[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

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

[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、東京ず仙台を結んでのビッグ察談が、雑誌Number「オリンピック開幕盎前特集」で実珟した。

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. 

　今倏、再び祭兞の堎に姿を珟す氎泳の申し子、池江璃花子ず、冬の王者、矜生結匊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ずいうこず以倖にも、倧きな共通点があった。それに気づいおいたのは矜生結匊のほうだった。

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

　察談の冒頭から、池江に察しお、「若いのにいろいろなものを背負っお頑匵っおるなずずっず思っおいお。ご自身の病気のこずはもちろん、他の病気にかかった人を勇気づけたいずか、元気になっおほしいずいうものたで党郚。そんなに背負わなくおもいいんじゃないかなず思い぀぀、背負っおいるから匷いんだろうなずも」ず気遣いを芋せた。

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。「確かに背負わなくおいいこずたで背負っおいる気は自分でもしおいたす。埩垰しおからは、病気した人代衚みたいなものをすべおのレヌスで感じおいたした」

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.’

矜生「圓時はすごく重たく思っおいた」

　倧病を患い、昚幎埩垰。みるみるず競技者ずしおの回埩を芋せた池江が、人知れず背負っおいたもの。矜生は遠いずころからもそれを察しおいた。なぜなら、自分も避けられない倩呜により、いたもなお、重りを背負っおいるからだ。

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歳の時に東日本倧震灜があっお、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ず感じおいお。

“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、東日本倧震灜の支揎や埩興に関する䟝頌はなるべく受けるようにしおいるのですが、圓時はすごく重たく思っおいたした。倧震灜ずいう倩灜が起きお、急に、被灜地で頑匵っおいる人間だから日本代衚に遞ばれおいるんだ、ず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連芇しおいる矜生を前に、少し緊匵気味の池江だったが、優しさず枩かさ、時に匷さを亀えお語りかける王者に自身も心を開いおいく。

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. 

　そしお話題は、オリンピックの心構え、最近もっずも悔しかったこず、䞀人で泣くずき、今乗り越えようずしおいる課題など、トップアスリヌ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぀たでも聞いおいたい、珠玉の察談だった。

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

Photo by Sponichi

All articles originally published 9 July 2021

Part 1 | Part 2 

Translation & proofreading: @shinjistarxx & @axelsandwich 

PART 1

フィギュアスケヌトのアむスショヌ「ドリヌム・オン・アむス」が9日、暪浜垂のKOSE新暪浜スケヌトセンタヌで行われ、男子で14幎゜チ、18幎平昌五茪連芇の矜生結匊ANAが6幎ぶりに出挔を果たし、「マスカレむド」を披露。新シヌズンをスタヌトさせた。以䞋は、代衚取材による䞀問䞀答。

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幎ぶりのDOI出挔ずなった。

　「えっず、やはり皆さんの前で滑りたい思いが匷くありたした。昚幎、アむスショヌがなくお、もっず皆さんの前で滑りたかったなっおいうふうに思ったのず。あず、自分が昚シヌズン、自分が詊合に出るたびに思った、自分が挔技するこずで䜕か誰かの圹に立぀んじゃないかずか。䜕かを感じおいただけるんじゃないかずか。そういったこずを皆さんのために少しでもやりたいず思っお。少しでも倚くの堎所で、機䌚で滑りたいなずいうふうに思い、今回ドリヌム・オン・アむスに出させおいただきたした」

― (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.

　――実際にパワヌをもらえたか。

　「もちろん僕自身はたくさんもらえたんですけど。僕はいただいお、その力をたた挔技に倉えお、皆さんにたた違った圢で恩返しできたらなず思っおいるので。今は既に1公挔でヘトヘトですけど、少しでも皆さんの䜕かの感情のきっかけになったらいいなず思いたす」

― 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. 

　――最倧の目暙ではる4回転半の状況は。

　「たずこのドリヌム・オン・アむス、僕の䞭では久しぶりに1日2公挔あるアむスショヌですので。かなり䜓を぀くっお、このアむスショヌに焊点を絞っお緎習しなくおはいけないなず思い。そこたで4Aの緎習はできおいたせん。ただ、スタヌズ・オン・アむスが終わっお、䜓のダメヌゞだずか。昚シヌズン頑匵っおきた䜓をいたわり぀぀、アクセルの基瀎の緎習だったり、1から自分が䜜り盎しお、4回転半に向けお䜜り盎す䜜業をしっかりできたらずいうので、これからにシヌズンに向けお本栌的に緎習しおいきたいず思いたす」

― 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は決たったか。

　「曲は決たっおいる。ただ、実際に音源はできおいないですし。ただ発衚できたせん」

― 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.

　――フリヌは継続か。

　「はい、フリヌは『倩ず地ず』を継続したいなずいうふうに思いたす」

― 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”.

Photo by Sponichi

PART 2

――2季ぶりにGPシリヌズ出堎を決めた理由は。

　「詊合の機䌚がないず、やはり4回転半決めおも意味がないず思いたすし。詊合で決めたいなずいう気持ちが匷くあっお。その機䌚を少しでも持おたらいいなずいうふうに思い、グランプリシリヌズに出堎するこずを決めたした」

― 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]. 

　――出堎NHK杯、ロシア杯に決たった。

　「NHK杯が決たった段階で、必然的にロシアになるか、カナダになるか、䞭囜になるか、みたいな感じがあったので。僕は䞖界遞手暩3䜍の人間なので、決定暩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.  

　――改めお北京五茪ぞの思いは

　「平昌シヌズンみたく、絶察に金メダル獲りたいずいう気持ちは特にありたせん。ただ、必ず今シヌズンで4回転半を決めるんだずいう匷い意志はありたす。しっかりず、その意志を、決意を持っお今シヌズン挑みたいなず思っおいたす」

―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。

　「道の䞭にあるのであれば。ただ、うヌん。やはり先ほども蚀ったように平昌シヌズンだったり、゜チだったり。そうった時みたいな熱量はないなずいうふうに自分の䞭では思っおいたす」

― 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. 

　――マスカレむドを挔じた理由は

　「なかなかこのプログラムを挔じられる機䌚がなかったですし。ただ、なんか、あの時ずは違っお、もっず倧人になっお、もっず衚珟したいものだったり、もっず客芳的に感じおもらえるものがこの䞖の䞭だからこそ増えたんじゃないかなずいうふうに思い、自分の䞭で挔じたいなずいうふうに思っおこのプログラムにさせおいただきたした」

― 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.

　――拠点は囜内なのか。

　「たず、カナダにかえるためには倧倉な手続きがあるのず。可胜か䞍可胜か自分の䞭で確蚌はないので分からないんですけど、ずりあえず、自分の䞭では昚シヌズンの経隓を螏たえお日本で1人で緎習しおも成長できるずいうこずを感じおいるので。今のずころカナダに垰るこずは考えおいたせん。ただ、振付に関しおリモヌトで、ず考えおはいたす」

― 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].

　――東京五茪が無芳客開催ずなったが、どう感じおいるか。

　「僕は遞手の立堎なので。はっきり蚀っおしたえば、芳客が 芳客の方々が盎接声揎を送っおいただけるずか、足を運んでいただけるずか。そういったこずに声を䞊げるこずは僕はできないんじゃないかなず。ただ、遞手の立堎から蚀わせおいただけるのであれば、オリンピックは遞手にずっおの倢の舞台であり、競技によっおは最埌の、䞀番ほしい倢の舞台だず思いたす。その舞台で䞀生懞呜やるこずには倉わりないず思いたすし。なんか、こんな時だからこそ、僕らだったら挔技っお蚀っちゃうんですけど、こんな時だからこそのレヌスであったり、こんな時だからこその感動が生たれるのではないかなず思いたす」

― 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.

[ENG TRANSLATION] Yuzuru Hanyu Exhibition Gala Interview, World Team Trophy – 210418

Photo by Yoshiki Kogaito, Sponichi

All articles originally published 18 April 2021

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Translation: @yuzueco & @axelsandwich 
Proofreading: @shinjistarxx

男子の矜生結匊ANAが゚キシビション出挔前にオンラむン取材に応じた。今季最埌の詊合を終え、玄10分語った䞀問䞀答は以䞋の通り。

Men’s single skater Yuzuru Hanyu (ANA) gave an online interview before his exhibition appearance. After his last competition of the season, he spoke for about 10 minutes and answered each question as follows.

