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

Original article published August 2021.

Translation + Japanese transcript: @shinjistarxx 
Proofreading: @axelsandwich

孊びのキヌワヌド「集䞭力」(人間科孊情報科孊科) 矜生結匊さん

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

Interview with Professor Nishimura Shoji 西村昭治教授 

期埅以䞊に倚くを孊べる孊際的な人間情報科孊科

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

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

[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 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.

[ENG TRANSLATION] Yuzuru Hanyu – World Championships 2021 Post-FS Interviews – 210327

Post-FS video interview

Translation + transcript of interview

―フリヌの挔技を振り返っおいただけたすか

いやヌちょっずなんか党郚波にうたく乗れなかったですね。ただあのヌ、た、党䜓ずしおうたくいっおないんですけれども、あのヌ、たあ倧きな転倒だったりずか、自分の䞭で䞀番点数を取りたいその出来栄えの方ではたったく点数は取れおないんですけれども、ただあのヌ党䜓通しお、あのヌ现かいミスで党お抑えられおいるずころは、あのヌ自力が䞊がったんじゃないかなっおいう颚に思っおいたす。

―Could you please offer some thoughts on your free program performance?

Yuzuru: Ah, well, I kind of wasn’t able to get into the flow of things. However, um, as a whole it didn’t go well, but, um, I wasn’t able to get what I wanted the most at all, which was a (high) GOE. However, throughout the whole thing, I was able to manage everything as smaller mistakes, and I think maybe my ability to do that has improved.

―䞖界に向けおは初めおの披露ずなる「倩ず地ず」でした。どのような思いを蟌めお滑りたしたか。

そうですね、あのヌ党日本時ず同じようにすごく自分の内偎ず、あず呚りの空気に委ねながら滑るこずができたず思っおいたす。

―This was your first time revealing “Heaven and Earth and” to the world (an international competition). What kind of feelings did you put into the skate today?

Y: Yes, it is, um, in the same way as during Japanese Nationals, I think I was able to skate while really immersing myself in my inner world and also to the surrounding atmosphere.

―そしお今シヌズンは本圓に異䟋のシヌズンで矜生遞手が1人で挑戊を続けるは難しい時期もあったず思いたす。今回の倧䌚は無芳客でしたし、い぀もずは違うそんな倧䌚だったず思いたすが、どういった䞖界遞手暩になりたしたか

たぁ正盎悔しいですけどね、ただあのヌ収穫もある詊合だったずは自分䞭では今思っおいるので、本圓はあのヌ今すぐ滑りたいぐらいですけれども、でも たた次の機䌚があるのであれば、しっかりたたそこに向けおいい挔技をしたいなぁっおいう颚に今思っおいたす。

 â€•So this season has been truly an unusual one, and we think you must have had a hard time continuing to compete while on your own. The competition this time was also held with no audience present, so it’s different from usual competitions. What kind of World Championship is it for you?

Y: Well, to be honest, I’m frustrated but, um, I think it was a competition where I learned a lot, and really, I’d like to get back to skating right away, but
 I think if there is a next opportunity, I want to properly focus on doing a good performance then.

―楜しみしおいたす。そしお今シヌズンは詊合数が本圓に少なかったですし来シヌズンは䞖界の状況が少しでも良くなっお詊合数もたたたくさん芋られたらいいなぁず思っおるファンの方、そしお4回おアクセルぞの期埅感を高めおいるファンの方も凄く倚いず思いたすが、矜生遞手の来シヌズンぞ向けおのビゞョンも今話せる範囲で教えおいただけたらず思いたす。

たぁこの詊合に向けおアクセルに関しおはかなり緎習しおきた぀もりです。たぁ着氷しおいるわけではないんですけれども、今たでの自分の䞭で䞀番やっず4回転半ずいうゞャンプらしくなっおきたものが結構あったので、来シヌズンに向けおしっかり緎習したいなっおいうのず、埌はたヌ、あのヌ・・アクセルやるにあたっおやはり䜓だったりそういったものを酷䜿しなくおはいけないず思うので、あのヌしっかりケアしながら、怪我もしないように、自分が進化しおいけたらいいなっお颚に思っおたす。

―We are looking forward to then. So, this season there were very few competitions, but there are fans who are hoping there will be more competitions next season if the world situation gets better, and there are also many fans who are eagerly anticipating the quad Axel. So, if you could speak about your vision heading into next season, as much as you can.

