
All articles originally published 16 April 2021
Translation: @axelsandwich & @shinjistarxx
Proofreading: @yuzueco
PART 1
ใโโใใชใผใ็ตใใฆใ
ใใใพใๆใใๆฐๆใกใฏใใกใใใใใพใใใฉใใงใใใพใไธ็้ธๆๆจฉใ็ตใใฆใใพใ2้ฑ้ใๆญฃ็ดใๆฎ้ใฎ็ๆดปใงใฏใชใใฃใใงใใใใพใๆฐๆใกใ ใจใใใพใ้ฃไบใๆฎ้ใฎใใใซใฏๆใใชใใฃใใงใใใฉใใพใใใใชไธญใงใใใใใใฃใใใฃใฆ่จใฃใฆใใใใใใใชๅ ๅฎนใ ใฃใใจๆใใพใใ
โYour thoughts after the FS?
Yuzuru: Well, of course there are feelings of frustration in there but well, after the World Championships and for these two weeks, I wasnโt living my usual routine, to be honest. In terms of my feelings and well, I couldnโt eat the meals I normally eat, so Iโd like to say to myself that I did well, given all those circumstances.
ใโโใใฎๅคงไผใฏใฉใใชๅคงไผใ ใฃใใใ
ใใใฟใใชใๅ ใ ใฃใใชใฃใฆๆใใพใใใใฎใๅใไปๅใใทใงใผใใฎๆใใใชใผใฎๆใใ็นๆฐ่ฆใฆใใใใ่ฆใใใฃใใ ใใใใฉใ้ ๅผตใฃใใใ ใใใชใใฃใฆใใจใใใผใ ใกใผใใฎๆผๆใใพใใใใใใฆๆใใฆใใใใใใๆๅณใๅฐใใฎๅ ใฎใใใซใใใใใใใๅผทใๅใใใใฆใๅใๅ ่ผฉใจใใฆใใชใใจใใใใฐใใชใใใชใฃใฆใใใๆๅณใๆฎ้ใจใฏ้ใๅใใใใ ใใ่ฉฆๅใ ใฃใใจใๆใใพใใ
โWhat kind of competition was this for you?
Y: I think everyone was the light. This time, during the Short Program and Free Program as well, seeing the scores like โah, that was really tough but we worked hardโ โI felt that watching my teammatesโ performances as well. In a sense, like a guiding light, they really really gave me a lot of power. As a senior [in the team], I really felt I had to work hard and in a way, it was a competition where I received a different kind of power to the norm.
โโไธๆ่ฌไฟกใใฉใ่กจ็พใใใฎใใ
ใใใใฃใจใใพใใ่ชๅใใใชใผใใญใฐใฉใ ใจใใฆๆผใใๆใซใใฉใฎใใใซ่ชๅใใใญใฐใฉใ ใๆผใใใใใใฉใใชใใผใใงๆผใใใใใจใใใใจใใใใ่ใใพใใใ็ตๆใจใใฆใใใใใชๆฒใ่ใใ็ตๆใจใใฆใๅใฏใใๆๅณใๅ่ช่บซใงใใใใใใใใชใใผใใใใใฎใใชใจๆใใพใใใใใใง่ฆใคใใฃใใฎใใใฎๆฒใงใๅ่ช่บซใไธๆ่ฌไฟกๅ ฌใซใใใใๅ ฑ้ใใฆใใ้จๅใใใฃใใใใพใใ้ใใซๆใๅงฟๅขใใพใใฏใใใซไผดใ็ ็ฒใใใพใใฏไป่ ใๆใใใๆ ๆใ ใฃใใใใใใใชใจใใใๅใใใฎใใใชไบบใงใใใใใ้ธๆใงใใใใใจใใใตใใซๆใฃใฆใใฎใใญใฐใฉใ ใซใใพใใใใใฃใจใๆฏไปใฎไธญใงใฏๅใๆฏใฃใใใใพใใฏๅบ้ฃใฎๅๅณใใใใใใใใใฃใๆฏไปใใใใพใใใใฉใใใพใใใฟใชใใใใฉใใใใตใใซๅใๅใฃใฆใใ ใใใใฏใใฟใชใใใใใใใงใใใจๆใฃใฆใพใใใใฎใใญใฐใฉใ ใฏใปใใจใซ่ใใ่ช็ฑๅบฆใ้ซใใใญใฐใฉใ ใ ใจๆใฃใฆใใพใใใๅใใใฒใใฟใชใใใฎใใฎ1ใค1ใคใฎๆฏไปใใธใฃใณใใฎ่กจๆ ใ ใฃใใใใใใใฃใใใฎใใๅใใ็ฉ่ชใ่ๆฏใฟใใใชใใฎใๅฐใใงใ่งฆใใใใใๅฌใใใชใจๆใใชใใๆปใฃใฆใใพใใ
โHow did you try to express (the image of) Uesugi Kenshin* in your (free) program?
