Press Conference Q&A with Daisuke Takahashi, Part 2
Source. Translation of Part 1 here by @suzumoriyuiko.
Where will your first competition be?
I think it will be the Kinki Regionals. I have to start there, so.
Before that, are you thinking of competing in other local competitions?
I don’t have much time… I started practicing for competition in April, and I am not planning to compete until everything is completed. If I’m ready by Friends on Ice in August, I might skate my new programs for the first time in front of an audience… I will head into this as a make-or-break season, as I only have three chances (Kinki Regionals in October, Western Sectionals in November, and Nationals in December).
Are both your short and free programs done?
Actually, only my free… I completed it just recently. As for the short, the choreography will begin soon.
Who are your choreographers?
Benoit Richaud choreographed the free. I am thinking of asking David Wilson to choreograph my short. I will decide on the piece for the short when I get there.
This is your first Richaud program. Please explain why you chose these two choreographers.
As for Richaud, I saw Kaori Sakamoto’s program and thought, ‘His programs are so beautiful’. I also heard that Richaud wanted to choreograph a program of mine, and also, people around me suggested I try it out, so I asked him hoping for a good program. As for David, he’s only choreographed one of my competitive programs, and we had agreed to work together again but it just ended there… I personally really liked the program he choreographed for me last time, so I believe something good will be created again.
And your coach is Utako Nagamitsu?
Yes. Competing internationally gives a chance for some prize money, but I have to compete without any. I don’t think I’ll be able to skate at many shows either, and currently I’m unemployed, so I must do things without spending too much money. I wish for Utako to see me fighting so she will be with me, but I have to have the mindset of competing alone in order to fight through.
How are your jumps?
All of my triples, including the axel, are back.
How did you get them back?
Hmm… It took about a month to get them back. Especially with the condition of my right knee, rather than getting them back on skates, I trained my muscles mostly on ground, and because my muscular endurance dropped significantly, I also did basic training as well… My body has changed, so there were many things such as the timing and the technique of the jumps that I couldn’t do just by doing what I used to do before, so it really did feel like starting slowly back from scratch.
Did someone guide you through it?
Rather than someone else’s guidance, I trusted my own senses. I don’t have a single memory of myself practicing like this in these past four years… I prepared for shows of course, but never everyday as I did during my competitive career, it was more of doing what I just felt like doing, so I just used my senses and how I looked from the outside, finding techniques that worked for me, so there wasn’t any coaching at all.
Are you thinking of competing internationally? Any desire to compete at the Beijing Olympics?
Definitely not Beijing. (laughs) I’m thinking only this year… until Beijing… 35 years old… I’ll be 35 right? …I don’t think that’s possible. (laughs) I’m thinking to compete just this season, but I might change my mind depending on how it goes. But for now, I’m not thinking of a career that long. Just a year for the moment being.
Right now, how often do you practice?
I practice 5-6 times weekly at the rink. Little by little… Before, I didn’t have any programs to practice, and if I had only practiced jumps, that would have strained my body. But now that I have a new program, I think I’ll practice more and more.
In an earlier interview, you said ‘I have nothing to lose’ regarding your comeback, but I believe there is a risk for top skaters to retire and then come back because of the possible difference between the image that the audience had of your competitive skating compared to your skating now. How do you feel about that?
I’m sure that risk is there… yea… maybe I wasn’t thinking too much about those risks. (laughs) But with expression, I think that’s something that can grow regardless of age. Everyone has different preferences, and some people might think ‘I liked him better before’, and there’s nothing that can be done about that. If there are people who think, ‘Wow he skates more beautifully now than ever’, there might be newer fans who will come watch me. I think some older fans might leave and some newer fans might join. But this season is for me and my ego, and regardless of if I bother the people around me, this comeback is for me to think for myself… Like an imposition. (laughs) All I know is that even if I lose some parts of me, I will for sure gain some moving forward.
What is your ‘goal’?
I wish to live my life as a performer on skates, so my goal is to perform to the greatest extent until I reach my limits. I believe the start to that will be this comeback. I don’t have a goal for my competitive career yet. But as a goal for the future, I know my time is up soon, nobody knows what will happen to figure skating in the future, and we don’t know if there will be skating rinks in the future, but until then, I would like to show my greatest performances at ice shows as well. After that, if there’s anything I can do, I would like to support my kohais who wish to get involved in skating. I tried out different talking jobs (such as a commentator) but they made me realize that I don’t have talent in that area… (laughs) In the end, I realized, regardless of talent or not, that I am more oriented towards using my body to express. These jobs made me realize that there is such thing as ‘talent’ in different areas, and for that, I tried building my body again… When I went off to New York, I didn’t skate for months, I quit very abruptly. If I had kept my body in shape for shows since I retired, I don’t think this would have happened, but it did, and I realize I need a lot of time to build my body back to how it was again.
