Tag: Japanese Nationals 2021

[ENG SUB] Yuzuru Hanyu & Shingo Murakami Interview – Towards Beijing, the story of the little known ‘treasure’ – 20211230

https://vimeo.com/742184919

Translation: @yuzueco & @smpkyk
Proofreading: @axelsandwich & @tsukihoshi14
Japanese Transcript: @moonright_yuzu
Subbing: @aoyuzu205

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[ENG TRANSLATION] Yuzuru Hanyu Japanese Nationals ‘Day After’ Interview – 20211227

Photo by Kogaito, Sponichi

All articles originally published 27 December 2021

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

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

Part 1

　――五茪3連芇を決意したのはい぀だったか

Q: When did you decide you wanted to try aiming for a 3rd consecutive Olympic win?

　「3連芇を決意したのは、このゞャヌゞヌを遞考委員䌚が終わっお、代衚に遞んでいただいお、ゞャヌゞヌをいただいお、で、蚘者䌚芋に行くっおいうずころですかね。やっぱその、ゞャヌゞヌに腕を通した時に『ああ、これがオリンピックだな』っお。でも、自分はやっぱり2連芇っおいうものを既に持っおいお、それを倱うこず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ず思いたすし、今のずころは。ただ、このナニホヌムを着た時に、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お、なんか、あらためお思わせおいただいたように思いたす」

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

　　――倧谷翔平の掻躍はどう芋おいるか

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

　「正盎、フィギュアスケヌトの党盛期っお23歳だったり、24歳ぐらいが党盛期みたいな感じで思われおいたんですけど。やっぱり野球ずか芋るず、もっず䜕ですかね、30歳代の、30代前半の方が本圓に脂が乗っおいおいい時期だったっおいう話を聞いたりだずか。実際に自分の同幎代でいいですかね、完党に、完党に同幎代の遞手がああやっお今たで史䞊、䞀番倚分いい出来の状態を保っおいるずころを芋たり、たた手術埌で本圓に倧倉だったり、前人未到のこずを自分で切り開いおやっおるずころを芋たり、本圓に僕自身、勇気づけられお、僕もただ芋ぬ䞖界かもしれないですけど、4回転半ずいうものにある意味、䞀人で挑み続けおいるので、本圓に勇気をもらっおいたす」

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.

　――自分で描いおいた4回転半成功ぞのスケゞュヌルは

Q: What is your envisioned schedule to succeed at the 4A? 

　「正盎、平昌の埌、次のシヌズンで降りられるず思っおたした。ふふふふっ。それぐらいアクセルには自信がありたしたし、4回転半ずいうものが、そんなに倧倉なものだっおいうふうに自芚はしおなかったです。ただ、やっぱり怪我があったりずか、いろんなこずがあっお、なかなか4回転半に集䞭できない時があったんですけど。集䞭しおやればやるほど、怪我が垞に぀きたずう。そしお、集䞭しおやればやるほど、4回転以降回るこずがどれだけ倧倉かずいうこずを、なんかあらためお痛感した、この4幎間だったんじゃないかなずいうふうには思っおいお。たあ実際、今、4回転半回しにいっおいたすけれども、こうやっお軞が取れるようになったのも本圓にここ最近の話なので、本圓倧倉だったなっお思っおたす」

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回転半は䞀日䜕本たでず決めおいるのか

Q: How many quad Axels do you allow yourself to do per day?

　「あ、そうですね、具䜓的な本数で決めおるわけではないです。ただ、そのずきの䜓調次第によっおは、たあ4回転半じゃなくおいいぞっおいう日も、もちろんありたすし。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緎習しおいくかっおいうこずだったりずか。そういった面で、じゃあトリプルアクセルは今日は䜕本にしようずか、あずは4回転半じゃなくおも、4回転ゞャンプで同じような感芚を䜕か぀かめるものがあるんだったら、じゃあ4回転ゞャンプをトリプルアクセルの埌に䜕回挟んでいこうずか、そういったこずは考えおたすね」

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.

Photo by Kogaito, Sponichi

Part 2

　――矜生遞手が思う蚀葉の力は
Q: What do you think about the power of words?

　「はい。え、僕自身ずっずここたで競技をやっおきお、有蚀実行が絶察したいなっおいうふうに思っおきたした。だから、たあ、ある意味、自分の蚀葉が鎖だったり、プレッシャヌだったりはするんですよね。それがあるからこそ、僕は絶察にそれを達成したいっおずっず思い続けられるわけであっお。諊めないでやれるのは、そういう蚀葉たちのおかげなのかなっおいうふうに思っおいたす」

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.

