
All articles originally published 18 April 2021
Translation: @yuzueco & @axelsandwich
Proofreading: @shinjistarxx
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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.
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âWhat 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 thatâs not possible), we have to keep going, and we have to face and deal with many things. In a way, for me, itâs 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, “Isnât this the same as the current situation with COVID?,â 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 itâs 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.

Part 2
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âWhat was the significance of practising your 4A in practice and your response?
Yuzuru: I totally didnât expect the audience to be there. After the Free Skate, there was the fact my body wasnât that tired. I thought maybe it would be worthwhile to do it at the competition venue. The other reason is that I think Iâll be going back to training alone and I think itâs easier to get a better mental picture jumping it when youâre motivated by the presence of other really talented athletes. But when I actually tried it, the jump was nowhere near my best attempts so Iâm really frustrated. I have better ones, really! Truthfully I think Iâm closer [that that]. But um, to tell you the truth Iâm really really frustrated because I couldnât do a good jump. So using that frustration as a springboard, though it looks like itâll be a tough period ahead, Iâll really make intense preparations and analyse various things with a cooler head, and I want to keep pushing past my limits.
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âDuring yesterdayâs practice, when you two-footed the double Axel landing, you said, âThatâs good.â
Y: From the beginning yesterday, my jumps didnât [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, ânow rotate itâ. After all, if it gets too high, your body instinctively tries to protect itself. Itâs also a jump where itâs indeed difficult to balance both the height and rotation, so that comment I made was tied to that [fact] as well.
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âNext season, your Free Skate Program will be âTen to Chi to,â but will you return to a piano piece for your Short Program?
Y: Ummm. To tell you the truth, Iâm thinking about it. Itâs 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 Iâll pick the program thinking about what I want to express.

Part 3
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âThe 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.
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âWhat 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. Weâll only know about next season when it comes, so there’s nothing I can do about it. Um, well…. Hmmm… hehehe, I canât. I got a little distracted, for a moment. Hmmm. Iâll think about [next season] when itâs time. I’m sorry!
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âAt 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.
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âYou 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 Iâm at home… (first thing) is waking up. Hehehe⊠I wake up in the morning, um, and then immediately clean*. Then, until food is ready, Iâll 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⊠thatâs the kind of schedule I have.
*T/N: Probably referring to cleaning his room.
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âWhat 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 youâd find] in a sports magazine. Hehehe.
ã(Interview over.)
Thank you very much. and I look forward to working with you again. I’ll do my best.