Who are the members of ‘Team Takahashi’?
Rather than a team, I’m quite solo… (laughs) My manager, Utako… Unlike before, when I had many people around me to support me, I’m trying to do everything I can do on my own…I even started cooking. (laughs) I always had a nutritionist with me before. I don’t have a trainer either, I’m just given a workout menu and I do it myself. If anything, rather than working as a team, I will work by myself, and if the time comes when I need support, I will ask for support.
You are back to competition so you can continue your life as a performer, but is that because you think there’s something you can only gain from competitions?
Hmm yes… This part is harder to explain… Depending on the person, it might make some people think, ‘What the hell is this guy talking about??’ (laughs) There may be people who went back to competing in order to get themselves back. For me, I know that by binding to competitions and by living facing skating, I will get my skating back. This isn’t a way for me to win, this is a way for me to face my skating to get it back. By competing, I’m sure I’ll start to want to win again, and I would want to leave good results if possible.
What were the reactions from your fellow skating friends?
They were all like, ‘If you’re gonna go for it, we’ll root for you. You got this!’
What did you think when you heard that?
I told them honestly, ‘Please do support me’. (laughs) I think it’ll be quite tough, so I know their support will become my source of strength. When I want to give up, I want them to slap my butt and motivate me and give me advice, I would be very thankful for that.
I assume you have accumulated a lot of experience with dancing on feet and HYOEN. Is there any part of you that wish to express in a way no one else has before?
If possible, I would like to express in a way I never have before, but the people who assess that will be the people who will watch me. But personally, I try to perform in a new way every time I perform. I would like to go on with the wish to get even one more person to think ‘I love Daisuke Takahashi’s expression’.
Rules have changed to emphasize the importance of GOEs, but will that be helpful for you?
Nah, I suck at spins and I don’t have much flow in my jumps either. (laughs) I might have some height in my jumps, but I’m on the weaker end, so rather than helping, I think it’ll make it kinda harder for me. The time of the free programs was shortened into 4 minutes, and I got mine created recently, and there is no time for my body to rest, so I think it will be even more straining than how it was with the 4 and a half minute programs. Therefore, I believe upping the physicality will be even more necessary than ever before.
Interview with Shoma at Heroes & Future in Nagano, June 7th
“[The SP] is still very new for me so it may not be something that could yet meet everyone’s excitement but I would like to show my maximum potential right now and skate with the sense that I will continue to grow from now onwards.”
Right now, I am working steadily with the choreography heading towards the new season.
The new programs are tough and quite a handful but I am also devoting myself to practicing the basics in order to be compatible with the new rules.
The programs are still far from being my own but I would like to show them to you all as soon as possible, so I have decided to skate my new SP at the first show in Nagano.
As for the free, it cannot be debuted yet as it is still lacking a lot… I will continue to work hard on it!
I am looking forward to seeing you all again.
p.s.
Although I’m a homebody, I am slowly trying to push myself to do new things recently.
On the 20th, the pain in his foot was so sharp that he couldn’t walk. He received injections of painkillers and placed 5th in the short. From the 23rd, he began recovering, and he went on the ice that day without the injections. “Needles and injections, I really hate them. It’s not an exaggeration to say that my injury healed as a result of [my fear of needles].” (x)
You gave it your all here in your last performance of the season. How are you feeling now?
S: Yes… I was able to… give it my all until the very end… right now I am filled with that thought.
You went for the same layout as the Olympics layout despite your foot condition. This really showed your character.
S: Well, my foot, it’s been looking so much better since yesterday, so it didn’t have an effect on my skating. It was my calculation mistake, I headed into the competition in an unprepared state, and I tried to make sure my focus was there but there ended up being a lot of mistakes. But I managed to land my jumps at the end and I really want to believe that it was the result of my practices.
This was a busy season for you, but what has this competition become for you?
When you walked over here from the Kiss and Cry, it seemed like your foot was bothering you, but are you okay?
S: I’m okay. It wasn’t too painful during my skate because of the nerves and adrenaline, and also because of everyone’s support. I lowered my BV but I was able to skate in a problem-free condition.