　――蚀葉にするこず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?

　「僕の堎合、勇気づけられるずかっおいうこずよりも、敎理ができるっおいう方が近いです。自分の気持ちだったりずか、自分が考えおいるプランだったりずか。たた、自分が今どういう感芚でゞャンプをしたのかずか、そういったこずを声に出すこずによっお、䜕か敎理されお、いい結果が出おくるこずが倚いです」

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. 

　――どうしおゞャヌゞヌを着た時に3連芇ぞ切り替わったのか

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、たあ昚日の䌚芋ずいうか、囲みでも話させおいただきたしたけど、やっぱ悔しかったんですよね。その、『q』くらいたでの、『q』刀定ぐらいたでのずころにいっお、やっぱ跳べなかったっおいう。䜕かそこで終わらせおしたうこずぞの怖さだったりずか。たた、やっぱり、その、自分が跳べるっお蚀っおくださる方ぞの䜕か、裏切りみたいな感じに思っおしたったんですよね。それが、じゃあ果たしお自分がやらなきゃいけないこずなのかっお蚀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、それができるっお蚀っおくださる方がいらっしゃるんだったら、やっぱ僕は諊めずにやらないず、それはみなさんぞの裏切りになっおしたうなっおいうふうに思えたので。たあ党日本に行くにあたっお、ここでやめられないなっお。北京オリンピックたで芚悟を持っおやる぀もりでやんなきゃいけないなっおいうふうに思いたした。で、たた䜕か、その、オリンピックっおやっぱり、発衚䌚じゃないんですよ、やっぱ勝たなきゃいけない堎所なんですよ。僕にずっおは。やっぱり2連芇しおるこずもあるので。2連芇は絶察倱いたくないし、だからこそ、たた匷く決意を持っお、絶察に勝ちたいなっお思いたした」

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.

　――今のたたでは勝おないず蚀っおいた、どうしたら勝おるか

Q: You said that you can’t win as you are now, so how will you be able to win?

　「たあ、単玔にあれに4回転半をしっかりGOEプラスで぀けられる構成にしたいです。はっきり蚀っお、4回転半ずルッツずか、ルヌプずかっおいう構成は珟実的ではないず思うんです。で、たた、こっから1カ月ちょっずしかない状況の䞭で、やれるこずは倚分アクセルぐらいだず思っおるので。しっかりアクセルも緎習しおきお。あずはショヌトに関しおも、ただ完璧なずころではないので、たったく。サルコヌくらいですかね、良かったなず思えるのは。だから、それ以倖、もっず点数に぀ながりきるかどうかわかんないですけど、ただ、詰めお詰めお緎習したいなっお思っおたす」

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. 

　――䜓の衰えを感じおいるず蚀っおいたが、どんどんうたくなっおいるように芋える

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歳ぐらいのずきですかね。あの、すごく成長が止たったなっお思った時期ず、あのフリヌが通せなくなったなっおいう時期ず結構あったんですよ。でも、おっしゃるように僕倚分、今、䞀番うたいです、間違いなく。それは倚分トレヌ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。そしお、矜生結匊にずっおのフィギュアスケヌトのトレヌニングがどういうものかっおいうこずが確立されお、それを実行できるようになったのが䞀番倧きいんじゃないかなず思いたす」

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. 

Photo by Kogaito, Sponichi

Part 3

　―2幎前のGPファむナルで理想の矜生結匊は9歳ず話しおいた。それは倉わらないか。そういう無邪気な自信がないず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?

　「あの頃の自分の匷いずころは、勝おるずころです。だから、そうですね。4回転半に察しお、じゃあ、あの頃の自分の気持ちのアプロヌチが効くかず蚀われたら、そうではないかなっおいう。あの頃の䜕やっおも勝おるみたいな自信が、あの、なんお蚀えばいいんだろう。勝぀こずに関しおは、䞀番必芁なんじゃないかなず思うんですよね。ただ、そういう颚な自信を持おるっおいうのは、やっぱ、あの時なりに凄く緎習しおいたからなんですよね。誰よりも緎習しおいるっお思いたしたし。誰よりもうたいっお思いながら、緎習できたしたし。そういうのが、オリンピックっおもっずもっず必芁になる堎所なので。もちろん、アクセルも含めおしっかり緎習しおいきたいなず思っおいたす。で、やっぱりあの時の自分が䞀番匷いなっおいうか。䞀番 匷いっお蚀い方がさっきの話ずちょっずごっちゃになっおアレですけど。技術的には今が間違いなく䞀番匷いです。ただ、粟神的にはあの頃が䞀番匷くお、茝いおいるなっお思えるので。あの時の自分を倧切にしたいなずは思っおいたす」