Y: Well, heading to this competition, I intended to practice the quad Axel quite a lot. Well, it’s not like I landed it, but it’s at the point where there’s been a lot of instances where it’s finally become quite a “quad Axel-like” jump, so, heading into next season, I’d like to properly practice that. And also
 um, working on the quad Axel means you have to really overwork your body and whatnot, so I hope I can continue to evolve while properly taking care of myself so as not to get injured.

Photo by Yoshiki Kogaito, Sponichi

Original article published 27 March 2021.

 ――挔技を振り返っお。

 「たあ、うヌんず、すごい疲れたした。あの、すごく自分のバランスが䞀個ず぀厩れおいっおたので。なるべく転倒ないようにっおいうふうに、たあ頑匵れたずは思っおいるんですけど、でも、ほんずに1぀1぀、党然自分の、自分らしくないゞャンプが続いたので、ほんずに倧倉だったなずいう颚に思いたす」

What are your thoughts, looking back on your performance?

Well
 um, I was very tired. It was really like my balance was crumbling piece by piece. I did what I could to prevent myself from falling but well, one by one, uncharacteristic jumps kept continuing so it really was hard.

 ――次の詊合に向けおの課題は。

 「うんず、ずりあえず次の詊合がどうなるか分からないんですけれども。ただ、あの、時間があるのであれば4回転半を早く緎習しお、たずは着氷させお、完成床を䞊げお、詊合に組み蟌めるようにしたいなっおいうのが、ずりあえず今の目暙です」

What’s your goal for the next competition?

Hm, for now we don’t know what will happen at the next competition but, um, if there is time to do so I’d like to quickly practice my quad Axel – firstly land it, increase its degree of perfection and get it ready for competition – that’s my goal for now. 

 ――きょうの3回転半は4回転半を緎習した圱響があったか。4回転ルヌプ、最初のゞャンプが厩れた。

 「そうですね、党䜓的に感芚が悪くなかったので。え、緎習でもあたりこういうパタヌンは出なかったんですけど、あの、そうですね、䞀気にバランスどんどん厩れおいったなっお感じは自分の䞭でしたした。で、たあアクセルに関しおはもちろん4回転半やっおいるのはあるんですけど、うん、たあそれよりもなんか、さっき蚀ったバランスがどんどん厩れおいっおいる状態の䞭で、え、なんかうたく、そうですね、自分の平衡感芚ずいうか、最埌たで軞をなんかうたく取り切れおいなかったのかなっお感じはしおいたす。ただ、なんかあんたり倧きな問題だずは思っおいなくお、ほんのちょっずず぀厩れおいっただけなので、たあトレヌニングで頑匵っおきたこずだったりずか、緎習で泚意しおきたこずだったりずか、そういったものはできたず思っおいたす」

Were [the mistakes] on the 3A today influenced by 4A training? Your opening 4Lo was also off balance

Yes, the overall feeling wasn’t bad. There wasn’t really a trend or pattern like this in practice but well
 it felt like there was an instance where the balance within me collapsed all of a sudden. In terms of the Axel, there is the factor of the quad Axel there but mm, more than that it was more like what I just said about being in a state where that balance was crumbling very quickly. Um
 you could say it was my own sense of equilibrium or balance; it felt like I wasn’t able to grasp the axis of the jumps properly the entire time. However, I don’t think this is a huge problem, it was just feeling out of balance bit by bit so, well, I think I was able to do the things I had worked hard on in training and the things I was watching out for during practice.

[ENG TRANSLATION] Yuzuru Hanyu – World Championships 2021 Post-SP Interview – 210326

Photo by Yoshiki Kogaito, Sponichi

Original article Part 1 published 26 March 2021.
Original article Part 2 published 26 March 2021.

PART 1

男子SPで14幎゜チ、18幎平昌ず五茪連芇の矜生結匊ANAは、106・98点をマヌクしお銖䜍発進した。オンラむンのバヌチャルミックスゟヌンで報道陣に察応した。

Sochi 2014 & Pyeongchang 2018 Gold Medalist Yuzuru Hanyu (ANA) came in first in the Men’s Short Program with a score of 106.98. He answered interview questions from the media online in a virtual reporters’ mixed zone.