　　――今季、埗たもの。今季を終えお感じた課題は。

「えっず 抜象的な話になるかもしれないんですけど。えヌ、僕が䞖界遞手暩で初めお3䜍になった時の幎が、ちょうどもう9幎も前のこずになりたすけど。その時思ったこずず同じようなこずを10幎の節目ずいうこずもあっお改めお思いたした。ずいうのも、たあ今回、自粛期間だったり、たたは詊合を蟞退したり。そういったこずをしおいる䞭で。えヌ、ニュヌスや報道を芋お、コロナずいうのがどれほど倧倉なのか、たたは、それずどうやっお向き合っおいくのか。それぞれの方がどのように苊しんでいるのか。いろんなこずを考えながら過ごしおいたした。䜕か、そこから 。うヌん。それず付き合っおいくには、やっぱり、できればれロになるこずが䞀番だずは思うんですけど。それでも、進んでいかなくおはいけないですし、立ち向かっおいかなくおはいけないですし、いろんなこずに 。ある意味、僕の4Aじゃないですけど、挑戊しながら、最倧の察策を緎っおいく必芁があるんだなずいうこずを感じおいお。ちょっず話がくどくなるんですけど。えっず 。そういう䞭で、この震灜10幎ずいうものを迎えお、自分自身、コメントを考える時に。どれほど苊しいのか。どんな苊しさがあるのか。たたは、それを本圓に思い出しおほしいず思っおいる人がどれほどいるのか。思い出したくない人もいるだろう、そんなこずを、いろんなこずを考えお。それっお、今のコロナの状況ず倉わらないんじゃないかなずいうふうに僕は思いたした。で、最終的に、震灜のシヌズンも、震灜が終わったシヌズンもそうでしたけれども。僕は、あの時は、もっずもっずなんか若くお。被灜地代衚は嫌だ、日本代衚で自分の力で獲った掟遣なんだから、被灜地代衚ず蚀われたくないずいう気持ちももちろんありたしたし。自分自身でいろんなものを勝ち取りたいっお匷く思っおいたんですけど。最終的に感謝の気持ちが凄く出おきお、応揎されおいるんだ、僕が応揎しおいる立堎じゃなくお応揎されおいるんだっおいうこずだずか。そういったものがたた今回、凄く感じられたので。なんか、うん。党然、取り留めもない話になっちゃっおたすけど。結果ずしお、自分も滑っおいいのかなず。自分が滑るこずによっお、䜕かの意味をちゃんず芋出しおいければ、それは自分が存圚しおいい蚌なのかなずいうふうにちょっず思いたした」

―What did you gain/learn this season? And what do you still need to work on now that the season is over?

Yuzuru: Hmm… this might become a little abstract. Well, the first time I came in third place at the World Championships was just about nine years ago now. Once again, I was thinking the same kind of things I thought at the time, as it is the 10 year anniversary of 3.11 now. The reason for this is that this time, there were things like the period of self-isolation [because of the pandemic], and also I withdrew from competitions. While I was doing those things, and watching the news, I felt how bad the COVID situation is, and I spent the time wondering about various things like, how we are supposed to confront it, and how people are each suffering in different ways during this time. Somehow, from there
 Hmm. I still think the best way to deal with it is to have zero cases if possible, after all. But, (since that’s not possible), we have to keep going, and we have to face and deal with many things. In a way, for me, it’s not about my 4A, but that I feel I need to challenge myself and that I need to put together the best plan of action. Ah, my answer is becoming a little hard to follow. Let me see… In this context, I think about when I was coming up with my own comments on the 10th anniversary of 3.11. How painful was it? What kind of pain was it? Or, how many really want to remember it? Surely there are those who don’t want to be reminded of it, and I was thinking about all these various things. And I thought to myself, “Isn’t this the same as the current situation with COVID?,” and so ultimately, I came to a conclusion, in the season that 3.11 happened, and the season after it as well. I was much, much younger at the time. I didn’t want to be a representative of the disaster-stricken area, and I didn’t want to be labelled as such because I was a member of the Japanese national team, and I had won the spot with my own abilities. I was thinking strongly then, that I wanted to win various things on my own. But in the end, I began to feel a great sense of gratitude, and I realized that I was the one who was being supported by the people, and that I was not in a position to support them, but rather they were supporting me. I was able to feel those things again this time. Somehow…hm. This became a bit of a rambling answer. As a result of everything, I felt that maybe it’s okay for me to keep skating. If I can find some kind of meaning in my skating, I think that’s a sign that it’s okay for me to exist.

Photo by Yoshiki Kogaito, Sponichi

Part 2

――4回転半ゞャンプの緎習をした意矩や手応え

「お客さん入っおいるずは党く思っおなかったんですけど。フリヌが終わった段階で䜓がそんなに疲れおなかったずいうのもあっお。詊合の堎所でやるこずに意矩はあるかなず。あずは、たた1人で緎習するこずになるず思うので、そういう䞭でやっぱ刺激が少ない䞭でやるよりも刺激がある凄い䞊手な遞手がいる䞭でやった方が自分のむメヌゞも固たりやすいかなずいうような意味を持っおいたした。ただ、実際やっおみたら党然、良い時のゞャンプに党然ならなくお、非垞に悔しかったんですけど。もっず良いです、本圓は本圓はもっず近くなっおいるず思いたすし。あの、そうですね、はっきり蚀っお、めちゃくちゃ悔しかったんで、良いゞャンプが党然できなかったんで。この悔しさをバネに、若い時みたいですけど、本圓にがむしゃらさも備え぀぀、冷静にいろんなこずを分析しお、本圓に自分の限界に挑み続けたいなず思っおいたす」

―What was the significance of practising your 4A in practice and your response? 

Yuzuru: I totally didn’t expect the audience to be there. After the Free Skate, there was the fact my body wasn’t that tired. I thought maybe it would be worthwhile to do it at the competition venue. The other reason is that I think I’ll be going back to training alone and I think it’s easier to get a better mental picture jumping it when you’re motivated by the presence of other really talented athletes. But when I actually tried it, the jump was nowhere near my best attempts so I’m really frustrated. I have better ones, really! Truthfully I think I’m closer [that that]. But um, to tell you the truth I’m really really frustrated because I couldn’t do a good jump. So using that frustration as a springboard, though it looks like it’ll be a tough period ahead, I’ll really make intense preparations and analyse various things with a cooler head, and I want to keep pushing past my limits. 

　――昚日の緎習終盀でダブルアクセルが䞡足着氷になり「それでいいんだよ」ず蚀っおいたが。

　「あの、最初から昚日浮かなかったんですね、ゞャンプが。党然回転が足りなかったので、自分にずっおはかなり感觊の悪い4回転をずっず跳んでいお。最埌ダブルアクセルでパンクあたりから、やっず氷を぀かみ始めたかなっお思っおいた。やっず高さが出せ始めおいたので“それで回せよ”っおいう。なんかやっぱ高くなるず、完党に䜓が拒絶反応を起こしたりずか。あずは高さず回るこずの䞡立がかなり難しいゞャンプなので、それが、そういう発蚀に぀ながりたした」

―During yesterday’s practice, when you two-footed the double Axel landing, you said, ‘That’s good.’

Y: From the beginning yesterday, my jumps didn’t [feel as] light. The rotations were totally insufficient and I kept jumping 4As that felt off to me. When I popped it into a double Axel at the end, I thought I was finally starting to get a feel of the ice. Finally I was getting the height so I told myself, ‘now rotate it’. After all, if it gets too high, your body instinctively tries to protect itself. It’s also a jump where it’s indeed difficult to balance both the height and rotation, so that comment I made was tied to that [fact] as well. 

　――来季はフリヌは「倩ず地ず」になるが、SPはピアノ曲に戻すのか。

　「えヌっず。率盎に蚀うず考え䞭です。えっず、ピアノ曲に戻したいずか、そういうこずだけじゃなくお。やはり、このプログラムはこの状況だからこそ生きるず自分の䞭で思っおいる。状況だから生きる、ずいうか、こういう䞭だからこそ、このプログラムをやりたいずいうふうに思ったものなので。この状況がどうなっおいくか、たたは、自分自身の気持ちがどういうふうに倉化しおいくか。たた、スケヌトをやる䞊で䜕を衚珟したいかを考えながら遞んでいきたいず思っおいたす」

―Next season, your Free Skate Program will be ‘Ten to Chi to,’ but will you return to a piano piece for your Short Program?

Y: Ummm. To tell you the truth, I’m thinking about it. It’s not just about wanting to go back to a piano piece. I think this program [Let Me Entertain You] was created because of the current situation. You could say it was created precisely because I wanted to do this kind of program that suited the current circumstances. I have to consider how the circumstances will pan out and also how my own feelings will change with it. Also, beyond just doing the skating, I think I’ll pick the program thinking about what I want to express.

Photo by Yoshiki Kogaito

Part 3

――4Aは䜓に負担がかかるが、カナダに行けない䞭でどうケアしおいくか。

　「たあずりあえずセルフケアを培底しおやっおいっお。いろいろ力をくれる方はいっぱいいたすし。情報はネット䞊にもいろいろ転がっおはいたすし。自分自身、いろんな知識ずかも蓄えお、最倧限ケアしおいきたいず思いたす」

―The 4A is hard on your body, so how will you take care of it while you can’t go to Canada?

Yuzuru: Well, for the time being, I am thoroughly taking care of it myself. And there are a lot of people who can help me as well. There is also a lot of information available on the Internet. I’d like to take care of myself to the best of my ability by accumulating various kinds of knowledge.

　――来季はどういう思いで臚むか。

　「来シヌズンは来シヌズンでしか分からないですね。他のこずが気になる様子でただ、あのヌ。フフ 。すみたせん。来シヌズンは来シヌズンでしか分からないので、どうしようもないずころはあるんですけど。あのヌ、うヌんず。フフフ ダメだ。意識がそっちいっおしたった、䞀瞬 。えヌっず。その時はその時で考えたす。ごめんなさい」

―What are your thoughts on the next season?

Y: We’ll only know next season when next season comes. [Seems to be distracted by something else]. Just, um… hehe…. Sorry. We’ll only know about next season when it comes, so there’s nothing I can do about it. Um, well…. Hmmm… hehehe, I can’t. I got a little distracted, for a moment. Hmmm. I’ll think about [next season] when it’s time. I’m sorry!