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回転半のアプロヌチがちょっず違うずいうのは

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お跳べるゞャンプじゃないなっおいうこずを、この4幎間ずっずぶち圓たりながら考えおきたこずなので。だから、どれだけ緻密に蚈算できるか。どれだけ緻密に戊略を立おお蚈算をしお、その4回転半ずいう成功を぀かみ取れるかが倧事だず思っおいるので。その点に関しおは、今の方が間違いなくうたいです」

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].

　――昚幎は䜓重を増やしおいた。今幎は枛らしおいるのか、䜓のアプロヌチは

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、枛らす぀もりはなかったずいうか、増やす぀もりもなかったずいうか。そうですね、なんか䞭途半端なずころなんですけど。えっず、正盎、自分の䞭ではもうちょっず枛らせたかなず思っお党日本に入りたした。もうちょっず軜くおもいいんじゃないかな。ただ、去幎の䜓重から比べおみたら、そうですね、党日本に関しおは2キロぐらい。あ、2キロたでいかないかな。1キロくらいですかね、枛っおたすし。䞖界遞手暩ず囜別ず比べお3キロ以䞊枛っおいたす。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おいないです」

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. 

　――長らく仙台で調敎しおきた。故郷で過ごした感想。ケガのずきは䜕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? 

　「うヌん。やっぱり今、埌玉にいたりずか、詊合で遠埁に行くこずは倚々ありたすけども、やっぱ仙台の町䞊みっお自分の䞭に垞に残っおいる町䞊みで。もちろん郜垂開発があったりずかしお、どんどん倉わっおいくずころありたすけども、やっぱりそこに懐かしさがあるだけでも、やっぱり心がホッずするずいうか。凄く枩かい気持ちになれおいたす。えヌっず。たあ、ケガの時期ずか倧倉なこずももちろん、もちろん自分の人生の䞭には、倧半がケガで苊しんだりずか。倧半がリンクなくなっお緎習できなくなっおいるずか。本圓にそういう苊しみがたくさんありたしたけど。でも、うん。なんかこうやっお今生きおいお、みなさんの前でしゃべっお、誰かの前で挔技をしお、どっかの誰かが自分の挔技を芋お䜕かを感じ取っお䞋さっおいるっおいう瞬間が本圓に玠敵だなっお思えるので。そのこずの幞せを垞に感じおいたらいいなっお、なんか自分の䞭では思っおいたす、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. 

　――今埌も仙台で調敎するのか

Q: Do you plan to continue training in Sendai after this?

　「そうですね、仙台で頑匵りたす。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)

　「すいたせん、ありがずうございたした。たたよろしくお願いしたす、みなさん」

Thank you very much. I ask for your support again, everyone!

[ENG SUB] Yuzuru Hanyu Self Commentary – Japanese Nationals FS – 211226

Translation & proofreading: @axelsandwich, @yuzueco, @shinjistarxx & @tsukihoshi14
Japanese Transcript: @aoyuzu205, @moonright_yuzu
Subbing: @aoyuzu205

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

Photo by Kogaito, Sponichi

All articles originally published 26 December 2021

Part 1 | Part 2

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

Part 1

　――フリヌを振り返っお

Q: Please reflect on your free program.

　「疲れたした。あの、ただ4A蟌みで、えヌ、通す緎習、たあ完党な通しではないですけど、えヌ、昚幎同様の緎習がある皋床たで、たあ自分の䞭では6割皋床、60くらいので達成床で緎習はできおこられおはいたので、なんずかもったかなっおいうような印象です。ただ、やっぱり、ルヌプずは比べものにならないくらい、䜓力の消耗はありたした」

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. 

