"I'm the one who should be expressing my gratitude."
Translation of an interview with Yuma Kagiyama and his father and coach Masakazu Kagiyama at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Please do not use/repost my translations without my permission.
Interviewer: And now, we have Yuma Kagiyama, who won a silver medal in men's figure skating, and his father Coach Masakazu. Congratulations!
Yuma: Thank you.
Interviewer: Now that some time has passed, has reality set in that you won a silver medal yet?
Yuma: Letās seeā¦ Wellā¦ It hasnāt really set in that Iām a medalist. When I look at the medal, Iāll think āI won a medal,ā but Iām already looking towards the next thing. We already held our reflection meeting.
Interviewer: We want to ask the two of you many things today, but thereās a video weād like you to watch. Start!
6 year old Yuma in the video: My dream isā¦ I want to go to the Olympics.
Interviewer: So adorable! This is a video from when he was 6 years old. Masakazu, isnāt he cute?
Masakazu: Now that youāve shown me a video like this, I wonāt be able to yell at him anymore. Itās too much.
Interviewer: Coach Masakazu, did you think he would really go to the Olympics at that time?
Masakazu: No, I thought he was just saying the word Olympics, and he didnāt know what the Olympics are. He probably knew that I went to the Olympics and was influenced into saying that. He was so young, so I donāt think he really understood.
Interviewer: Yuma, did you have a period of time where you wanted to distance yourself from skating or a rebellious phase?
Yuma: Hmmā¦ wellā¦
Interviewer: Masakazu is laughing a lot butā¦
Yuma: I think I didā¦ There were times that I couldnāt concentrate by myself. I didnāt know what I was supposed to do. I was told what to do, so I did it, and I was done for the day. During that period of time, I didnāt seriously confront skating.
Interviewer: Masakazu, we heard from you before that you planted a seed in Yuma during this time he wasnāt seriously confronting skating. Could you tell us what seed you planted at that time?
Masakazu: I only planted a seed when he was very, very little. He said he didnāt like getting yelled at, but he still went to skate, so I think the seed he planted himself played a big role. Normally, if you donāt want to skate you stop going to the rink. I think thatās the case for a lot of people, but he at least kept coming to the rink. The content of his practice may have been lower, but because his friends were there - it doesnāt matter if it was for that reason. He kept going to the rink and skating, and that was one of the things that saved him. I guess you could call that a seed.
Interviewer: Masakazu, there was a period of time when you were ill and couldnāt accompany him.
Masakazu: As a parent, it was difficult that I had to make him become independent at such a sensitive time in his third year of middle school. Normally, it would be appropriate for him to be selfish or go through a rebellious phaseā¦ Thatās the age where Iād have to wake him up and drag him to practice, but he woke up by himself in the morning and went to practice alone. I had to make him do that, and itās painfulā¦ It was painful.
Yuma: But I think that because I had to become independent then, thatās why I have my current personalityā¦ Iām able to do those things naturally now, and thatās the biggest sign that Iāve grown. My personality changed, like becoming methodical, like if I canāt sit still if I donāt do what Iām supposed to. After waking up at a certain time, doing what Iām supposed to, and going to practice every day, I was able to do it all naturally, and that shows Iāve grown up.
Interviewer: Since we have both of you here today, could you express your feelings of gratitude to your father sitting next to you?
Masakazu: So embarrassingā¦
Yuma: Ehā¦ Thank you very much.
Masakazu: I should be thanking him, since Iām the one whoās been taken all the way here because of him. Iām the one who should be expressing my gratitude soā¦ Thank you very much.
Yuma: Iām also grateful to people like staff, sponsors, and my middle school and high school teachers who keep my skating career in mind. I have to keep working harder to repay them. From now on, I want to continue following my own path without giving up.
Interviewer: Weāre looking forward to it. Thank you for your time today. Congratulations!
An interview with Yuzuru Hanyu about theĀ āLet our gratitude reach him!ā campaign that started in May, as well as the YUZU DAYS series is approaching its fourth year. Published on myrepi on October 11, 2018. Please do not use/repost my translations without my permission.
