![]() ![]() On one side of the rink alone, there were 16 banners proclaiming “Go Yuzu” and other exhortations. It’s crazy.”Īs Hanyu was introduced in Moscow for the short program at the Rostelecom Cup, Japanese fans waved small national flags. “People see Hanyu for the first time and they become hysterical or they’re moved to tears. “It reminds me of when Michael Jackson was in his heyday, or meeting the Pope,” said Jackie Wong, a prominent skating blogger and former skater who lives in New York. Last spring, the skating website found Hanyu on the cover of 19 publications called mooks - a combination of magazine and book - at a Japanese bookstore. So did several dozen print journalists and photographers who recorded his every jump, spin and utterance. And Japan’s television networks and corporate sponsors are vital to bankrolling the International Skating Union.įive Japanese television networks covered Hanyu’s performance at the Rostelecom Cup in Moscow. At a tiny rink in Barrie, Ontario, Hanyu’s fans have even camped out overnight to be first in line when the doors opened. Japanese fans flock to international competitions, buying tickets by lottery, often finding it easier to obtain seats outside of Japan than inside. Over the past quarter-century, Japan’s singles skaters have enjoyed regular international success that has been both engaging in its artistry and groundbreaking in its athleticism. While the popularity of figure skating has nose-dived in the United States for several reasons, including the lack of a women’s star and the indifference of younger fans, the sport thrives in Japan, especially among women. ![]() It wasn’t that magical moment you usually see at the Olympics.” He’s visualizing a greater win than last time. “Could he win without the big, giant tricks? Yes,” said Hanyu’s coach, Brian Orser, who won two Olympic silver medals competing for Canada in the 1980s. He said he wanted to deliver an unblemished, more inspired performance at the 2018 Winter Games. He fell twice during his free skate at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia. “I am an athlete, and as an athlete it’s normal to keep challenging to do more and more,” Hanyu has said. ![]()
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