Translation: @yuzueco & @smpkyk
Proofreading: @axelsandwich & @tsukihoshi14
Japanese Transcript: @moonright_yuzu
Subbing: @aoyuzu205
[!!!] Please do not edit or re-upload. If you would like to share our content, credit or link to the official account, thank you
All articles originally published 27 December 2021
Translation & Proofreading: @axelsandwich, @shinjistarxx, @yuzueco & @tsukihoshi14
――五輪3連覇を決意したのはいつだったか
Q: When did you decide you wanted to try aiming for a 3rd consecutive Olympic win?
「3連覇を決意したのは、このジャージーを選考委員会が終わって、代表に選んでいただいて、ジャージーをいただいて、で、記者会見に行くっていうところですかね。やっぱその、ジャージーに腕を通した時に『ああ、これがオリンピックだな』って。でも、自分はやっぱり2連覇っていうものを既に持っていて、それを失うことは確かに怖いんですよ。負ける確率の方が間違いなく平昌オリンピックより高いと思いますし、今のところは。ただ、このユニホームを着た時に、これは勝ちにいくんだな、勝ちにいかなきゃいけないんだなって、なんか、あらためて思わせていただいたように思います」
Yuzuru: I think I decided that I would aim for a third Olympic win when the team selection ended, after I was selected as a representative [for Team Japan] and I received this jersey*, around when I was about to attend the press conference. When I put my arm through this jersey, it was like “Ah, this is the Olympics.” But, since I already have attained two consecutive wins, the thought of losing that is certainly scary. As it is right now, I think the chances of me losing are, without a doubt, higher than they were at Pyeongchang [2018]. But when I put on this uniform, it made me think “I’m going for the win, I have to win.”
*T/N: Referring to Team Japan Olympic team jacket
――大谷翔平の活躍はどう見ているか
Q: Have you been following Shohei Ohtani’s activities?
Shohei Ohtani, baseball player; often referred to as Yuzu’s contemporary due to their age (both are born in 1994) and similar athletic excellence
「正直、フィギュアスケートの全盛期って23歳だったり、24歳ぐらいが全盛期みたいな感じで思われていたんですけど。やっぱり野球とか見ると、もっと何ですかね、30歳代の、30代前半の方が本当に脂が乗っていていい時期だったっていう話を聞いたりだとか。実際に自分の同年代でいいですかね、完全に、完全に同年代の選手がああやって今まで史上、一番多分いい出来の状態を保っているところを見たり、また手術後で本当に大変だったり、前人未到のことを自分で切り開いてやってるところを見たり、本当に僕自身、勇気づけられて、僕もまだ見ぬ世界かもしれないですけど、4回転半というものにある意味、一人で挑み続けているので、本当に勇気をもらっています」
Y: To be honest, it’s kind of thought that in figure skating, a skater’s prime is around age 23 or 24. But if you look at something like baseball, you may hear that an athlete really gets into their peak around their 30s, early 30s. So I wonder if it is ok to really say we are of the same generation, but, seeing an athlete my age doing all of that, maintaining what is perhaps his best shape ever, and also having to go through difficulties related to surgery, and then breaking new, unprecedented territories [in his sport], that really encouraged me. Challenging the quad Axel is perhaps also still in a world of the unknown to me, but in a sense, [watching Ohtani] really gives me a lot of courage.
――自分で描いていた4回転半成功へのスケジュールは
Q: What is your envisioned schedule to succeed at the 4A?
