Text Translation – Page 2 – Axel with Wings

[ENG TRANSLATION] Yuzuru Hanyu Japanese Nationals Post-FS Interview – 20211226

All articles originally published 26 December 2021

Translation & Proofreading: @axelsandwich, @shinjistarxx, @yuzueco & @tsukihoshi14

Part 1

　――フリーを振り返って

Q: Please reflect on your free program.

　「疲れました。あの、ただ4A込みで、えー、通す練習、まあ完全な通しではないですけど、えー、昨年同様の練習がある程度まで、まあ自分の中では6割程度、60％くらいので達成度で練習はできてこられてはいたので、なんとかもったかなっていうような印象です。ただ、やっぱり、ループとは比べものにならないくらい、体力の消耗はありました」

Yuzuru: I was tired. Um, with the 4A included, my run-through, well, even though it wasn’t a complete run-through, I was able to practice to the same extent as last year, I think personally I’ve completed about 60% of the training, so I feel like it wasn’t up to par. But as expected, [the 4A] puts a burden on the body to the point where you can’t really compare it to the 4Lo.

――初めて4回転アクセルに挑戦した

Q: You challenged the 4A for the first time

　「まあ今日の朝の練習で、まあ自分の中では、回せることを期待はしていなくて。とにかく、本番が一番大事なので。本番に回しきれるようにって思って練習はしていました。ただ、あまりにも跳べなさすぎて。若干、失望してて。あの、本番いくまでにかなり精神がグジャグジャになってたんですけど。まあ、そういうとこも含めて、やっぱり4回転半、まだ自分自身が成功しきれてないジャンプを本番で使用するっていうのは、うーん、そういうことも含めて難しいんだなっていうのを、改めて感じさせてもらえたなって思います」

Y: Well, in the morning practice, I wasn’t really expecting that I could rotate it. In any case, the actual competition was most important. I practised with the intent to rotate it properly there. However, I was really unable to jump it, so I was somewhat despairing. Um, up until the actual competition, I was really frazzled. Well, with all those things in mind, I felt once again that it’s really difficult to be trying a jump in competition that I hadn’t landed decisively yet.

　――今回の4回転半の出来は

Q: How good was the quad Axel this time?

　「まあ、頑張ったなって感じです。あの、初日のあのアクセルを、皆さん初日で見ていて、『あ、羽生、めちゃくちゃアクセル上手になったじゃん』って思われたと思うんですけど。あれができるようになったのが、ほんとまだ、ここ2週間くらいなんですね。それまではずっと、ぶっ飛ばして跳んでて、軸がつくれなくて、回転ももっともっと足りなくて。何回も何回も体を打ちつけて、ほんとに死ににいくようなジャンプをずっーとしてたんですけど。なんか、やっとああいうふうになり始めて。でも、それが毎日できるわけじゃないんですね。だから、みなさんが、みなさんの中で『これは跳べるんじゃないか』みたいな感じで思っていただけたと思うんですけど、正直結構まだいっぱいいっぱいです、あそこまででも。軸をつくるっていうことが、どれだけ大変なのかっていうことと、で、その軸をつくりきれる自信ができて、それからその100％で回しきるっていうことをやっていかないとダメなので。まあ、試合の中であれだけできたら、まだ今の自分にとっては、妥協できるところにいるんじゃないかなとは思います。悔しいですけどね」

Y: Well, I think I did what I could. On the first day, when everyone saw that Axel, they were probably thinking ‘Ah, Hanyu’s Axel has really improved’. Actually, it was only able to improve to that extent in the last two weeks. Until that point, I was just constantly throwing myself into it, couldn’t create my axis and the rotations were also getting more and more insufficient. I was slamming my body against the ice over and over again, and doing jumps that seemed like they were going to kill me. Somehow, the jump eventually came to take shape. But it’s not something I can do every day. Therefore, while I think everyone might be feeling something like ‘oh, he’s almost landing it, isn’t he?’, the truth is that there’s still a lot to do, even to get there. How tough it is to create the axis, to have the confidence to create the proper axis, then you know it’s impossible unless you rotate the thing 100%. Well, if I were to be able to do that in competition, right now, I think there are places I can compromise on [for those considerations]. Even though I’m frustrated/kuyashii about it.

　――五輪でも挑戦は続けるのか

Q: Will you continue to work on it for the Olympics?

　「正直言っちゃうと、NHK杯前に、これよりももっと悪い出来でしたけど、やっと立てるようになったのがNHK前で。で、立てたなと思ったら次の次の日あたりに捻挫して。で、捻挫したらストレスとかいろいろ溜まって、食道炎になって熱が出てみたいなのがいろいろあって。1カ月全然、何もできなかったんですけど。その時点で、辞めちゃおうかなと思ったんですよ。ここまで来られたし。形になったし。こけなくなったしなって思って。だから、あの、この全日本に来るまでも、まあNHK杯よりもうまくなってしまってしまいましたけど、なんて言えばいいんですかね。正直、これで良いんじゃないかなと思ったんですよね、自分の中で。これで辞めても良いかなって」

Y: To tell you the truth, the output was worse before the NHK Trophy, but I was finally able to land the jump without falling before the NHK Trophy. And then, just as I thought ‘oh, I can stand on it’, I sprained my ankle the next day. With the sprain, various kinds of stress piled up and then I developed esophagitis, a fever and various other things. I was truly unable to do anything at all for a whole month. During that time, I thought maybe I should give up. I’d gotten this far. It had taken form. I wasn’t falling on it anymore. Therefore, even before arriving at these Japanese Nationals, although [the jump] got better than [before] the NHK Trophy,… how to best put it. Honestly, I thought this should probably be okay, that maybe it would be okay even if I gave up at this point.

　「あの、すごくみなさんに『羽生さんにしかできないですよ』とか『羽生ならできるよ』と言ってもらえるのは、すごくうれしいんですけど、自分の中ですごく限界を感じたんですよね。だからもう、これでいいじゃんと思ったんですけど。すごい悩んで悩んで苦しんで。もうちょっとだけ、せっかくここまで来たんだったら、やっぱ『降りたい』って言っている自分がいるんで。まあ、めちゃくちゃみなさんに迷惑かけるかもしれないですけど、もうちょっとだけ頑張ります」

Y: Um, I was really happy to receive so many comments from everyone like ‘this is something only Hanyu can do’ and ‘if it’s Hanyu, he can do it’, but I really felt inside that I was at my limit. So I was feeling like well, this is fine as it is. I worried and agonised about it a lot. There’s a part of me that says “Just a little more… since I’ve come this far, I do want to land it!’. So, well, I may cause a great deal of worry or bother for everyone, but I will push myself just a little bit more.

Part 2

――2週間前までぶっ飛ばしていて、ここまで来るのにきっかけがあったのか

Q: You were throwing yourself at the jump until about 2 weeks ago, did getting to this point serve as a catalyst in any way?

　「練習方法がちょっとずつ確立されてきて、自分の中で。で、何か、このためにはこの練習するべきなんだなとか、このためにはこの練習をすべきなんだなっていうのが、いろいろできてきて。やっと、その子たちがちょっとずつ実になってきたって感じですね。やっぱり、分かったといって、ぱっとやってそれができるわけではないので。やっぱり3Aとはまったく違いますし。もっともっと積み重ねていかないといけないなって、これからも思っています」

Y: I’ve been establishing a training method little by little. I was able to do various things, for example: realizing I need to train a certain way for this particular purpose, and another way for a different purpose. I feel like finally, these little ones* are solidifying little by little. After all, even if you understand something, it’s not something you can do immediately, just like that. As I thought, it’s completely different from the 3A. I think I have to keep gathering more and more information, even from here on out.

*T/N: Affectionate way he refers to his jumps as his “children” or “little ones”

　――辞めちゃおうと思ってから、ここまで戻ってくるきっかけは

Q: What was the thing that made you return from thoughts of quitting?