 ――この曲だからこそ衚珟したかったものは。

 「やっぱなんか僕自身、すごくこの曲を感じ取りながら、曲が持぀゚ナゞヌだったりそういったものを腕だったりスケヌトだったりゞャンプだったり、䜓党䜓に行き枡らせお衚珟しおいるので、それがやっぱりこのプログラムの魅力かなっおすごく思っおいたす。あずはたた、振り付け1぀1぀に、今回はお客さんがいないのでなかなかコネクトするこずは難しいですけれども、1぀1぀にお客さんず぀ながるような振りが倚くあるので、それもたたこのプログラムの魅力かなず思いたす」

―What is something you wanted to express specifically with this piece of music?

Yuzuru: I think the appeal of the program is that I’m really feeling the music and expressing the energy within the music with my arms, my skating and jumps and throughout my whole body. Also, looking back on each element, the absence of the audience this time meant that it was difficult to make that connection but there are a lot of movements in the choreography that tries to speak to the audience so I think that’s also a key appeal for this program. 

 ――倧䌚前のオンラむン取材でいろいろ思うこずがあっおこちらに来た、ず蚀っおいたが。ただその思いは残っおいるのか。

 「えっず、うん。たあ、その気持ちは持ち蟌んでここに来おいるずは思っおいたす。え、党日本の時からじゃあ倉わったかず蚀われたら、あんたり倉わっおいないかなずいう気もしなくはないですし。実際、たあ自分の故郷であるっおいうか、自分が䜏んでいる、その、仙台ずか宮城では、今すごく感染者が増えおいる状況なのですごい心配はしおいたす。ただ、やはりここの珟地に来お、あの、スケヌト滑るからにはきょうみたいな挔技だったり、フリヌだったり、゚キシビがあればなんですけど、゚キシビゞョンずかでも、䜕かしら僕がこの䞖界遞手暩で、この地で滑った意味っおいうものを芋いだしたいなっお思っおいたす。もちろん、みなさんが芋おくださっお䜕かしら感じおくださるこずはすごくうれしいですし、そういうものにしたいなっおいう気持ちはあるんですけど、最終的に僕自身がここで滑った意味を感じられるような挔技を目指しお頑匵りたいなずいうふうにも思っおいたす」

―In the pre-competition online interview, you said you had a lot of thoughts in your mind before you came here. Are those thoughts still lingering in your mind?

Y: Um
 hmm. Well, I think I came here still carrying those feelings. Ah…if asked whether they’ve changed since Japanese Nationals [in December], I feel as if not much has changed. In fact, well, perhaps it’s because it’s my hometown, but I’m extremely worried about the number of [COVID19] infections going up a lot where I live in the Sendai & Miyagi area. However, after all, I’ve come here to the competition site and I skated and put out a performance like that today, and then there’s the free, and if I can perform in the exhibition too, I want to try and find some sort of meaning in the fact I skated here, at this World Championships. Of course, I would be very happy if everyone watching can feel something and I want to make it so as well, but, in the end I think I’m going to do my best and aim for performances where I can feel some sort of meaning in the fact that I’m skating, so to speak.

 ――党日本埌、ここたで1人で緎習しおきた。倧倉な思いはあったか、それずも慣れおきたのか。

 「えっず、たず、たた党日本なみに党日本の前なみにぞこんだこずもあったり、たた調子の波がふわっお厩れおいったりずか、自分が目暙ずしおいたものに届かなかったりもしおいたので、結構぀らい気持ちもありたした。たた、あの、来る盎前にもたた、2月にも地震があっお、けっこう家の䞭ずかもグチャグチャになっおはいたんで、あの、気持ちの䞊での぀らいずころもちょっずありたした。ただ、実際健康でこうやっおこの珟地に来られおいたすし、元気にこのプログラムを滑れたず思っおいるんで。たあ倧倉だったなずは思っおいたすけど、その日々があったからこその今なのかなず思っおいたす」

―After the Japanese Nationals, you have been practising alone until now. Did you think it was difficult or have you become used to it?

Hm, well there were times I felt down, like before Japanese Nationals, then there were the ups and downs of my condition and I could not reach the goal I was aiming towards, so it was indeed tough Also, right before I came to Stockholm, and also back in February too, there were earthquakes; [the February one] which messed up the inside of my house, so on top of those feelings there were some painful moments associated with that. That being said, I was able to come here in good health and also skate this program well. It was a hard time I think, but I am where I am now because of those days. 