「正直、平昌の後、次のシーズンで降りられると思ってました。ふふふふっ。それぐらいアクセルには自信がありましたし、4回転半というものが、そんなに大変なものだっていうふうに自覚はしてなかったです。ただ、やっぱり怪我があったりとか、いろんなことがあって、なかなか4回転半に集中できない時があったんですけど。集中してやればやるほど、怪我が常につきまとう。そして、集中してやればやるほど、4回転以降回ることがどれだけ大変かということを、なんかあらためて痛感した、この4年間だったんじゃないかなというふうには思っていて。まあ実際、今、4回転半回しにいっていますけれども、こうやって軸が取れるようになったのも本当にここ最近の話なので、本当大変だったなって思ってます」
Y: To be honest, after Pyeongchang [Olympics], I thought I’d be able to land it in the following season. Hahaha. That’s how much confidence I had in my Axel jumps, and also the lack of awareness I had about how truly difficult the quad Axel is. However, ultimately, various things happened, like injuries and whatnot, so there were times I couldn’t really focus on the quad Axel. The more I tried to focus on the quad Axel, the more injuries would follow. And the more I focused on it, the more keenly I’ve realized how hard it is to rotate more than a quad. I think that’s what these four years have taught me. In fact, I’m going for a quad and half turn now, but it’s only recently that I’ve been able to get my axis [right] like this, so it’s been really tough.
――4回転半は一日何本までと決めているのか
Q: How many quad Axels do you allow yourself to do per day?
「あ～、そうですね、具体的な本数で決めてるわけではないです。ただ、そのときの体調次第によっては、まあ4回転半じゃなくていいぞっていう日も、もちろんありますし。ただ、その4回転半のために、じゃあトリプルアクセルどういうふうに練習していくかっていうことだったりとか。そういった面で、じゃあトリプルアクセルは今日は何本にしようとか、あとは4回転半じゃなくても、4回転ジャンプで同じような感覚を何かつかめるものがあるんだったら、じゃあ4回転ジャンプをトリプルアクセルの後に何回挟んでいこうとか、そういったことは考えてますね」
Y: Ah, well, it’s not like I decide on a specific number to do. However, it depends on my physical condition at that time, so of course, there are some days that I decide it’s ok to not do any quad Axels. Still, [on those days] I’d think about how I should practice the triple Axel for the sake of the quad Axel. Then I’d think about how many triple Axels I should jump that day, or if there’s something that can give me the same feeling with a quad jump, even if it’s not the quad Axel, then I’d think about how many quad jumps I should put in after the triple Axel.
――羽生選手が思う言葉の力は
Q: What do you think about the power of words?
「はい。え～、僕自身ずっとここまで競技をやってきて、有言実行が絶対したいなっていうふうに思ってきました。だから、まあ、ある意味、自分の言葉が鎖だったり、プレッシャーだったりはするんですよね。それがあるからこそ、僕は絶対にそれを達成したいってずっと思い続けられるわけであって。諦めないでやれるのは、そういう言葉たちのおかげなのかなっていうふうに思っています」
Y: Uhm, I’ve been competing for a long time until now, and I’ve always wanted to accomplish what I say. Therefore, in a sense, I use my words as chains and pressure. Because of them, I always think that I definitely want to accomplish [what I said]. I think it’s probably thanks to such words that I can accomplish so much without giving up.
――言葉にすることで自分が勇気づけられる面もあるのか
Q: Does saying things out loud also give you encouragement?
「僕の場合、勇気づけられるとかっていうことよりも、整理ができるっていう方が近いです。自分の気持ちだったりとか、自分が考えているプランだったりとか。また、自分が今どういう感覚でジャンプをしたのかとか、そういったことを声に出すことによって、何か整理されて、いい結果が出てくることが多いです」
Y: In my case, rather than giving me encouragement, it’s more accurate to say that it allows me to organize my feelings and the plans I have in mind. Also, things like how I feel when doing the jumps; because I say these things out loud, it often allows me to arrange [my thoughts] and results in good things.
――どうしてジャージーを着た時に3連覇へ切り替わったのか
Q: Why did you change [your goal] to a three-peat [at the Olympics] after wearing the [Team Japan] jersey?
