこで䞀緒に闘っおいけるみたいなものを考えた時に『Share』っおいうのが䞀番自分らしいかなず思っお。でも、あの、なんか、これはむベントであり぀぀も、その闘い抜く姿を芋おほしいっおいうのもかなり趣旚ずしお、テヌマずしお倧きかったので、緎習ずいう単語は絶察に倖さずに『SharePractice』ずいう名前に僕が決めたした。はい。以䞊です。ありがずうございたす」

Also about the title, “SharePractice”, I decided not to put a space in between (the two words) and made it SharePractice. I think of it as one word, or a newly coined phrase. At first, I thought of “Open Practice”, “Open Training”, and many other phrases. But when I thought about the things that I can own together with everyone and that we can go on fighting together in future, I thought “Share” would be the most suitable one for me. On the other hand, this is an event and at the same time, I want people to watch me fight it out until the end – which is the greatest purpose and theme of this event, so I decided myself to title it “SharePractice” without omitting the word “Practice”. That’s it. Thank you very much.

[ENG TRANSLATION] HANYU YUZURU Youtube ‘2 About the Channel’ – 20220809

Translation & Proofreading: @tsukihoshi14 & @axelsandwich

Note – you can find our translation and comment by going to this specific version of the video link here – our comment should appear as a ‘highlighted comment’ up the top. It would help us a lot if you could give the comment a ‘like’ on Youtube as it will improve visibility for other viewers!

Continue reading [ENG TRANSLATION] HANYU YUZURU Youtube ‘2 About the Channel’ – 20220809

[ENG SUB] Yuzuru Hanyu and News Zero Interview – 20220719

JPN Transcript: @XtYwp15RJJjAhKv, @Vv3fcWGcqtINYOK, @ballade_one
Translation & Proofreading: @yuzueco & @tsukihoshi14
Subbing: @nZ6MfIeulsqW1su

A note on suffixes: Generally, an athlete who retires from competition stops being referred to with the suffix ‘senshu’ (遞手) in Japan and instead is called ‘san’ (さん). In the spirit of preserving this meaningful nuance and in recognition of his intention to continue being an athlete, we have kept this suffix as-is in translations of all media coverage of Yuzuru’s professional athlete announcement.

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