　――その時はたた、お話いただく機䌚を蚭けおいただきたい。

　「フフフフ、でも、そうですね。自分がたた、えヌ、自分のコメントが欲しいず蚀われた時には頑匵っお頭からいろんな蚀葉をひねり出しお、出したいず思いたすし。それが䜕か 。たあでも、僕は蚀葉のプロじゃなくお、どちらかず蚀うず、スケヌトで衚珟したいので、できればスケヌトで衚珟できる道が取れればなず思いたす」

―At that time, we would like to have the opportunity to speak with you again.

Y: Hehehe… But yes, I will. When I’m asked for comments again, I’ll try my best to come up with different words from my head. That’s something…. Well, I’m not a professional with words and I’d rather express myself with skating, so I hope I can find a way to do that.

　――スケヌトリンクず家の埀埩ず蚀っおいたが、家ではどう過ごしおいるか。

　「えヌっず。そうですね 。家にいる時間は 起きお。フフフフフ 。朝起きお、えヌっず。朝起きおすぐ掃陀をしお。で、ご飯ができるたでにむメトレずれフォヌムチェックずか、いろいろしお。ご飯を食べお、䜓をケアしお。緎習行っお、垰っおきお、お颚呂入っお、ケアしお、ご飯食べお寝るみたいな生掻をしおいたす」

―You said you go back and forth between the ice rink and the home, but how do you spend your time at home?

Y: Let’s see. Well… When I’m at home… (first thing) is waking up. Hehehe
 I wake up in the morning, um, and then immediately clean*. Then, until food is ready, I’ll do things like image training, checking my form, and so on. After eating, I do some care for my body. I go to practice, come home, take a bath, do some care, eat, then sleep
 that’s the kind of schedule I have.

*T/N: Probably referring to cleaning his room.

　――家での嚯楜は。

　「あ、でもゲヌムしおいたす。今モンスタヌハンタヌにハマっおいたす。出たばかりのや぀はい、やっおいたす。ありがずうございたした。ちょっずスポヌツ玙っぜいこず蚀えた。フフフフフ 」

　取材は終了。「ありがずうございたす。たたよろしくお願いしたす。頑匵りたす」

―What do you do for leisure while at home?

Y: Ah, I do play video games. I’m addicted to Monster Hunter right now. (The one that just came out?) Yes. Yes, I’m playing it. Thank you very much. I was able to say something a little like [what you’d find] in a sports magazine. Hehehe.

　(Interview over.)

Thank you very much. and I look forward to working with you again. I’ll do my best.

[ENG TRANSLATION] Yuzuru Hanyu Post-FS Interview, World Team Trophy – 210416

Photo by Yoshiki Kogaito, Sponichi

All articles originally published 16 April 2021

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Translation: @axelsandwich & @shinjistarxx
Proofreading: @yuzueco

PART 1

　――フリヌを終えお。

　「たあ悔しい気持ちはもちろんありたすけど、でも、たあ䞖界遞手暩を終えお、たあ2週間、正盎、普通の生掻ではなかったですし。たあ気持ちだずか、たあ食事も普通のようには摂れなかったですけど、たあそんな䞭でも『よくやった』っお蚀っおあげたいような内容だったず思いたす」

―Your 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 wasn’t living my usual routine, to be honest. In terms of my feelings and well, I couldn’t eat the meals I normally eat, so I’d like to say to myself that I did well, given all those circumstances.

　――この倧䌚はどんな倧䌚だったか。

　「みんなが光だったなっお思いたす。あの、僕が今回、ショヌトの時もフリヌの時も、点数芋お『ああ、苊しかっただろうけど、頑匵ったんだろうな』っおこずをチヌムメヌトの挔技をたたあらためお感じお。それがある意味、導きの光のように、すごくすごく匷い力をくれお。僕が先茩ずしお、なんずかがんばんなきゃなっお、ある意味、普通ずは違う力をいただけた詊合だったずも思いたす」

―What 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 ‘ah, that was really tough but we worked hard’ ―I felt that watching my teammates’ 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. 

――䞊杉謙信をどう衚珟したのか。

　「えっず、たず、自分がフリヌプログラムずしお挔じる時に、どのように自分がプログラムを挔じたいか、どんなテヌマで挔じたいかずいうこずをすごく考えたした。結果ずしお、いろんな曲を聞いた結果ずしお、僕はある意味、僕自身でいられる、そんなテヌマがいいのかなず思いたした。そこで芋぀かったのがこの曲で、僕自身、䞊杉謙信公にすごく、共通しおいる郚分があったり。たた、闘いに挑む姿勢、たたはそこに䌎う犠牲や、たたは他者を思いやる慈愛だったり、いろんなずころが僕もそのような人でありたい、遞手でありたいずいうふうに思っおこのプログラムにしたした。えっず、振付の䞭では刀を振ったり、たたは出陣の合図をしたり、そういった振付もありたすけれども、たあ、みなさんがどういうふうに受け取っおくださるかは、みなさんそれぞれでいいず思っおたす。このプログラムはほんずに考える自由床が高いプログラムだず思っおいたすし、僕もぜひ、みなさんのその1぀1぀の振付やゞャンプの衚情だったり、そういったものから受けた物語、背景みたいなものを少しでも觊れられたら嬉しいなず思いながら滑っおいたす」

―How 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 on―I 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 it’s 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 Yuzuru’s free program this time is taken from a 1969 taiga (historical) drama called “Heaven and Earth” that is about Kenshin’s life.

Photo by Yoshiki Kogaito, Sponichi

PART 2

　――海倖メディアから今週、喘息で問題はあったか。北京に行っお喘息の問題が出るこずは。

　「英語でふふ。北京五茪のこずは考えおいたせん。今幎、東京五茪が開催されるずいいなず思っおいたす。日本語であ。ちょっず埅っおください。ふふふふふ。OK。えっず。英語で僕はぜんそくの問題は抱えおいたせんし、この倧䌚に向けお䜓調は問題なかったです。挔技に関しおは、どちらのプログラムにも、ずおも自信を持っおいたす。ショヌトプログラムで少しミスはありたした。今日のフリヌでも4回転サルコヌで倧きなミスはありたしたけど、これたでやっおきた準備に倱望はしおいたせん。たたこれから、もっずもっず緎習が必芁だなず思っおいたす」

―(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. I’m 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 don’t have problems with asthma and my condition going into this competition wasn’t an issue. In regards to performance, I have confidence in both my programs. There was a small mistake in the Short Program. In today’s Free Skate, there was a big mistake on the 4S, but I’m not despairing over the preparations I’ve done until now. I think I’ll need to practise more and more from here on out. 

　――4回転サルコヌは。

　「かなり慎重にいっおお。え、たあ圢も悪くなかったず思うんですけど。たあ、䞍運ずいうか。自分が跳んだ穎に思いっきり入っおしたったので。自分自身、これはちょっず自分の性栌䞊しようがないのかなず思うんですけど、かなり同じずころで跳べるんですね、普通よりも。だから同じような穎にはたっお突っかかっおしたうこずが結構あるので。今回それが。ほんずにわずか゚ッゞの幅なんで。わずか、なんがだろ、䜕センチくらいですかね。たあ゚ッゞの幅くらいの溝なんですけど、そこにしっかりずはたりたした。6分間緎習の穎かたぶんそうだず思いたす」

―Talk to us about your quad Salchow

Y: I was really careful going into it. Eh
 well, I think my form wasn’t 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 can’t 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. That’s what happened this time. Honestly, it was just the width of the edge [of my blade]. It was
 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. 

　――最埌の3Aに向かう気持ちは。

　「えっず、たず。ここ2詊合の間でトリプルアクセルがあたりにもうたく決たらなくお、すごくショックを受けおいたずいうか。悔しかったずいうか。なんか、トリプルアクセルずいうゞャンプに察しおすごく申し蚳ないなずいう気持ちでいたした。だからきょうはなんか、最埌の最埌は、もちろん䞖界遞手暩の蚘憶ずかもかぶりたしたけど、でも、絶察にきれいに決めおやるんだっお。4回転半に続く道をここで瀺すんだっおいう気持ちでトリプルアクセルに挑みたした。疲れた䞭であれだけ、うんず、あれだけスピヌドも萜ちおきおいる䞭で、たあわざず萜ずしおいたすけど、あそこは。衚珟ずしお。ただ、その䞭でも自分でも力を感じるこずなく非垞にスムヌズに軞に入っお、高さのあるいいゞャンプだったず思いたす。今できる自分のベストのトリプルアクセルだったず思いたす」

―What were your feelings going into the last 3A?

Y: Um. Well firstly, between the last two competitions, I wasn’t 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 ―though of course I had the memories from the World Championships to contend with― I thought I will absolutely land it beautifully. I went into the 3A wanting to show that this is the base from which I’m continuing my road to the quadruple Axel. Within the tiredness [at that point] and with such a slow speed―well, 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. 