「そうですね。やっぱり、まあ昨日の会見というか、囲みでも話させていただきましたけど、やっぱ悔しかったんですよね。その、『q』くらいまでの、『q』判定ぐらいまでのところにいって、やっぱ跳べなかったっていう。何かそこで終わらせてしまうことへの怖さだったりとか。また、やっぱり、その、自分が跳べるって言ってくださる方への何か、裏切りみたいな感じに思ってしまったんですよね。それが、じゃあ果たして自分がやらなきゃいけないことなのかって言われたらわかんないんですけど。でも、やらなきゃいけないかどうかわかんないですけど、でも、それができるって言ってくださる方がいらっしゃるんだったら、やっぱ僕は諦めずにやらないと、それはみなさんへの裏切りになってしまうなっていうふうに思えたので。まあ全日本に行くにあたって、ここでやめられないなって。北京オリンピックまで覚悟を持ってやるつもりでやんなきゃいけないなっていうふうに思いました。で、また何か、その、オリンピックってやっぱり、発表会じゃないんですよ、やっぱ勝たなきゃいけない場所なんですよ。僕にとっては。やっぱり2連覇してることもあるので。2連覇は絶対失いたくないし、だからこそ、また強く決意を持って、絶対に勝ちたいなって思いました」
Y: Yes…well, as I’ve said in yesterday’s conference – it was an [on-the-spot] interview in a box though – I’m frustrated. I spoke about it being close to ‘q’ or around the point where it could be called ‘q’ but I couldn’t jump [a jump that was close to q]. I guess there was the fear of somehow letting it end there. I also felt like I’m somehow betraying those who said that I could jump it. I don’t know if they were saying that I must be the one to do it but since there are people who are saying that I can do it, I feel like I’d be betraying them somehow if I gave up and didn’t try it. So in coming to the Japanese National Championships, I feel that I must not give up on it here, I suppose. I feel that I must commit to trying it until the Beijing Olympics. The other thing is that the Olympics are not a place where you try things out, it is after all a place where you must win. To me, that is. I also achieved two consecutive victories so I absolutely do not want to let that go. Precisely because of that, I’ve realized that I absolutely want to win, with renewed determination.
――今のままでは勝てないと言っていた、どうしたら勝てるか
Q: You said that you can’t win as you are now, so how will you be able to win?
「まあ、単純にあれに4回転半をしっかりGOEプラスでつけられる構成にしたいです。はっきり言って、4回転半とルッツとか、ループとかっていう構成は現実的ではないと思うんです。で、また、こっから1カ月ちょっとしかない状況の中で、やれることは多分アクセルぐらいだと思ってるので。しっかりアクセルも練習してきて。あとはショートに関しても、まだ完璧なところではないので、まったく。サルコーくらいですかね、良かったなと思えるのは。だから、それ以外、もっと点数につながりきるかどうかわかんないですけど、ただ、詰めて詰めて練習したいなって思ってます」
Y: Well, to put it simply, I want a competitive layout where I’ll be able to properly get +GOE on the 4A. Honestly speaking, I think a layout incorporating the 4A and the 4Lz or 4Lo is unrealistic. Furthermore, in the month or so that I have left, I think what I can do is probably just the Axel. I want to properly train on the [quad] Axel. Also, in regards to the Short Program, there are many places that still aren’t perfect. [I want them to be as perfect as] the Salchow was, to the point where I can think ‘that was good’. So apart from [the Salchow] – though I don’t know whether I’ll be able to earn more points – I want to train nonstop.
――体の衰えを感じていると言っていたが、どんどんうまくなっているように見える
Q: You’ve spoken about your body deteriorating [with age] but it looks as though it’s getting better and better.
「あの、なんか、そうですね24歳、5歳ぐらいのときですかね。あの、すごく成長が止まったなって思った時期と、あのフリーが通せなくなったなっていう時期と結構あったんですよ。でも、おっしゃるように僕多分、今、一番うまいです、間違いなく。それは多分トレーニング方法が自分で確立できるようになった。自分でプランニングできるようになった。そして、羽生結弦にとってのフィギュアスケートのトレーニングがどういうものかっていうことが確立されて、それを実行できるようになったのが一番大きいんじゃないかなと思います」
Y: Um, well, yes, when I was about 24-25 years old, there was a period where I really felt like my growth had stopped, indeed, where I felt like I had lost the ability to complete a Free Skate. But as I said, I’m probably at my best now. Without doubt. It’s likely because I was able to establish my own training method. I was able to plan it myself. Being able to establish and implement a figure skating training regime tailored to myself was possibly the most significant thing, I think.