　「長くなりますけど、大丈夫ですか？短めに？まあ正直、自分の中でも結構焦っていて。早く跳ばないと体どんどん衰えていくのも分かりますし。ただ、うん、自分が設定した期限よりも明らかに遅れていっているので。何でこんなに跳べないんだろうっていう苦しさはあるんですけど。まあ、そういう意味での苦しさと、自分の中でなんか、こんなにやっているのにできないのに、やる必要あるのかなみたいな。なんか諦めみたいなものとか、だいぶ出たんですけど。やっぱり全日本に来る最後の日の練習で本気で締めて、『q』判定されるようなところで、4発くらいこけてて。で、その時にいろいろ考えた結果、この全日本では辞められないな。せっかくここまで来たんだったら、みんなの夢だから、みなさんが僕に懸けてくれている夢だから、みなさんのために、自分のためにももちろんあるんですけど、みなさんのためにも、かなえてあげたいなって思いました」

Y: This will be a long answer, is that okay? Shall I shorten it? Well, to be honest, I am indeed a little frantic. I know there’s the fact that if I don’t jump it soon, my body is going to decline gradually. But there’s no doubt I’m behind the time limit that I set for myself, so there’s also the pain of wondering why I’m this far from jumping it. And along with that kind of pain is the question of ‘well, if I’ve done this much and still can’t do it, is there the need to do it?’, that kind of thing. There were definitely things that tempted me to give up. But ultimately, on the last day of training before coming to the Japanese Nationals, I jumped and fell on about 4 attempts that would be judged as ‘q’. At the time, after giving much consideration, I realized that I didn’t want to give up on it at Nationals. Since I’ve come this far, since it’s everyone’s dream, the dream that everyone is betting on me for, I thought I want to fulfil it for everyone — well of course for myself, but also for everyone.

　――死ににいくような練習とは、今はどれくらいの本数を跳んでいるのか

Q: When you speak of practice that feels like it’s going to kill you, how many jumps do you think you’ve attempted now?

　「どれくらい跳んでいるんですかね。自分で考えたことないですけど。でも、1日に今、本数制限はしています。ただ、4回転半にトライするという本数制限をしているだけで、4回転半に行き着くためのトリプルアクセルだったり、シングルアクセルだったりっていう、まあ今回公式練習で何度かやってましたけど。ああいう練習をひたすら、何十本もやっています。あとはそうですね、えっと、何か、精神的にっていうことが強いですけど、誰も跳んだことないんですよ。で、誰もできる気がしないと言っているんですよ。それをできるようにするまでの過程って、ほんとにひたすら暗闇を歩いているだけなんですよ。だから、毎回、頭打って、脳しんとうで倒れて死んじゃうんじゃないかとかって思いながら練習はしていました、はい。（取材の順番を待っていた宇野に）昌磨、ごめんね」

Y: I wonder how many. I haven’t thought about it myself. But I do currently limit my attempts per day. However, even though I limit the number of times I try the 4A, I jump the triple Axel and single Axel as practice for the quad Axel…well, I jumped them many times in the public practice this time. I’ve done those kinds of practices single-mindedly dozens of times. And then… the mental aspect plays a huge part in this but no one has jumped this jump before, and you could also say it feels like no one is even capable of doing it. So in order to find the process to be able to accomplish it, it truly is like you’re walking intently alone in the dark. Therefore, each time, I’m practicing [so intensely] while thinking I might hit my head, fall over, and die from a concussion or something*, yes.

[To Shoma Uno who was waiting for his turn to be interviewed] — Shoma, sorry!

*T/N: Our interpretation is that this is Yuzu expanding on his answer in Part 1 where he was talking about the toll it took on him to be falling on the jump over and over again; it’s his way of describing the difficulty of training the 4A and a fear he had, rather than a real incident.

[ENG TRANSLATION] Yuzuru Hanyu Japanese Nationals Post-SP Interview – 20211224

All articles originally published 24 December 2021

Part 1 | Part 2

Translation: @axelsandwich, @shinjistarxx & @yuzueco
Proofreading: @tsukihoshi14

PART 1

　――演技を振り返って

Q: Looking back on your performance…

　「いや～、耐えたジャンプも、あの、1個非常に大きく耐えてしまったジャンプもあったんですけど。まあ、あの4Aやってきたこともあったり、まあ他のジャンプも、あの、世界選手権、去年、去年？先シーズン？先シーズンの世界選手権と違って、かなり他のジャンプもしっかり練習してこられたので、まあ、そういう点があそこの土壇場で生きてくれたのかなと思ってます。ただ、え、サルコージャンプ、アクセルジャンプに関しては、あの非常にコントロールされたジャンプだったと思います」

Y: Ah well, there was one big jump (4T-3T) that I managed to eke out. But as I’ve been practising the 4A, and also the other jumps… um, the World Championships last year – last year? Last season?? In contrast to last season’s World Championships, I was able to properly practise all my other jumps so I think that’s probably what allowed me to pull off [the combo] last minute. However, uhm, regarding the Salchow and Axel, I think they were very well controlled jumps.

　――今季初戦でショートも初披露、演技前の心境は

Q: This was the first competition and first performance of your Short Program this season, what were your feelings prior to it?

　「正直、公式練習はあの、なんかエッジが引っかかっちゃたりとか、いろいろあって、空回ってしまってたので、ちょっと心配だったのと。あとは、あの、この会場でショートの、えー、ど頭のサルコージャンプを失敗してしまったっていう記憶もあったので、完全に同じ場所だったので緊張はしていました。ただ、最初のえー、4回転サルコーが決まった段階で少し落ち着いて演技できたんじゃないかなとは思っています」

Y: To be honest, in the official practice, there were various things that happened like my edge getting stuck and me popping my jumps, so I was a little worried. I also had memories of failing the first Salchow jump at this venue, so I was nervous because I was in the exact same position. However, the moment I landed the first quadruple Salchow, I think I was perhaps able to calm down a little and complete my performance.

　――フリーに向けて

Q: (What are your thoughts) heading into the free skate?

　「もちろん、4回転半のジャンプを挑戦するつもりではいるので、まずは、えー、公式練習、最後の最後までケガしないようにっていうことを気をつけながら、えー普段通りいけるように、体の回復と、集中力を高めながらフリーに向けて頑張りたいと思います」

Y: Of course, I intend to challenge the quad Axel, so firstly, um, for the official practice, I want to take care until the very end to avoid injuries, recover my body, keep up my concentration and do my best heading into the free skate so that I can get through it as usual.

　―プログラムを演じた手応えは。五輪で勝つためのプログラムか

Q: What is your response after performing your program? Is it a program created for winning the Olympics?

　「最初、ジェフさんにプログラムの振り付けをお願いしていたんですけども。自分の中でもっとやりたいな、これもつくりたいな、こうやりたいなとかいろんな背景があって、ジェフと、ブライアンだったりトレーシーだったり、いろいろ相談していただきながら、シェイにも加わっていただいてコラボレーションという感じで作っていただきました」

　「もちろん、ジャンプは自分ができる最大の難易度ではないと思うんですけど、プログラムの構成に関しては、ジャンプ前に入っているクロスが1個ぐらいしかなかったりとか、ほとんどクロスを入れていない。そういうところもぜひ見ていただきたいなと思いますし、表現のほうも『バラード第一番』だったり、『SEIMEI』だったり、自分の代表のプログラムとなるようなプログラムの価値以上に、まだ洗練はされていないかもしれないんですけど、具体的な物語が、何か曲に乗せる気持ちが強くあるプログラムになっているので、ジャンプだけじゃなくて、全部見ていただけるようなプログラムにしたいなと、これからもしていきたいなと思っています」

Y: At first, I asked Jeff to do the choreography for the program, but there were many things on my mind, like I wanted to do more, create more, do things in a certain way, so I consulted with Jeff, Brian, Tracy, then also had Shae join in, and the program was created through this collaboration.

Of course, I think the jumps are not of the utmost difficulty that I can do, but in terms of the program layout, there is only about one crossover before the jump, there almost isn’t any crossovers in it. I certainly want those aspects to be seen, and even in terms of expression, it may not be as refined in value as my representative programs such as “Ballade No.1” or “SEIMEI” yet, but it is a program with a strong sense of a narrative woven into the music, so rather than only the jumps, I want to make it a program where everything in it can be seen.

　――プログラムにのせる強い気持ちは。どういう風にプログラムを描いているのか

Q: What is the strong feeling you put into the program? How did you construct the program?

　「正直、最初はなかったです。ピアノ曲になって、清塚さんにピアノをアレンジしてもらう時に電話で打ち合わせをしたんですけど、そのときに何か具体的な物語がなくて、すごくパッションにあふれる、だけど、そこに切なさだったり、繊細さだったりというものがあふれるものにしていただきたいですということをお伝えして作っていただきました」

Y: To be honest, I didn’t have strong feelings about it at first. When I asked Mr. Kiyozuka to arrange the piano for the piece, we had a phone meeting, but I didn’t have any specific storyline in mind at that time, so I conveyed to him that I wanted the piece to be overflowing with passion, yet also carrying some sorrow and subtlety, and had him arrange it for me.