――初めお4回転アクセルに挑戊した

Q: You challenged the 4A for the first time

　「たあ今日の朝の緎習で、たあ自分の䞭では、回せるこずを期埅はしおいなくお。ずにかく、本番が䞀番倧事なので。本番に回しきれるようにっお思っお緎習はしおいたした。ただ、あたりにも跳べなさすぎお。若干、倱望しおお。あの、本番いくたでにかなり粟神がグゞャグゞャになっおたんですけど。たあ、そういうずこも含めお、やっぱり4回転半、ただ自分自身が成功しきれおないゞャンプを本番で䜿甚するっおいうのは、うヌん、そういうこずも含めお難しいんだなっおいうのを、改めお感じさせおもらえたなっお思いたす」

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?

　「たあ、頑匵ったなっお感じです。あの、初日のあのアクセルを、皆さん初日で芋おいお、『あ、矜生、めちゃくちゃアクセル䞊手になったじゃん』っお思われたず思うんですけど。あれができるようになったのが、ほんずただ、ここ2週間くらいなんですね。それたではずっず、ぶっ飛ばしお跳んでお、軞が぀くれなくお、回転ももっずもっず足りなくお。䜕回も䜕回も䜓を打ち぀けお、ほんずに死ににいくようなゞャンプをずっヌずしおたんですけど。なんか、やっずああいうふうになり始めお。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、みなさんの䞭で『これは跳べるんじゃないか』みたいな感じで思っおいただけたず思うんですけど、正盎結構ただいっぱいいっぱいです、あそこたででも。軞を぀くるっおいうこずが、どれだけ倧倉なのかっおいうこずず、で、その軞を぀くりきれる自信ができお、それからその100で回しきるっおいうこずをやっおいかないずダメなので。たあ、詊合の䞭であれだけできたら、ただ今の自分にずっおは、劥協できるずころにいるんじゃないかなずは思いたす。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. 

　――五茪でも挑戊は続けるのか

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

　「正盎蚀っちゃうず、NHK杯前に、これよりももっず悪い出来でしたけど、やっず立おるようになったのがNHK前で。で、立おたなず思ったら次の次の日あたりに捻挫しお。で、捻挫したらストレスずかいろいろ溜たっお、食道炎になっお熱が出おみたいなのがいろいろあっお。1カ月党然、䜕もできなかったんですけど。その時点で、蟞めちゃおうかなず思ったんですよ。ここたで来られたし。圢になったし。こけなくなったしなっお思っお。だから、あの、この党日本に来るたでも、たあNHK杯よりもうたくなっおしたっおしたいたしたけど、なんお蚀えばいいんですかね。正盎、これで良いんじゃないかなず思ったんですよね、自分の䞭で。これで蟞めおも良いかなっお」

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『矜生さんにしかできないですよ』ずか『矜生ならできるよ』ず蚀っおもらえるのは、すごくうれしいんですけど、自分の䞭ですごく限界を感じたんですよね。だからもう、これでいいじゃんず思ったんですけど。すごい悩んで悩んで苊しんで。もうちょっずだけ、せっかくここたで来たんだったら、やっぱ『降りたい』っお蚀っおいる自分がいるんで。たあ、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、もうちょっずだけ頑匵りたす」

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.

Photo by Kogaito, Sponichi

Part 2

――2週間前たでぶっ飛ばしおいお、ここた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?

　「緎習方法がちょっずず぀確立されおきお、自分の䞭で。で、䜕か、このためにはこの緎習するべきなんだなずか、このためにはこの緎習をすべきなんだなっおいうのが、いろいろできおきお。やっず、その子たちがちょっずず぀実になっおきたっお感じですね。やっぱり、分かったずいっお、ぱっずやっおそれができるわけではないので。やっぱり3Aずはたったく違いたすし。もっずもっず積み重ねおいかないずいけないなっお、これからも思っおいたす」

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” 

　――蟞めちゃおうず思っおから、ここたで戻っおくるきっかけは

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

　「長くなりたすけど、倧䞈倫ですか短めにたあ正盎、自分の䞭でも結構焊っおいお。早く跳ばないず䜓どんどん衰えおいくのも分かりたすし。ただ、うん、自分が蚭定した期限よりも明らかに遅れおいっおいるので。䜕でこんなに跳べないんだろうっおいう苊しさはあるんですけど。たあ、そういう意味での苊しさず、自分の䞭でなんか、こんなにやっおいるのにできないのに、やる必芁あるのかなみたいな。なんか諊めみたいなものずか、だいぶ出たんですけど。やっぱり党日本に来る最埌の日の緎習で本気で締めお、『q』刀定されるようなずころで、4発くらいこけおお。で、その時にいろいろ考えた結果、この党日本では蟞められないな。せっかくここたで来たんだったら、みんなの倢だから、みなさんが僕に懞けおくれおいる倢だから、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、かなえおあげたいなっお思いたした」

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. 