I want to sayĀ āthank youā andĀ ācongratulationsā to the readers that have supported me
Firstly, it was truly thanks to everyone's support that I was able to repeat my title like this. Thank you very much.
This is about when I was a kid, but I liked baseball so I often watched it. In the MVP interviews, people often use the expression "It was thanks to everyone that I could hit a home run today." When I was a child, I'd think "Is that really true?" at those words, because it's physically impossible for voices of support to carry the ball. However, because I've continued skating, I now feel that support is something that can be changed into strength.
This is just my interpretation, but support means expectations, and that turns into pressure. Pressure, using homework as an example, is like when you make progress and work towards a goal because there's a deadline, right? It feels like you're changing that pressure into strength. So, because of everyone's expectations and support, I thought "I want to win the gold medal. I have to win it" and that it became my driving force. So I really am turning support into strength, and I want to say "thank you" for that. But even more than that, everyone's power manifested into results through me as a vehicle, and I want to tell everyone "congratulations" for that as well.
To me, YUZU DAYS is a place I can stay true to myself
I believe I am speaking openly in YUZU DAYS. It's exclusive to members and in series format, so I can relax and speak about myself.
I think this is a place where I can convey my true self with ease, say what I really want to say, and openly say "this is how I am" and "I'm this kind of person."
I want the comment section to be a place you can be yourself
It also comes across to me that everyone is leaving comments with peace of mind. It's probably because I'm speaking with peace of mind, so everyone can also write [their feelings] and be at ease.
I can also communicate through skating and appearing in media, but there aren't many places where everyone can directly tell me their individual thoughts. I want this to be a place where people can say those things here. I can be myself because a place like this exists, and I want the comment section to become somewhere everyone can be themselves too.
I want YUZU DAYS to be a place where feelings of "congratulations" and "thank you" from the heart can be expressed.
An interview with Yuzuru Hanyu on the 2018 Winter Olympics, where he became the first man in 66 years to repeat his Olympic title despite a severe injury just three months prior. Please do not use/repost my translations without my permission. Published on myrepi on October 11, 2018.
My feelings as I headed into the Olympics: I'm okay, so don't worry
I was injured this time, so it was strongly conveyed to me that everyone was waiting and cheering for me while worrying. When I entered the Olympic rink, I was thinking "Everyone, I'm okay so don't worry" to everyone supporting me. I also skated while thinking "I've received everyone's feelings of worry for me, and I've come back alright."
The three months before entering the Olympics were very difficult, but I had decided "I want to do this much" with concrete goals. I practiced while completely believing that I could win the Olympics if I at least achieved these goals I set for myself.
I was finally able to achieve those goals during the last practice before leaving for Pyeongchang. That's why, when I entered the rink, it felt like "I've finished my preparations to win."
The steps of my free skate: I wanted to remember this moment I can never return to
Out of all my performances at the Olympics the steps at the end of my free left the greatest impression on me. Right then, I felt that "I've won this Olympics," so I let my joy explode while I skated. I ended up jumping the triple lutz before that in a weird direction and it wouldn't have been strange if I fell, but I held on. I was amused that I didn't fall, and I completely became my true self after that.
There are things I have to express for the performance, so I don't think it's good to conclude things with my own happiness. The Abe no Seimei that I portray in SEIMEI has the image of a mysterious person with immeasurable ability, but I became my true self during those last steps and it ended up feeling like "I'm just happy!" (laughs)
But in that moment, I think that was good in its own way. I wanted to properly feel the joy I could only get a taste of at this Olympics and commit it to my memory. My life may go on for many decades, but that was a moment I can never return to again. I wanted to remember it and enjoy it from my heart.
I felt the most free the moment I got on the podium
The moment I felt the happiest was when I got on the podium. When I stand in the gold medalist's spot, I never put my feet down anywhere and just get on the podium like 'dun!' It's partly because I want to remember the moment. As a side note, this time I was so excited and full of adrenaline that I didn't feel any pain whatsoever in my foot. (laughs)
The moment I got on the podium is when I felt "Right now, I am the most free." In the world of sports where results are everything, I was able to prove that I had done my best up until then. Even if nothing was said, by being in first and by giving the best performance, it felt like I was standing in a territory that wouldn't be invaded by anyone. I felt that as "freedom" inside myself, and it was a very happy moment.