Y: Hmm, first, I tried to really consider how I wanted to perform the program, like what kind of theme I wanted to perform. So, as a result of listening to many different pieces of music, I thought that in a sense, a theme that would let me be myself would be good. And what I found fitting that (theme) was this piece of music, and I think I myself have a lot in common with Lord Uesugi Kenshin too. Also, various things about him such as his approach towards battle, his (acknowledgement of) sacrifices that must accompany it, and also his compassion and generosity and so onโI think that that is the kind of person, and the kind of athlete that I want to be, and so I chose this program. Um, as for the choreography, there are parts where I am wielding a katana [sword], and also signaling [to soldiers] to move out for battle, but, well, I think itโs up to everyone watching to interpret it as they will. I think this is a program that really is open to what you think, and I am certainly also skating with the thought that if everyone watching could feel a sense or story or something like a scene from my expression of each part of the choreography and each jump, I would be very happy.
*T/N: Referring to 16th century/medieval Japanese warlord Uesugi Kenshin who ruled over part of northern Japan. The music for Yuzuruโs free program this time is taken from a 1969 taiga (historical) drama called โHeaven and Earthโ that is about Kenshinโs life.

PART 2
ใโโ๏ผๆตทๅคใกใใฃใขใใ๏ผไป้ฑใๅๆฏใงๅ้กใฏใใฃใใใๅไบฌใซ่กใฃใฆๅๆฏใฎๅ้กใๅบใใใจใฏใ
ใใ๏ผ่ฑ่ชใง๏ผใตใตใๅไบฌไบ่ผชใฎใใจใฏ่ใใฆใใพใใใไปๅนดใๆฑไบฌไบ่ผชใ้ๅฌใใใใจใใใชใจๆใฃใฆใใพใใ๏ผๆฅๆฌ่ชใง๏ผใ๏ฝใใกใใฃใจๅพ ใฃใฆใใ ใใใใตใตใตใตใตใOKใใใฃใจใ๏ผ่ฑ่ชใง๏ผๅใฏใใใใใฎๅ้กใฏๆฑใใฆใใพใใใใใใฎๅคงไผใซๅใใฆไฝ่ชฟใฏๅ้กใชใใฃใใงใใๆผๆใซ้ขใใฆใฏใใฉใกใใฎใใญใฐใฉใ ใซใใใจใฆใ่ชไฟกใๆใฃใฆใใพใใใทใงใผใใใญใฐใฉใ ใงๅฐใใในใฏใใใพใใใไปๆฅใฎใใชใผใงใ4ๅ่ปขใตใซใณใผใงๅคงใใชใในใฏใใใพใใใใฉใใใใพใงใใฃใฆใใๆบๅใซๅคฑๆใฏใใฆใใพใใใใพใใใใใใใใฃใจใใฃใจ็ทด็ฟใๅฟ ่ฆใ ใชใจๆใฃใฆใใพใใ
โ(Question from foreign media) Did you have any problems with your asthma this week? Will there be any problems with your asthma going into the Beijing Olympics?
Y: (In English) Hehe. Iโm not thinking about the Beijing Olympics. I think it will be good if the Tokyo Olympics happen this year. (In Japanese) Ah. Sorry, please wait a moment. Hehehehee. OK. Um. (In English) I donโt have problems with asthma and my condition going into this competition wasnโt an issue. In regards to performance, I have confidence in both my programs. There was a small mistake in the Short Program. In todayโs Free Skate, there was a big mistake on the 4S, but Iโm not despairing over the preparations Iโve done until now. I think Iโll need to practise more and more from here on out.