　「最終的にシェイとかにも加わっていただいて、その中で思い描けたのが、あの、自分自身アクセルが全然進捗がなくて苦しかった時期でもあったので、なんか、暗闇から最初は何か思い出が色々ちらついてきて、みなさんの記憶だったりとか、自分が歩んできた道のりみたいなものが、なんか思い出すんじゃなくて、蛍の光のようにパって広がってきて、最初のスピンが終わった後からは、もうなんか、そういうのを全部エネルギーにして、何かに向かってがむしゃらに突き進んで、最後は何か分からないんですけど、なんか自分でもよく分からない、何か意識が飛んでいるような感覚の中で何かをつかみ取るみたいな物語なんで。ジェフがこのプログラムの基盤を作ってくださって、シェイがそこに物語を、すごく情緒あふれる物語を付けてくれたので。本当に新しいプログラムとして、自分自身もエキシビのように感情を込めて滑ることができた」

In the end, I asked Shae to join us, and what I was able to portray was… um, it was a difficult time for me because I hadn’t made any progress with my [quad] Axel at all, so (in the process of creating the performance), various memories flickered from the darkness at first. Things like memories of everyone, and something akin to the path I had taken. They’re not memories that I recall [specifically], but they spread out like the glow of fireflies. After the first spin, I turn all of that into the energy to push forward with all my might. But at the end, the story is that, within the feeling of being in a daze or an out of body experience, there is something — and even I don’t know what it is — that I’ve caught in my grasp. Jeff created the foundation of this program, and Shae added the story, a very emotional one. And so I was able to skate it truly as a new program with a lot of emotions like I do at an exhibition gala.

Part 2

　――4Aを習得していく中で生かされていることは

Q: What did you discover while practising your 4A?

　「やっぱり、えー、昨日の会見、会見というか、会見でいいのかな、囲みですかね、の時にお話させていただいたんですけど。やっぱり、その軸の取り方って非常に、やっぱり4回転半は難しくて。特にアクセルジャンプって回転をかけるっていう動作だったりとか、軸をつくるっていう動作が、あの他のジャンプとまったく違った軌道で跳ぶので、難しいんですよね。その点、あの、アクセルでこのように跳びたいっていうのが定まってきたからこそ、まあ、他のジャンプも、ここに入れることが正解なんだなとか。逆に他のジャンプできれいに跳べた時は、ここに乗っているから、じゃあ、アクセルもここに入れるんだなっていう意識がだんだん、そう、えー、なんて言うんですかねえ、なんか重なり合って、だんだんうまくなってこれたなっていうふうには思っています」

Y: After all, ehh… in yesterday’s conference – is it okay to call it a conference? It was in a box, I guess, but I spoke about this then. Being able to grasp the axis is extremely… Well, as expected, the quad Axel is difficult. In particular, the motion of rotating the Axel jump and the way you create the axis are different, plus you’re jumping a completely different trajectory to other jumps, so it’s really hard. About that point…um, precisely because I decided that I wanted to jump the Axel in a (particular) way, I thought maybe it would be right to apply that to the other jumps, too. Conversely, when I could do other jumps cleanly, I also consciously applied that (technique) to the Axel gradually…ehh, how do I put it? I think they all accumulated on top of one another and slowly got better.

　――試合へ向ける心、体はどのような領域に達しているのか

Q: When aiming for competition, what preparations did you make for your mentality and physique?

　「まあ、でも、ここに来るまでに、あの、ショートに関しては、まあシュミレーションって言って、あの、試合と同様にやっている練習があるんですけど。ショートに関しては1回もノーミスできてなかったので、凄く緊張してました。でも、なんか、ただ、まあ本番にとってあるのかなみたいな。まあでも、ミス、ミスをしてきたからこそ、ミスの原因が分かったりとか、練習の仕方が分かったりとかはしてました。まあ、ほんとに、あの、初戦とはいえど、なんか、もう試合同様の練習をしているので、まあ、できるかなって思ってやってました。ありがとうございます」

Y: Well, before coming here, well, you could say that I did some simulations, meaning practice in the same manner as a competition, for the Short Program. I hadn’t been able to skate the Short Program clean even once, so I was extremely nervous. But somehow, I guess [the clean skate] was saved for the actual competition. Still, it’s because I kept making mistake after mistake that I could understand why I made them and how to practise. Well, truly, to talk about the first competition…I had already been practising like it was a competition, so I went into it thinking I’d probably be able to do it. Thank you very much.

　――北京については「積み重ねの延長線上」と話していた。SPが終わって近づいた実感は

Q: Regarding the Beijing (Olympics), you spoke of it being “a continuation of your efforts thus far.” What are your thoughts now after finishing the SP?

　「えっとー、そうですね、とにかくフリーやってみないと分からないです。あとは、まあ、明日の練習も含めて、あの、練習も含めて全部が試合なので。1つ1つ大切にしながら、うーん、まあ、まずはこの試合で、えー、4Aをちゃんと決めきれるように、また1つ1つ練習したいです。その先に北京オリンピックがあるんだったら、この試合でしっかり勝ち取れるように、ふさわしい演技ができるように頑張りたいなと思います。すいません。ありがとうございました。フリーもよろしくお願いします。頑張ります。ありがとうございます」

Y: Hm, yes… in any case, I don’t know until I have finished the free skate. Also, there is tomorrow’s practice as well, and practices make up the competition too, so I want to treat each [opportunity] seriously, and uhm, firstly, I want to keep practicing to properly land the 4A at this competition. And if the Beijing Olympics come after that, I want to do my best to do a worthy performance here at this competition in order to secure a spot. Excuse me, and thank you very much. I look forward to speaking to you after the free skate. I’ll do my best, thank you.

[ENG TRANSLATION] Yuzuru Hanyu Japanese Nationals Open Practice – Towards the success of the 4A: Without throwing away this dream and without giving up – 20211223

All articles originally published 23 December 2021

Part 1 | Part 2

Translation: @axelsandwich & @shinjistarxx
Proofreading: @yuzueco & @tsukihoshi14

PART 1

Towards the success of the 4A: ‘Without throwing away this dream and without giving up.’

　――4回転半に着氷（後で本人が回転不足、両足着氷と説明）していたが、手応えは

Q: You landed the 4A (Yuzuru himself later explained it was under-rotated and two-footed), what are your thoughts?

　「いやあ、ほんと、まあ、今日は自分の中で軸作りが一番大事だと思ってたんで。あの、回転はそんなかけてないです。なので、まあ、あの、今日やるべきことは、やれたかなっていう。まあ、なんかいつも言ってますけど、今日やるべきことを、やってたなっていうくらいの感触です。まだ、自分の中では回転を、あの10割でかけている状態ではないので。あの、とにかく、今日は氷の感触を確かめながら、とりあえず、この氷でしっかり軸をつくるってことを試していました」

Yuzuru (Y): Ah well, truly… today, I think the most important thing for today was to stabilise my axis. I wasn’t focusing too much on my rotations. Therefore…well, I think I was able to do what I needed to do today. Well, it seems like I always say this, but that’s how I’m feeling today. I’m still not in the condition to give 100% on my rotations. Nevertheless, I was able to properly stabilise my axis on ice while confirming the feel of the ice today.

　――これまでの練習では4回転半はどうだったか

Q: How has the 4A been in practice until now?

　「えっとー、まあ、あんな感じの着氷になる場合と、あれは軸がうまくいったパターンで。あともう一個は、あの、回転を10割で、まあ10割っていうか、11割というか。そんなぐらいの力で回して、まあ、アンダー、ぎり1/4足んないかな、『q』がつくかなっていうくらいのアクセルでこけるみたいなことはあります。やっぱり、ちょっとまだ、練習の段階では両方とも両立したものはちょっと、やっぱ難しいです、はい」

Y: U~m… well, the times where I was able to land with that feeling [today] are when I could maintain a good axis. The other thing is that there are times when I rotate with a lot of power, putting 100%, well perhaps 110% of my power into the rotation, I felt like falling on Axels that were around the ‘q’ mark (1/4 underrotated). After all, that’s something [I haven’t mastered]… balancing both of them (axis and power) in practice is still difficult as expected, yes.