Your support last season gave me power. Thank you very much.
Sota Yamamotoās interview from Figure Skating Team Japan Fan Book 2018. Notes in parentheses are part of the original text. Please do not use/repost my translations without my permission.
ć¼Last year, you made your competitive comeback at the Chubu Regionals that were held at the end of September. What are your thoughts reflecting back on this year?
Sota: Above all, solely the feeling that I enjoyed skating last season. Iām glad I was able to participate in various competitions, and I think I was able to genuinely come face to face with skating.
ć¼When we spoke to you last summer, you were still unable to jump in your condition. After that, you recovered with a speed that exceeded our expectations, and we were truly surprised.
Sota: Yes, it really started from thinking āI should be okay if I just skate around, so Iāll try getting on the ice,ā but I gradually came up with goals as I did this and that. They might have been small goals from the perspective of the skaters around me, but clearing them one by one became fun for me. I started thinking āI want to give an even better performance.ā
ć¼It must have taken a lot of courage to compete while your injury still wasnāt completely healed.
Sota: Personally, when I submitted my entry for Chubu Regionals last year, I had absolutely no intention of competing. Skating itself was really fun, but I was frustrated that I was falling behind the other skaters with my elements, so a lot of complicated feelings were mixing together. However, my coaches and everyone supported me, and I eventually came to terms with competing.
ć¼Many people in the audience were moved by the beauty of your skating at Chubu Regionals and Western Sectionals.
Sota: It made me happy when I was told āgood for youā and āI was moved,ā but I personally thought I still had a lot to work on. I felt like I had to show an even higher level performance.
ć¼And then, you participated in your first National Championships in 2 years in December. The huge cheers of āwelcome back!ā from the audience echoed through the arena.
Sota: I strongly felt āI can finally compete at Nationals,ā but when I stood in the rink and looked towards the stands to see a big audience, I thought ābeing able to skate on a stage like this is a cause for joy.ā I received a lot of applause and cheers, as well as messages from various people after my performance, and the realization of āIām glad I competedā welled up inside me.
ć¼Takahashi Daisuke-san said that you left a deep impression on him and became one of the reasons he decided to come back. What were your thoughts when you heard that?
Sota: I felt happy, but also a bit like it was more than I deserve (laughs). Well, I donāt think he started thinking about [coming back] just from watching my performance. He probably watched many skatersā performances and battles and then started to think that.
ć¼Nationals were the qualifying competition for the Olympics, but Yamamoto-senshu, your fighting figure in the midst of that is what resonated in Takahashi-sanās heart.
Sota: Iād be really happy if that were true, and I want to work towards being able to have people think that way from my performances. In addition, being able to watch Takahashi-senshuās performances is a cause for joy for not only me, but all skaters. I may be able to watch him from up close as a skater competing in the same category, so Iād like to watch, learn, and study various aspects if I can.
ć¼Are you currently able to practice without feeling any sense of discomfort from your injury?
Sota: I fractured a bone three times, so I do somewhat feel a sense of discomfort or something similar to that. I still have a bolt in my foot but the hospital doctor told me it wonāt interfere with skating, so I donāt want to overthink it.
ć¼How is the condition of your jumps right now?
Sota: The number of triples I could jump during a practice was low up until a little while ago, but Iām gradually increasing the number now. I also want to increase the different types of jumps I can do, so Iām doing that kind of practice as well. (note: interview was taken in late July)
ć¼Previously during your talk with Hino-senshu (note: from Quadruple Axel 2018), you said you could jump up to 3T-3T for combinations, but what kinds of combinations are you practicing now?
Sota: Iām fine up to salchow-toe, flip-toe, and lutz-toe.The triple axel and quads follow in order after that, so... Everyone is jumping those, so I have to make them my goal.