ใโโ4ๅ่ปขใตใซใณใผใฏใ
ใใใใชใๆ ้ใซใใฃใฆใฆใใ๏ฝใใพใๅฝขใๆชใใชใใฃใใจๆใใใงใใใฉใใพใใไธ้ใจใใใใ่ชๅใ่ทณใใ ็ฉดใซๆใใฃใใๅ ฅใฃใฆใใพใฃใใฎใงใ่ชๅ่ช่บซใใใใฏใกใใฃใจ่ชๅใฎๆงๆ ผไธใใใใใชใใฎใใชใจๆใใใงใใใฉใใใชใๅใใจใใใง่ทณในใใใงใใญใๆฎ้ใใใใใ ใใๅใใใใช็ฉดใซใฏใพใฃใฆ็ชใฃใใใฃใฆใใพใใใจใ็ตๆงใใใฎใงใไปๅใใใใใปใใจใซใใใใจใใธใฎๅน ใชใใงใใใใใใชใใผใ ใใไฝใปใณใใใใใงใใใญใใพใใจใใธใฎๅน ใใใใฎๆบใชใใงใใใฉใใใใซใใฃใใใจใฏใพใใพใใใ๏ผ6ๅ้็ทด็ฟใฎ็ฉดใ๏ผใใถใใใใ ใจๆใใพใใ
โTalk to us about your quad Salchow
Y: I was really careful going into it. Ehโฆ well, I think my form wasnโt bad but well, I guess you could call it bad luck. I jumped straight into the hole I had made [before]. This is probably a unique quirk that I canโt really do much about, but I do tend to jump in the same spot, more than [people normally do]. So I do tend to snag [my jumps] in the same holes. Thatโs what happened this time. Honestly, it was just the width of the edge [of my blade]. It wasโฆ I wonder how many centimetres it was. Well, it was just a groove around the width of an edge, but I really just got stuck properly in it. (Was it a hole from the 6min warmup?) I think it was.
ใโโๆๅพใฎ3Aใซๅใใๆฐๆใกใฏใ
ใใใใฃใจใใพใใใใ2่ฉฆๅใฎ้ใงใใชใใซใขใฏใปใซใใใพใใซใใใพใๆฑบใพใใชใใฆใใใใใทใงใใฏใๅใใฆใใใจใใใใๆใใใฃใใจใใใใใชใใใใใชใใซใขใฏใปใซใจใใใธใฃใณใใซๅฏพใใฆใใใ็ณใ่จณใชใใชใจใใๆฐๆใกใงใใพใใใใ ใใใใใใฏใชใใใๆๅพใฎๆๅพใฏใใใกใใไธ็้ธๆๆจฉใฎ่จๆถใจใใใใถใใพใใใใฉใใงใใ็ตถๅฏพใซใใใใซๆฑบใใฆใใใใ ใฃใฆใ4ๅ่ปขๅใซ็ถใ้ใใใใง็คบใใใ ใฃใฆใใๆฐๆใกใงใใชใใซใขใฏใปใซใซๆใฟใพใใใ็ฒใใไธญใงใใใ ใใใใใจใใใใ ใในใใผใใ่ฝใกใฆใใฆใใไธญใงใใพใใใใจ่ฝใจใใฆใใพใใใฉใใใใใฏใ่กจ็พใจใใฆใใใ ใใใฎไธญใงใ่ชๅใงใๅใๆใใใใจใชใ้ๅธธใซในใ ใผใบใซ่ปธใซๅ ฅใฃใฆใ้ซใใฎใใใใใธใฃใณใใ ใฃใใจๆใใพใใไปใงใใ่ชๅใฎใในใใฎใใชใใซใขใฏใปใซใ ใฃใใจๆใใพใใ
โWhat were your feelings going into the last 3A?