How do you feel about your SP?
S: The nerves weren’t so much, well I was a little worried that I didn’t get to practice much in the past few days, but the 6 minute warmup didn’t go too badly, so I was able to go into my first jump with confidence, but I am a bit frustrated that I messed up the combo which I had lowered.
I could tell you put a lot of feeling into your 4T and 3A, but with what emotion did you head into this competition?
S: Well I planned to do the 4T alone first, so I really wanted to land a high quality one and I think I was able to. And the 3A as well, I am satisfied with how I landed it. It’s a shame that I wasn’t able to land the most crucial jump here, but I want to move forward to the free leaving that behind.
What kind of performance would you like to show in the free?
S: Well here, I failed the jump that was supposed to be the easiest. And my foot, well, it didn’t hurt too much during my skate, so for the free, taking next year’s spots into account as well, I want to be more aggressive with the layout. I know people will think it’s not a good idea for me to do this, but today really made me desire to attack in the free.
Please do not strain yourself. Thank you for your hard work.
“Yes/No Quiz” with Shoma and Yuzuru on “ZIP!”, February 18th
Q1: Were you confident that you would win a medal here?
Y: Yes - It’s not an exaggeration when I say that [winning the medal] was my life’s sole purpose. I’m 23 right now, and I’ve been skating since I was 4. Everything I did since then was for this medal.
S: Yes.
Q2: Do you guys have anything you admire about each other?
Y: Yes - Uno and I are quite the opposite. I reexamine myself and analyse everything and then somehow move forward with that. Uno is able to skate in his natural stance with the things he feels in that moment. I think it’s incredible that he was able to compete at the Olympics without feeling anything special.
S: Yes - I don’t think I’m someone who can give it their all when they’re nervous the way Hanyu can. I want to work hard to become a skater like Hanyu who can perform well even when they’re nervous.
Q3: Did you put your medal on again when you were alone in your rooms?
Before the 2016 World Championships, you practiced with overflowing determination, but you ended up in 7th place. Did that each you a lesson?
S: If I had been able to do a perfect performance with that attitude, I think it would’ve been really emotional. But I’ve come to realize that focusing too much over a long period of time doesn’t work for me. Now, I head into competitions with a light mentality. It’s perfect for me to be at the level where people think I’m just playing around.
What emotions are you feeling towards Coach Machiko and Coach Mihoko?
S: Coach Machiko has a lot of experience, so she’s given me a lot of advice. Coach Mihoko, who helps me with the more technical elements, is someone who makes me think, “I don’t know if there’s anyone else who puts in as much effort for me besides my family.” I want to tell them both “thank you so much” (present tense). Not “thank you so much” (past tense).
Mao Asada, who was the root of the start of your career, also won the silver medal at her first Olympics in Vancouver.
S: The heaviness [between my silver medal and hers] are too different. Everyone else puts their life into succeeding at the Olympics. For me it’s different, it’s just one competition out of many. I want to let this pass and head onto the next competition.
Your next goal?
S: I think I didn’t feel any nerves at the Olympics because it wasn’t something I saw as a ‘goal’. I don’t really know what my goal is but I will continue to seek for my best skates and results everyday with all my might.
Goals outside of skating? Asada answered this with ‘to find love’ at Vancouver.
S: Love? I’m too busy for that. My life is too filled up with gaming and skating. I feel like I’m starting to betray gaming [for skating], so I want to compete at a gaming competition one day.
Tidbits of interviews with Shoma and Yuzuru, February 17th-18th
Video
How do the medals feel?
Y: It’s heavy. It’s ordinarily heavy.
S: It’s…heavy.
Y: A little part of me started to realise that my time is limited, so I really felt the need to win this time.
S: I kind of guessed that I would end up second after my performance, so I was’t surprised [when the scores came out].
Y: I’m someone who wants every bit of happiness out in the world. But I realised I can’t have certain things without sacrificing others. I have really intense highs and lows. After experiencing the recent low, I just thought, “Let’s just throw all of my happiness away for the Olympic consecutive title.” I left behind every little thing that makes me happy. This made me be able to reduce my emotions heading into the Olympics to this size.