ć¼Will your next task be to clear the triple axel?
Sota: Yes. Iām still not tightening up for the rotations at all, but I want to do it since itās next in order. (note: after the interview, he successfully landed a triple axel at Asian Trophy)
ć¼Do you have a lasting impression of how the triple axel feels?
Sota: The other jumps feel fine, and there are no problems when I check myself in videos, so I believe [the success] of the triple axel depends on my mindset. If donāt feel that I can practice it with positivity yet, but I want to do my best since Iāll have to do it someday.
ć¼You must have felt some fear when your challenged the triple axel as a junior, but what about now?
Sota: I wonderā¦ I havenāt jumped it in awhile, so I think there will be different emotions. Iāll give it my all if Iām going to do it, and I want to properly incorporate that mindset.
ć¼Will quads follow as an extension of that?
Sota: I can jump up to a triple toe without thinking about it, so I want to concentrate on [quads] as my next task after the triple axel.
ć¼Now then, please tell us about your programs for this season.
Sota: Both my short and free are choreographed by (Miyamoto) Kenji-sensei. The short program is to a piece called āAir on the G String,ā which I skated to at Heroes & Future 2018 in NAGANO. Itās a very beautiful song, but I think itās difficult because there isnāt an exciting part in the piece. I have to skate it beautifully while being careful of the expression of each change and variation [of the song] without using too much power.
ć¼Who chose the song?
Sota: I did, more or less. I listened to various songs and thought āThis one is nice.ā At first I thought it would be difficult, but I also wanted to properly express it in my own way, so I told Kenji-sensei āIād like this song, please.ā
ć¼It seems like it will turn into a program that thoroughly makes use of your beautiful skating.
Sota: It can if I work pretty hard, somehow (laughs). The coaches at Howa (Sports Land) also tell me āIf you skate it properly, itāll become a program that really suits you,ā so I want to skate it well at a competition.
ć¼It was spoken highly of at the show in Nagano.
Sota: Mmmā¦ The other skaters also told me they liked it, but I personally think itās still lacking. I want to practice so that I can skate it even more beautifully.
ć¼What kind of advice did you receive from Miyamoto-sensei?
Sota: Itās a piece of church music, so he told me that I have to bring out its sublimity. He choreographed poses like crossing myself and praying to match the music, so I want to act those out well. I donāt have enough knowledge of music, but I want to express it with a majestic image.
ć¼I felt that your spins have improved even more after watching your performance at Nagano.
Sota: The song for the short is calm, so Iām being conscious of hitting accents and spinning fast.
ć¼Has your flexibility also improved?
Sota: During competitions, Iād end up getting nervous and stiffening up no matter what, but Iām being especially conscious of not using too much power for the short.
ć¼Your costume, which seems to sway with the wind while you skate and spin, is also wonderful.
Sota: My designer suggested it to me. She made my costume for Jekyll & Hyde last season with the image of a mantle. It isnāt a mantle this season, but I like it because it flutters and matches the music.
ć¼How long have you been asking your current designer to create your costumes?
Sota: Since the season I skated to Poeta and Piano Concerto No. 1. She always sends me a few sketches, and I pick the one I like. During the fitting and after itās done, Iāll make requests like āI want it to be like this here,ā but Iām very grateful because she always makes very good products.
ć¼Please tell us about your free program as well.
Sota: Itās a piece called Nobunaga Concerto. I like the song thatās in the second half of the program, and I said āI want to use thisā to Kenji-sensei and requested it. It often plays during the emotional scenes of the drama Nobunaga Concerto, so it would be difficult with just that one song. We decided to use it in the second half of the program, and Kenji-sensei picked the song for the first half from the soundtrack.
ć¼Was the final product as you imagined it?
Sota: I didnāt know what kind of song would be used in the first half, but Iām happy because Kenji-sensei made it really cool. He's knowledgeable about Oda Nobunaga too, so he explained each situation and scene for me. He explained it very detailedly like āThis part has this kind of image, so weāre going to do this movementā so itās easy to perform. If I do my best, I think itāll become a cool program.