Y: Um. Well firstly, between the last two competitions, I wasnโt able to land my triple Axels well, which you could say was a big shock, or source of frustration. I really feel hugely apologetic towards my triple Axel. So today, until the very very end โthough of course I had the memories from the World Championships to contend withโ I thought I will absolutely land it beautifully. I went into the 3A wanting to show that this is the base from which Iโm continuing my road to the quadruple Axel. Within the tiredness [at that point] and with such a slow speedโwell, I slowed down on purpose there, as a part of the performance. But within all of that, feeling no strength left, I think I entered the rotation very smoothly and it was a good jump with good height. I think it was the best triple Axel I can do at the moment.

PART 3
โโไปๅญฃๆๅพใฎๆปใใไปๅญฃๆๅพใจใใๆใใๆฅๅญฃใธใฎๆใใฏใ
ใใใใกใใไปใทใผใบใณๅงใใซๆปใฃใใใใชใใชใผใใใใใฃใๆฐๆใกใฏๅผทใใใใพใใใใ ใๅ จๆฅๆฌใฎๆใจ้ใฃใฆไธ็้ธๆๆจฉใใชใใชใ่ฉฆๅใฎ็ทด็ฟใใใชใใง่กใใพใใใใไปๅใไธ็้ธๆๆจฉ็ตใใฃใฆใใใใใฃใจไฝ่ชฟใ่ฏใใฃใใใใงใฏใชใใฃใใฎใงใใพใในใใฌในใใใฃใใใใใชใ็ฒใใใใฃใใใใ่ นใๅฃใใฆใใใใใใใใชใใจใใใฃใไธญใงใใใใใฃใฆใใใฎ๏ฝใใพใใกใใฃใจไธ้ใชใในใใใฃใใชใจใฏๆใใใงใใใฉใใงใใๆๅพใฎๆๅพใพใงใใใฎใใญใฐใฉใ ใซๅฏใๆทปใฃใฆใไธ็้ธๆๆจฉใจใฏ้ใฃใฆใใปใใจใซใใฎใใญใฐใฉใ ใฎๆฒใๆใใชใใใใใใฆใใฟใชใใใฎ้ผๅใ ใจใๅผๅธใ ใจใใ็ฅใใจใใใใใใใใฎใๆใใชใใๆปใใใจใใงใใใฎใงใใใๆๅณใๆบ่ถณใใฆใใพใใใงใใชใใ ใฃใใๆฅใทใผใบใณใซๅใใฆใใ ใฃใใๆฅๅญฃใซๅใใฆใฏใใใผใจใๆฅๅญฃใซๅใใฆใจใใๆๅณใงใฏไปใทใผใบใณใใใฃใฑใใขใฏใปใซใ4ๅ่ปขๅใๅ ฅใใใใชใใฃใใใจใฏใใใๆฎๅฟตใซๆใใพใใใใ ใ4ๅ่ปขๅใ็ทด็ฟใใฆใใใใใใใ่ฆใใฆใใๆฒใจใฎใคใชใใใจใใใพใใฏใใชใใซใขใฏใปใซใจใฎ้ใใจใใไปใฎใธใฃใณใใธใฎไฝใฎไฝฟใๆนใฎ่ใๆนใจใใใใใใชใใจใ่ฆใคใใฃใฆใใพใใใใใใฃใไปใฎ็ฅ่ญใ็ต้จใใใใใชใใฎใ็ต้ใใใฆใๆฅๅญฃ4ๅ่ปขๅ็ฎๆใใฆใใใใฆ4ๅ่ปขๅใๆใฃใๅฎๆใใใๆผๆใ็ฎๆใใฆใ้ ๅผตใฃใฆใใใใใจๆใใพใใ
โThis was your last skate of the season. What are your feelings about that and also towards next season?
Of course, I really wanted to skate a Free Skate like the one I did at the start of the season.* But unlike before the Japanese National Championships, I went into this one like I did at the World Championships without doing much practice for competition. This time also, after the World Championships, I wasnโt always in a good condition. Well, there was stress and exhaustion and my stomach was also upset. In the midst of various things and ah, well, there was also a mistake caused by bad luck there I think… But I was able to stay with the program until the very end and unlike the World Championships, I really was feeling the music in this program, and feeling everyoneโs heartbeats, breaths and prayers, so in a sense Iโm satisfied. And then…what was it. Regarding next season? Looking at next season, well, in a sense I think it was a huge shame that I wasnโt able to put in the 4A this season. But itโs because I have been practising my 4A that I was able to discover things like a connection with the music that you saw, the difference between the 4A and 3A, and the ways to think about how to use my body for other jumps. So Iโd like to gather my current knowledge, experience and various things and aim for the 4A next season and work hard towards the perfect performance that incorporates the 4A.
