“🌟 A thread of #CoR2017 Notte Stellata ✨
(The Swan we humankind don't deserve😭) #羽生結弦 https://t.co/DnhyCVwvdz”
The Notte Stelleta at Olympic gala was so different. There’s always melancholy in this program, as exemplified and pushed to a quite overwhelming level in RC one.
This time it was outshined by bliss and satisfaction. To think of what he had been through till that moment, I might have sobbed. I may write something more about this later but meanwhile please have a link of some gifs posted on my twitter when RC NS (my fav) ruined me.
Since my post was removed due to copyright infringements (thanks IOC), I’m reposting my sentiments here...
This is the 19th post of this blog. Of course it has to be about Yuzuru who became Japan’s first Olympic gold medalist in FS at the age of 19 four years ago.
連覇おめでとう <3
My thoughts on SEIMEI ChSq (4:50 in this fancam) and a glimpse into why I love this impossible skater the most under the cut
SEIMEI ChSq is probably one of the best example (well, the whole program IS but it’ll be like 50 pages of thesis. I do have a life) of how Yuzu evolved as an artist expression-wise. SEIMEI is such a powerful program, thanks to the joint efforts of Shae-Lynn and Yuzu, and, imh, additionally Yuzu’s learning from Mansai-sama, (yes this is how this fangirl addresses the living legend) the Kyogen stage actor who played Abe no Seimei in the Onmyoji films (what? you haven’t seen them? DO IT NOW)
As a theatre enthusiast, I enjoyed too much the 1hr conversation between Mansai-sama and Yuzu as the latter prepared for the GP series in 2015. Mansai-sama talked about how to play with the rhythms and make full use of movement in direction contradictory to that one intends. Yuzu displayed his understanding brilliantly at NHK and also GPF 2015, where he broke the WRs. I always love to see Yuzu portraying a role. There, he was the onmyoji who tried to defeat the enemy and emerged victorious.
When Yuzu announced he would reuse the program for the Olympic season, I was overjoyed because I looked forward to seeing how his growth in expression after very personal programs like Hope & Legacy and Requiem of Heaven and Earth. Of course, I was even more surprised by how he exceeded my expectations. In this house we don’t talk about that train-wreck at ACI lol At the first GP, his expression was growing as he accommodated with the upgraded technical elements and slight changes in choreography, yet I could then see how he was less playing a role, but instead introducing his take on Japanese philosophy- his movements were sharper and there was no “balance of power and elegance” but a positive feedback loop (no pun intended, or because I miss 4Lo san too much?) of the two. The yin and the yang. As a whole. His intensity was scary (and kinda worrying) but that was Yuzu in Oly season for you, and I felt he channeled (subconsciously?) his inner thoughts well in performances.
Then NHK happened. His injury and the media blackout.
Somehow I’m beyond grateful that he could make it to Oly because I knew he would win it (it’s strange that I’m not a longtime Yuzu stan but I just have confidence and faith, plus some observations which backed up my thoughts... I stan because I saw him as my role model and he has inspired me a lot). I was eagerly waiting for the ChSq amid tears of joy during livestream.
And he was SMILING-
In the official stream, after he stretched his hands on the beat to run into the ChSq I thought I saw it. Glimpses of it. Later I confirmed it from another angle, like here in this fancam.
I FELT IT.
Radiating joy and gratitude, this ChSq made me realise that the potential of expression in SEIMEI program had been pushed to another level. Yuzu was not selling Japanese philosophy at all this time. He was showing himself, in a program that was probably not made for expressing his own being but then he broke all the restrictions. Note the layback Ina Bauer. (After days, in total, of watching Yuzu’s programs from novice to now, his hand choreography could tell so many things) How he let go of his fists. He owned all the expressions in this program now and didn’t let any symbols or meanings affect him.
More importantly, this mastery of expression was not deliberate. It felt natural and effortless.
For me, the journey of Yuzu trying to search for the ways of expressing himself, not depending on any character portrayal or imagery, started from RJ2. This is the fruit we all are honoured to witness. As one of the countless Yuzu stans, I cannot say enough thanks to this well-deserved reigning Olympic champion for all the inspirations and unforgettable memories, for I’m someone who’s pursuing a better artistic and realistic self as well.
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