―2年前のGPファイナルで理想の羽生結弦は9歳と話していた。それは変わらないか。そういう無邪気な自信がないと4回転半に立ち向かえないのか
Q: You said at the GPF two years ago that your ideal ‘Yuzuru Hanyu’ was when you were nine years old. Is that still the case today? Without that kind of innocent confidence, would you be able to face the quad Axel?
「あの頃の自分の強いところは、勝てるところです。だから、そうですね。4回転半に対して、じゃあ、あの頃の自分の気持ちのアプローチが効くかと言われたら、そうではないかなっていう。あの頃の何やっても勝てるみたいな自信が、あの、なんて言えばいいんだろう。勝つことに関しては、一番必要なんじゃないかなと思うんですよね。ただ、そういう風な自信を持てるっていうのは、やっぱ、あの時なりに凄く練習していたからなんですよね。誰よりも練習しているって思いましたし。誰よりもうまいって思いながら、練習できましたし。そういうのが、オリンピックってもっともっと必要になる場所なので。もちろん、アクセルも含めてしっかり練習していきたいなと思っています。で、やっぱりあの時の自分が一番強いなっていうか。一番…強いって言い方がさっきの話とちょっとごっちゃになってアレですけど。技術的には今が間違いなく一番強いです。ただ、精神的にはあの頃が一番強くて、輝いているなって思えるので。あの時の自分を大切にしたいなとは思っています」
Y: My strong point at that time was that I could win. So, yes, if you were to ask me if my emotional approach back then would work against the 4A, I’d say not really. The confidence that I had back then, like I could win no matter what, I don’t know how to put it… When it comes to winning, I think [that confidence] is what you need the most. But the reason why I could have such confidence was because I was practicing the best I could back then. I thought I was practicing more than anyone else. I was able to practice while thinking that I was better than anybody. The Olympics is where that kind of thing is even more necessary. So of course, I want to practice hard on everything, including the (quad) Axel. And I think I was the strongest when I was 9. Well, the word “strongest” is a bit mixed up with what I said earlier. I am definitely the strongest now in terms of technical ability. But mentally, I feel that I was the strongest and brightest back then. Therefore, I want to cherish the person I was back then.
―4回転半のアプローチがちょっと違うというのは
Q: What do you mean by saying the approach to the 4A is a little different?
「自信があれば跳べるものじゃないんですよね。ふふふ。やっぱり無邪気にがむしゃらにやって跳べるジャンプじゃないなっていうことを、この4年間ずっとぶち当たりながら考えてきたことなので。だから、どれだけ緻密に計算できるか。どれだけ緻密に戦略を立てて計算をして、その4回転半という成功をつかみ取れるかが大事だと思っているので。その点に関しては、今の方が間違いなくうまいです」
Y: It’s not a jump that you can do based on mere confidence. Hehehe. The fact it’s not a jump that you can just naively and recklessly force yourself into jumping is something that I’ve come to believe after these four years of throwing myself at it. Therefore, the ability to strategize and calculate the finest of details is important to succeed at the 4A. In regards to that, my present self is better without doubt [than before/his approach when he was 9yrs old].
――昨年は体重を増やしていた。今年は減らしているのか、体のアプローチは
Q: Last year, you were gaining weight [on purpose]. Have you slimmed down this year? What’s your approach to your physical condition?