　――練習ではクリーンな成功は

Q: The number of Axels you’ve landed clean in practice is…

「そうですね、ないですね、はい」

Y: Uhm, none. That’s right.

　――北京五輪への思いは

Q: What are your thoughts towards the Beijing Olympics?

　「うれしそう、ふふふふふっ。えっと、まあ、正直言って、一昨日の段階で、えー、アクセルが決められなかったら、もうオリンピックまで、頑張るしかないのかなとかって思いながらやってました。あの、ほんとは、自分の中で、これくらいのアクセルでもいいんじゃないかっていう思いもありますし。まあ、形として、あの、まあ、なんですかね。まあ、クリーンな判定ではないと思いますし、GOEもプラスつかないかもしれないですけど、でも形として4Aにはなってるんで。だから、『まあ、よく頑張ったんじゃない？』って。もう、4Aに向かって3年、まあ特にここの2年間ですかね、かなり練習をして、向き合ってきた中で、このくらいなので。だから、『もういいんじゃない？』っていうふうに思う気持ちもあるんですけど。でも、最後の練習の時になんか、ぎりぎりまで踏ん張って1時間半くらいずっとアクセルを跳んだ上で、跳べなかった時に、ああせっかくここまで来たのになっていう思いと、疲れたなって思いと、いろいろぐちゃぐちゃになりながら、いや、でも、やっぱり、うーん。なんか、僕だけのジャンプじゃないなっていう。まあ、僕、跳ぶのは僕なんですけど。結局、言い出したのも僕なんですけど。でも、皆さんが、僕にしかできないって言ってくださるのであれば、それを全うするのが、なんか僕の使命なのかなって思いました」

Y: You seem happy fufufufufu. Um. Well. To be honest, the day before yesterday, I was [practising the 4A] thinking that if I couldn’t land it, I would have to keep trying until the Olympics. The truth is, personally, I’ve thought that an Axel around this level should be okay. Well, in terms of the form… how do I put it? I don’t think it will be called clean and it may not get a positive GOE, but in its form, it has become a 4A. So it’s like ‘well, have you done your best?’ I’ve been pursuing the 4A for 3 years already – well, I’ve focused on it especially for the last two years. I’ve really practised and faced it head-on, and it’s gotten to this level. So I did feel like ‘isn’t it already enough?’. But in my last practice [before coming to JNats], I was just holding on, and jumping the Axel nonstop for one and a half hours. And when I couldn’t do it, I was thinking ‘ah, I’ve come all this way’, ‘ah I’m tired’, and while really being all over the place in various ways… But, somehow, it’s not just my jump alone. Well, the person jumping [the 4A] is me, and indeed I was the one who said [I would do it]. But everyone…if everyone is saying that it’s only something that I can do, I thought of accomplishing it as a sort of mission.

　――目指すでいいのか

Q: Is it okay to aim for the Olympics?

　「うんとー、まあ、わかんないっすよ。ここで、ここで降りちゃったら、満足するのかもしれないですし。それは諦めてはないんです。ここで降りることを自体を。だから、今日も、今日、今日できること、今日やるべきことを積み重ねたと思ってますし。また、明日、明日はショートなんで、アクセルの練習をする気はないですけど。また、あの、ショートの後の日の練習だとか、フリーの当日だとか、本番で降りるかもしれないですし。望みを捨てずに、諦めずに、しっかりやっていきたいなとは思います。ただ、延長線上に北京はあるかもしれないなっていうことを腹をくくって、ここまで来ました。はい」

Y: Um~ Well, I don’t know. If I can land it here, maybe I’ll be satisfied. I haven’t given up on the thought of landing it here. Therefore, today as well, I tried to accumulate what I could and needed to do today. Tomorrow is the Short Program so I don’t have intentions of practising the Axel then. But in the practice the day after the SP, on the day of the FS, I may land it in my performance. I’d like to attempt it properly without throwing away this dream and without giving up. But I’ve come here accepting that the Beijing Olympics may be the extension to this journey. Yes.

Part 2

　――最後の4回転半は両足で、回転も若干足りなかったという解釈でいいのか。4回転半はフリーでやるのか

Q: Is it correct to say the last quad Axel you did was two-footed and slightly under-rotated? Are you going to do the quad Axel in your free program?

　「はい。えっと、両方とも、えっと、答えは『はい』です。えー、そうですね、回転も自分の中で感触的に足りないですし。あの、まあ両足でしっかり軸を作りながら降りてきてるっていうような感じはあります。あの、ただ、まあ先ほども、えー、先ほどの質問にもあったように、やっぱり、今日は回転をかける日ではなかったので。自分の中では。だから、あれでOKだなっていうふうに思ってます。あの、あとは、えっとフリーでまあ、あの入り方、今日ちょっと曲が違って、提出した音源がちょっと違ってて後半途中でやめちゃったんですけど。なんですけど、まあでも、あの、まあ前半あの入り方で、アクセル入れてっていうような形にしたいと思っています」

Y: Yes. Um, the answer to both questions is ‘yes.’ Uhm, the rotations seemed lacking to me as well. Well, I do feel that I landed it with both feet while creating a proper axis. But, as I said in reply to the question just now, today wasn’t a day for me to work on rotation, personally. That’s why I think (what I did today) was ok. Also, as for putting it into the free, well, today the music was a little off, and the music I submitted was the wrong one, so I gave up on it halfway through the later half. But, well, I think I want to do it with the Axel in the first half of the program.

　――今日、アクセルに入る時、スピードを若干落として入っていたか。つかんだコツなどはあるか

Q: Today, when you were going for the (quad) Axel, did you enter it by slowing down a little? Did you learn any sort of trick for it?

　「まあ、結局、軸取れないと回転も早くならないので。あの、まあ、もちろん、いろんな戦略はあるんですけど。あの、ただガムシャラにぶん回して跳べるんであれば、もう、たぶん、去年のうちに降りてると思うので。いろんなことを考えて、まあ、なんですかね、詳しく話しても、たぶん伝わりきらないんで、どうしようもないんですけど。でも、あの、意図としてはまず、ちゃんと軸を作る。で、軸がちゃんと早く作れれば、回転も早く回れるっていうような意味で、あの、前よりは落としてます。はい」

Y: Well, ultimately if you can’t grasp the axis, the rotations won’t be fast either. Um, of course there are various strategies to it. Um, if it were as simple as going for the jump recklessly jumping and just rotating, well, maybe I could have landed it sometime last year. I’ve thought about a lot of things, and well, how to put it, even if I talk about it in detail, I don’t think what I want to say will come across, so there’s not much I can say. But, my intention is to first make an axis. Then, if I can grasp the axis quickly and properly, then I can do the rotations quickly as well, so in that sense, it’s more controlled now in speed compared to before (past 4A attempts).

　――右足首に不安はない？

Q: Are there no worries about your right ankle?

　「そうですね。はい」

Y: Yes, that’s correct.

　――SPは何にするのか、選んだ理由は。怪我した状況や経過は

Q: What will you do for the SP, and why did you choose it? And what is the condition and progress on your injury?

　「えっと、えっと～、何から話せばいいのかな。あ、ショートからですね。ショートの選曲の理由は、まずかなり悩んで。えっと、自分でも言ったことを覚えてなかったんですけど、あの、前回、前々回ですかね、四大陸選手権で優勝させていただいた時に、バラードに戻した時にも言っていたみたいなんですけど、ピアノ曲をすごく探してきて。で、自分の中で羽生結弦っぽい表現、羽生結弦でしかできない表現のあるショートプログラムがどんなものがあるのかなと思ってずっと探していました。で、なかなかやっぱり見つけられなくて。これだなって気持ちが踊るようなものがなかなか見つからずに、そのうちに自分が昔からやりたいなと思っていた『ロンド・カプリチオーソ』って曲がちょっと出てきて。で、その中で『これ滑りたいな』と思うのであれば、ピアノのバージョンで滑ったら、より自分らしくなるかなって思って。で、また、その、ただピアノの普通の既存のバージョンでやるのではなくて、えー、僕がその、先シーズン、すごい心が折れてつらかった時期に、えー、滑らせていただいて、ほんとに生きる活力と滑る活力をいただいた清塚さんのピアノにしたら、もっと自分も気持ち良く滑れるのではないか、もっと気持ち良く、気持ちを込めて滑ることができるんじゃないかなっていうふうに思ったので、清塚さんに頼んで、作曲してもらって。作曲っていうか、編曲してもらって。で、オリジナルのバージョンを作っていただきました」