ć¼Did you like the manga and film versions of Nobunaga Concerto to begin with?
Sota: No, I just thought the song was cool at first, and then I watched the movie in bits. I still havenāt read most of the manga, but I want to read it when I have time.
ć¼You havenāt done a Japanese-style program since Tenchijin (13-14 SP).
Sota: When I skated to Tenchijin, I was only focusing on doing my best with the elements, but this time I want to give a performance fitting of a senior. Nobunaga Concerto isnāt really used in figure skating, so I want to show its appeal in my own way.
ć¼Does the costume also have a Japanese image?
Sota: My designer also came up with the image for this one, but it resembles a kimono. I personally like it a lot.
ć¼Now then, your goal for this season?
Sota: First, I want to improve more than I did last season. I can only attain that sense of accomplishment in competitions, so I want to place better than last year in competitions and give performances with content. (note: he was assigned to NHK after the interview)
ć¼You were with Hanyu Yuzuru-senshu, who you look up to, at the ice show in Nagano. Were you able to meet him for the first time in awhile?
Sota: Hanyu-senshu participated in the show starting from the second day, but I heard someone say āHanyu-kun is skating in practiceā and dashed over to go watch him (laughs).
ć¼Was there time to interact with him?
Sota: There were a few chances to talk with him in the changing room. He told me āRehab is difficult, but donāt lose and do your best,ā and I was so happy. No matter what might happen to me from now on, I will never forget those words. They really gave me strength.
ć¼Those are heavy words coming from Hanyu-senshu, who conquered his own injury.
Sota: Yes, Iāve firmly received them. Hanyu-senshu overcame his injury and became Olympic Champion, so I think heās really cool.
ć¼Were you able to take a picture together?
Sota: We werenāt (laughs). However, thereās still the firm reality of participating in an exhibition together with him, and I was able to watch his performances and practices many times with these two eyes. Thatās more than enough for me.
ć¼Thank you very much. Lastly, please give a message to your fans.
Sota: Thank you for always supporting me. I want to do my best so that I can give improved performances from last season, as well as leave even better results than last year. Iāll be counting on you again!
Satoko Miyaharaās Memoirs of a Geisha in a different light [or no light, if you prefer]. Practice before ladies short program at 2018 World Figure Skating Championships in Milan, Italy.
Please do not repost photos without permission. If you want to share, reblog or share a link. Even though the photos are not watermarked, the editing is distinct enough to recognise them, so please donāt steal.Ā š If you want to share the photos on Twitter, please see them in this thread and retweet.
Sota Yamamoto (JPN) performs his free skate to Nobunaga Concerto at the 2018 Asian Open Trophy, winning the competition with 198.92 points overall and earning his first senior international title. He landed his first clean triple axel in competition since returning to skating in October 2017 after multiple ankle injuries.
The training camp for Japanese senior figure skaters was held in Karuizawa, Nagano from July 22-25. On-ice and presentation training was open to the press on the 24th.
10 ladies and 5 men participated that day, including top skaters like Satoko Miyahara who finished 4th at the Pyeongchang Olympics and Wakaba Higuchi who finished 2nd at Worlds. They used a training menu rich in content, which included being monitored while skating their programs for the 2018-19 season and receiving technical instruction on skating skills and spins from 2006 Torino Olympic bronze medalist Jeffrey Buttle.
Marin Honda (16), who moved her training base to Los Angeles this spring, was among them.
In LA, Honda trains under Rafael Arutyunyan, who coaches top world-class skaters like Nathan Chen. She had the chance to speak to Coach Arutyunyan at last yearās Japan Open in October and was invited to tryouts. This was the trigger for her to move her training base abroad.
āCoach Rafael told me I should try coming to America, so I decided to go and develop my potential by going to tryouts once. Tryouts were really tough, and I thought that I could become stronger if I practiced like that, so I changed my training base.ā
After skating in Prince Ice World at the end of April and moving to America with her older brother Taichi, she participated in ice shows and training camps in Japan, coming and going from Japan to America. Her days were skate-filled and fulfilling.
