#tr_victor nikiforov

[rikeijo]

Today’s translation #840

Yuri!!! on Life, official guidebook, Programs

Stammi vicino

Aria ~Stammi vicino~, the Free Skating of the Living Legend, who became the World Champion four times in a row, is a program with extremely high level of difficulty, and 4 types of quad jumps - lutz, flip, toe loop and loop - included in the program composition, from its beginning to the end (and what's more, the last jump is a quad+triple combination). The combination of triple axel+triple loop+triple loop that Victor jumps, as soon as the second half of the program starts, is a very difficult one, too. Even jumping a single triple jump as the second jump is a combination is difficult, but adding a second triple jump is just terrifying. His step sequence, which starts from an inside eagle, is executed very carefully and precisely with deep edges, while the upper part of the body is also used a lot. The artistic expression of the program is created by very calm movements - the dignity of a champion is represented in the beautiful line of his neck and throat, gently rising up. And when, at times, he looks down, it shows you the loneliness of an absolute top skater. In that moment in the second part of the program, when he makes an appeal towards where the judges' seats are situated, he is looking intensely at somebody, somebody he has always wished for, and asks him: 'let's departure together', just like the lyrics say. According to the figure skating regulations, it is possible to jump one more combination, so if he decided to do so, the score could be even higher. Even without it, however, it is an overwhelming program, that doesn't lose its tempo until the end - a program that is well-fitted for a champion.

Free Skating, planned composition:

4Lz, 4F, 3A, change foot camel spin, choreographic sequence, flying sit spin, 4S, 3A+3Lo+3Lo, step sequence, 3Lz, 3F, 4T+3T, combination spin

[rikeijo]

Today’s translation #841

Yuri!!! on Life, official guidebook, Programs

Duetto ~Stammi vicino~

At the Exhibition after the Grand Prix Final, Yuuri presents in front of the audience, the memorable program that brought him and Victor together and the Free Skating program that Victor skated at World Championships, Aria ~Stammi vicino~ in a different color version of the costume. In the middle of the program, Victor in a costume breaks in, and the songs changes into a duet of a male and a female voice. They show dance lifts, mirror steps etc. making the audience go crazy.

[Notes: Another example of 'Stammi vicino' being called 'World Championships' program and not 'last season' program, or 'last Grand Prix Final' program... 🤔 So many mysteries in YoI, sooo many...

Not so much YoI-related, but actually, I did manage to get a ticket for early screening of Medalist this Saturday. Not live viewing, but the actual event with VAs. Just in case, it will turn out that somebody from YoI team is involved (✿◡‿◡)... I don't know if somebody is interested, but will post a report of the event maybe?]

[rikeijo]

Today's translation #666

Kikan Esu, Summer 2017

The on-ice bond between Yurio, Yuuri and Victor

A fellow student of Victor and gold medalist of the Grand Prix series, Yuri Plisetsky (Yurio). He has a strong attachment to Yuuri, and so, he is very aware of not only Victor, the top skater's existence, but also of Yuuri's. Even though he fails his jumps, his steps charm the audience, and so Yurio is very interested in Yuuri's potential. Yurio has been receiving orthodox ballet training in addition to his practice sessions, and in the Grand Prix Final, in short program, he broke Victor's world record and placed 1st. Also for Victor, it was a stimulus. Victor informs Yurio, who's coach is by his side, that he's going to continue his competitive career and then he hugs Yurio. Yurio instinctively senses that 'perhaps Yuuri is planning to retire?', and he skates the following free program, feeling irritation towards Yuuri. Yuuri's free program broke Victor's world record. Yurio continues to skate his program, motivated to win, no matter what. He fails his quad toe loop, but after that, he shows the audience a series of brilliant spirals, steps and jumps. It seems that his skating is a message to Yuuri - 'if you retire, you'll regret that your whole life'. On the other side, Yuuri is watching Yurio's skating, with an expression on his face that suggests he's been provoked. Yurio's skating has a power that can move people, power that can bring back on ice even Yuuri, who has already decided he's going to retire. Skating depicted in this show, Yurio's performance being a prime example of this, is connected to Yuuri's monologue in the last scene of the show - 'There are places that you cannot reach, if you don't have a dream that is too big for you to carry alone. We call it love. Everything that happens on the ice.' Yuuri's skating revived Victor, and Yurio's skating revived both Victor and Yuuri. It's not only about your personal success. The deep emotions are born, because they skate together and fight together. The love that keeps alive those, who stand on the podium, touches the hearts of people, who watch the show.