「いや、減らすつもりはなかったというか、増やすつもりもなかったというか。そうですね、なんか中途半端なところなんですけど。えっと、正直、自分の中ではもうちょっと減らせたかなと思って全日本に入りました。もうちょっと軽くてもいいんじゃないかな。ただ、去年の体重から比べてみたら、そうですね、全日本に関しては2キロぐらい。あ、2キロまでいかないかな。1キロくらいですかね、減ってますし。世界選手権と国別と比べて3キロ以上減っています。どっちがいいか分からないんですけどね。ただ、どれが正解かは分かっていないです」
No, I didn’t intend to slim down but I also didn’t plan to put on weight. You could say I’m kind of in the middle of it. Um, to be honest, I wanted to be a little slimmer going into the Japanese Nationals. Like maybe it would be good to be a little lighter. However, if I compare it to last year’s weight, yes, if we talk about [the time of] Japanese Nationals, it’s about 2kg. Ah, maybe not 2kg, maybe 1kg lighter. I’m about 3kg lighter than I was at the World Championships [2021] and World Team Trophy. I’m not sure which one is better. It’s just that I haven’t figured out which is best.
――長らく仙台で調整してきた。故郷で過ごした感想。ケガのときは何が心の支えだったか
Q: You have been training in Sendai for a long time now. How do you feel about spending time in your hometown? What gave you emotional support when you were injured?
「うーん。やっぱり今、埼玉にいたりとか、試合で遠征に行くことは多々ありますけども、やっぱ仙台の町並みって自分の中に常に残っている町並みで。もちろん都市開発があったりとかして、どんどん変わっていくところありますけども、やっぱりそこに懐かしさがあるだけでも、やっぱり心がホッとするというか。凄く温かい気持ちになれています。えーっと。まあ、ケガの時期とか大変なことももちろん、もちろん自分の人生の中には、大半がケガで苦しんだりとか。大半がリンクなくなって練習できなくなっているとか。本当にそういう苦しみがたくさんありましたけど。でも、うん。なんかこうやって今生きていて、みなさんの前でしゃべって、誰かの前で演技をして、どっかの誰かが自分の演技を見て何かを感じ取って下さっているっていう瞬間が本当に素敵だなって思えるので。そのことの幸せを常に感じていたらいいなって、なんか自分の中では思っています、今」
Y: Well, I’ve been in Saitama and I have also gone to many places for competitions, but in the end, Sendai’s landscape is the one that remains in my heart. Of course, there are things like urban development and places that are changing quickly, but even if the only thing there is nostalgia, you could say it makes me feel relieved. I’ve gotten used to a really warm feeling. Um. Well, of course there were tough periods when I was injured and a large part of my life has consisted of things like hurting due to injuries, not having a rink and being unable to train. I’ve truly been through that kind of pain multiple times. But…hm. Somehow, to live this way now, to talk in front of everyone, to perform for someone somewhere to watch and feel some sort of emotions from it, I think those moments are truly wonderful. Right now, I’d like to always feel the happiness that stems from those things.
――今後も仙台で調整するのか
Q: Do you plan to continue training in Sendai after this?
「そうですね、仙台で頑張ります。たぶん。たぶん？（笑い）」
Yes, I will work hard in Sendai. Maybe. Maybe? (laughs)
――取材が終了
(End of the interview)
「すいません、ありがとうございました。またよろしくお願いします、みなさん」
Thank you very much. I ask for your support again, everyone!
Translation & proofreading: @axelsandwich, @yuzueco, @shinjistarxx & @tsukihoshi14
Japanese Transcript: @aoyuzu205, @moonright_yuzu
Subbing: @aoyuzu205
[!!!] Please do not edit or re-upload. If you would like to share our content, credit or link to the official account, thank you
All articles originally published 26 December 2021
Translation & Proofreading: @axelsandwich, @shinjistarxx, @yuzueco & @tsukihoshi14
――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.
――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.
All articles originally published 24 December 2021
Translation: @axelsandwich, @shinjistarxx & @yuzueco
Proofreading: @tsukihoshi14
――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.
`
――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.
All articles originally published 23 December 2021
Translation: @axelsandwich & @shinjistarxx
Proofreading: @yuzueco & @tsukihoshi14
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.
――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 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…
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.
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Translation: @axelsandwich
Proofreading: @shinjistarxx
The special program is split into 5 subbed parts – full performances have been cut
Translation & proofreading: @axelsandwich & @shinjistarxx
Japanese Transcript: @aoyuzu205
Subbing: @aoyuzu205
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Axel with Wings 