#sharp ears

Behold!

All that I can see… in the outer space - leaves me worried by the question - what is that all for? ~

I translated this interesting video with the photo shoot.  It's mainly about Yuzu's EARS!!!   - Takeshi Honda talks about how all skaters have a 'rest/recovery point' in their free programme to take a breather because doing the 4-and-a-half minute performance has the same level of exhaustion as doing a 2000-3000m sprint. (!!!)  There are a few seconds to recover strength for the rest of the programme.  It will be choreographed such that only the hands move and the legs can rest.   - Examples of rest/recovery point in Honda-san's 2002 Olympics free skate, Yuzu's POTO and Mao Asada's 2014 Olympics free skate.

-Scoop behind Yuzu's Olympics gold medal: The scoop was obtained during a previous recording when Yuzu was chatting casually with one of the staff.  

Yuzu (in long-sleeved shirt, getting ready for recording):  When I first went to Sochi, I noticed that the music (in the rink) had a lot of echo.   To produce that sound, I purposely used the equaliser and added the echo effect of the venue.  You can also make the live or concert kind of effect.  So I do these things.  If I feel this venue has a heavy bass sound, I will set it with a heavy bass also.

Narrator:  So one year before he got the gold medal, he started to practise with music sound that is set the same way as the competition venue!! In Dec 2012, when he visited the competition venue, he felt that the echo of the music there was louder than in other places.  In order to have no deviation between sound and dance, he made an echo-version of his competition music and used it for practice.  

Keiichi Yano-san is the 'music designer' who arranges the competition music for Hanyu.   He said:  Before Sochi, the free programme music had some very subtle sounds or noise that usually would not be noticed.  Hanyu said to me, "I would like it to be removed."   So I listened very carefully and really, there was some noise but it would only be noticed by a pro, not by a normal person, so it is amazing that he noticed it.

Narrator:  It seems that Hanyu's ears have a very keen sense of hearing, way above the ordinary person.  But is there any other evidence?   Yes, we found it! This summer, there was a photo shoot for 'anan' magazine. (scenes from the shoot)  During the break, while chatting with the staff, Hanyu suddenly took out from his bag..... Yuzu:  I will take them all out.  (takes out many cases from bag)

N:  Hanyu who has a keen sense of hearing has many earphones in his bag!!!

Staff:  Which do you bring along when you go for competitions?   Yuzu: All of them. Staff:  Ehhh!!! Yuzu:  For example, this one has a monitor-like sound.  The audio person would understand.  The sound is like the original sound.  

N:  Hanyu uses earphones according to the time, place and occasion.   For example, on the plane, at practice, at home, different earphones are used.  

Staff:  Which do you use during competitions? Yuzu: At competitions, basically, it's Jinx.  This one was used last season. (shows a set of earphones)  It's originally blue but I changed it to gold.  This was a gift.   S:  How about this season? Y:  Which earphones will I use..... please pay attention and look.  (laughter)   I am also very particular about the player.  (takes out player)  This is my model.   S:  It's gold in colour. Y:  Yes.  Only I have it.  It was made just for me.    

(Scenes from Skate Canada) N:  During last week's GP series, which earphones did he use?  The gold ones that he mentioned!

N:  How much are the earphones? Y:  100,000 (yen).  100,000.  100,000. 180,000.  220,000.  This one about 30,000.  This one about 20,000.   This one about 50,000. S:  What is the difference between the 30,000 and 220,000 yen ones? Y:  Custom-made.  This one is not custom-made.   The sound quality is also different.    

N:  So really, Hanyu has an extraordinary sense of hearing that can discern very subtle sounds.

(my translation; some parts are summarised)    

Much thanks to yuzupinoko for the video.