Y: Um… um… What should I start with? Ah, let’s start with the short program. The reason I picked the short… First, I was quite troubled thinking about it. Um, I myself don’t even remember what exactly I said last time, or rather, it was the time before that, but like I said when I won 4CC [2020] and when I returned to Ballade No.1, I have been seriously searching for a piano piece. And so, I was looking for a piece while constantly thinking about what a short program with a “Yuzuru Hanyu”-like expression would be, and what would be something that only “Yuzuru Hanyu” could convey. And, well, I couldn’t really find anything for a while. I wasn’t able to find something that I could say “that’s it,” something that would make my heart pound, and during that time, I came across “Rondo Capriccioso”, a song that I had wanted to try from way back. And so, I felt that if I wanted to skate to this, if I skated to the piano version, I thought it would perhaps become more “me-like.” But, instead of using the already existing regular piano version, I thought of how last season, during the time I was going through a really difficult period of being really down, skating with Mr. Kiyotsuka’s* music really gave me the energy to live on and keep skating, and so I thought that if I did my program this time to Mr. Kiyotsuka’s piano, maybe I would be able to skate it with better spirits as well, and I would perhaps be able to skate it with more of my emotion put into it. So I requested Mr. Kiyotsuka to compose the music this time. Not compose, but rather arrange. So I’m using an original version of the piece.

*T/N: Referring to pianist Shinya Kiyotsuka, the artist of “Haru Yo Koi,” to which Yuzuru did an exhibition program previously

　「で、足首は、えっと、フリーのえー、通し練習かな。フリーの頭からやった通し練習の時にアクセル、4回転半のアクセルをやって、で、そのまま次のサルコーにいった時に、あの、エッジが氷に絡まってってしまって。ちょうど、エッジを研磨してもらったばっかだったんですよ。で、感覚違うなって思いながらやってたんですけど。あの、まあしょうがないと思ってやってて、あの、ほんとにエッジが氷にとられてしまって、本当だったら抜けるはずだったんだけど抜けなくて、バキッっていきました。だから、直接的な要因はサルコーなんですけど、ただ、あの、単純に単発のサルコーを跳ぶんだったら問題はなくて。やっぱり、4Aっていうものをやったっていうことと、プラスアルファ、エッジのメンテナンスをちゃんとしきれなかったっていうか。あの、そんな感じで。結果的に捻挫になってしまいました」

Y: And then, as for my ankle, um… it happened during the run-through of the free program. During the run-through, from the beginning of the free program, I attempted a 4A, and when I went straight into the next Salchow, um, the edge (of the skate blade) got stuck in the ice. And I had just had the edges sharpened, so I was skating while thinking that something felt wrong. Um, well, I thought it couldn’t be helped, the edge really was caught in the ice, and I should have been able to pull it out but I couldn’t, and my ankle cracked. So, the direct cause of my sprained ankle was the Salchow, and if I had been jumping just the Salchow alone, there would have been no problem. Ultimately, I think it was because I was practicing the 4A as well, and plus the fact I wasn’t keeping up with maintenance of my edges properly. Um, something like that, and as a result I ended up getting a sprain.

　「まあ、あの、経過はなんて言えばいいのかな。まあ、捻挫をすごいもう、右足の捻挫に関しては知り尽くしているので、どうやったら早く治せるかっていうことをひたすら考えつつ、加圧のトレーニングというか、加圧で、まあ治療促進したりとか、あとは超音波使ったりとか。低周波使った加圧のトレーニングというか、、いろいろやりながら、まあ、仙台でできることは自分の中では限られてはいるので、そうやって治していきました。はい。ありがとうございます。すみません、長くなっちゃって」

Y: Um, what should I say about the progress. Well, since I already know a lot about sprains of the right foot, so I was intently thinking of just how to heal it quickly, and so I did things like KAATSU* training, using it to give pressure (to the muscle) to promote healing, and I also used ultrasounds, and low frequency waves, just a variety of things, since well, what I can do (while in) Sendai by myself is limited. So by doing all that, I worked towards healing it. Yes. Thank you, and I’m sorry this became so long.

*T/N: We are not 100% sure what kind of training and treatments he is speaking about in this answer, but this one seems to refer to a training called “kaatsu” which uses training bands to put pressure & restrict blood flow as a form of physical therapy and to help speed up recovery.

　「ありがとうございました～、また本番お願いします」

Y: Thank you~ I’ll see you again during the actual event.

　※その後の代表者による確認作業で

※The following is obtained through his representative confirming

　――北京は目指す明言でいいのか

Q: Is it a declaration that you’re aiming for Beijing [Olympics]?

　「腹くくった。覚悟はしたよって感じですかね、自分の中で。目指す明言で。うん」

Y: I have made up my mind. I feel I’m ready for it. And so, yes, it’s a declaration that I’m aiming for it.

[ENG SUB] S-Park special: Aiming to break the limits – words on Yuzuru Hanyu’s 4A from 3 people – 211219

Eng subbed video to come later

Translation: @axelsandwich
Proofreading: @shinjistarxx

Host (H): Next is a special figure skating segment. There are only 5 days left until the All Japan National Championships, which will decide the Olympic team. Within those athletes, this athlete’s challenge is the focus of many.

H: Yes, it’s Hanyu-senshu, who has vowed to succeed at the 4A this season. Is this a feat achievable by mankind? We investigated this possibility from 3 points of view.

Narrator (N): The absolute champion, Yuzuru Hanyu. From repeating as the double Olympic champion onwards, he’s continued to carve out historical achievements one after another. Right now, the great target he’s aiming towards is to land the unprecedented quadruple Axel. The Axel jump is the only jump in figure skating with a forward takeoff. It’s a difficult jump that requires one to return to the fear of directly facing your field of vision and requires half an extra rotation. If he succeeds, he will land the world’s first quadruple Axel. This alone is what is stirring Hanyu’s spirit.

Yuzuru (Y): Breaking the limit (laughs). In a way, I think of the 4A as a ‘wall’ that humans have created up until now. I’ve created it myself, and I want to overcome it. I think it’s probably the current limit for us figure skaters. I want to write the ‘chapter’ of surpassing it.

N: He seriously started working towards [the 4A] in the 2018-19 season, after his second Olympic victory. The camera has not captured this hard work but instead, Hanyu told us about the difficulty of the 4A over and over again.

(August, 2018)

Y: It feels like doing a long jump while rotating at the same time.

(March, 2019)

Y: The trajectory when jumping the quad Axel is completely different to the one when doing the triple Axel.

(September, 2020)

Y: I can visualise it. Properly. I’ve landed it in my dreams.

(March, 2021)

Y: I’m tasting the frustration and the feeling of despair from day to day from not being able to land it but…

N: Even for the absolute champion, he had not been able to overcome this challenge in three years. This ‘wall’ is truly high.

Can the quadruple Axel be jumped? We sought the opinions of three specialists.

N: He had challenged the jump himself in the past and knows its difficulty well: pro skater, Takahito Mura.

Mura (M): The feeling while in the air is both longer and more forceful, completely different and unique compared to jumping other quads or the triple Axel so far. Firstly, in order to simply achieve the rotations, you must build up your physical ability.

N: The absolutely essential condition is to strengthen the base: the body. However, the progress in this area seemed to already be felt at last year’s Japanese Nationals.

M: When he picks to take off for a quadruple jump, usually he’ll skate relaxed, then tighten and take off like ‘pon’. When he changed his training and re-built his body, it felt like he suddenly took another step up in an instant. When I saw that, I thought ‘wow, amazing.’ That was probably because he was finally getting to a point of being familiar with the [quadruple] Axel.

N: The one who looked into the data was Professor Sakurai from Toin University of Yokohama.

What he was researching, from Ice Scope data that measures the jump height and distance, was the angle of the jump.

Sakurai (S): This is the triple Axel but his distance was 3m 20cm and the height was 64cm, which means that he was taking off at an angle of 22-23 degrees. I was surprised at this. The world record for long jump was also around this angle. This is the ‘optimal angle’ for achieving distance in a jump.

N: The record American Mike Powell set [for long jump] in 1991 – 8.95m – was achieved with this virtually identical ‘optimal angle’. This is in Hanyu’s grasp.