　――死ににいくような緎習ずは、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。自分で考えたこずないですけど。でも、1日に今、本数制限はしおいたす。ただ、4回転半にトラむするずいう本数制限をしおいるだけで、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おいう、たあ今回公匏緎習で䜕床かやっおたしたけど。ああいう緎習をひたすら、䜕十本もやっおいたす。あずはそうですね、えっず、䜕か、粟神的にっおいうこずが匷いですけど、誰も跳んだこずないんですよ。で、誰もできる気がしないず蚀っおいるんですよ。それをできるようにするたでの過皋っお、ほんずにひたすら暗闇を歩いおいるだけなんですよ。だから、毎回、頭打っお、脳しんずうで倒れお死んじゃうんじゃないかずかっお思いながら緎習はしおいたした、はい。取材の順番を埅っおいた宇野に昌磚、ごめんね」

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

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

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

　

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

Photo by Kogaito, Sponichi

All articles originally published 24 December 2021

Part 1 | Part 2

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

PART 1

　――挔技を振り返っお

Q: Looking back on your performance


　「いや、耐えたゞャンプも、あの、1個非垞に倧きく耐えおしたったゞャンプもあったんですけど。たあ、あの4Aやっおきたこずもあったり、たあ他のゞャンプも、あの、䞖界遞手暩、去幎、去幎先シヌズン先シヌズンの䞖界遞手暩ず違っお、かなり他のゞャンプもしっかり緎習しおこられたので、たあ、そういう点があそこの土壇堎で生きおくれたのかなず思っおたす。ただ、え、サルコヌゞャンプ、アクセルゞャンプに関しおは、あの非垞にコントロヌルされたゞャンプだったず思いたす」

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. 

　――今季初戊でショヌトも初披露、挔技前の心境は

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

　「正盎、公匏緎習はあの、なんか゚ッゞが匕っかかっちゃたりずか、いろいろあっお、空回っおしたっおたので、ちょっず心配だったのず。あずは、あの、この䌚堎でショヌトの、えヌ、ど頭のサルコヌゞャンプを倱敗しおしたったっおいう蚘憶もあったので、完党に同じ堎所だったので緊匵はしおいたした。ただ、最初のえヌ、4回転サルコヌが決たった段階で少し萜ち着いお挔技できたんじゃないかなずは思っおいたす」

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. 

　――フリヌに向けお

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

　「もちろん、4回転半のゞャンプを挑戊する぀もりではいるので、たずは、えヌ、公匏緎習、最埌の最埌たでケガしないようにっおいうこずを気を぀けながら、えヌ普段通りいけるように、䜓の回埩ず、集䞭力を高めながらフリヌに向けお頑匵りたいず思いたす」

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.

　―プログラムを挔じた手応えは。五茪で勝぀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、ゞェフさんにプログラムの振り付けをお願いしおいたんですけども。自分の䞭でもっずやりたいな、これも぀くりたいな、こうやりたいなずかいろんな背景があっお、ゞェフず、ブラむアンだったりトレヌシヌだったり、いろいろ盞談しおいただきながら、シェむにも加わっおいただいおコラボレヌションずいう感じで䜜っおいただきたした」

　「もちろん、ゞャンプは自分ができる最倧の難易床ではないず思うんですけど、プログラムの構成に関しおは、ゞャンプ前に入っおいるクロスが1個ぐらいしかなかったりずか、ほずんどクロスを入れおいない。そういうずころもぜひ芋おいただきたいなず思いたすし、衚珟のほうも『バラヌド第䞀番』だったり、『SEIMEI』だったり、自分の代衚のプログラムずなるようなプログラムの䟡倀以䞊に、ただ掗緎はされおいないかもしれないんですけど、具䜓的な物語が、䜕か曲に乗せる気持ちが匷くあるプログラムになっおいるので、ゞャンプだけじゃなくお、党郚芋おいただけるようなプログラムにしたいなず、これからもしおいきたいなず思っおいたす」

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匷い気持ちは。どういう颚にプログラムを描いおいるのか

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

　「正盎、最初はなかったです。ピアノ曲になっお、枅塚さんにピアノをアレンゞしおもらう時に電話で打ち合わせをしたんですけど、そのずきに䜕か具䜓的な物語がなくお、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、繊现さだったりずいうものがあふれるものにしおいただきたいですずいうこずをお䌝えしお䜜っおいただきたした」

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.

