#ciontu

Translation post 34

Original language: Japanese

Translator’s note: This is not a word-for-word translation. I paraphrased some of the things said in the broadcast to clarify the main point.

Day 1 07:00-08:53

(After the opening)

Hanyu: (Clears his throat) Oh. My mic was on... Thank you so much for coming today. Hehe. I am so happy to have gone through the resting period without trouble and to be able to stand here in front of you this way. Thank you again for being here today. This time, I named this show, "Continues with Wings" with the feeling that my skating and I are the continuations of what I have met through my life and skating, that I have inherited so many things as I came this far. With this feeling, I decided to produce this show inviting great skaters who have significant connections with me. Hehe... 

(Applause from the audience)

Hanyu: Uhm... I feel very nervous about presenting this show to you since this is day 1, but, at the same time, I am really hoping that you will enjoy the skating of those great skaters while finding out what I have inherited from them, thinking, "Ah, this is what Hanyu senshu..." Lol, I am calling myself "Hanyu senshu."

(Audience laugh)

Hanyu: ...thinking, "This is what he inherited from this skater" or "We can find this in Yuzuru Hanyu's skating as well." Now, let's start Continues with Wings. (Bows to the audience)

Continues to “Continues ~with Wings~ (1) Introduction of Johnny Weir”

Continues~with Wings~ Treasured Edition Book: Right now, the things they want to ask Yuzuru Hanyu about

Questions:

Evgeni Plushenko: “23 years old is still very young. I think you can go for the (next) Olympics when you are 27. I read in an article that you want to land the 4A. Although I think it is difficult and requires a lot of hard work, if you succeed you will set a new record again. And since some time ago I have been wanting him to perform as the black swan from Swan Lake. Because the movements of his arms and wrists are very beautiful and soft. Don’t you think it would be a great programme?”

Jeffrey Buttle: “Though I know he likes classical music, I think perhaps it would also be great to do something that is slightly of a new world, something abstract. Because he has won two Olympics, it feels like “Hasn’t he already achieved everything career-wise!” (laughs) Therefore he has already reached a position where he can do all the things he really wants to do. It is ok not to pick music oriented towards the judges (in order to win competitions) or perhaps I should say...the time is ripe to be adventurous. If he skates to what he wants to, maybe we will get to see yet another different side of him, something that is even more like him, and I look forward to it.”

Takahito Mura: “With regard to skating, how do you want to be involved in it hereafter? I also look forward to see how he will make the most of the things he has pursued in skating thus far in future.”

Johnny Weir: “First of all I want him to be healthy. And then, he will have everything to continue standing at the top of this sport--artistry, jumps, mental strength, he has them all. And to be able to decide on his own terms how long he wants his competitive career to be. After that the thing that is difficult to do is to continue to maintain the love towards figure skating while being apart from competition. I think it is exactly because we have worked so hard to such a degree that we do not want to lose that love. From my personal experience, I felt that as figure skating is tough, after the end of my competitive career, I could not really find something to propel me to continue maintaining my intent to just continue skating. I would think maybe I should train today, and then end up going for dinner with wine. (laughs) Then, what is the thing that would rekindle it? It is difficult. The childhood dream of being a figure skater, and the dream of happiness in life in a new career, as a normal person in real life, it is difficult to pursue both of them thoroughly. In a normal life lived wisely, one must aim for something that is the best but of a different type from what was previously aimed for. I want Yuzuru to be happy, to enjoy, love and sing the praises of his life. I think a normal life as a person, family, friends, and truly being happy are the most important things. And lastly, I also want to see the 4A. (laughs)

Alexander Smirnov: “Do you have an image of yourself competing in the next Olympics?”

Yuko Kavaguti: “There are always jump fests at the end of the ice shows that Yuzuru-kun and I perform at, and I have always wanted to be a part of them. No one joins the jump fest as a pairs team. Next time, I really want to jump together.”

Shae Lynn Bourne: “I have never asked him this, but it is something I have always wanted to ask. Why did he choose me as his choreographer? I want to ask about the things from the beginning. (laughs) And then, someday I want to try making a show number for him. Because for a competition programme one has to take into consideration the elements, stamina, breathers, judges and various things, while at a show it is enjoyable without any restrictions. Whatever we want to do can be done. As to whether it would generate very interesting ideas, it would be great if that would happen eventually.”

Minoru Sano: “Because I am impatient, I immediately become curious about what happens next. Now, what’s the next stage?” 

Answer:

Yuzuru Hanyu: “Somehow, it seems that everyone prayed for my health. (laughs) Yuko Kavaguti-san is amazing, she can still do throw quads. This time I also saw her do them. As there are various pieces of music I want to skate to right now, I also look forward to what kind of programme I will do next. Eventually, more than becoming a coach, I want to reach a position where I am able to pass on my experience and knowledge. In order to be able to go anywhere in the world and not just in Japan, I must practice English more, and I also want to study Russian a little. Also because I want to converse with Plu-san. (laughs) Including these there are also many things I want to study.