Y: Yes, I think the height can’t be more than 80cm and the distance probably can’t be more than 4m.

S: Yes, it’s virtually the same angle. The data aligns exactly. Therefore, jumping at this angle, it’s better to think of how to take off while jumping far.

N: Finally, there’s this legend who fired up Hanyu’s challenger’s spirit.

Y: Isn’t Uchimura-san super cool? Being able to land a H level skill. Even if he had to focus only on the horizontal bars, he was able to continue competing. [When I compare myself to Uchimura], I think I’m still pretty young, that I can still keep going.

N: In fact, the hero of the gymnastics world is deeply interested in the quadruple Axel

Uchimura (U): Looking at [the 4A] from the perspective of a gymnast, thinking about how I should be watching it, I got really obsessed and really went back and forth [on the video]. When I first watched it, I was thinking ‘this isn’t something humans can do’.

Isn’t it a bit insane??

N: With a level of difficulty that Uchimura was not expecting, how would the king go about tackling this?

U: I don’t know much about figure skating so it’s a poor analysis but his highest point is here. If he twists a little more prior to this point…

Gymnastics is a skill where we are twisting as soon as possible.

N: Even though gymnastics and figure skating both involve the twisting of the body [to rotate], they use the body in different ways.

U: Are his upper and lower body a little too synchronised? In gymnastics, we are led by the upper body – the lower body follows the upper. His upper body… if he twisted it a little earlier, I think his lower body would follow it like ‘boom!’ But after all, if it’s not high enough, he can’t twist sufficiently but if he can jump a little further, he’ll get a little more flight distance and be able to rotate…

Interviewer: [Hanyu] said balancing the two was difficult

U: Yes. I really understand. I haven’t done it, but I get it (laughs)

U: Humans can’t overcome [the 4A]. Only Hanyu-kun can.

N: A challenge that will rewrite human history. Where can one find the place of success for the 4A? The defending champion facing his first competition of the season, this year Hanyu will stand on the All Japan National Championship stage once again.

H: You could say, in a sense, that he is also continuing to challenge the limits but Uchimura’s words certainly seem to be filled with enthusiasm doesn’t it? Once again, these are the words from the three people who are exploring the possibility of a 4A from Hanyu-senshu

Mura: Even with reduced speed, the quad is possible

Sakurai: The ultimate angle to release longest flight distance

Uchimura: Twist the upper body first

H: Uchimura-senshu is looking at it from the viewpoint of gymnastics, it feels like perhaps the viewpoint from a different sport may be a good impetus somehow.

H: Yes, what he calls prioritising the upper body…

[ENG TRANSLATION] Yuzuru Hanyu x FRAU Interview 211010

Original article was first published 10 October 2021

Translation: @axelsandwich
Proofreading: @shinjistarxx

フィギュアスケート界を牽引するトップアスリート、羽生結弦さん。昨今のコロナ禍で本拠地カナダへは戻れず、ただ一人トレーニングを続け、昨年末の全日本選手権では5年ぶりの優勝を飾りました。圧倒的な強さと美しさを持ち、前進を続ける羽生選手に会いに、新緑あふれる杜の都・仙台へ向かいました。

Yuzuru Hanyu, the top athlete driving the figure skating world. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, he did not return to his training base in Canada but continued training all alone and marked his first victory in 5 years at the Japanese National Championships at the end of last year. In order to meet with Hanyu-senshu, who possesses extraordinary strength and artistry and is continuing to advance his craft, we travelled to Sendai, the city of forests overflowing with greenery.

スポーツでありながら美しさを求められる芸術的な側面を持つフィギュアスケート。一番必要なのは、こだわりと意識の高さだと語る。

Figure skating is a sport that has an artistic facet that judges according to a standard of beauty. He spoke about how the most important things are high attention to detail and awareness.

「技の完成度と美しさを競う競技ですが、ジャッジするのは人間なので、いろんな価値観の人に届く演技でなくてはならない。こだわりと意識の高さを持っているからこそ努力を続けることができるんです。どれだけ自分を客観視できるかも重要で、表現したいことを優先するだけでは独りよがりの演技にしかならないと感じますし、見る人に何かが伝わることで初めてプログラムが完成する。ハッピーなプログラムなら、見た人が次の日からも頑張れたり、心が前に動くきっかけになればいいなと思う。切ないプログラムなら、その人の痛みや経験に寄り添えるものにしたい。まだ26年しか生きていないですけど、自分なりのストーリーや感情を表現したいなと思うこともあります。それは過去だけではなくて、未来への思いや、現在進行形で感じていることだったり、様々なんですけど」

[Figure skating] is a competition [judged] by the perfection and beauty of its moves/skills but, as you are judged by human beings, you have to put out performances that appeal to people with differing values. It’s because I have high standards for the details that I fixate on and am aware of [in my performance] that I can continue to give my all. Though it’s important how objectively I can evaluate myself, if I just fixate on what I want to express, I feel I’d only be able to put out self-centered performances, so a program can firstly only be complete if it can convey something to the audience. If it’s a happy program, I’d wish that the people watching could do their best the next day, and that it could prompt them to move forward in their hearts. If it’s a sad program, I’d like it to be a way for the people watching to connect with their pain and experiences. I’ve only lived 26 years, but I’d like to express my own story and feelings. Not only in relation to the past, but my feelings towards the future, and the things I’m experiencing currently… though it’s very varied.

オフシーズンの現在も練習場に通う毎日。モチベーションについて尋ねると。

Currently during your off-season, you are commuting every day to your practice rink. Can we ask you about your motivation?

努力の結果が全て。成果が出た時が一番のご褒美だと思っています。頑張ったら何が食べたいとか、買おうとかではなく（笑）、達成した時の喜びを味わいたいから。些細な目標でも、日々何かをやり遂げるようにしたいですね

The results of your hard work is everything. I think the number one happiness is the moment the results come. It’s not anything like ‘oh I’ll get to eat this or buy this if I work hard’ (laughs), it’s because I want to taste the happiness at that moment of accomplishment. Even if it’s a small goal, I try to follow through and accomplish something every day.

数々のタイトルを獲得してきたが、メンタルが強いと思ったことは一度もないのだそう。

We’ve heard that though you’ve secured countless titles, you’ve never once thought that you were mentally strong?

「試合はもちろん、アイスショーでも気持ち悪くなるぐらい緊張しますし、眠れない夜もたくさんある。でもそれは自分の理想が高いから。だから常に最善を尽くすしかない。練習するだけでなく、休んだり、時には何も考えないことも含め、自分が一番良いと判断した選択を積み重ねることによって、たとえ結果がその時に出なくても、必ず強くなっていってると思う」

Of course this happens at competitions but even at ice shows, I get so nervous that I feel sick and there are many nights I can’t sleep. But that’s because I have high ideals. So I can only give my everything. If I can live by the choice that I’ve judged as the best one, not only in practice but during times of rest and including occasionally when I’m not even thinking about anything, I think you will definitely become stronger, even if you don’t get the results you wanted at the time.

「次の試合は勝ちます！」という発言で自分にプレッシャーをかけることも多い。

You’ll often bring pressure onto yourself by saying things like ‘I’ll win the next competition!’

「できると信じているから。願いを言葉にすることで、脳にもいい作用があると思っています。押し潰されそうな気持ちを原動力にして頑張るイメージ。力んでしまったり、お腹が痛くなることもあるんですけど、その力をいい方向に変えることができれば。緊張しているからこそ丁寧に、集中して取り組むことができる」

It’s because I believe I can do it. I think putting my wishes into words has a good impact on my mind. When I feel like I’m going to be crushed down, I change that to motivation and keep working hard. Though I do get overwhelmed and there are times my stomach hurts, I hope I can turn that power in a good direction. It’s because I get nervous that I can, single-mindedly, concentrate and tackle problems head on.

近年の試合では「天と地と」「新・平家物語」や「SEIMEI」など日本をテーマにした選曲でも知られる。羽生さんは日本人としてのアイデンティティをどのように考えているのか。

In competitions in recent years, we know you have chosen music with Japanese themes like ‘Ten to chi to’ and ‘SEIMEI’. What do you think of your identity as a Japanese person?