　「最終的にシェむずかにも加わっおいただいお、その䞭で思い描けたのが、あの、自分自身アクセルが党然進捗がなくお苊しかった時期でもあったので、なんか、暗闇から最初は䜕か思い出が色々ちら぀いおきお、みなさんの蚘憶だったりずか、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お、蛍の光のようにパっお広がっおきお、最初のスピンが終わった埌からは、もうなんか、そういうのを党郚゚ネルギヌにしお、䜕かに向かっおがむしゃらに突き進んで、最埌は䜕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、䜕か意識が飛んでいるような感芚の䞭で䜕かを぀かみ取るみたいな物語なんで。ゞェフがこのプログラムの基盀を䜜っおくださっお、シェむがそこに物語を、すごく情緒あふれる物語を付けおくれたので。本圓に新しいプログラムずしお、自分自身も゚キシビのように感情を蟌めお滑るこずができた」

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.

Photo by Kogaito, Sponichi

Part 2

`

　――4Aを習埗しおいく䞭で生かされおいるこずは

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

　「やっぱり、えヌ、昚日の䌚芋、䌚芋ずいうか、䌚芋でいいのかな、囲みですかね、の時にお話させおいただいたんですけど。やっぱり、その軞の取り方っお非垞に、やっぱり4回転半は難しくお。特にアクセルゞャンプっお回転をかけるっおいう動䜜だったりずか、軞を぀くるっおいう動䜜が、あの他のゞャンプずた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おいうのが定たっおきたからこそ、たあ、他のゞャンプも、ここに入れるこずが正解なんだなずか。逆に他のゞャンプできれいに跳べた時は、ここに乗っおいるから、じゃあ、アクセルもここに入れるんだなっおいう意識がだんだん、そう、えヌ、なんお蚀うんですかねえ、なんか重なり合っお、だんだんうたくなっおこれたなっおいうふうには思っおいたす」

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. 

　――詊合ぞ向ける心、䜓はどのような領域に達しおいるのか

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

　「たあ、でも、ここに来るたでに、あの、ショヌトに関しおは、たあシュミレヌションっお蚀っお、あの、詊合ず同様にやっおいる緎習があるんですけど。ショヌトに関しおは1回もノヌミスできおなかったので、凄く緊匵しおたした。でも、なんか、ただ、たあ本番にずっおあるのかなみたいな。たあでも、ミス、ミスをしおきたからこそ、ミスの原因が分かったりずか、緎習の仕方が分かったりずかはしおたした。たあ、ほんずに、あの、初戊ずはいえど、なんか、もう詊合同様の緎習をしおいるので、たあ、できるかなっお思っおやっおたした。ありがずうございたす」

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぀いおは「積み重ねの延長線䞊」ず話しおいた。SPが終わっお近づいた実感は

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?

　「えっずヌ、そうですね、ずにかくフリヌやっおみないず分からないです。あずは、たあ、明日の緎習も含めお、あの、緎習も含めお党郚が詊合なので。1぀1぀倧切にしながら、うヌん、たあ、たずはこの詊合で、えヌ、4Aをちゃんず決めきれるように、たた1぀1぀緎習したいです。その先に北京オリンピックがあるんだったら、この詊合でしっかり勝ち取れるように、ふさわしい挔技ができるように頑匵りたいなず思いたす。すいたせん。ありがずうございたした。フリヌもよろしくお願いしたす。頑匵りたす。ありがずうございたす」

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

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

Photo by Kogaito, Sponichi

All articles originally published 23 December 2021

Part 1 | Part 2

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

PART 1

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

　――4回転半に着氷埌で本人が回転䞍足、䞡足着氷ず説明しおいたが、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、ほんず、たあ、今日は自分の䞭で軞䜜りが䞀番倧事だず思っおたんで。あの、回転はそんなかけおないです。なので、たあ、あの、今日やるべきこずは、やれたかなっおいう。たあ、なんかい぀も蚀っおたすけど、今日やるべきこずを、やっおたなっおいうくらいの感觊です。ただ、自分の䞭では回転を、あの10割でかけおいる状態ではないので。あの、ずにかく、今日は氷の感觊を確かめながら、ずりあえず、この氷でしっかり軞を぀くるっおこずを詊しおいたした」

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.

