20/9/2019 Joint interview with Yuzuru Hanyu after ACI published by Sponichi (Part. 2)
Original language: Japanese
*Part 2 of an article based on a joint interview done by Japanese press after Autumn Classic International 2019. This is not a word-for-word translation. I paraphrased some of the things said to clarify the main point.
At the end of September, Figure Skate Magazine 2019-2020 Vol.1 also released a transcription of this joint interview. Yuzuru's answers were mostly the same in both media, but in some sections, Magazine's transcription is more detailed. To clarify the context, I am going to add the excerpts of the article by Magazine in the appendix. (I will do the same with part 1 I posted in September) According to Magazine, part 1 of the joint interview was conducted by TV stations and part 2 was for print media.
Yuzuru Hanyu, champion's instinct: "I felt the desire to win as I was skating, so strongly."
Published by Sponichi Annex on 9/20/2019
https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2019/09/20/kiji/20190920s00079000157000c.html
Yuzuru Hanyu (aged 24, affiliated with ANA), who won two consecutive Olympic titles in figure skating at Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018 gave a joint interview after competing at Autumn Classic International held in Oakville, which was his season-opening competition. He has made a fresh start this season after finishing last season being 2nd at the World Championships. The absolute champion who thirsts for victory talks about where he is now and where he is planning to go. The tone of the man who is preparing to renew his attack becomes gradually enthusiastic.
--You finished 2nd at the World Championships last March. What did you think that you need to close the point gap between Nathan Chen (USA)?
"After all, I just have to raise my base value. I think (t/n: under the current judging system) it is worth doing only when you can earn positive GOE. However, there is a limit to depending on GOE since it is affected by the standards of those who evaluate it. So, I think in the end, it (t/n: going after huge GOE) is worth doing only when you can land difficult jumps."
--You've mentioned the five-quads layout. Do you see it as a layout to defeat Chen?
"Not exactly. It is more like I am always calculating the maximum layout I am capable of executing. Obviously, what he did at Worlds isn't his maximum. I am sure that he can add more difficulty as much as he wants. I think I need to be capable of beating him even when he does his maximum."
--Last season, upon including 4T+3A sequence, you said that you wanted to do what you wanted to do even if it would lower the GOE you might be able to earn.
"Hehe. As I said, I think I was really fluffy after PyeongChang. But I strongly hoped to land it solidly and cleanly after I actually attempted it. (t/n: in a competition) After all, I really wanted to be the first person to land it in an official competition since I had been doing the jump sequence in shows for a long time. So I feel fulfilled about it by having landed it cleanly last season."
--And in the end, you went back to pursuing victory.
"Yes. I certainly desire to win. It would be great if I could win by competing the way I did, but it is no use saying such a thing. After all, I think I need to master the Axel (t/n: 4A) as a weapon as soon as possible, and as a step towards it, well, not that I am planning to proceed step by step, but I want to equip Lutz (t/n: 4Lz) first. I feel that it (t/n: his 4Lz as a weapon) has become quite reliable, so I want to be able to include it depending on the situation, considering whether it is needed or not in each time."
--You said that you don't want people to see you in disgrace.
"Because, you know, I definitely don't want to hear people say something like, "Ah, Yuzuru Hanyu's time is over." Take today for example, I thought... How should I put it? I thought that I fought well, but I think I am so uncool looking at the scores. (Laughs) So... I am really going to work harder."
(t/n: see also no.1 of the appendix)
--What is your image of your disgraceful/uncool self?
"I always end up thinking I am disgraceful at Autumn Classic and Skate Canada. (Laughs bitterly) I am always thinking, "Oh, I am so uncool" while competing. (t/n: in these competitions) But, after all, I have always been having dramatic ups and downs, and I am the kind of person who would straightforwardly acknowledge what happened whether it was good or bad. I am most severe when I evaluate myself, and this time, I can say that I didn't do well. After all, I am still craving for what I felt while performing SEIMEI and Ballade No.1 without mistake, or what I felt while performing Hope and Legacy at Helsinki 2017. I have a strong desire to surpass my perfect self at that time. If I manage to do that, then I will be able to consider myself cool--"cool" may not sound right in this context--then I will be able to believe that I did well as an athlete. I consider any other results uncool."
--It sounds like you have a long list of things you want to pursue, and it is not just for this season but for multiple seasons...