「実はそんなに意識をしていなくて、むしろ日本人だから忍耐強いとか、丁寧だとか、固定観念に縛られると良くないなと感じます。それがコンプレックスになる人もいると思う。みんなそれぞれ違うからこそ、みんながいい。外国の選手に会うと価値観が違うこともありますし、スケートに対する態度も人それぞれ。でも最終的に何かを一緒にやろうとした時に、一つになることができる。そういうことがSDGsが掲げるダイバーシティな社会だと思いますし、大事なことだと思います」

To be honest, I wasn’t thinking about it like that; on the contrary, I feel that it’s not a good thing to be stereotyped as persevering and polite because we’re Japanese. And I think there are people who have a complex against that. It’s because everyone is different from each other that they are good. When I meet with foreign athletes, there are differences in our values and each person’s attitudes towards skating is varied. But ultimately, when it comes time to do something together, we can unite. That is the sort of diverse society that Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) stand for, and something I think is very important.

昨年9月、7年間学んだ早稲田大学の人間科学部通信教育課程を卒業した。

Last September, you graduated from the Human Sciences e-School course at Waseda University after studying for 7 years.

「スケートも勉強も、知識って大切だなと。SDGsの活動についても、自然の中にある、限りある資源を持続可能なものにしていくための勉強をして、そういったプロダクトを選ぶことをしていきたい。僕自身はゴミの問題が気になるので、練習中には常にマイボトルを持ち歩くのを心がけています。ささやかでも自分に何ができるのかを問うことは一つの前進なのかなと思うんです」

In skating and also in studying, knowledge is important. In regards to SDGs’ activities as well, I did research into items that attempt to keep the limited resources in our natural environment sustainable and I want to choose those kinds of products [to use]. I’m personally interested in the problem of rubbish, so I try to normally carry around reusable bottles in training. Even though it may be small, I think one way to keep moving forward is to ask myself what I can do.

[ENG TRANSLATION] Yuzuru Hanyu x Rikako Ikee – Special Talk: ‘Simply, in order to win’ – 210715

We encourage purchase of the original magazine if you have the means, which also features some beautiful photos. Here is a guide to how to purchase the electronic edition for Kindle for international fans.

Translation: @axelsandwich
Proofreading: @shinjistarxx

[ENG TRANSLATION] Waseda e-Style Book Interview – 2108

Original article published August 2021.

Translation + Japanese transcript: @shinjistarxx
Proofreading: @axelsandwich

学びのキーワード「集中力」(人間科学情報科学科) 羽生結弦さん

Learning Keyword: “Concentration” (Department of Human Informatics Science), Yuzuru Hanyu

Interview with Professor Nishimura Shoji 西村昭治教授

期待以上に多くを学べる学際的な人間情報科学科

On learning more than his expectations in the interdisciplinary major, Human Informatics Science

[ENG TRANSLATION] A Feasibility Study on Utilization in Figure Skating by A Wireless Inertia Sensor Motion Capture System, Yuzuru Hanyu – 20210318

Original journal article was first published 18 March 2021

Translation: @shinjistarxx
Proofreading: @yuzueco & @axelsandwich

[ENG TRANSLATION] The first great conversation: Yuzuru Hanyu x Rikako Ikee article preview – 210713

Preview article originally published 13 July 2021. Note that this is not the full article.

Source: https://number.bunshun.jp/articles/-/848840

Translation: @axelsandwich
Proofreading: @shinjistarxx

　東京オリンピックを間近に控えたある日、東京と仙台を結んでのビッグ対談が、雑誌Number「オリンピック開幕直前特集」で実現した。

As we draw closer to the Tokyo Olympics, a ‘great exchange’ that connects Tokyo and Sendai took place in this special Pre-Olympics Numbers edition.

　今夏、再び祭典の場に姿を現す水泳の申し子、池江璃花子と、冬の王者、羽生結弦の初顔合わせである。

This is the first face-to-face meeting between the golden child of swimming, who has once more taken to the competitive stage, Rikako Ikee, and the champion of Winter, Yuzuru Hanyu.

　ふたりには、オリンピアンであるということ以外にも、大きな共通点があった。それに気づいていたのは羽生結弦のほうだった。

Besides both being Olympians, the two share another significant commonality. The one who noticed this was Yuzuru Hanyu.

　対談の冒頭から、池江に対して、「若いのにいろいろなものを背負って頑張ってるなとずっと思っていて。ご自身の病気のことはもちろん、他の病気にかかった人を勇気づけたいとか、元気になってほしいというものまで全部。そんなに背負わなくてもいいんじゃないかなと思いつつ、背負っているから強いんだろうなとも」と気遣いを見せた。

From the outset of the conversation, he showed his concern for Ikee, saying, ‘I’ve felt this whole time that though she’s young, she’s had to shoulder the weight of various things and has worked really hard. Of course, there was dealing with her own illness*, but also wanting to give courage to others who were also sick and wanting to get better, all of those things. While I feel that she doesn’t have to bear all of that weight, it’s perhaps because she’s carried these burdens that she is strong.’

*Ikee was diagnosed with leukemia at 19yrs old in February 2019.

　池江は、それにこう答える。「確かに背負わなくていいことまで背負っている気は自分でもしています。復帰してからは、病気した人代表みたいなものをすべてのレースで感じていました」

Ikee replied: ‘It’s true that I’m carrying the knowledge that I shouldn’t shoulder these burdens. After recovering, I’ve felt at all races that I’m almost like a representative for those who have been ill.’

羽生「当時はすごく重たく思っていた」

　大病を患い、昨年復帰。みるみると競技者としての回復を見せた池江が、人知れず背負っていたもの。羽生は遠いところからもそれを察していた。なぜなら、自分も避けられない天命により、いまもなお、重りを背負っているからだ。

Hanyu: “I think at the time, it weighed on me very heavily.”

The worry of the illness and the recovery last year. Ikee, who seemed to recover and return as a competitor in the blink of an eye, had been shouldering burdens unbeknownst to others. From afar, Hanyu could sympathise with this. It’s because even now, he has also been shouldering a heavy weight that fate had laid upon him.

「僕も、16歳の時に東日本大震災があって、やっぱりあれからすごくいろいろなものを背負い始めたなと感じていて。

“For me too, since the 3/11 disaster happened when I was sixteen, I feel that from that time, I had started to really shoulder these various things.”

　今も、東日本大震災の支援や復興に関する依頼はなるべく受けるようにしているのですが、当時はすごく重たく思っていました。大震災という天災が起きて、急に、被災地で頑張っている人間だから（日本代表に）選ばれているんだ、というように思われるのは、すごく悔しかった」

“Even now, I try wherever possible to accept requests to help out with [financial] support and recovery in the affected region, but at the time I thought of it as an incredibly heavy weight. The natural disaster suddenly happened and then when it was thought that I was chosen to be the representative of Japan [in figure skating] only because I was someone doing my best in the affected disaster area, I felt very frustrated.”

　冬季オリンピックで2連覇している羽生を前に、少し緊張気味の池江だったが、優しさと温かさ、時に強さを交えて語りかける王者に自身も心を開いていく。

Though she was initially a little tense and nervous in front of the two-time Winter Olympic champion, through a combination of the kindness, warmth and especially strength conveyed through Hanyu’s words to her, Ikee also was able to open up.

　そして話題は、オリンピックの心構え、最近もっとも悔しかったこと、一人で泣くとき、今乗り越えようとしている課題など、トップアスリート同士だからこそ語り合える内容に及んでいく――。

In addition, the conversation topics included how to prepare for the Olympics, recent and past frustrations and regrets, times when they cried alone, and how to overcome those difficulties now. It’s because they are both top athletes that they could trade notes on all these topics.

　いつまでも聞いていたい、珠玉の対談だった。

It’s a gem of a conversation you’d want to listen to, anywhere and anytime.

[ENG TRANSLATION] Yuzuru Hanyu, Dreams on Ice Day 1 Interview – 210709

All articles originally published 9 July 2021

Part 1 | Part 2

Translation & proofreading: @shinjistarxx & @axelsandwich

PART 1

フィギュアスケートのアイスショー「ドリーム・オン・アイス」が9日、横浜市のKOSE新横浜スケートセンターで行われ、男子で14年ソチ、18年平昌五輪連覇の羽生結弦（ANA）が6年ぶりに出演を果たし、「マスカレイド」を披露。新シーズンをスタートさせた。以下は、代表取材による一問一答。

The ice show “Dreams on Ice” was held on the 9th at Kose Shin-Yokohama Skate Center in Yokohama. Sochi ‘14 and Pyeongchang ‘18 gold medalist Yuzuru Hanyu (ANA) took part for the first time in six years, unveiling his program “Masquerade,” starting off a new season. The interview questions with him are as follows.