　――これたでの緎習では4回転半はどうだったか

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

　「えっずヌ、たあ、あんな感じの着氷になる堎合ず、あれは軞がうたくいったパタヌンで。あずもう䞀個は、あの、回転を10割で、たあ10割っおいうか、11割ずいうか。そんなぐらいの力で回しお、たあ、アンダヌ、ぎり1/4足んないかな、『q』が぀くかなっおいうくらいのアクセルでこけるみたいなこずはありたす。やっぱり、ちょっずただ、緎習の段階では䞡方ずも䞡立したものはちょっず、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. 

　――緎習ではクリヌンな成功は

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. 

　――北京五茪ぞの思いは

Q: What are your thoughts towards the Beijing Olympics?

　「うれしそう、ふふふふふっ。えっず、たあ、正盎蚀っお、䞀昚日の段階で、えヌ、アクセルが決められなかったら、もうオリンピックたで、頑匵るしかないのかなずかっお思いながらやっおたした。あの、ほんずは、自分の䞭で、これくらいのアクセルでもいいんじゃないかっおいう思いもありたすし。たあ、圢ずしお、あの、たあ、なんですかね。たあ、クリヌンな刀定ではないず思いたすし、GOEもプラス぀かないかもしれないですけど、でも圢ずしお4Aにはなっおるんで。だから、『たあ、よく頑匵ったんじゃない』っお。もう、4Aに向かっお3幎、たあ特にここの2幎間ですかね、かなり緎習をしお、向き合っおきた䞭で、このくらいなので。だから、『もういいんじゃない』っおいうふうに思う気持ちもあるんですけど。でも、最埌の緎習の時になんか、ぎりぎりたで螏ん匵っお1時間半くらいずっずアクセルを跳んだ䞊で、跳べなかった時に、ああせっかくここたで来たのになっおいう思いず、疲れたなっお思いず、いろいろぐちゃぐちゃになりながら、いや、でも、やっぱり、うヌん。なんか、僕だけのゞャンプじゃないなっおいう。たあ、僕、跳ぶのは僕なんですけど。結局、蚀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お蚀っおくださるのであれば、それを党うするのが、なんか僕の䜿呜なのかなっお思いたした」

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?

　「うんずヌ、たあ、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。それは諊めおはないんです。ここで降りるこずを自䜓を。だから、今日も、今日、今日できるこず、今日やるべきこずを積み重ねたず思っおたすし。たた、明日、明日はショヌトなんで、アクセルの緎習をする気はないですけど。たた、あの、ショヌトの埌の日の緎習だずか、フリヌの圓日だずか、本番で降りるかもしれないですし。望みを捚おずに、諊めずに、しっかりやっおいきたいなずは思いたす。ただ、延長線䞊に北京はあるかもしれないなっおいうこずを腹をくくっお、ここたで来たした。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.

Photo by Kogaito, Sponichi

Part 2

　――最埌の4回転半は䞡足で、回転も若干足りなかったずいう解釈でいいのか。4回転半はフリヌでやるのか

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。えっず、䞡方ずも、えっず、答えは『はい』です。えヌ、そうですね、回転も自分の䞭で感觊的に足りないですし。あの、たあ䞡足でしっかり軞を䜜りながら降りおきおるっおいうような感じはありたす。あの、ただ、たあ先ほども、えヌ、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。自分の䞭では。だから、あれでOKだなっおいうふうに思っおたす。あの、あずは、えっずフリヌでたあ、あの入り方、今日ちょっず曲が違っお、提出した音源がちょっず違っおお埌半途䞭でやめちゃったんですけど。なんですけど、たあでも、あの、たあ前半あの入り方で、アクセル入れおっおいうような圢にしたいず思っおいたす」

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、スピヌドを若干萜ずしお入っおいたか。぀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?

　「たあ、結局、軞取れないず回転も早くならないので。あの、たあ、もちろん、いろんな戊略はあるんですけど。あの、ただガムシャラにぶん回しお跳べるんであれば、もう、たぶん、去幎のうちに降りおるず思うので。いろんなこずを考えお、たあ、なんですかね、詳しく話しおも、たぶん䌝わりきらないんで、どうしようもないんですけど。でも、あの、意図ずしおはたず、ちゃんず軞を䜜る。で、軞がちゃんず早く䜜れれば、回転も早く回れるっおいうような意味で、あの、前よりは萜ずしおたす。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).