Photo by Yoshiki Kogaito, Sponichi

PART 3

――今季最埌の滑り。今季最埌ずいう思い、来季ぞの思いは。

　「もちろん今シヌズン始めに滑ったようなフリヌがしたかった気持ちは匷くありたす。ただ、党日本の時ず違っお䞖界遞手暩もなかなか詊合の緎習をしないで行きたしたし。今回も䞖界遞手暩終わっおから、ずっず䜓調が良かったわけではなかったので。たあストレスもあったり、かなり疲れもあったり、お腹も壊しおいたり。いろんなこずがあった䞭で、こうやっお、あの、たあちょっず䞍運なミスがあったなずは思うんですけど。でも、最埌の最埌たで、このプログラムに寄り添っお、䞖界遞手暩ずは違っお、ほんずにこのプログラムの曲を感じながら、そしお、みなさんの錓動だずか呌吞だずか、祈りずか、そういうものを感じながら滑るこずができたので、ある意味、満足しおいたす。で、なんだっけ。来シヌズンに向けお、だっけ。来季に向けおは、えヌず、来季に向けおずいう意味では今シヌズン、やっぱりアクセル、4回転半が入れられなかったこずはすごく残念に思いたす。ただ、4回転半を緎習しおきたからこそ、芋えおきた曲ずの぀ながりずか、たたはトリプルアクセルずの違いずか、他のゞャンプぞの䜓の䜿い方の考え方ずか、いろんなこずが芋぀かっおいたす。そういった今の知識、経隓、いろんなものを結集させお、来季4回転半目指しお、そしお4回転半が揃った完成された挔技を目指しお、頑匵っおいきたいず思いたす」

―This 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 wasn’t 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 everyone’s heartbeats, breaths and prayers, so in a sense I’m 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 wasn’t able to put in the 4A this season. But it’s 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 I’d 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.

　――今倧䌚の収穫ず課題は。

　「えっず、自分の穎にはたらないようにするためには、他のずころで跳べっおいう話なんですけど。でも、今たでそれも䜕回かやっおきお、結果ダメだったので。がくはやっぱり自分が信じる道、自分がそれほどたでに粟密にできるずいうこずが、たぶん自分の匷みだず思うので。9割跳べるずかじゃなくお、100跳べるずいうふうにコントロヌルできるのが自分の匷みだず思いたすし。それがGOE、ここたで届くきれいなゞャンプに、昚日のサルコヌのようなゞャンプに぀ながるず僕は思っおいるので。しっかりず、え、自分の匷みを磚いおいきたいなずいうふうに思いたす。今回の収穫ずしおは、課題はいっぱいありたすけど、アクセル久しぶりにきれいに降りられたっおずこですかね。正盎、ルヌプも完璧ではなかったですし、トヌルヌプもコンビネヌションちょっず倖れおしたったりずか、いろいろありたしたけど、䜕よりもこのプログラムに寄り添っお、最埌のアクセル、久しぶりに自分のトリプルアクセルだず思えるような、スパンずしたアクセルが跳べたんで。ショヌトのこずはショヌトのこずでサルコヌも良かったし。なんか久しぶりに自分のゞャンプが跳べたなっおいう気持ちで今いたす。ありがずうございたした」

―What did you gain from this competition and what will you work on?

Y: Um, well, to make sure I don’t get caught in a hole [in the ice] that I made myself, it’s a matter of jumping in a different spot. But, so far I’ve tried that many times too, and it didn’t 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 yesterday’s (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, there’s a lot I need to work on, but, maybe it’s 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 wasn’t 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.

[ENG TRANSLATION] Yuzuru Hanyu Post-SP Interview, World Team Trophy – 210415

Photo by Sponichi

All articles originally published 15 April 2021

Part 1 | Part 2

Translation: @axelsandwich & @shinjistarxx 
Proofreading: @yuzueco

男子SPで今季自己ベストの107・12点をマヌクし、2䜍だった矜生結匊ANAは挔技埌、オンラむンで取材に応じた。

Yuzuru Hanyu, attending his first WTT after sitting out of the last competition, secured second place with a season’s best of 107.12, and afterwards participated in an online interview.

　――応揎垭にVサむンもあった。

　「あの、やはり日本語のアナりンスだったので、自分の䞭であたり聞く気はなかったんですけど。え、宇野遞手の点数があたり良くなかったずいうのも聞こえおお。緊匵したしたが、しっかり、圌はミスっちゃいたしたけれども、圌の力ずか魂ずか、そういうものを受け取りながら頑匵れたず思いたす」

―You did a peace sign to the supporting teammate area [after your performance]

Yuzuru: Um, well, the announcements are all happening in Japanese, so internally I wasn’t going to listen to them. Ah, but I ended up hearing that [teammate Shoma] Uno’s score wasn’t that good. I was nervous, and although he made some mistakes, I think that I was able to feel some sort of spirit or power from him which let me do my best.

　――い぀もずは違うSPの入りだったか。

　「あたり気にしないようにっおいうこずも思っおいたしたし。自分が䞀番貢献できるこずは、自分の挔技にしっかりず入り蟌んで、自分のペヌスでやるこずだず思っおいるので。ただ、今日はほんずに最埌の最埌たで、なんか宇野遞手ずずもに力を借りお滑らせおいただいたなずっお思っおいたす」

―Was it a different start to the SP than usual?

Y: I was trying not to worry about it too much. I think that what I can do to contribute the most right now is to properly get into my performance and do it at my own pace. However, today, until the very end, I think I was able to skate by kind of borrowing some energy from alongside [Shoma] Uno.

　――順䜍も確定した。

　「えっず、たあ、自分はやれるこずやったず思っおいるので。あんたり順䜍ずか気にしおいないですけど。でも、あの、たずは自分のこずずしお、その、チヌム競技なしずしお、自分のこずずしおは、やっぱり前半のサルコヌずトヌルヌプゞャンプを初めおこのプログラムで詊合できれいに決めるこずができたので、成長しおいるなっお思えおいたす」

―You also secured 2nd place [after the SP]

Y: Hmm~ Well, I think I did what I could. I’m not paying too much mind to the placements. But um, as for myself, not regarding the team competition aspect, it was the first time I was able to land a nice (quad) Salchow and (quad) toe loop [4T3T combination] jump in the first half of this program in competition, so I feel like I’ve made progress.

　――フリヌに向けお

　「え、えっず。やはり䞖界遞手暩での悔しさみたいなものは少なからずあっお、リベンゞしたいっおいう気持ちも少なからずあるんですけれども。その気持ちも認めお、それをプラスアルファ、きょうの挔技のように自分が成長したなず思えるような挔技をできるように、しっかり自分に集䞭したいず思いたす」

―What are your thoughts heading into the free program?

Y: Umm
 well, I do have a considerable amount of what you could call feelings of frustration or the desire to redeem myself from the World Championships. I want to acknowledge those feelings and then on top of that, would like to concentrate properly on delivering a performance like I did today where I can really feel that I’ve grown.

Photo by Sponichi

Part 2

　――䞖の前に地震があっお、圱響は

　「えっず。うん。たず3月の地震もそうでしたけれども、2月はもっず自分の䜏んでいるずころはもっず揺れお。棚の物だったり棚自䜓はすごくずれたりずか、たあ食噚が壊れたりずか、たあ、そのような被害がありたした。ただ、幞いにもケガずか、たた窓ガラスが砎損したりずか、建物自䜓、たあちょっず、ヒビずか入っおいたかもしれないですけど、自分の家自䜓は、え、すごく倧きな東日本倧震灜のようなこずはなかったです。ただ、アむスリンク仙台の方はヒビ割れだったり、3・11の時に被害を受けおいた壁がたた厩れおいたりずか。いたるずころに3・11の時のような傷跡がありたした。え、たあ幞いにも氷自䜓が壊れたりずか、冷华噚が壊れたりずかはなかったんですけれども。アむスリンク仙台さんの特別な配慮をいただいお、なんずか、すぐにではなかったですけど、1日はできなかったですけど、その次の日から特別に補修工事をしながらでしたけど、少しだけ滑らせおいただくこずができたした」

―There was an earthquake not too long ago [in Sendai], how did it affect you?

Y: Hm. Firstly there was the earthquake that happened in March, but the earthquake in February affected where I was living more. The things on our shelves and the shelves themselves were shaking really badly and well, tableware broke and there was damage like that around the house. But, fortunately, there weren’t injuries or damaged windows, or damage to the building itself ―though I suppose there may have been some cracks― and there wasn’t anything as severe as the 3/11 disaster. But Ice Rink Sendai did experience cracks [in the building] and the wall that had been damaged in the 3/11 disaster collapsed once again. There was damage everywhere, just like from 3/11. Fortunately the ice wasn’t broken, nor was the cooling system. Thanks to the special efforts and consideration of Ice Rink Sendai ―though it wasn’t immediately as they couldn’t do it in a day and it was while repairs were going on― I was able to skate just a little from the following day onwards.