"Well, it is like I am doing what I can do. After all, there is a limit to the things I can do on each occasion, so I am feeling like, if I end up doing so as a result of doing what I can do on each occasion, so be it. Anyway, I am feeling that I still have room to grow while training now. Actually, there was a time that I found it difficult to go on. As expected, I hit a huge wall mastering Axel, and was like, "Am I really going to be able to do this?" Now, I am becoming to feel like, "It looks more do-able than I thought." So, hopefully, I will be able to become stronger by trying various things and getting more information."
(t/n: see also no.2 of the appendix)
--When was the time (t/n: you found it difficult to go on) and what kind of wall did you hit?
"As you may know, it was around the Autumn Classic last year. There was a time that I felt like, "This is no time to practice Axel." After all, I was nowhere near mastering it. I had landed it with the help of the harness, but without it, it didn't even seem possible to complete the rotations. But I am finally becoming able to complete rotations. Last season, I had no time to practice Axel when I had competitions to take part in, and there was the injury, of course, so I had my hands full just to prepare for the Worlds. But as it turned out, it worked as a training. (t/n: for 4A)"
--There was a talk about the year 2022. How clear do you feel about it now?
"I know you want to hear about it... Well, but, in my mind, it is just an extension of my competitive career. I really think so. At the moment, I am not dying to compete or win in it. I am just dying to do the Axel. How should I put it? I want to land the Axel, and on top of that, I want to make Origin complete. That is what I want to achieve most."
(t/n: see also no.3 of the appendix)
--So, your goal as of now is to land the Axel and make Origin complete?
"Well, it may take three or four years to achieve that. Who knows? (Laughs) Anyway, I have to proceed little by little, mindfully trying not to damage my body."
--What are you going to do after you achieve the goal?
"Well... I used to have plans, but my environment has changed so much. It is so different from what I imagined... I mean, I am receiving overwhelming support from so many people. For example, this is a B-class competition, but no one cut corners because this is a B-class event, and not just my supporting team, but the organizing staff and the security staff of the event also treat me with special care that a normal skater would never receive, I think. So... what I feel most strongly is the urge to reciprocate them for their support. I used to think that I wanted to be this or that... When I was a kid, I was always thinking that I was going to win in PyeongChang and then turn pro and work hard for a year to make money, but... after PyeongChang, I started out (t/n: the next season) leaving things open, like, "OK, let's tackle on Axel then," and as a result, I am now skating with the feeling that it is so much fun to compete. What forms the basis of my motivation right now is... the desire to master the Axel and to make Otonal and Origin complete, of course. But I may be motivated more strongly by the urge to perform well to meet the expectations of people supporting me. I am not sure how long I will continue this way, though."
--During the World Championships, you said, "Losing is no better than dying." How strongly do you desire to win now?
"During this competition, I didn't think much about winning or losing. I really wanted to present complete programs with the current layout. I have a sense of unfulfillment in this regard. Now I am finding issues like, "Ah, maybe it should have been like this, or like that.” Anyway, I... Hmm. It is so difficult to explain in words, but... Well, at Worlds, when I lost, I felt that it (t/n: the victory) was out of reach, and I... How should I put it? I felt the desire to win as I was skating, so strongly. As I said earlier, since when I was in kindergarten, I had been thinking that I was going to win at PyeongChang. No, in my mind, it wasn't even "PyeongChang." I was just thinking, "I am going to compete in Olympic games at the age of 19 and 23, win at both and quit!" So... after that, (t/n: after winning at PyeongChang) I didn't have much desire for victory. Well, I think I had the desire during the GPS last year, but having lost at Worlds in the way that I felt the difference in our ability... Well, I don't know what the result could have been if I have managed to skate with no mistake, but I think our ability should be defined by how we performed there. So, having lost at Worlds feeling the difference in our ability at that time is making me... uh... how should I say... want to win so much. I competed here in a sense trying to suppress the desire because this time, I wanted to make my performances complete regardless of such desire. But as well as the gratitude toward people supporting me and the urge to live up to their expectations, the kuyashii feeling I had toward the loss at that time makes the foundation of me keep skating now, and it enables me to work extra-hard this season, I guess."
--What kind of life is it to live just for mastering quad Axel? For us, it is hard to imagine.
"I live like a monk practicing asceticism. (Laughs) I mean, for real. So I think it must be pretty un-interesting for paparazzi if they come after me. Because, you know, my life is like, go to an ice rink, practice, go home, have a meal, work out, take a bath, and go to bed. (Laughs)"
--Have you found anything you can enjoy outside of the rink?
