#sendai parade

[redfar]

Sendai parade

[lazuliblade]

Sendai Parade Awards and Gifts

These are all the awards and gifts Yuzuru received at the Sendai parade held to honor him and his 2nd Olympic Gold Medal. Gifts include a 4 year supply of rice, a traditional doll crafted in his image by a master, and a music box that plays Ballade no.1 in G minor (his 2014-15/15-16/Olympic 17-18 short program music).

Bonus: This gift giving went both ways. Yuzuru donated 5 million yen to the prefecture: 

and 5 million yen to the city:  

[knjluvs]

180422 yuzuru hanyu - parade (sendai) press conference 

[yuzuruzhanyu]

[042218] Sendai Parade

[wherespacepooh]

Hanyu’s Celebratory Parade ~ I will be the King Plunderer of Gazes! (2) | Sponichi 18.04.27  Photographer column

Part 2 to Nagakubo’s hilarious recounting of how exactly he managed to pull off the heist of arguably the best shot out of the entire parade. This one has a distinctly spy-movie bent to it, and more Tanaka-san and Noto-san :3 – gladi

Tanaka-san on the right, Nagakubo-san on the left (@Sendai Broadcast)

Noto-san the red vest to the left ✨(@ Miyagi Tele)

Translated by gladi. Feel free to repost with credit. Photography and original text by Yutaka Nagakubo, belongs to Sponichi. Source here: 

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2018/04/27/kiji/20180426s00079000159000c.html

[Yutaka Nagakubo –– May I take a picture? Series]

On the fourth floor of the building that faces Higashi Nibancho Dori, [the road] where the parade would take place, was our secret base. Late into the night prior, the elites of the Sponichi Photography Department had gathered here and decided on where they would station themselves respectively. The procession advancing amidst a hundred thousand and more spectators –– here’s the best spot for properly capturing that.

“Chief! Please shoot from this spot.” A shiver ran down my spine. I –– who had never been addressed by my title in my day-to-day. What could be behind these words that reek of sontaku (t/n 2017 buzzword describing the social strategy of ingratiating themselves to their superiors by preempting their superiors’ whims)? Was that an attempt to gauge one’s magnanimity, or was he aiming after me? “No, Editor, you discovered this location. You take it!”

“Chief should take it” “Editor, you should” …This dark, insidious talk unfolding surreptitiously against the new greens of the City of Trees came to a halt when photographer Yoshimoto Kogaito volunteered himself, “In that case, I shall” –– Dacho-Club style. ** “Please, go ahead!”

** (Dacho-Club is a comedic trio, whose signature Douzo! Douzo! (tr. "Please, go ahead!") gag opens with member A refusing to do something. B and C volunteer themselves and fight over who gets to do it. A finally decides he wants a piece of it too and raises his hand, at which B and C go “Douzo! Douzo!” (Please, go ahead!) and the act ends.)

Morning came, not a wink of sleep to be had. I was responsible for [shooting] scenes during the parade set-off and the ceremony prior to its start. At the press reception, there were already a couple stepladders placed in line. The first one was at 4:00 a.m. And then there were familiar faces in twos and threes. Just past noon, a photographer in the red official vest who would board the parade car appeared as well, speaking in hushed tones with a man in gingham. When I strained my ears, I could hear frequent mentions of “Mizuho” and “in front of the bank.” Certainly, a bank assault was most unlikely but, without a doubt, a nefarious plot [was brewing]. I wanted in, too! Anyhow, immediately after the start, there would be something happening in front of Mizuho Bank –– my intuition was telling me so.

The ceremony ended, and the man in gingham sprang into motion. I hurried after him to keep watch. Toward Mizuho Bank, where something was going to happen. Upon arrival at the reporters’ space, I encamped to the man’s right side without hesitation. The parade had started, and the procession was drawing near. At that point, from within my viewfinder, an incredible spectacle unfolded. While the man in the red vest on the parade car was mouthing “Gingham, gingham, Tanaka-san,” that Hanyu-san directed his eyes straight [at me] and was pointing this way.

Th-this. Wasn't this Hanyu-san’s finger gun that renders [anyone] into a vacuum state [of mind] within a 5-meter radius?! I had seen fans who were shot were left with their lips quivering at last year’s ice shows many times. Dangerous. And then, the next moment –– while shouting “[He’s] there! [He’s] there!” the best ever "Yuzuru Smile” appeared on his face as he waved his arms with all his might.  

I…  are we that close? Perchance he maybe remembers, like, my name –– that should be the extent of it. The man in gingham, who I was marking, had put his photographer duties on hold and was waving. Aah, so that was it! This bubbly exuberance was directed at him. But it’s worth being called gaze burglar if I can take such fantastic shots. Be it Nobuaki Tanaka in gingham, or Sunao Noto in the rest vest, I’ll become them!

The excitement, the stirred emotions of having taken a great picture, a great smile. By the time I realized that I had left Kokaito and Sontaku Editor behind in Sendai, I was already on the Shinkansen on my way back –– and it was around Ōmiya Station too (t/n already two-thirds of the way).

–––– Department Head of Photography

◆ Yutaka Nagakubo. Born in 1962. After returning to Tokyo, people reached out to me saying they'd seen footage of the parade. A 56-year-old who believes he can still run around, can still keep it up, but is concerned about the wrinkles on his eyelids.

(t/n 能登直 Sunao Noto - photographer also from Sendai, been following Yuzu since he was quite young, the lack of hair is sort of his trademark. His work is most often seen in Sendai Broadcast, Sportiva.

田中宣明 Nobuaki Tanaka - also photographer who’s followed Yuzu for a long time. His work can regularly be found in Ice Jewels)

[nemesisdivina86]

Cr: @nahyu_pic

[seimeiyuzu]

endless beauty ❤️ 

(twitter.com/nahyu_pic)

[yuzuangel]

But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?

It is the east, and Yuzuru is the sun.

Arise, fair sun… 😍 😍 😍

Rophoto