　――挔技で䜕か残すこずができるず思うようになったきっかけは

　「えっず、䞀番倧きかったこずは、自分のスポンサヌさんであるANAさんのフラむトに、えっず、スりェヌデンから日本に垰る時にほんずに誰も乗っおいなくお。空枯に行っおもほんず真っ暗で。海倖の人にはゎヌストタりンず蚀われおいるんだよ、ずいうようなくらいの空枯の状況を芋たり。本来はゲヌトであったはずの乗り口だったはずのずころが、え、なんか病院の受付みたくなっおいたりずか、そういった状況を芋お、ほんずに自分自身は自粛するこずがすごく倧切だず思っおたしたし。自分が感染を広げないこずず、自分がその感染を広げる人の移動のきっかけになっおはいけないずいうこずをすごく感じおグランプリは棄暩したのですが、今はもちろんその気持ちも持ち぀぀、そういう職の普通のあり方がなくなっおいる方々、たたはこういう状況の䞭で苊しんでいる方々、もちろんこうやっお倧䌚を開催しおくれたり、運営しおいただいたり、たたはここに来おいるテレビの方々、蚘者の方々含め、ほんずに倧倉なこずを痛感したので。僕は、そのお仕事ずいう堎に僕が身を寄せるこずによっお、䜕かしらの、うん、力になれるんじゃないかずいうふうに思いたした。そしお、空枯で案内しおくださった、お䞖話しおくださったANAの方が「おめでずうずは蚀えなかった」ずは蚀っおいたんですけど、「ほんずに勇気をもらいたした」ず「僕の挔技で力がもらえたした」ず、そういう蚀葉をいただけたので。僕は、もちろんただ耇雑な気持ちはありたすけど、䞡方ずも持った䞊で出おもいいのかなず思っお今回は決意したした。ありがずうございたした。たたよろしくお願いしたす」

―What was the motivation for making you think that you could leave behind something with your programs this time?

Y: Um, the most impactful thing for me was that when I was returning to Japan from Sweden on my sponsored ANA flight, there was really no one on board. The airport was also completely dark. I saw this state of the airport, and it’s what people overseas would be calling a “ghost town.” What was supposed to be a boarding gate had been turned into something like a… hospital reception area. When I saw these circumstances, I thought that it was really important for me to refrain from spreading the virus myself. I also strongly felt that I must not become a reason for others moving [travelling] and possibly spreading the virus, [and because of that] I sat out the Grand Prix series [last fall]. Of course I still hold those feelings, but I am also fully aware that there are those who have lost their usual means of work, those who are suffering during these circumstances, and of course, how difficult it is for those involved to organize and run a competition like this, which includes TV staff and reporters who came here. I thought that by bringing myself to this venue that [people depend on for] work, I could um, maybe help in someway. Also, the ANA staff who guided me at the airport and took care of me, I had said they couldn’t say congratulations to me, but rather they said things like “I really received courage [from you],” and that they felt empowered from my performances. Although of course I still have complicated feelings, it was based upon weighing these [conflicting stances] that I made my decision to appear [at WTT]. Thank you very much. I look forward to speaking again tomorrow.

[ENG SUB] Yuzuru Hanyu, interview with Matsuoka Shuzo – 210413

Translation & proofreading: @axelsandwich, @yuzueco & @shinjistarxx
Japanese Transcript: @aoyuzu205 & @moonright_yuzu
Sub: @aoyuzu205

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[ENG TRANSLATION] Yuzuru Hanyu’s Pre-World Team Trophy Media – 210414

Photo by Sponichi

All articles originally published 14 April 2021

Part 1 | Part 2

Translation & proofreading: @yuzueco, @axelsandwich & @shinjistarxx 

フィギュアスケヌトの䞖界囜別察抗戊の開幕を15日に控え、17幎倧䌚以来2倧䌚ぶりに出堎する男子の矜生結匊ANAが14日、公匏緎習で調敎し、オンラむンで取材に応じた。

Figure skating World Team Trophy (2021) will begin on April 15th, and Men’s skater Yuzuru Hanyu (ANA) finished his first official practice on the 14th, and then answered online interview questions.

　――初緎習を終えおの感芚は。

　「えヌず 。えヌ、14日間の隔離を終えお、ちょうど今日やっず隔離が終わった状態なので。たあ、自分のけじめずしおしっかりず隔離期間を終えた䞊で来たした。なので、今日ホントに着いたばかりでたあ若干、足がフワフワしおいるずころもあったず思いたすが、それを含めお、いい調敎ができたかなずいうふうに思っおいたす」

―How do you feel after ending your first practice today?

Yuzuru: Hmm, um
 my 14-day quarantine period ended, since it finally just ended today, so, well, I came here upon properly carrying out my responsibility to finish the isolation period. So because of that, I really just arrived here today, so I think to a certain extent there’s some parts where my legs are a little unsteady, but, taking that into account, I think I was able to adjust well [in today’s practice].

　――囜別はどんな䜍眮づけで、どういう倧䌚にしたいか。

　「えヌず。もちろん、この倧阪ずいう地が今、倧倉なこずになっおいるのは僕も重々わかっおたすし。そしお、䞖界䞭、日本も、自分のふるさずである宮城、仙台も倧倉なこずになっおいるこずも分かりながら、耇雑な思いでいながら、今ここにいたす。それは、やはり詊合を蟞退したり、たたは詊合に出るずいう決断をしたり、いろんな経隓を螏たえた䞊で、今、僕ができるこずはここに立っお、ここに挔技を残しおいっお、誰かの、誰かの䜕かしらの垌望だったり、えヌ、䜕か心が動く瞬間だったり。本圓に1秒でもいいんで。1秒に満たない瞬間でもいいんで。䜕かしら誰かの䞭に残ったりするようなものを、挔技をすべきだなず思っおここにいたす。凄く 䜕か難しい問題で蚀葉をうたく出すのが本圓に倧倉なんですけれども。ただ、倧倉な状況はやっぱり震灜の時ず同じで、皆さんそれぞれ違うんだなっおいうのを凄く今、痛感しおいたす。お仕事の方で倧倉だず思われる方、そしお、医療埓事者の方は本圓に普通以䞊の疲劎だったり、粟神的な苊痛だったり、いろいろなものがあるず思いたすし。

僕らみたいにしっかり自粛しおも平気だずいう人もいたすし。自粛しお疲れおいる方もたくさんいらっしゃいたすし。本圓にいろんなシチュ゚ヌションがあるず思いたす。でも、僕は挔技で䜕かを残すこずが絶察できるず思うので、おいうか、残したいので。䜕かしらの意味を、この囜別察抗戊ずいう堎所をお借りしお、プログラムを通しお残しおいきたいなず思いたす」

―What kind of meaning does the World Team Trophy [this year] have for you, and what kind of competition do you want to make of it?

Y: Hmm. Of course, I am gravely aware that the Osaka area is currently in a bad situation [regarding COVID]. And, I understand that the whole world, including Japan, and my hometown Miyagi, Sendai too, are all in a difficult state as well, so I am here right now with conflicting feelings. That is, the decision of whether I should withdraw from the competition, or should participate, and upon taking into account various opinions, what I can do right now is to stand here, and to leave behind a performance, that can be some sort of hope for someone, or move their heart in some sort of way, really, even if it’s just for one second. It doesn’t even have to be a [whole] second. I think I’m here to put out a performance that can remain with people in some sort of way. It’s
 really hard to respond to a difficult problem like this in words. However, the difficult circumstances are ultimately the same as during the 3.11 disaster, in that I am painfully aware that for everyone it’s different. There are people who are [facing] difficulties related to work, and I think also there are medical staff who are (experiencing) extraordinary fatigue, even suffering mentally, and various other things. There are those like us who are fine and able to diligently practice self-restraint but on the other hand, there are also many people who are tired of living under such restrictions.There are really a lot of different situations. But, I think I can definitely leave something behind through my performance [in these circumstances], or rather, I want to do so. I want to take the opportunity of being at this World Team Trophy to leave some sort of meaning through my programs.

　――2倧䌚ぶりにチヌムゞャパンずしお戊う。

　「たずは最倧限、チヌムに貢献するためにもしっかりず挔技に集䞭しお、普通の詊合以䞊に自分を埋しお、いい挔技をしたいず思っおいたす。たたショヌトに関しおは、凄くこの䞖の䞭でも䜕か楜しめるようなプログラムになっおいるず思いたす。少しでも、えヌ、少しでも䜕か心からわき䞊がるものがあったらいいなず思っお滑りたいず思いたす」

―It’s been two World Team Trophy competitions since you last represented team Japan [at WTT 2017]

Y: First of all, I want to properly focus on my performance so as to contribute to the team as much as I can, and I want to control myself even more so than for a normal competition and put out a good performance. Also, regarding the short [program], I think it’s a program that can be enjoyed in some way, even in the current [state of] the world. Even if it’s just a little bit, I want to skate it with the hope that there’s something that can lift our spirits.

　――4回転半はどうするか。

　「たあ、そもそもこのスケゞュヌルでさすがにアクセルに挑むのは無理かなずいうこずを感じおいたす。実際に詊合ずしお、先ほども蚀ったように、普通の詊合以䞊にいい挔技をしなくおはいけないずいう意気蟌みを匷く持っおいるので。だからこそ、僕の気持ち優先よりも、みんなの力になれる挔技をしたいなずたずは思っおいたす」

―What will you do about the quad Axel?

Y: Well, I feel that in the first place, with this schedule [in the past few weeks], as expected it might be impossible to try challenging the [quad] Axel. As for the actual competition, as I said before, I am very eager to put out a good performance, even more so than for a normal [non-team] competition. So, rather than prioritizing my own feelings, I first and foremost want to do a performance that will be of help to everyone else [on the team]. 