Medalist press conference with Shoma, February 18th
“It’s been a day since I won the silver medal, but my feelings haven’t changed: it still doesn’t feel like I won the silver medal at the Olympics. But I am nonetheless very happy about my second place finish. The season hasn’t ended yet. I’m returning to Japan today, so I would like to start training for Worlds tomorrow or the day after. The new goal I gained from this competition, well, I realised that I am lacking quality in my jumps compared to skaters like Hanyu and Javier, so I would like to work on that heading into Worlds. I haven’t contacted my brother at all, he hasn’t sent anything to me, and even if I see him, I don’t think he’ll say anything special to me. I think my family members are happier that I was able to put my training into action on the Olympic stage than the fact that I won the silver medal, but they haven’t contacted me, which I think is because I [normally] don’t reply anyways (laughs). The performance that stood out for me and moved me the most was Nathan’s free skate. He wasn’t able to skate the way he wished to in the short, so when I heard that he earned such a high score and performed in such a spectacular way, I was really moved: the most moved I felt at these Olympics. (When asked if he was frustrated that he lost to Hanyu) I don’t feel any regret at all from the results of this competition, I think [the fact that I ended below Hanyu] was the result of my true ability. When my abilities become more closer to those of Hanyu’s, I would like to become a skater who is on the same level as him as soon as possible. This competition made me re-realize that my skills are still far behind from Hanyu’s. (When asked who he wants to put the silver medal on and how he will preserve the medal) If there’s people who want to put it on then they can put it on all they want (laughs). If there’s people who want to touch it, they can just go ahead and touch it. As for the preservation, I’m just going to hand it to my family and let them figure it out.”
Fan Q&A with Yuzuru and Shoma from the JOC Instagram story (x)
What do you think about right before the music starts to play?
Y: I think about wanting to perform well and also about the first jump.
How do you calm yourself before you skate?
S: I just do whatever I want to do. I game until the last second. And in the warmup, rather than trying to focus, I just play around the way I like to.
What were you listening to during the warmup?
Y: One Ok Rock’s Kanzen Kankaku Dreamer, and Koji Wada’s Kaze.
What would you like to reward yourself now that you’ve won the silver medal?
S: I just want to sleep for now. I’ve been so busy since yesterday, so I want to sleep. I also want to give myself more time to game.
What kept you going through difficult times?
Y: All the messages from my fans and my senpais and others.
What is necessary in order to make dreams come true?
S: There are many things, but the most important one is effort. And not just putting in effort, but I think what’s most important is to put in effort to think carefully about your actions.
What were you talking about with Fernandez after the competition?
Y: He told me this might be the end of his competitive career, and I started crying.
At what point of the competition did you think, “I gave it my all!”?
S: The moment I finished my free program. Regardless of the first mistake, I was able to keep it together until the end, which was the result of my training.
How are you different from how you were at Sochi?
Y: I think my attitude towards myself and my strengths has changed.
Any words of encouragement for kids who wish to become skaters?
S: If you really want to do it, you must enjoy it. If you don’t enjoy it, you won’t improve nor will you have fun. So if you really want to go for it, I wish for you to enjoy it.
If you were to describe yourself with one word, what would it be?
Y: I’m someone who hates losing, and I’m also stubborn.
What is the first thing you want to do when you return to Japan?
S: The things I normally do are generally limited, so of course, I just want to shut myself in my room and game as much as I want to.
Post-FS interview with Shoma, February 17th: Part 2
(Source)
You have won the Olympic silver medal. How do you feel after skating?
S: I don’t feel anything special. It doesn’t even feel real. I’m more happy that I was able to perform like myself than my placement itself.
What impact will this have on those close to you?
S: I think they will be happy because I was able to perform like myself and not because I won the silver medal at the Olympics.
How do you feel looking back on today’s competition?
S: From the beginning to the end, I was able to avoid losing to myself, so it was a good performance. It didn’t start too well when I first stepped onto the ice. I thought, “What’s going to happen?” I have trained hard in order to avoid making mistakes no matter how bad my condition is. I don’t feel any regret from today’s performance. It wasn’t a great performance, but I was able to show the things I have worked on so this is a happy silver medal for me.
You were last to skate. What were your emotions?
S: I hated it. I watched everyone’s performances, saw everyone’s scores, and I was thinking of what type of performance will land me in which placements. I calculated that if I didn’t make any mistakes and skated perfectly, I would be first. When I fell on the loop, I chuckled.
Did any part of you wish to place above Hanyu?
S: Of course, but after watching his performance, I knew I would only be able to surpass him if I skated even more perfectly than he did, and I headed into my performance with that in mind. After falling on the loop, I decided to just think about myself.