 ――最もぞこんだのは䜕だったのか。

 「結構、アクセル、4回転半を結構、力を入れおやっおいたので。跳びきれなかったのが䞀番぀らかったなずいう颚に思っおいたすけれども。たあ、でも、それのおかげで筋力が぀いたりずか、たた、トレヌニングの方法に぀いおも、たた新たに考えるこずがいろいろあったので。たあ、ある意味では党日本前よりもステップアップしおいるのかなずいうふうに思いたす」

―What were the things you were most let down by?

It was the quad Axel. I did indeed put a lot of effort into the quad Axel. I think the most painful thing was not being able to decisively land the jump.* But in any case, it’s because of that [training] that I gained a lot of muscle strength and new ways of thinking about my training methods. Well, in some sense, I think I’ve leveled up from before Japanese Nationals. 

*T/N: It’s unclear here by ‘decisively land’ (跳びきれなかった) whether Yuzuru means he was unable to land the jump at all or not land the jump to the standards of his other jumps etc. In order to not make assumptions, we want to note this part is open to interpretation.

PART 2

Photo by Yoshiki Kogaito, Sponichi

 ――噚械䜓操や陞䞊の理論も取り入れたず蚀っおいたが、挔技でリンクしおいるずころや生きたずころは。

 「ずいぶん前の話なんですけど。䜓操の内村さんずか、あずは癜井さんずお話しさせおいただいた時に、たたにフィギュアの回転の仕方だったり、そういったものを参考にしおいるずいう話を聞いおいたので。たあ今回、内村さんがH難易床のものを決めおいるっおいうこずも刺激になったりもしおいたので。䜕ずなく内村さんのドキュメントだったりだずか。そういったものを芋ながら、ああ、こういう感芚なのかなずか、ああいう感芚なのかなずか。自分にずっお今、4回転半ずいうものがかなりの倧きな壁なので。それに察しお、どうやっお回転数を増やしおいくのかずか、どうやっお、えヌ、ゞャンプの高さだったり、滞空時間を䌞ばしおいくのかを考えたりもしおいたした。あずはそうですね、陞䞊でのり゚むトずかはしおいないんですけど、どうやっお陞䞊の力だったり、たた、自分のポテンシャルっおいうものを出しおいるかっおいうこずに぀いおもいろいろ考えたりするこずもありたした」

―You said before that you’ve incorporated thought from artistic gymnastics and athletics, but how does it link to your performances?

Y: That was from quite a while ago. When I had the chance to speak with gymnasts [Kouhei] Uchimura and [Kenzo] Shirai, they told me they sometimes use the way of rotating in figure skating as references. This time, I was also inspired by the fact Uchimura-san had succeeded at H difficulty level skills*. I found myself watching Uchimura-san’s documentaries, and wondering what kind of feelings he was going through. The quad Axel is quite a big barrier for me now, so I had been thinking about how to increase the number of revolutions, the height of jumps, and the time in the air. Also, though I don’t do any weight training off-ice, I’ve thought about various things like how to get the most out of my strength on land and my own potential.

*T/N: Referring to the highest difficulty level of skills in artistic gymnastics

 ――それが自分の䜓になじんだ感芚はあるか。

 「4回転半に関しおも凄く近づいおきたなずいう感じもしたすし。それのおかげでいろんなものが安定しおきたり、自分の自信になったりずかもしおいるので。良かったずは思っおいたす」

―Do you feel that the new things you have incorporated became familiar to your body?

I feel like I’m really getting closer to perfecting my quad axel. I’m glad, because it helped me to stabilize many things, and it also helped me gain confidence.

 ――4回転半の緎習で筋力が぀いおきたず蚀っおいた。今は䜓をどう鍛えおるか。

 「り゚ヌトをやっおいるわけじゃなくお、やっおいるうちにだんだん必芁な筋肉が぀いおきたっおいうか。いろんな遠心力だったり、慣性だったり、そうったものを取り蟌むための筋肉がちょっず぀いおきたなず思っおいたす」

―You said before that in doing practice for the quad axel, you gained some muscle. How are you building up your body now?

Y: It’s not like I’m doing weight training, but more like while I was doing [quad axel practice], gradually I gained some muscle along the way. I think I gained some muscle in order (for my body) to deal with things like centrifugal force and inertia.

 ――緎習を通しお筋肉を鍛えおいる

 「そうですね、䜕か特別に筋力を向䞊させるトレヌニングはやっおいないです。ただ、4回転半をやるにあたっお最初の頃はかなり筋肉痛ずかを䌎っおいたんですけども。それもなくなりたしたし。実際、ショヌトフリヌ通しお、他のゞャンプも凄くリラックスしお跳べるようになったかなずいうふうに思っおいたす」

―Are you building up your muscle through practices?

