Kazuki Tomono 友野一希

“Hanyu is the ultimate athlete”

Go to the Beijing Olympics--. Mens figure skater Kazuki Tomono (21) has this strong feeling and awareness with in him. “I know. I don’t have the ability yet, there’s still things I have to do”

The current Japanese men are at an unprecedented high level. First, there is Yuzuru Hanyu, who, at the Pyeongchang Olympics in February of last year became the first man in 66 years to repeat as Olympic champion, and also Pyeongchang silver medalist and three time Japanese national champion Shoma Uno. Last season, Daisuke Takahashi, the first ever Japanese man to win an Olympic medal returned to competition and came 2nd at Japanese nationals. There is also Keiji Tanaka (Kurashiki U.), who competed in the Pyeongchang Olympics, and Koshiro Shimada (Kinoshita Group) who has landed a quad lutz and moves up to seniors this season.

Standing shoulder to shoulder with these rivals, if Tomono can’t win, the path to the Olympics won’t open. But he holds no jealousy for, nor grudges against them. He keeps a watchful eye on them like a young boy, and talks happily about the subjects of his admiration.

Last season’s Rostelecom Cup was the first time he competed at the same international senior event with Hanyu. Hanyu competed with an ankle injury and won. Tomono joined him on the podium in 3rd place; “He’s like a god. His way of thinking and awareness of competition are completely different. He has a track record of winning despite being injured. Skating wholeheartedly wanting to be first and improve isn’t an odd feeling for him. That’s why he could get an Olympic gold. I thought he was the ultimate athlete.” Vancouver Olympics bronze medalist Daisuke Takahashi is on a whole other level for Tomono.  “He can enchant the audience just by standing there. I think the only skater who can do that is Daisuke Takahashi. The power of his expression, his skating skills, everything is too amazing, it’s on a different level.”

The one who has the most effect on him though is Uno. Uno is one year his senior and a friend who he plays games with. “I really respect Shoma. As the number of competitions we have together increases, there are things he can tell me because we’re in the same generation.” Though his achievements are no match for the Olympic silver medalist, he said “Because we’re close, he’s become my objective. Many people may think he’s a natural airhead, but my impression is that he’s levelheaded and smart. He’s manly and kind of like an older brother. When we spend time together it motivates me.” He desperately chases after Uno who is still far ahead.  

The word Tomono cherishes is “Honesty”  Why did he write it? “I like a lot of skaters. I think other people’s strong points are a good thing, and I get all sorts of motivation and viewpoints. If I’m able to incorporate these, I think it will lead me in a good direction. That’s why it’s important.”

Tomono has been steadily advancing while looking up to his rivals and facing his own abilities.

A natural talent for dancing in rhythm 

 Kazuki Tomono (21), started skating at age 4, and he had a blessed encounter at age 5. At Rinkai Sports Center in Takaishi City, Osaka, he started taking weekly group lessons with Taijin Hiraike, who still coaches him to this day.

Coach Hiraike had this to say about his first impressions “Though he was small, his footwork was good, and he had a blossom of something. He had a spark of ‘Show off to people, entertain them’” Tomono did well in plays in kindergarten and grade school, and people would suspect he had experience with ‘eisa’ and ‘soran bushi’. He had a natural talent for dancing in rhythm.

(Eisa is an Okinawan folk dance, and Soran bushi is a traditional Hokkaido work song, both are frequently performed by grade school students)

Around the time he turned 10, he was still doing other sports alongside skating, and Coach Hiraike told him “You should decide if you’re going to settle on skating”

Tomono chose skating. “Even though I did like it, I was afraid of him (Coach Hiraike) and in no state to say ‘I quit’. I didn’t have a choice” he said with a laugh. In truth, Coach Hiraike wasn’t trying to extort him into skating. “He shines at skating he could shine elsewhere. Since he was small, I thought skating was suitable, but at the time it was a minor sport. I never thought it could be like it is now. I had many hardships when I was a skater and also had thoughts like ‘Maybe a different sport’”.

Tomono focused only on skating from the first year on middle school onwards, refining his expression and working hard at every practice. According to Coach Hiraike, when it came to spin practice he said “I’ll try until I throw up”, and he did.  “He never got angry or yelled at me, but somehow I was afraid of him… What I was told was perfect.” said Tomono. He grew steadily and did well at national competitions, but starting from his 2nd year in middle school for three years straight he was rejected after international competition trials. It is very unusual to be dropped three years in a row “I was the only one” said Tomono. When he hit the first wall, a thought sprung to mind “I want to win. I’m an athlete, so I have to win. I started thinking that skating can’t just be having fun and being scolded by my coach” 

“The First Lesson is…” Interview

-Between softball, karate and figure skating, what made you finally choose skating?

“When I would get home from school, I would finish my homework right away and invite my friends to play baseball with plastic bats almost every day. Since I played softball, I really wanted to be a baseball player, I think if I was reborn I’d still want to play baseball. But I was absorbed in the competitive aspect of figure skating. With figure skating I was able to compete at nationals. I think I liked competitions best in figure skating.”

-You started with weekly lessons.

“For the first year or two I did group lessons. The rink was never reserved, I would go once a week during public skate and Coach Hiraike would teach or play with us.

-What part of skating did you like?

In grade school he was always in the front row in order of height. He had a sunny disposition and was popular with everyone. He also had many friends. Looking back at his childhood “We’d do things like playing kick the can, or baseball with squishy balls”  However, his mother didn’t worry. If there was a narrow place like a balance beam he would go across it, he would go over things like short fences. He was extremely curious and without fear.

He first encountered skating shortly before his 4th birthday. In order for families to be able to do sports together, the Uenoshiba Skating Rink (now closed) near his house started a young children’s program. Tomono said “I think my mother skating also influenced me. At first I was really just playing around” He enjoyed the weekly skating classes from the bottom of his heart.

Other than skating, he also did karate and softball. His form was very good in karate and he received a lot of praise, but because he was so small he could rarely win a match and was often sent flying. He started softball on a local team. He was a good batter with quick feet and his strong point was disturbing the defense of opponents on base. Because his voice could be heard well he would sometimes also play catcher. Even now he still loves softball and baseball.