　――6年ぶりのDOI出演となった。

　「えっと、やはり皆さんの前で滑りたい思いが強くありました。昨年、アイスショーがなくて、もっと皆さんの前で滑りたかったなっていうふうに思ったのと。あと、自分が昨シーズン、自分が試合に出るたびに思った、自分が演技することで何か誰かの役に立つんじゃないかとか。何かを感じていただけるんじゃないかとか。そういったことを皆さんのために少しでもやりたいと思って。少しでも多くの場所で、機会で滑りたいなというふうに思い、今回ドリーム・オン・アイスに出させていただきました」

― (Your thoughts on) This being your first appearance at DOI in six years.

Yuzuru: Um, well, I strongly felt that I wanted to skate in front of everyone. Last year there weren’t ice shows, and so I wanted to skate more in front of an audience. Also, last season when I participated in competitions, I thought that perhaps my performances could be useful for someone; that perhaps they could feel something from it. So with that in mind, I wanted to try for everyone’s sake. I want to take the opportunity to skate in as many places as possible, so I decided to participate in Dreams on Ice this time.

　――実際にパワーをもらえたか。

　「もちろん僕自身はたくさんもらえたんですけど。僕はいただいて、その力をまた演技に変えて、皆さんにまた違った形で恩返しできたらなと思っているので。今は既に1公演でヘトヘトですけど、少しでも皆さんの何かの感情のきっかけになったらいいなと思います」

― Did you actually receive power [through this?]

Y: Of course, I personally received a lot [of power]. I received it and then changed it into power for my performance, and maybe everyone watching will pass this on in turn in another form. I’m already exhausted after this one performance so I hope this may be the impetus for some sort of emotion in everyone.

　――最大の目標ではる4回転半の状況は。

　「まずこのドリーム・オン・アイス、僕の中では久しぶりに1日2公演あるアイスショーですので。かなり体をつくって、このアイスショーに焦点を絞って練習しなくてはいけないなと思い。そこまで4Aの練習はできていません。ただ、スターズ・オン・アイスが終わって、体のダメージだとか。昨シーズン頑張ってきた体をいたわりつつ、アクセルの基礎の練習だったり、1から自分が作り直して、4回転半に向けて作り直す作業をしっかりできたらというので、これからにシーズンに向けて本格的に練習していきたいと思います」

― What is the current state of the quad Axel, which you cited as your ultimate goal right now?

Y: Firstly, Dreams on Ice is the first ice show in awhile where I’ve had to do two performances in one day. I thought that I must prepare my body and focus on this ice show so I haven’t been able to practise my quad Axel until now. After Stars on Ice, there was the toll that it took on my body, the need to take care of my body that had worked hard last season, there was practice on the foundations of the axel, and the need to do the work to properly rebuild my body for the quad Axel from square one; I’d like to start concretely practising for the season ahead from here on out.

　――今季のプログラム、SPは決まったか。

　「曲は決まっている。ただ、実際に音源はできていないですし。まだ発表できません」

― Regarding next season’s programs, have you decided on your SP?

Y: The music is decided. But, the editing is not done, so I cannot announce it yet.

　――フリーは継続か。

　「はい、フリーは『天と地と』を継続したいなというふうに思います」

― Will the free program [from last season] continue on?

Y: Yes, I am thinking I want to keep the free (program) “Ten to Chi to”.

PART 2

――2季ぶりにGPシリーズ出場を決めた理由は。

　「試合の機会がないと、やはり4回転半決めても意味がないと思いますし。試合で決めたいなという気持ちが強くあって。その機会を少しでも持てたらいいなというふうに思い、グランプリシリーズに出場することを決めました」

― What is the reason you decided to compete in the GP Series again after two seasons?

Yuzuru: Without the chance to be in competition, I think even if I land the quad Axel, it’s pointless. I strongly feel I want to land it in competition. I thought that I should take as many opportunities as I can in that regard, and so I decided to participate in the Grand Prix series [this season].

　――出場NHK杯、ロシア杯に決まった。

　「NHK杯が決まった段階で、必然的にロシアになるか、カナダになるか、中国になるか、みたいな感じがあったので。僕は世界選手権3位の人間なので、決定権は特になかったです」

― You decided on NHK Trophy and Rostelecom Cup [for your GP competitions]

Y: When they decided I would compete at the NHK Trophy, I felt it would definitely be either Rostelecom Cup, Skate Canada or the Cup of China. I was 3rd at the World Championships so I didn’t have any particular say in it.

　――改めて北京五輪への思いは

　「平昌シーズンみたく、絶対に金メダル獲りたいという気持ちは特にありません。ただ、必ず今シーズンで4回転半を決めるんだという強い意志はあります。しっかりと、その意志を、決意を持って今シーズン挑みたいなと思っています」

―Once again, what are your thoughts on the Beijing Olympics?

Y: I don’t particularly have the same feelings that I absolutely must get the gold medal like I did during the season of Pyeongchang (Olympics). However, I am very determined to definitely land the quad Axel this season. I will take up that challenge this season with that resolve and determination.

　――その先にあるものか。

　「道の中にあるのであれば。ただ、うーん。やはり先ほども言ったように平昌シーズンだったり、ソチだったり。そうった時みたいな熱量はないなというふうに自分の中では思っています」

― Is [the Beijing Olympics] something beyond that goal?

Y: If it happens to be part of the journey [towards the 4A]. It’s just…hm. Like I said before, I feel I don’t have the same degree of passion or fervour that I did at the time of Sochi or Pyeongchang.

　――マスカレイドを演じた理由は

　「なかなかこのプログラムを演じられる機会がなかったですし。ただ、なんか、あの時とは違って、もっと大人になって、もっと表現したいものだったり、もっと客観的に感じてもらえるものがこの世の中だからこそ増えたんじゃないかなというふうに思い、自分の中で演じたいなというふうに思ってこのプログラムにさせていただきました」

― What is the reason you performed “Masquerade” today?

Y: Well, I haven’t had many chances to perform this program. But also, since that time [I first did the program], I’ve become more of an adult, and I think there is more I want to express, and given the current state of the world, there is more I think that can be objectively felt from the program, so with those thoughts in mind, I wanted to perform it again, so I chose this program.

　――拠点は国内なのか。

　「まず、カナダにかえるためには大変な手続きがあるのと。可能か不可能か自分の中で確証はないので分からないんですけど、とりあえず、自分の中では昨シーズンの経験を踏まえて日本で1人で練習しても成長できるということを感じているので。今のところカナダに帰ることは考えていません。ただ、振付に関してリモートで、と考えてはいます」

― Will your training base this season be in Japan?

Y: First, in order to return to Canada now, there are many difficult procedures involved. I’m not certain whether it is even possible or not, but for the time being, based on my experiences from last season, I feel that I can grow even if training on my own, so I am not thinking of returning to Canada at the moment. However, I think with regards to the choreography, that it will be done with remote assistance [from Canada].

　――東京五輪が無観客開催となったが、どう感じているか。

　「僕は選手の立場なので。はっきり言ってしまえば、観客が…観客の方々が直接声援を送っていただけるとか、足を運んでいただけるとか。そういったことに声を上げることは僕はできないんじゃないかなと。ただ、選手の立場から言わせていただけるのであれば、オリンピックは選手にとっての夢の舞台であり、競技によっては最後の、一番ほしい夢の舞台だと思います。その舞台で一生懸命やることには変わりないと思いますし。なんか、こんな時だからこそ、僕らだったら演技って言っちゃうんですけど、こんな時だからこそのレースであったり、こんな時だからこその感動が生まれるのではないかなと思います」

― The upcoming Tokyo Olympics has been decided to be held without spectators. How do you feel about this?

Y: I am coming from the standpoint of an athlete. To put it bluntly, the audience…in regards to whether the audience can convey their support or travel [to watch] in person, I can’t really speak to that. But if I can speak from an athlete’s standpoint, the Olympics are a dream stage for many athletes, I think the final dream stage they long for the most. I don’t think the fact they will give everything they have on that stage will change. It’s the fact that it’s during times like this – we [skaters] call it a ‘performance’ – but I think it’s precisely because it’s during these [difficult] times that [watching events like] races and whatnot can result in something touching and emotional.