　――右足銖に䞍安はない

Q: Are there no worries about your right ankle?

　「そうですね。はい」

Y: Yes, that’s correct.

　――SPは䜕にするのか、遞んだ理由は。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?

　「えっず、えっず、䜕から話せばいいのかな。あ、ショヌトからですね。ショヌトの遞曲の理由は、たずかなり悩んで。えっず、自分でも蚀ったこずを芚えおなかったんですけど、あの、前回、前々回ですかね、四倧陞遞手暩で優勝させおいただいた時に、バラヌドに戻した時にも蚀っおいたみたいなんですけど、ピアノ曲をすごく探しおきお。で、自分の䞭で矜生結匊っぜい衚珟、矜生結匊でしかできない衚珟のあるショヌトプログラムがどんなものがあるのかなず思っおずっず探しおいたした。で、なかなかやっぱり芋぀けられなくお。これだなっお気持ちが螊るようなものがなかなか芋぀からずに、そのうちに自分が昔からやりたいなず思っおいた『ロンド・カプリチオヌ゜』っお曲がちょっず出おきお。で、その䞭で『これ滑りたいな』ず思うのであれば、ピアノのバヌゞョンで滑ったら、より自分らしくなるかなっお思っお。で、たた、その、ただピアノの普通の既存のバヌゞョンでやるのではなくお、えヌ、僕がその、先シヌズン、すごい心が折れお぀らかった時期に、えヌ、滑らせおいただいお、ほんずに生きる掻力ず滑る掻力をいただいた枅塚さんのピアノにしたら、もっず自分も気持ち良く滑れるのではないか、もっず気持ち良く、気持ちを蟌めお滑るこずができるんじゃないかなっおいうふうに思ったので、枅塚さんに頌んで、䜜曲しおもらっお。䜜曲っおいうか、線曲しおもらっお。で、オリゞナルのバヌゞョンを䜜っおいただきたした」

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、足銖は、えっず、フリヌのえヌ、通し緎習かな。フリヌの頭からやった通し緎習の時にアクセル、4回転半のアクセルをやっお、で、そのたた次のサルコヌにいった時に、あの、゚ッゞが氷に絡たっおっおしたっお。ちょうど、゚ッゞを研磚しおもらったばっかだったんですよ。で、感芚違うなっお思いながらやっおたんですけど。あの、たあしょうがないず思っおやっおお、あの、ほんずに゚ッゞが氷にずられおしたっお、本圓だったら抜けるはずだったんだけど抜けなくお、バキッっおいきたした。だから、盎接的な芁因はサルコヌなんですけど、ただ、あの、単玔に単発のサルコヌを跳ぶんだったら問題はなくお。やっぱり、4Aっおいうものをやったっおいうこずず、プラスアルファ、゚ッゞのメンテナンスをちゃんずしきれなかったっおいうか。あの、そんな感じで。結果的に捻挫になっおしたいたした」

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.

　「たあ、あの、経過はなんお蚀えばいいのかな。たあ、捻挫をすごいもう、右足の捻挫に関しおは知り尜くしおいるので、どうやったら早く治せるかっおいうこずをひたすら考え぀぀、加圧のトレヌニングずいうか、加圧で、たあ治療促進したりずか、あずは超音波䜿ったりずか。䜎呚波䜿った加圧のトレヌニングずいうか、、いろいろやりながら、たあ、仙台でできるこずは自分の䞭では限られおはいるので、そうやっお治しおいきたした。はい。ありがずうございたす。すみたせん、長くなっちゃっお」

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.

　「ありがずうございたした、たた本番お願いしたす」

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

　※その埌の代衚者による確認䜜業で

 â€»The following is obtained through his representative confirming

　――北京は目指す明蚀でいいのか

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

　「腹くくった。芚悟はしたよっお感じですかね、自分の䞭で。目指す明蚀で。うん」

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

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

Eng subbed video to come later

Translation: @axelsandwich
Proofreading: @shinjistarxx

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

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

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

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

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

(August, 2018)

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

(March, 2019)

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

(September, 2020)

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

(March, 2021)

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Isn’t it a bit insane?? 

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

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

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

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

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


Interviewer: [Hanyu] said balancing the two was difficult

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

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

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

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

Mura: Even with reduced speed, the quad is possible

Sakurai: The ultimate angle to release longest flight distance

Uchimura: Twist the upper body first

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

H: Yes, what he calls prioritising the upper body