Again, what did it feel like to experience the Olympic Games?
S: I didn’t feel anything special to the very end. Coach Higuchi was the happiest she’s ever been, so that made me really happy. It didn’t feel any different to winning a silver medal elsewhere. I know it must be a special place for Hanyu, but I don’t have any special emotion towards it. This competition to me just feels like one of many competitions, and that feeling stayed to the end.
Before the awards ceremony, we saw you three hugging.
S: I don’t understand English, so I didn’t get what they were talking about, so I was just guessing that it was about being in the same club and about Javier’s career coming closer to the end. I was in the hug, but I didn’t understand what they were saying while they were crying.
What are some differences between you and Hanyu? What parts of Hanyu do you look up to?
S: By watching Javier and Hanyu, I realised that I really lack the ability to land jumps with high GOEs. During practices, I can land jumps that would get high GOEs once every few jumps. But at competitions, my jumps get overly packed. I think it is crucial for me to experience landing good jumps in competitions. Considering the condition I was in today, my jumps were pretty good. I would like to make my performances even better and better.
What part of your practices were you able to show today?
S: The 4T. I wasn’t confident going into it, but I somehow landed it. If this was in the first half of this season, I’m sure I would’ve messed it up.
You were smiling a lot during your performance.
S: I was able to skate with a constant smile on my face. I do want to win someday, but it’s important to critically think about how to win, rather than just wanting to win.
You and Hanyu accomplished a 1-2 finish.
S: We both fought intensely, both against our own selves. I am really happy of our results. He is my ultimate goal and an athlete I look up to. Ever since I was younger, I’ve realized that winning Japanese Nationals is the most difficult thing in the world to accomplish. I wish to chase him forever.
How do you feel about the Beijing Olympics?
S: I don’t really think about the future. I don’t know what will happen from now on. I don’t have anything specific in mind. This season, I didn’t get to compete in the same competitions as Hanyu. In comparison to those competitions, I didn’t get as much media attention here, and it felt really relaxing to not have the pressure. I would like to have that relaxation [by being in the same competition as Hanyu] for a bit more.
Your plans from now on?
S: I was really satisfied with my life in the Olympic Village because I got to game a lot more than I get to in Japan. It was fun that I got to have a lazy lifestyle here. But after this, I will return to Japan to practice. I would like to practice in preparation for the World Championships.
Nobunari Oda and Shuzo Matsuoka at the medal ceremony, February 17th
M: Wow, that was incredible. And now, we’ll get to hear their stories in the studio. What’s up with you?
N: I’m okay.
M: What’s wrong?
N: Hanyu was saying that this moment is the happiest moment of his life, but this is the happiest moment of my life too.
M: Regarding that, well, this applies to the commentator, Honda, as well as Takahashi, and you, Oda, but the reason why Hanyu and Uno are where they are with the medals they have today is because they were lead by you all. They didn’t get here on their own. I think this 1-2 finish is the creation by Japanese figure skating. And Oda, you are part of that.
N: I don’t know anything. I don’t know anything… all I know is how hard they worked to get here...
S: I messed up the first jump, but I think I was able to perform in a satisfactory way until the end.
Are you okay?
S: Sorry my voice isn’t working.
We really felt your theme of attacking in that performance, but how do you feel about it?
S: Even after messing up the first jump, I stayed calm, and I was able to land the next the jump. I think I was really able to show all that I’ve practiced up to this point.
Please drink water.
S: Sorry.
Are you okay now?
S: Yes.
You skated last on the Olympic stage, and you told us yesterday that your high emotions got out of your control, but how did you feel today?
S: Today, it felt like I couldn’t skate much, so I thought the chances of me failing was a lot higher, but my constant practice of landing jumps in any circumstances really helped me here.
Were you aware of the circumstances you were heading into? Were you aware of the performances of the skaters before you?
S: I watched everything, so I knew what performance would get me in which place. I knew that if I pulled off a perfect performance, my score would get me in first place, but I kind of started laughing the moment I fell on the loop (laughs).
Was that how calm you were?
S: Yes, when I fell on the loop, I thought to myself, “Let’s just try my best.” I didn’t rush at all. I couldn’t help but laugh.
You stood on the Olympic stage, and you have the medal ceremony later. How do you feel about that?
S: We have the ceremony after this?
The medal ceremony is tonight.
S: Hmm, well, I didn’t really have any special thoughts [towards the Olympics] through it all.