(While looking at the collection of messages and autographs) The logo of “Continues~with Wings~” is like my name, to have these great skaters gathered here in this way, to begin with that in itself made me happy, and furthermore I even received their messages in this way. From the skaters who came and also Javi and Stephane, I really feel I am very much loved and supported by these skaters. I have received more blessings than I deserve as a skater.”

(Clockwise from top left)

“Wishing you good luck and health! You are Number 1!”—Evgeni Plushenko

“Yuzu you are loved. ❤️”—Johnny Weir

“Dearest Yuzu, You are a wonderful person, inside and out! Thank you for being an inspiration to so many.” —xoxo, Jeffrey Buttle

“Dear Yuzu, You are a gift to us all.” —Much love, Shae Lynn Bourne 

“Let’s quad together!”—Yuko Kavaguti

“Do your best. I am praying for good health for you!” —Alexander Smirnov

“Now, what’s the next stage?”—Minoru Sano

“I am thankful to have competed together!!”—Takahito Mura

Correction: I translated Alexander Smirnov’s message based on the Russian to Japanese translation in the book, but have been informed by a Russian speaker that his message should be more accurately understood as “(Wish you) Luck, health, kindness.” 

(WIP) [ENG SUB] Continues ~with Wings~ Masterpost

Parts which are completed and uploaded will be in Italics for now.

2 Sep: Added Day 2 Talk about FP + Shae-Lynn Bourne

22 Aug: Added Day 1 Talk about SP + Jeffrey Buttle

9 Aug: Added Day 2 Q and A with children

I intend to sub parts of Continues ~with Wings~, so this post will be updated as I go along. I thought I’ll just share what I have already completed first.

Day 1

Talk with Johnny Weir

Q and A with children (added 6 Aug)

Talk about SP + Jeffrey Buttle (added 22 Aug)

Day 2

Talk with Takahito Mura

Q and A with children (added 9 Aug)

Talk about FP + Shae-Lynn Borne (added 2 Sep)

Day 3

Q and A with children (added 4 Aug)

Q and A session (added 2 Aug)

Talk with Plushenko (added 2 Aug)

In the behind-the-scenes broadcast that was just aired for Yuzuru’s self-produced ice show “Continues~with Wings~”, we got some nice mini-interviews with the skaters in the show. Jeffrey Buttle’s and Shae-Lynn Bourne’s answers were very touching and I wanted to transcribe them. Both the questions and answers were spoken in English.

I chose only a few screenshots per speaker in order to keep the post from becoming ridiculously long.

Interviewer: This could be as a person or as a skater, but who is Hanyu to you?

Jeffrey Buttle: Ohh... Hanyu is kindhearted and determined. I believe those two qualities above all are what really come through in his day-to-day life. He's always been so kind and... he hasn't changed after winning two Olympic gold medals, he's still very grounded and very honest. Um, determined-- I've never seen anyone compete and train the way that he does day after day. It's truly inspiring to see, inspiring to me, and inspiring to all the skaters around him. (there’s a small break here in which I believe the interviewer asked Jeffrey to give Yuzuru a message) Yuzu, the past many years, it's been an honor to work with you, to watch you grow as a skater, and to inspire not only me but all of the skaters around the world, and your fans as well. I think you've been given an amazing gift, but what you've done with that gift is truly what is amazing. So I'm wishing you the biggest congratulations on what you've accomplished so far, and to what you're going to accomplish in the future.

The interviewer’s questions were omitted for Shae-Lynn’s part, but I assume the first one was about the show itself, and I assume for the second one she was asked to give Yuzuru a message: 

Shae-Lynn Bourne: 

It was really wonderful to come back to Japan, especially after Yuzu winning his second Olympics. And I was really, um, honored and touched to be invited, and to also be asked to do the opening and closing, um, was a real-- yeah honor and pleasure, so I hope it won't be the last, just the beginning of something new for Yuzu.

You are... yeah, you are a light in figure skating. You're a leader, and you will be forever remembered -- (not only) in my heart but-- in the world's heart. Thank you for all that you give, and for raising our sport to another level every single time. I love you.

(cultural differences being what they are, if you can’t tell, the “I love you” is like familial love)

-------------------------------------------------------

One more nice moment...

Yuzuru addressed the cast in English after the show ended. I’ve tried to preserve his words as closely as he said them, with my additions in parenthesis to help the prose flow. I left out some screenshots here as well, but I’ll make a proper photo post. edit: full screenshot collection of his speech here

First of all, thank you for coming - thank you for my show - thank you for coming for my show, and I(’m) really happy to (have been) born 'cause I can skate with you. I'm really happy right now, 'cause... everyone said (they) love me... and loves my skate(ing). And I really feel everyone's support, and it helps. I can't find the moment like this in my life 'cause I feel... I'm really happy to (have been) born right now. So I (will) continue to skate for the competition and I'm looking forward to see you on this show and on other show(s), and um... in my life. Thank you very much.