#KISS & CRY 氷上の美しき勇者たち 2018-2019シーズン開幕号～Road to GOLD!!!

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Exclusive photos and long interview in Kiss & Cry--Yuzuru Hanyu: Be Myself

The open practice in Toronto, Canada at which many journalists also gathered this year. Hanyu, speaking about his new programmes, had a cheerful and calm expression. Half a year after his great feat of defending his Olympic title, what are the things he thinks of?

The FS which is a return to his own origins

The open practice which took place at the end of August at the Cricket Club in Toronto. On the first day, the music that played during his practice run through was Hungarian violinist Edvin Marton’s Art on Ice. Hanyu gave the programme set to the musical arrangement the name Origin. “It was a piece of music that made me begin to be engrossed in skating. I want to skate this programme while feeling the enjoyment of skating, the beginning of my skating life.”

Although Art on Ice is a piece of music that has been used by many skaters to date, among them the best known is probably the legendary programme Tribute to Nijinsky in the 2003-2004 season by Evgeni Plushenko, whom Hanyu loves and respects. 

“There is a very strong impression that Plushenko-san had skated to this piece of music. As it is one of his signature programmes, I had some slight feelings like not measuring up to it. During Continues~with Wings~ (13-15 April), I conveyed to Plushenko-san “Allow me to use this song”, and I received the words “Do your best” from him. The wonderful programme that Tribute to Nijinsky is, is also something that is extremely important to me. Therefore, I think it would be wonderful if I am able to complete Origin as my own programme which differs from that (Tribute to Nijinsky).”

The SP which is another of his origins

His SP is to Argentine pianist Raul di Blasio’s Otoñal. Likewise, it is music which had been used by a skater Hanyu admires--Johnny Weir’s FS for the 2004-2006 seasons had been to this piece. 

“The arm positions during spins, the softness of expressions, the way to pick up nuances and move to music, landing positions and so on, it was the music of the programme that led me to perform with attention to each of these details.”

Were there other possible choices he considered? 

“No. (He said this decisively). It was a situation in which I made an almost instantaneous decision. I started thinking about various things the instance it was decided I was unable to compete at the World Championships in March, and I had already made up my mind before Continues~with Wings~. To skate to my favourite pieces of music. Just that, after I made the decision, I thought “I must seek permission from both of them” (laughs). Also, as the reason for choosing this programme was just my feelings that “Because I like it I want to do it”, I considered with my whole being as to what meaning these two programmes hold, and how I can complete them as my own programmes while also respecting (the skaters and their programmes).”

The ice show and 24H TV programme that reflected his “roots”

At the ice show he personally produced for the first time, Continues~, skaters who had connections with Hanyu were gathered. 

“I think Continues~ was a show that reflected my “roots”. As there was the injury to my right ankle, although I was not able to show a proper skate, I really feel that with the performances of the great skaters who agreed to grace the show, it became a wonderful show. Also, I respect them and they also gave me their respect. The receiving and acceptance of those thoughts and feelings have become one of the driving forces for me to continue to work hard from this point onward.”

The “roots” that were reflected in the ice show. Are these the same as the “origins” of his new programmes?

“For me “origins” and “roots” are slightly different, roots have the image akin to  “scenes of my own heart, my own thoughts”. Receiving various influences from different people, leading to the me that is here right now, that is something I feel very much recently...I cannot be cognizant of the existence known as myself without the gaze of other people. It was a show that made me feel such things and view the existence known as myself objectively.”

About 4 months after that, for the TV programme 24H TV 41 Love Saves the World~Person Who Changes Lives~ which was broadcast in August, he revisited the sewing classroom in Narahamachi, Fukushima, which he had visited 3 years ago, to report back on winning the Olympic gold medal.

“If I was not personally in the position of a victim of the Great East Japan Earthquake, perhaps they would not be able to draw close to me from their hearts. And, perhaps they would not watch my performances with their hearts drawn to my performances to this degree. Therefore, from now on also I must properly accept that I was affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Sendai, Miyagi and live on properly. Although the experience of the earthquake and tsunami was really painful, precisely because I experienced that, I want to do the things I can do, this is what I thought anew.”

Also in the same TV programme, he collaborated with Disney on Ice at the place of his starting point, Ice Rink Sendai, where he had begun skating at the age of four.

“Although it would have been nice if I could have also performed together with Pooh-san, but even Pooh-san has circumstances...(wry smile) It seems that without the forest Pooh-san will not come.(laughs)”

Becoming greedy and enjoying life more

On changes to his state of mind after the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, Hanyu describes it as such:

“Until now there has been tremendous pressure to “do my own skating”, “meet expectations”, “produce results”...But right now all that is disappearing, from now on perhaps it is alright to skate for myself, this is what I am thinking. The reason I began skating was because it was enjoyable. Together with this emotion, looking back at the difficult path I have walked until now, perhaps it can be described as repaying myself or they have become the emotion of wanting to do something that would be like a personal reward for myself.”

After the Olympics, he had also declared his intention to challenge the 4A.

“Within myself there is the desire of wanting to jump it this season. When I was in the lower grades of elementary school, I would spend 45 minutes of 1 hour practice sessions on practicing the axel. (laughs) The sense of achievement when I landed the axel is one of the key reasons I came to love skating.” 

Then, are there perhaps other things he wants to do outside of skating?

“...From now on I think I will be more greedy and I will go and do various things. Before the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, I cut away various things, my consideration was to make everything work for the sake of success at the Olympics. Right now my mindset is becoming slightly different from that time. Of course even from now on before competitions, or in order to land the 4A I think there will be various things I will cut away, but now I think I want to properly receive this happiness, and in addition to that also complete my own happiness.”

In specific terms how does the happiness he pictures look like?

“Playing video games, listening to music...and also earphones. (laughs) Right now I am playing games such as Fire Emblem, and Power Pros. I also want to play Super Smash Bros. ...and, though this has become about personal matters (laughs), I think it would be wonderful if I can accept completely the thoughts of many different people in the form of their “congratulations” and connect it to my own happiness.”

Hanyu who smiled while describing the leisure activities that young men of his generation enjoy as a matter of course as something that is “greedy”. With consecutive Olympic victories, for him who has become the best skater in the world in both name and fact, this time he will skate “for himself” to the music of his favourite skaters.

Original article by editorial team of Kiss & Cry, published in  KISS & CRY 氷上の美しき勇者たち　 2018-2019シーズン開幕号～Road to GOLD!!!