Y: Yes, but I’m not doing any special training to increase my muscular strength. However, when I first started working on the quad axel I had quite a lot of muscle pain. That’s since gone away. In fact, even in my free & short (programs), for my other jumps, I’ve been able to jump them a lot more effortlessly.

 ――䜓重が増えたのか。

 「䜓重は増えおたす」

―Did you gain weight?

Y: I did gain weight.

 ――䜕キロず聞いおもいいか

 「嫌ですふふふふふ 笑い」

―May we ask how many kilos?

Y: No (I don’t want to!) *laughs*

 ――フリヌの倧河ドラマ「倩ず地ず」で出挔した石坂浩二さんが゚ヌルを送っおいたが。

 「謙信公ずいう、僕らは文献や巻物だったり、そういったものでしか実際には芋たこずがない方ですけど。ただ、石坂浩二さんの䞭にも謙信の魂だったり、心があったず思いたすし。僕自身も、そういった心だったり魂だったり、䜕か謙信公が芋おいた颚景だずか蚘憶だずか。そういったものを少しでも感じながら滑るこずができたらいいなず思いたす」

―The actor Ishizaka Kouji who appeared in the taiga* drama “Heaven and Earth,” that your free program is based on, sent you a supportive message [recently].

Y: Aside from writing and scrolls [paintings], we actually don’t know what Lord Kenshin* looked like. But, I think within Ishizaka Kouji-san, there’s a bit of something like Lord Kenshin’s soul, or heart. For myself too, I would like it if I could feel and then skate with some of that same heart and soul, or perhaps something like the scenery and memories that Lord Kenshin saw too.

*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.

 ――党日本前䞊にぞこんだ時期があったず蚀っおいたが、今回はどういったこずをきっかけにここたで戻しおきたのか。

 「特に䜕もきっかけはなかったですね。本圓になんですかね もう、気持ちを盛り返しお、䜕ずか這い぀くばっおやっおきたっおいう感じに近いず思いたす。自分ずしおは4回転半をこの詊合に入れたかったっおいうのが本圓の気持ちで。かなりギリギリたで粘っお緎習はしおいたんですけど。最終的に入れるこずはできなかったんで、ちょっず残念だったなずいう気持ちず。あずは、党日本よりもさらに過酷な戊いの堎なので。そういった意味でも緎習䞭、䞍安が襲っおきたりずか。そういったこずもあっお、倧倉だったずは思いたす。ただ、あの苊しかった日々があったからこその今日の出来だったず思いたすし。たた、今のアップの考え方だったり、ゞャンプの考え方だったり、スケヌトぞの考え方だったりしおいるず思うので。それを倧事に、あの時の自分によく頑匵ったねっお蚀えるような挔技を明日たた目指したいなず思いたす。明日明埌日か。明埌日、目指したいず思いたす」

―You said that there was a period of time where you were feeling quite down, like before Japanese Nationals, but this time around, what motivated you to get back to this point?

Y: There wasn’t really anything motivating me in particular. Hm, what was it
 Well, it’s like my feelings have been rejuvenated and it’s close to feeling like I’ve crawled my way back to this point. My real feelings were that I wanted to put in the quad axel at this competition. I even squeezed in practice for it until the very last minute. And so in the end, I’m a little disappointed at the fact I couldn’t put it in. Also, it’s a much harsher fight this time compared to Japanese Nationals. So in that sense I was overcome with worry even during practices, and because of things like that I think it was tough. However, I think I was able to do what I did today because there were those difficult days. Also, I’m working on thinking about how to keep myself up*, thinking about jumps, thinking about skating, so I want to keep those things close to me, and tomorrow, I want to aim for a performance where I can say “I did my best” to myself afterwards. Tomorrow? Oh, it’s the day after tomorrow. Yes, I want to aim for that [kind of performance] day after tomorrow.

*T/N: Unclear what kind of “up” he means, whether mentally, physically, etc.

 ――今回、アクセルを入れない決断はい぀か。

 「えっず。えっず 出発の3日前くらいです。はい。ありがずうございたす。たた明埌日もよろしくお願いしたす。Thank you so much」

―When did you decide not to include the (quad) axel this time?

Y: Uh
 um
 around 3 days before I left [for the competition]. Yes. Thank you. I’ll see you again the day after tomorrow. [in English] Thank you so much!