"It sounds as if I were a super sad person... (Laughs) Well, I don't go out. I haven't found it fun to go out since my childhood. I don't consider it especially good or bad, though. But interaction with artists like I had during Fantasy (on Ice) is very inspiring. I can learn as a performer through interacting with them since there is always something that makes me feel, "Oh, I didn't know this," or "I didn't know that." Well, you don’t just have fun on such occasions, but I think it (t/n: FaOI this year) was fun and inspiring. So... I think I had enough fun during Fantasy. (t/n: on Ice) Well, of course, I consumed myself for it to a certain degree. I consumed my foot too. But in a sense, it helped me to recreate or refresh my mind during the off-season. This year, I haven't had time off the ice, so my life may have been revolving around skating. Well, I enjoy playing video games. (Laughs)"
(t/n: see also no.4 of the appendix)
--How is your right ankle now? We heard that only a small amount of tendon left intact in it. How would it affect if you get injured again?
"I can't say. I really don't know what would happen, but I feel that I can easily sprain my ankle. When I got injured in Russia (last November), I didn't expect it to swell much, but it became swollen and puffed so much that I worried if I would be able to put the boots on. Hmm... I don't know, but I should be careful while skating for sure. But I don't feel any pain now, either in my right foot or left foot. Well, it sometimes hurts like an old wound, like in the morning, when I wake up, but that's about it. It doesn't affect when I compete anymore. It is just that I bear a higher risk of injury than others."
--Thank you very much.
"I am not going to retire at all, yet!"
--What video game are you playing now?
"I am playing the Fire Emblem now. (On which platform?) Switch."
--We are looking forward to seeing the Axel.
"I am going to land a beautiful one. I mean, I am going to land a truly beautiful one. Watch it, world!"
(t/n: see also no.5 of the appendix)
1. In Figure Skating Magazine 2019-2020 vol. 1, this Q and A starts like this:
--You said that you don't want people to see you in disgrace.
"Yes, I did. (Laughs)"
--That was an impactful comment, I think.
"Really? (Laughs) Because, you know, I DEFINITELY don't want to hear people say something like, "Ah, Yuzuru Hanyu's time is over."
2. In Figure Skating Magazine 2019-2020 vol. 1, this Q and A starts like this:
--It sounds like you have a long list of things you want to pursue and are going to keep going on and on...
"Hehe... Well, it is like I am doing what I can do. After all, there is a limit to the things I can do on each occasion, so I am feeling like, if I end up doing so as a result of doing what I can do on each occasion, so be it.
3. In Figure Skating Magazine 2019-2020 vol. 1, this Q and A is transcribed like this:
--As to Beijing 2022, how clear do you feel about it now?
"Hehe... I know you want to hear about it... Well, but, in my mind, it is just an extension of my competitive career. I really think so. At the moment, I am not dying to compete or win in it. I am just dying to do the Axel. (Laughs) Uh... How should I put it? I want to land the Axel, and on top of that, I want to make Origin complete. That is what I want to achieve most."
4. In Figure Skating Magazine 2019-2020 vol. 1, this Q and A starts like this:
--Have you found anything you can enjoy outside of the rink?
"Hahaha! What kind of question is that?! It sounds as if I were a super sad person... (Laughs hard covering his face with his hands) Um... Well... I don't go out. I haven't found it fun to go out since my childhood. I don't consider it especially good or bad, though.
5. In Figure Skating Magazine 2019-2020 vol. 1, the conversation after the interview is transcribed like this:
(The joint interview ended here. Hanyu talks with the press as he leaves there)
"Hehe. I am not going to retire at all, yet. Hehe."
--We partly wish to see you win three consecutive Olympic titles...
".........I will try my best. (Laughs)"
--What video game are you playing now?
"I am playing the Fire Emblem now, and..."
--On which platform?
"(T/n: Nintendo) Switch!"
--Don't you sometimes become tired of being the Yuzuru Hanyu?
"It is like, I have already gotten used to it... (To everyone) Thank you very much. Thank you. Today's interview was kind of gloomy, wasn’t it? Hehe. Like, "Are you going to retire?" (Laughs) No, I am not! (Laughs)"
--We are looking forward to seeing the Axel.
"I am going to land a beautiful one. I mean, I am going to land a truly beautiful one."
(t/n: You can't find "Watch it, world!" here, but he certainly said so since you can find it in multiple articles written by reporters who were actually there. source 1 2)