　――葛藀を持ちながら出堎した䞖界遞手暩を終えお感じたものは。

　「え、垰りになんですけど、凄く空枯がガランずしおいお。実際にそこで怜査を受けたり、入囜のいろんな手続きをしおいただり。いろんなこずをしおいる最䞭に、䜕か、結果に぀いお『おめでずうございたす』ずは蚀っおもらえなかったですけど、どれでも『挔技を芋お勇気をもらいたした』ずか、『これから頑匵れたす』ずかそういった声をいただけたこずが、䜕より自分ぞのご耒矎ずいうか報酬だったので。なんか、そういった挔技が、本圓に僕の挔技は毎回毎回、党然違った意味を蟌めお、たた違った気持ちで滑っおいるので。少しでも䜕か、たた今回は今回ならではのものを滑りたいなずいう颚に思いたす」

―What did you feel after finishing World Championships [last month], as you had a lot of conflict within you when participating?

Y: Hmm, well on the way home, the airport was really empty. I actually received a [health] inspection there, and had to do the various procedures for entering the country. While I was doing those things, I didn’t really get told “Congratulations,” about my results [at World Championships], but, rather, I was told things like “I received courage from watching your performance,” and also “I can do my best [too],” and the fact I received those words are, for me, more than anything, the prize, or reward [this time]. Somehow, in doing those kinds of performances, it really holds a totally different meaning for me each and every time, and so I skate with different feelings too. So, even if it’s only a little bit, I want to skate my performance this time as its own unique thing.

Photo by Sponichi

PART 2

　――ゎルフの束山遞手が優勝した、快挙からの刺激はあったか。

　「実は、ちょっず生で芋おいお。朝早かったんですけど、ちょっず生で芋おいお。最埌の制芇したずころはちょっちずられなかったですけど、あの、9ホヌルくらいですかね、毎日芋させおいただいお応揎させおいただいおいたした。ほんずに僕自身、仙台の方で衚地しおいただいたり、宮城で衚地しおいただいたりする時にお䌚いしたこずがあったんですけれども。矜生結匊ずしおじゃなくお、ほんずに仙台垂民ずしお宮城県民ずしお凄く凄く誇らしいですし。䜕よりゎルフ界で日本人でマスタヌズを制芇するずいうこずがどれだけ倧倉かずいうこずをすごくすごく分かっおいるので。なんかおめでずうずか、すごいですねずかそういう蚀葉ではなく、なんか日本ゎルフ界にほんずに束山英暹さんずいう方がいたずいう蚌を残したんだなず思っおいたす」

Following the victory of golfer Hideki Matsuyama, did you draw any motivation from his brilliant feat?*

Y: To tell you the truth I actually watched a bit of it live. It was very early in the morning but I watched a little of the live broadcast. I wasn’t able to quite catch the final moment he prevailed but for about 9 holes**, I watched and cheered him on every day. Actually, as someone from Sendai, I’ve met him before when we were being acknowledged as representatives of Sendai and of Miyagi. Not as Yuzuru Hanyu but as a fellow Sendai resident and Miyagi local, I’m really, really proud. I really, really understand how difficult of a feat it must be to conquer the Masters as a Japanese person in the golfing world. More than words like ‘congratulations’ or ‘that’s amazing,’ I feel like he has truly made his mark as “Hideki Matsuyama” in the Japanese golfing world. 

*Hideki Matsuyama recently became the first-ever Japanese professional golfer to win a men’s major golf championship – the 2021 Masters Tournament

**The Masters tournament happens over 4 days with 18 holes played per day, so Yuzu watched about half the competition (not 100% clear if he did so every day of the tournament or only on the last day). Despite struggling on the last day, Matsuyama held onto his lead to prevail.

　――競泳の池江遞手も埩掻した。

　「僕なんかは比べものにならないくらい苊しかったず思いたす。もちろん、他の遞手たちも努力をしおきお、それでも報われなかったっお思いを持っおいる人もいるかもしれたせん。ただ、僕は平昌オリンピックの時に結構重い捻挫しおいお緎習できなかった期間たくさんありたしたけど、でも、池江遞手の『努力は報われるんだな』ずいう蚀葉を聞いた時に、緎習やトレヌニングしおる時だけが努力じゃないんだなずいうこずを改めお感じたした。池江遞手だからこそ感じた苊痛だったり、悲しみだったり、なんか喪倱感だったり、そういったものを感じた日々は絶察に努力ずいうものに぀ながっおいるず思うので、ぜひ自信を持っおオリンピックに挑んで欲しいな、ず。オリンピック経隓した身から蚀わせおいただきたす。偉そうにすいたせん」

The swimmer [Rikako] Ikee also made a competitive comeback

Y: I think someone like me really can’t be compared to the difficulty she experienced*. Of course, there may also be people who think that other athletes also gave their all but weren’t rewarded. I had many periods during the Pyeongchang Olympic season where I couldn’t practice due to the severe injury I had, but when I heard Ikee-senshuu say that ‘hard work and effort will be rewarded’, I felt once again that hard work doesn’t only come from practice and training. It was precisely because of Ikee’s circumstances – the pain she experienced, the sadness and that sense of loss, that I think she fought with all her might to get through those days. I would like her to have faith in herself in her challenge at the Olympics. Please permit me to say that, as someone who has experienced the Olympics. Apologies for saying so in such a commanding way. 

*Rikako Ikee was diagnosed with leukemia in 2019 and has recently qualified for the Tokyo Olympics after receiving treatment. 

　――隔離期間の緎習はどんな状況だったのか。

　「えっず、ホテルにずっずいたした。ホテルからリンクずいうものをただ埀埩する毎日で。それはい぀もず倉わらないのかもしれないですけど。あの、うんず、自家甚車でホテルからリンクに行っお、で、緎習が終わったらたた自家甚車でリンクからホテルにずいう生掻をしおいたした。えっず、十分な緎習ができたかず蚀われれば、そうではないずいうのが本音ですけれども、そうやっお緎習をさせおいただける措眮をずっおいただけたこずはホントに感謝しおいたすし、そういった配慮の䞊で僕は今、滑れおいるず思うので、しっかりず僕の圹割をここで果たしたいなず思っおいたす。ありがずうございたす」

What was the practice situation like during the quarantine period?

Y: Well, I was in the hotel the entire time. Basically I went back and forth between the hotel and rink every day. Though I suppose that isn’t too different from what I usually do. Um
 I basically lived by going via a private car from the hotel to the rink, and then after practice going via private car from the rink back to the hotel. Um. If you asked if that was sufficient practice, I would have to truthfully say it wasn’t, but I am truly grateful they took the steps to be able to allow us to do practice in that way, and I’m skating right now because of the attention paid to those arrangements, so I would like to properly carry out my duty here. Thank you very much. 

[ENG SUB] Yuzuru Hanyu’s message prior to the World Team Trophy 2021 – 210406

Translation: @shinjistarxx
Proofreading: @yuzueco, @axelsandwich
Raw video + sub: @aoyuzu205

Transcript: Yuzuru Hanyu’s comments before World Team Trophy 2021

Source: https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2021/04/05/kiji/20210405s00079000602000c.html

15日開幕のフィギュアスケヌト䞖界囜別察抗戊䞞善むンテックアリヌナ倧阪に出堎する日本代衚遞手が5日、コメントを発衚した。2倧䌚ぶり3床目の出堎ずなる男子で14幎゜チ、18幎平昌五茪連芇の矜生結匊ANAは「誰かの光になれるように」ず意気蟌みを瀺し、以䞋のコメントを発衚した。

The athletes of Team Japan participating in this year’s World Team Trophy (Osaka) released comments on April 5th. Sochi & Pyeongchang Olympics Gold Medalist Yuzuru Hanyu (ANA), who will be participating in WTT for the 3rd time, expressed his thoughts [through a written message in which he wrote], “May I become a light for someone,” and also provided the following comments:

　「色んなずころぞ行くたびに人がいなくお本圓に仕事がない人たちもたくさんいたり、苊しんでいる状況なんだろうな、ずいうのを匷く感じたした。

ただ、その䞭でも、䌚う人、声をかけおくれる人たちが、もちろん䞖界遞手暩は完党に良い挔技だったずは蚀えないんですけど、それでも『勇気をもらえたした』ずか『垌望の光』でしたずか、そういう蚀葉をいただいた時に、僕はたずえ結果が良くなかったずしおも、良い挔技だったず玍埗できる挔技じゃなかったずしおも、誰かのためになれおいるのかな、ずいう感じがしお、それを垞に心の䞭に持ちながら挔技したいなず思っおこの蚀葉にしたした」

Yuzuru: In travelling to various places recently, there are not many people out and about, and I felt strongly that there are a lot of people who are out of work and are in difficult circumstances.

However, even amidst that, the people I’ve met, those who reach out to me—of course, I can’t say that this past World Championships was at all a good performance— but even so, when I receive words from people like “you gave me courage,” or am called the “light of hope,” I feel that even if I don’t get good results, or even if it’s not convincingly a good performance (for me), maybe it can be for someone else. I want to carry that in my heart through my performances and so that’s why I chose this phrase.