*Referring to his Japanese Nationals 2020 performance.
ใโโไปๅคงไผใฎๅ็ฉซใจ่ชฒ้กใฏใ
ใใใใฃใจใ่ชๅใฎ็ฉดใซใฏใพใใชใใใใซใใใใใซใฏใไปใฎใจใใใง่ทณในใฃใฆใใ่ฉฑใชใใงใใใฉใใงใใไปใพใงใใใไฝๅใใใฃใฆใใฆใ็ตๆใใกใ ใฃใใฎใงใใผใใฏใใฃใฑใ่ชๅใไฟกใใ้ใ่ชๅใใใใปใฉใพใงใซ็ฒพๅฏใซใงใใใจใใใใจใใใใถใ่ชๅใฎๅผทใฟใ ใจๆใใฎใงใ9ๅฒ่ทณในใใจใใใใชใใฆใ100๏ผ ่ทณในใใจใใใตใใซใณใณใใญใผใซใงใใใฎใ่ชๅใฎๅผทใฟใ ใจๆใใพใใใใใใGOEใใใใพใงๅฑใใใใใชใธใฃใณใใซใๆจๆฅใฎใตใซใณใผใฎใใใชใธใฃใณใใซใคใชใใใจๅใฏๆใฃใฆใใใฎใงใใใฃใใใจใใ๏ฝใ่ชๅใฎๅผทใฟใ็ฃจใใฆใใใใใชใจใใใตใใซๆใใพใใไปๅใฎๅ็ฉซใจใใฆใฏใ่ชฒ้กใฏใใฃใฑใใใใพใใใฉใใขใฏใปใซไน ใใถใใซใใใใซ้ใใใใ๏ฝใฃใฆใจใใงใใใญใๆญฃ็ดใใซใผใใๅฎ็งใงใฏใชใใฃใใงใใใใใผใซใผใใใณใณใใใผใทใงใณใกใใฃใจๅคใใฆใใพใฃใใใจใใใใใใใใใพใใใใฉใไฝใใใใใฎใใญใฐใฉใ ใซๅฏใๆทปใฃใฆใๆๅพใฎใขใฏใปใซใไน ใใถใใซ่ชๅใฎใใชใใซใขใฏใปใซใ ใจๆใใใใใชใในใใณใจใใใขใฏใปใซใ่ทณในใใใงใใทใงใผใใฎใใจใฏใทใงใผใใฎใใจใงใตใซใณใผใ่ฏใใฃใใใใชใใไน ใใถใใซ่ชๅใฎใธใฃใณใใ่ทณในใใชใฃใฆใใๆฐๆใกใงไปใใพใใใใใใจใใใใใพใใใ
โWhat did you gain from this competition and what will you work on?
Y: Um, well, to make sure I donโt get caught in a hole [in the ice] that I made myself, itโs a matter of jumping in a different spot. But, so far Iโve tried that many times too, and it didnโt work. I think ultimately my strength is being able to be extremely precise in following what I believe. Like, instead of being able to jump (something) 90% of the time, I can control it so I can jump it 100% of the time. I think that connects to having clean jumps and (high) GOE, like yesterdayโs (quad) Salchow [in the short program]. So, I think I want to diligently hone in on this strength. As for what I gained this time, thereโs a lot I need to work on, but, maybe itโs that I landed a [triple] Axel nicely for the first time in a while. To be honest, there were a lot of things, like the (quad) Loop wasnโt perfect either, and the (quad) Toe Loop and combination were a little off as well, but above all, I was able to get into put my heart and soul into this program, and the last [triple] Axel was exhilarating, and for the first time in a while, it was something that felt like one of my usual Axels. The short (program) was what it was and the (quad) Salchow there was good too. I think now I have the feeling that somehow for the first time in a while I was able to jump like myself. Thank you very much.