[Notes: It's an editor's comment to Sayo's interview, but it's quite interesting, imo - how much influence on how the story ended Yurio had.]

[rikeijo]

Today's translation #2

Yuri!!! on stage pamphlet.

Short comments from Mitsuro Kubo about all characters who appear in the event's story:

Part 2.

Victor Nikiforov

Just as it was with Yuuri, I couldn't fully grasp Victor's personality in episode 1, and so his character also solidified over time as I was writing the show. Beginning with the scene in episode 4 when he told Yuuri "I'm not going to hold back" during their conversation on the beach, and then when he was "really hurt" after Yuuri touched his hair whorl, little by little the underlying kindness Victor possesses started to show up more, as even though he had no idea what Yuuri was really thinking, he wanted to get to know Yuuri better and Yuuri to get to know him better too. Actually, I also thought the fact that even staff members couldn't fully comprehend Victor's actions made him all the more charming. Because his actions were impossible to comprehend, the audience too has been watching the show without being able to form any strong assumptions about him and the sense of insecurity you've been getting while watching him was probably also a sign that you started to like the character... I've created Victor by trying my best to draw a cool and beautiful human being. I don't think however, that he could ever be mine. Yuuri also feels this way, but in Yuuri's case he was able to form a very strong connection with Victor thanks to skating. I was writing the show while thinking that I'd like the audience to enjoy the feeling that in every episode, together with Yuuri, they too get to meet Victor they've never seen before, as the relationship between Yuuri and Victor is forming - relationship that was only possible because Yuuri had skating as an excuse [免罪符, it means something like "get-out-of-jail-free card" - funny word choice, but Mitsurou really pushes here the idea that Victor was way out of Yuuri's league. ]

Yuri Plisetsky

In case of Yurio, his character as well as character design were very clear from the very beginning. He was very easy to write. He is my favorite type of character and based on my experience I was sure he's going to be popular. He is the type of a side character, who can outshine even the main character in terms of popularity, so I was careful not to make him "angsty" by e.g. giving him a tragic past or making him have a difficult family situation. With Yurio I didn't want his character to be someone who gets popular because people feel sorry for him, so I gave him family and coaches, as well as new friends, and wanted to show his strength by making him achieve even greater success while being in a relatively good place emotionally. I think I've managed to use the basic manga trope of writing about a strength of found family instead of real family without focusing on the tragic aspects of this trope.

[rikeijo]

Today's translation #15

Go Yuri go!!! Official fanbook

Making of programs

Aria <Stammi vicino non te ne andare>

Original costume design - Sagiri Yuko (Chacott)

The flowing part on the back and over hips is made with a fabric called "georgette". It's a kind of fabric that's very easy to scratch, so only skaters with very good skills can use it well. With georgette I wanted to create soft vibe, as if the fabric is embracing the body, and at the same time I also wanted to show the image of the king's majesty. I chose colors suiting adults, like wine and bordeaux. I didn't choose red but more toned down, darker colors to express this somewhat mysterious atmosphere around him. The white inside liner is covered with rhinestones, so it shines and sparkles with every spin and movement. I chose the brightest, most sparkly stones with the strongest holographic effects. I think a design like this, with whole thumbs covered is quite rare to find. In total, I created 3 designs for Victor, including one that was to be used in a teaser. The final design of his FS costume is a mix of the three. Victor has quite a lot of experience, so I think at present he doesn't really care about his costumes too much (laugh). I think he leaves every decision to a designer he can trust. I also have this impression of him that he takes good care of his costumes.

Original costume design by Sagiri Yuko. No title yet, just "Victor Nikiforov, FS"

Anime costume design - Ishikawa Kayoko

The order from Yamamoto-san was "make it look prince-like" so I added the cords on the shoulders and hips. Chacott's choice of see-through fabrics is very interesting. This one became my favorite costume.

[Notes: The rest of Sayo's interview will be translated this weekend, when I have more free time ✨ Translating every question separately would make it hard to read~]