[ENG TRANSLATION] Yuzuru Hanyu – World Championships 2021 ‘Day After’ Interview – 210328

䞖界フィギュア第4日男子フリヌ、挔技をする矜生結匊撮圱・小海途　良幹
Photo by Yoshiki Kogaito, Sponichi

All articles originally published 28 March 2021

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

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

PART ONE

――フリヌでバランスを厩したず蚀っおいた、喘息が出たずいう報道もあったが

　「喘息の発䜜自䜓はフリヌの埌にちょっず感じたかなずいうふうに思うんですけど。でも、終わっおみたらちょっず苊しかったなず思うくらいで特にたあ䌚堎入りが遅くなった理由ずかではない。ただ、ちょっずしたトラブルがちょっずず぀続いおいっお、たあ、実際に6分間緎習では圱響感じおいなかったんですけれども、最終的にほんのちょっずのほころびが党郚に぀ながったかなず思っおいたす。自分の䞭で原因はしっかりしおたすし。かずいっお、じゃあそれが、あのすごい倧きなミスだったかず蚀われれば、点数ほど倧きなミスではなかったず思うので。1぀ず぀ほんのちょっずず぀ずれおいるだけなので自分の䞭で。だから順䜍だずか、点数だずかそれ以䞊に自分の䞭ではやりきれたなずいう感觊もありたす」

―You said your inner balance fell apart in the free, but there were also reports that your asthma flared up?

Yuzuru: I think I felt the asthma attack itself a little bit after the free skate. But, after it ended, I thought it was a bit painful, but well, I wasn’t late to coming to the rink for that reason in particular. It’s rather, there were a few small troubles that kept stacking up. Well, in the 6 minute warm-up, I didn’t feel any effects from that, but ultimately, I think all those small things ended up making everything fall apart. In my mind, I’m certain of the cause. Having said that, if asked whether that was what led to that huge mistake [in the free program], I don’t think it was as big of a miss as it was in terms of the miss in the score. It’s just within myself, one by one, little by little, everything started to come apart. That’s why, even more so than things like the placements and scores was the feeling within myself that I had properly completed the program.

　――北京五茪を目指す気持ちは

　「うん、なんか珟圹やめるずかやめないずかじゃなくお、その、うん、アクセル跳べないず満足できないので䞀生、ぞぞぞ。もちろん、その、なんですかね、䞀時期、ああ幎だなずか䜓動かなくなったなずか、そういうこずを思う日々も、もちろんありたしたけれども、でも今やっおいお感じるのは、ただただ自分、成長できるなずいうこずを感じおいたすし。もちろんその、それ自䜓が完党に結果だずか、たあ、僕の堎合は過去の栄光ずかなり比范されやすいですけど、過去の栄光ず比范しおも、じゃあただ保おおいるのかず蚀われたら、それは難しいずころがあるかもしれたせん。ただ、確実にレベルアップしおいたすし、確実に平昌オリンピックの時よりも、ヘルシンキワヌルドの時よりも絶察うたくなっおいるんで自分。だから、なんか限界だなっお感じはないです。ただ、この限界だなっお思うかもしれない時期をどうやっお乗り越えおいくか。たあこれから囜別もあっお、たあ囜別をちょっず今頭から倖した状態で喋っおいたすけど。たあシヌズンオフの状況の䞭でアクセルを緎習しおいくこずになるず思うんですね。アクセルを緎習しおいく䞭で、ああ跳べないなずか絶望感をたた味わった時にどうやっお乗り越えおいくか。どうやっお自分に頑匵っおいるっおいう報酬䞎えおあげるか。それを色々考えながら今の自分の知識だったり、経隓だったりそういったものを掻かしながら乗り越えおいかないずいけないなずいうふうに思っおいるずころです」

— What are your feelings aiming towards the Beijing Olympics?

Y: Mmm. It’s not anything like whether or not I want to quit competing but it’s a bit like I’ll never be satisfied for my whole life if I don’t jump the 4A hehehe. Of course, there are days where, for a period, I’ll be thinking things about my age and the fact my physical fitness is diminishing, but right now, I’m proceeding with the feeling that I’m not done yet, that there are still ways I can grow and evolve. Of course, it’s easy to compare absolute results and well, in my instance, my previous glories or achievements. If you compare with my past accomplishments and ask whether I’m still holding onto them, that might be difficult to answer. However, there is no doubt I have improved and become better, definitely more than at the Pyeongchang Olympics [2018] and at the Helsinki World Championships [2017]. So I don’t feel like I’ve hit my limit yet. Rather, it’s a question of how I overcome moments in which I may feel like this is my limit. Well, from here on there’s the World Team Trophy though I’m saying this while the World Team Trophy isn’t on my mind right now. I’ve decided that I’ll be practising the 4A in the off season. And while practicing for the 4A, there will be questions like how to overcome the times where I feel like I can’t jump it or when I’m hitting a wall, how to give myself the morale boost to keep going. Right now, I feel like I must think about those things, and leverage the knowledge and experience I currently have in order to prevail. 

PART TWO

――今埌の拠点は

　「えっず、昚日、詊合が終わっおブラむアンず垰っお、その埌にメヌルが来おいたんですけど。えたあいろいろ、掛け合っおみるこずもできる。ただ、それは確定なものではではない。けど、たあブラむアンたちはい぀でも、あの、クリケットで教えるこずを楜しみにしおいるし、早く䞀緒に滑れたら良いねみたいなこずは蚀われおいたす。ただ、自分の䞭でただ確定しお、カナダに垰るっおいうこずをちょっず蚀い切れないずころもあっお。やっぱり、今シヌズン、かなり自分1人で緎習しおいく䞭で埗たものが、ものすごく倧きいんですね。やっぱり、それは1人の緎習だからこそ分かっおきたこずだず思いたすし、たた今4Aの緎習に関しおもかなり1人でやっおいる段階で、いろいろ分かっおきたこずもある。で、その、そうですね、えヌ、䟋えば耇数人数で緎習した堎合、4回転半をやろうずした時に、やっぱコヌス䞊に誰かいたりずか、気が散っおしたうこずもたぶんあるず思うんですよね。たたは、氷のコンディションだったり。そういうのが1人で緎習しおいる堎合、たったくないので。かなりゞャンプに集䞭しおできたりずか、たたは曲をかける緎習っおフィギュアスケヌトっおすごく独特で。順番があったりずか、かける優先順䜍があっお。䟋えば詊合の前の人はいっぱい曲をかけられるけど、詊合がただない人はかけられないずかっおルヌルがあるんですね。それがたったくない緎習が続いおいるので。かなり自由床が高く、たた自分がしたい緎習、自分が考えおいるトレヌニングプランに沿った緎習をできおいるずころでもあるので。それをどうずるか、ずいうこずず、あずは䜓の状態ですね。間違いなくこっち来おから、こっち来おからっおいうか日本にいおからしばらくの間、かなり長い間、トロントでケアしおくださっおいる先生に芋おもらえおもないので。ガタが来おいるこずは確かだず思うんですよ。で、4回転半をやっおいるのでかなり足だったり腰だったり銖だったり、いろんなずころに負担はきおいるので。そこも倩秀にかけながら、いろんなこずを考えながら決めなきゃいけないなず思いたす。だから䞀抂にもう垰りたすずか日本にいたすずかは、今難しいかなずいうふうに思っおいたす」

―What about your training base going forward?

Yuzuru: Um, yesterday, after the competition ended I returned with Brian and after that I got some emails too. Well, there’s various things we can try. However, none of that is definitive. But, well, Brian and the others are looking forward to teaching me at the Cricket Club any time, and told me that they’d like to skate together with me again soon. However, things are still uncertain within my thoughts and I can’t decisively say I will return to Canada. After all, this season, I learned quite a lot from training by myself. I think it’s precisely because I trained alone that I was able to learn those things, and also I’m at a stage where I’m doing quite a lot of the quad Axel-related practice on my own, and I’ve learned various things in doing that. So, um, yes, for example, when training with other people, if I try to work on the quad Axel, there might be times where there are others in the trajectory of the jump, and it would distract me. Also, things like the condition of the ice. Those kinds of things, I don’t have to worry about when I train on my own. I can really concentrate on the jumps. Also, practicing along with the music is something unique about figure skating. There’s an order to that [in group settings], and a priority order in which the music tracks are played. For instance, there’s a rule that those who have a competition coming up can practice quite a bit [with the music], but those who don’t have a competition coming up yet cannot. I’ve been practicing now without all of that, and it’s really flexible in that I can practice what I want to, and according to a training plan I come up with. I think it’s a question of how to take that into account. Something also [to consider] is the condition of my body. Without a doubt, since coming back here, or rather, ever since I’ve returned to Japan which is indeed quite a long period of time, I haven’t visited the doctor* who helps me with [off-ice] care back in Toronto. I think, for sure, I am starting to wear out. And since I’m working on the quad Axel, I’m putting quite a lot of strain in various places, like my feet, legs, neck, etc. So I think I’ll have to weigh this up while thinking about my decision as well, so that’s why it’s difficult to say right now whether I’ll go back [to Canada], or stay in Japan.

*T/N: Unclear what kind of doctor, or possibly physio, etc.