āIām at the rink from around 8am to 5pm, doing various activities like on-ice practice, off-ice training, and dance. I was surprised that there are coaches following and teaching us from morning warm-up until the last training session. Iām taking lessons with amazing skaters like Nathan and Ashley (Wagner), so I can practice in a good environment and learn a lot.
āAs of now, besides the language and food, Iāve only had experiences that make me glad I came to America. In terms of the language, I understand vocabulary used in skating because the words are used in Japan as well, but I doesnāt know how to say what I want in regular conversations, so I feel uncertain. But I want to try my best with it.
āI like Japanese food a lot, so I started craving it after a month. But, compared to when I was in Japan, I can have a lifestyle with skating at the center because I canāt be carefree and just go out to have fun.ā
She lives with just her older brother in America, and they cook their own food 5 days a week. She cooks and eats tamagoyaki, her specialty, every day. Going out to eat once every two weeks on a day off is a source of happiness for her.
āIām enjoying (my skating lifestyle in America). Itās a country where you can change your mood from on to off really easily, and the climate is good too, so itās a place where even if youāre in the rink from morning to night, you can think āIāll do my best starting tomorrowā when you step outside. I want to work hard with the language too so that I can answer interviews in English one day.
āIām dead tired with practice every day, but 3 months have passed (since I came to America) and my muscle aches are gone and Iām even used to the tough practice.ā
Honda, once a moody person who hated practice, has a firmer grasp on her goals than when she trained in Japan, and sheās able to have meaningful practices that she is conscious of.
āBy completely changing my environment and starting a new lifestyle, everything has changed, even things like the way I jump. I think that plays a big part. Also, I now understand how difficult it is to go to the Olympics and that itās no good if my feelings are shallow. By watching (other skaters), I realized how much hard work is necessary, so I want to desperately do my best for the next 4 years.ā
Her new programs for this season, where she will work towards a fresh start, are the danceable song āSeven Nation Armyā for the short (choreographed by Shae-Lynn Bourne) and songs from the Chinese film āLoversā for the free (choreographed by Lori Nichol.
āI can show a fun and new side of myself with both programs, so itās a new start. I want to properly perform the role of the strong female protagonist in the free. I had no confidence for the entire year last season, so this season I want to practice so that I can have confidence in myself and get good results.ā
Interview with Brian Orser in Kobe, published on June 28, 2018. Please do not use/repost my translations without my permission. (x)
ļ¼The state of Hanyu's right ankle recovery?
BO: Its condition has gradually gotten better. He's jumping 4T, 3Lo, and 3A. We have to think with a long-term view, and Yuzu is doing things patiently.
ļ¼The rule change is expanding the -3 to +3 7-point GOE evaluation scale to a -5 to +5 11-point scale.
BO: The mens free program will be 4 minutes instead of 4 and a half minutes, so it'll be even more difficult. The skaters on our team are always practicing transitions, skating skills, and how to show effortless speed. That becomes their strength.
ļ¼Do you believe these rule changes mean fair winds for Hanyu?
BO: It's a good change. He's a very well-rounded skater, not just a jumper. He has extraordinary spins and steps, transitions, and he can work with all choreography. He's well-prepared.
ļ¼Is there any change in Hanyu after his repeat Olympic win?
BO: Nope. He always has enough motivation. It's even more amazing that his mood hasn't come down after winning the Olympics again. He loves skating and competing. He's matured, and he's shouldering a lot of responsibility. He always has all kinds of goals.
ļ¼Will he be introducing 4A?
BO: If he's healthy, there's no reason not to. He has good technique. He tried it a little last year, but since it was Olympic season, his strategy was to focus on the Olympics. Yuzu is ambitious, so I won't stop him. As long as he's physically prepared.
ļ¼Evgenia Medvedeva, who won silver at the Olympics, is training under you now.
BO: (They are) skaters who are hard workers with wonderful personalities. It's a very good thing for Yuzu. I'm really looking forward to it.