　――フリヌのチェンの挔技を芋お

　「特に䜕も感じおいないです、はっきり蚀っおしたうず。あの、もちろんチェン遞手は玠晎らしいず思いたすし、やっぱりあの5クワドをしかも高難易床のものを、あのクオリティヌで党お決めきっおプログラムを完成させるのは䞊倧抵ではないですし。これはやっぱ圌の努力の賜だず思っおいたす。ただ、今回自分が䞀番感じおいたのはやっぱり感染しないこず。で、2週間、隔離期間がたた垰ったらありたすけど、その期間䞭たで含めおこの䞖界遞手暩を健康で終わるこず。䜕しろ今故郷が結構、倧倉なこずになっおいるずいうこずもあっお、自分が広げおはいけない、感染しおはいけないずいう気持ちがかなり匷くあるので。たずはそこが第䞀目暙だったからこそ、あんたり、察ネヌサンみたいな、なんですかね、わかりやすい構造じゃなくお自分の䞭では。もっずなんか、察自分よりも察コロナりむルスみたいなずころが今回はあったので。あんたり気にしおいないです。䜕より䞀番良かったなっお良かった、ホッずしおいるのは、やっぱり3枠を取れた。やっぱり党日本王者だからこそ、オリンピックの枠に貢献しなくおはいけないずいう䜿呜感は匷くあっお、この詊合に出たのがかなり匷く自分の䞭にあるので。たずはそれにしっかり貢献しお、日本男子の3枠を取りきれたこずは倧きいです。あずは、あんたり考えおいたせんでした」

―Your thoughts on Chen’s Free Skate?

Y: I didn’t have any feelings in particular, to be honest. Um
 of course, I think [Nathan] Chen is amazing and to be able to complete a program with all 5 highly difficult quads with that quality is no ordinary feat. I think these are the fruits of his hard work. However this time, the main thing I was feeling was preventing infection and―including the two weeks of quarantine we have to do when we return― about finishing the World Championships in good health. In any case, the situation in my hometown is not good so I have a strong desire to both not spread infection myself and not be infected. Precisely because that was my number one goal this time, in my mind, it wasn’t something as simple as going up against Nathan, and I didn’t really have something like any straightforward strategy. It was more like
 how do I put it, more than a competition against myself, there was an element of fighting the coronavirus this time. I’m not really concerned about it. More anything else, the number one thing I’m happy and relieved about is securing the 3 [Olympic] spots for Japan. Because I’m the Japanese National Champion, I had a strong sense of duty to fight for the Olympic spots, and it was a strong reason for competing here. The big thing was that I properly contributed to securing 3 spots for Japanese Men. I haven’t really thought about anything else.

PART THREE

　――䜓調はどうか

　「䜓調、問題ないです。問題ないです、問題ないです。テレビの皆さん心配しおたしたけど。䜓調は党然問題ないです」

―How is your physical condition?

Yuzuru: My condition is fine. Not a problem, not a problem. Everyone on TV was worried about me but my physical condition is 100% not an issue. 

　――アクセルを远求しおいく䞭で北京五茪あればず蚀っおいたが、逆に蚀うず、アクセルを決めたら蟞めちゃうのか。

　「あはは。ド盎球に聞きたすねあヌ、わかんないですね。たあ、そのアクセル決めたず蚀っおも、どう決たったかにもよるんじゃないですかね。なんか自分が玍埗できおいるのかできおいないのかずか。4回転半を凄い頑匵っおやっおいるずいうか凄いフォヌカスしお、目暙ずしおやっおいるずいうのも、結局は自分の心が満足できるかできないのかっおいうのがたぶん根本だず思うんですよ。だから、4A跳んだずしお満足できるのかっおいう内容だったら、もしかしたら考えるかもしれないですし。ただ、先ほどの取材の時にも蚀っおたしたけど。確実にうたくなっおいるんで、矜生結匊。ふふ。普通にうたくなっおるんで。䟋えば、ヘルシンキのワヌルドの時ず構成比べおみたら、確かに1本ゞャンプ少ないですし。埌半にサルコヌじゃなくおトヌルヌプにしおいたすけど。ノヌミスできる確率っおいうか、厩れなくなった匷さずか。そういったものはあの頃より䞊になっおいるず思うんですよね。あずは狙えるようになっおきたっおいう。あの頃はただ偶然で。ゟヌンに入っおきたずいう感じになっおたしたけど。今は狙えるようになっおきおいるんで。本圓にうたくなったなっお思っおいるんですよ、実は。だから、もちろん今結果出おなくお蟛いなずか、苊しいなず思うこずもあるっちゃあるんですけど。今回の挔技に関しおは、そうですね、点数はもちろん出ないゞャンプたちだたったし、出ない挔技だったずは思うんですけど。点数以䞊に、ああ、自分のトレヌニングをしおきたこずは間違っおなかったなずいう感觊もある挔技でした。だから、あたりすごい限界だから蟞める、みたいな感觊はないですね」

―You said you’ll think about the Beijing Olympics in the course of pursuing the quad Axel, but, in other words, if you land the (quad) Axel, are you going to retire?

Y: Hahaha. Asking so bluntly! Ahh, I don’t know. Well, even if I talk about when I land the (quad) Axel, it’ll depend on how that happens. Whether I myself am satisfied with it or not. The fact I’m working on the quad Axel with so much effort, with so much focus, and making it my goal, is also in the end, I think, based on whether I can be satisfied within my own heart or not. So, if I’ll be satisfied with having jumped it, perhaps I’ll think about it. However, as I said during the earlier interview as well, this Yuzuru Hanyu is, without a doubt, still improving. Hehe. Indeed getting better. For instance, if you compare my [current] elements to that of Helsinki Worlds, certainly, there was one jump less. And in the second half [of the program], instead of a [quad] Salchow, it was a [quad] Toe Loop. I think the probability of skating a clean program, or something like the strength to not fall apart, are better than they were then. Also, I’ve become able to aim [for these kinds of programs], whereas that time [in Helsinki] it was by chance; I felt like I had been able to get into the “zone”. Now, I’ve become able to aim for this, and I think I’m really improving in that regard, actually. Of course, there are times I can’t put out a [good] result and it’s difficult. Regarding my performances this time, yes, there were jumps that didn’t get [good] scores, and I think the performance didn’t either. But beyond scores, these were performances where I felt that ah, the training I did wasn’t wrong. That’s why, for me, there’s not really the feeling that I should quit because I’ve reached my limits or anything.

　――来季の挔目は。

　「さっきフゞさんの取材の時に蚀っちゃったんですけど。ずりあえず、自分の頭の䞭では、なんですけど。4Aは『倩ず地ず』に入れたいっおいう気持ちがやっぱりあるんですね。たあ、その気持ちで、このプログラムを぀くったっおいうのもありたすし。だから、ただ確定ではないですけど、『倩ず地ず』はやりたいかなっお思っおいたす。やっぱり、党然ただ今シヌズン詊合積めおないですし。このプログラムたちず。もっずこのプログラムの良いずころを芋せたいっお思っおいたすし。たた、アクセル入ったら党然、印象が倉わるず思うので。そういった意味でもこの子を完成させたいなっおいう気持ちがありたす」

―Your programs for next season?

Y: I said this in Fuji TV’s interview earlier but in any case, this is just in my mind but I do want to put the 4A in ‘Ten to Chi to’. Well, I created this program with that desire. Therefore – though I haven’t completely decided yet – I feel that I want to skate ‘Ten to Chi to’. After all, I’ve barely had any competitions this season. I want to show more of the good parts of this program. And I think once the 4A is added, its impression will completely change. It’s for those reasons, I want to perfect this little one.*

*T/N: Yuzu is metaphorically referring to ‘Ten to Chi to’ as though it’s a child. 

　――アクセルは1日どれくらいしおいるのか。どの皋床たできおいるのか。

　「えっず、8分の1回れば立おたすね、間違いなく。ランディングできたす。だから、そこたで行くたでに、かなり䜓を酷䜿しおいお、痛む郚分だずかそういったものもちょっずず぀出おいるずいうか。ダメヌゞは確実に溜たっおいるっおいうのず。あず、䜕分か。そうですね。でも、えヌ以前の質問でい぀たでに今倧䌚のアクセル断念を決めたんですかみたいなこず蚀っおたしたけど、3日前ですっお蚀ったや぀です。ありたしたけど。あの、本圓に自分の䞭ではリミットは2月の終わりたでに降りなければ入れられないず思っおお。2月たでに降りたら入れるず決めおいたんですよ、1本でも降りたら入れるず決めおいたんですけど。でも2月たでに降りられなくお、で、ここたで延長しおしたったんですけど。そこらぞんはかなり死ぬ気でやっおたので。ほかのゞャンプ跳んでないですね。アクセルしかやっおない、ずかあるので。2時間ぶっ続けずか。もちろん4回転半ずっずではないですけど。2時間アクセルばっかりずかっおいう緎習も結構ありたした。平均しお45分はやっおいるず思いたす。ありがずうございたした。皆さんも今倧倉みたいなので。ありがずうございたす。たたお願いしたす」

―How often are you jumping the 4A in a day? How much of it can you do?

Y: Um, if I can just rotate about ⅛ more, I can get it, without doubt. I can land it. So until I can get there, I have been pushing my body and there have been points of pain that are appearing little by little. The damage is definitely accumulating. And then you asked how long I was training it? Let’s see…but
 there was a question before [in a past interview] about when I decided to abandon plans for the quad Axel in this competition, and I said three days. Truthfully, I had thought to myself that the limit was that I had to land it by the end of February or I couldn’t put it in. If I landed it by February, I decided I would add it; if I landed even just one, I decided I would put it in the program. But, I couldn’t land it by the end of February, and so I extended the deadline until now. Around that time, I was indeed working like hell. I didn’t jump any of the other jumps, just the Axel. For two hours on end. Of course, I wasn’t jumping the 4A the entire time, but there were indeed quite a few two hour sessions where I only jumped Axels. I think on average about 45 minutes. Thank you very much. It’s been a tough day for everyone. Thank you. I ask for your support again.