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Full report will come later, but I wanted to share this year’s present for Kazuki!

#kazuki tomono #figure skating #team japan #skate america 2019

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Kazuki updated his hobbies in his ISU profile 😂😂😂

Misha is also now officially listed as one of his coaches!

#kazuki tomono #figure skating #team japan

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Sooo... this is actually the final part of Kazuki’s Asahi Shimbun “Future Note” feature, I was stupid busy last week, and for some reason part 3 is giving my brain all sorts of trouble, part 4 however was well behaved and so you all get things out of order.

As usual, I’m not a professional, just a tenacious amateur.

Hanyu - Uno - Takahashi… Figure Skater Tomono Looks Up to His Rivals

Right now, men’s figure skating is at the highest level ever. Kazuki Tomono (Doshisha U.) is competing with his rivals, Yuzuru Hanyu (ANA), Shoma Uno (Toyota) and Daisuke Takahashi (Kansai U.). Tomono, who is aiming for the Olympics in Beijing three years from now, shared his thoughts on these rivals.

“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.

And from now on he will continue to follow his path, having faith that the Beijing Olympics are waiting.  

#the sweetest boy #I love hearing about how he sees other skaters #kazuki tomono #Asahi Shimbun #translation #fs translation #team japan #figure skating

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Asahi Shimbun released the digital version of part two of their “Future Note” feature on Kazuki a few days early due to the popularity of the first part!

As usual, I am not a pro translator and I don’t exactly have a way with words, so excuse any awkward phrasing. At age 5, mens Figure Skater Kazuki Tomono (Doshisha U.) had a meeting with destiny. In boyhood he hit a wall and began to feel the intensity of competition. In his grade school graduation letter he said things like “I want to jump all of the triple jumps, and I also want to get good results in my middle school classes” and “ In middle school I want to work my hardest to study and skate”. 

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?

“Well, it was fun. I never wanted to stop. I didn’t particularly learn jumping at first, so it gave me the same feeling as baseball. Because I was playing. At that time I was really afraid of my coach, I was like a robot (lol). I don’t have any particular memories of him getting angry or speaking to me harshly...but I was scared. I would always obey before he could get mad (lol).

#I love the relationship he and his coach have #kazuki tomono #translation #asahi shimbun #team japan #figure skating

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For the next 4 weeks, Asahi Shimbun’s weekly Sunday “Mirai Nooto” (Future Note) feature is on Kazuki!

I’ve translated this week’s article which is about his childhood and how he came to love sports.

Usual disclaimer: I’m not a professional translator, just a fan with solid basic japanese knowledge and a whole heaping of tenacity.

The Small Lively Boy.

Though his body was small, he was an extremely active boy. On May 15th 1998, mens figure skater Kazuki Tomono (21) was born in Osaka. Though he had no problems with his health, he only weighed 1995g. The doctor wanted him to stay in the hospital until he reached 2500g, so he was hospitalized for one month.

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.

His parent’s policy was “do what you like with all your heart”. In karate and softball, there were areas where he couldn’t match a larger opponent. But he never complained, he absolutely never said “I don’t want to go, I want to quit”. However, he made a decision in grade school. “I always want to keep skating”

#my heart #this was hard to translate because I kept being overwhelmed by the cute #kazuki tomono #translation #fs translation #team japan #figure skating

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Preview of Kazuki’s new SP from FSTV!!!

It’s wonderful to see him working with Phillip Mills, I can’t wait to see the finished program!

#i'm really excited #and kazuki's face when phillip asked tsukareta? is a whole ass mood" #kazuki tomono #phillip mills #2019/2020 season #team japan #figure skating

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Kazuki’s Moulin Rouge FS, choreographed by Misha Ge

#!!! #amazing #kazuki tomono #misha ge #dreams on ice #2019/2020 season #team japan #figure skating

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Kazuki wore his 2016/2017 SP costume in the opening number, and I believe also for his program at Dreams on Ice.

#Booooooooy #damn #I know the hotness has been creeping up but #hot damn #kazuki tomono #dreams on ice #team japan #figure skating #やばいやばいやばい

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Kazuki debuted his 2019/2020 FS “Moulin Rouge” at Dreams on Ice today!

#kazuki tomono #moulin rouge #dreams on ice #2019/2020 season #team japan #figure skating

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4S+3T!!!

from Kazuki’s instastory

#kazuki tomono #team japan #figure skating

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Kazuki’s new EX, “Freaks” by Timmy Trumpet & Savage at Prince Ice World

#kazuki tomono #I just.... #this is one of the best things I've ever seen in my life #Boy is living his best life and I'm here for it #timmy trumpet #Timmy Trumpet & Savage - Freaks #ice show #Prince ice world #team japan #figure skating #2019/2020 season #piw 2019

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Kazuki announced his SP, The Hardest Button to Button, choreographed by Phillip Mills.

He shared this video of a Royal Ballet performance on twitter

#kazuki tomono #2019/2020 season #!!! #i'm so excited #team japan #figure skating #royal ballet

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Happy 21st Birthday to Kazuki!!!

Wishing you a year of smiles and success!

#kazuki tomono #team japan #figure skating

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by 本田真凜 Marin Honda (@marin_honda) on May 5, 2019 at 8:39pm PDT

Otters for the Best Otter! (from Kazuki Tomono’s IG story)

#figure skating #kazuki tomono #marin honda #shoma uno #piw 2019 #team japan

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4lo attempt from Kazuki’s instastory

#I knew he was planning to try it #but seeing it has me shook #Kazuki Tomono #team japan #figure skating #4lo #quad loop #jesus boy #though really I shouldn't be surprised #his 3lo is really one of his best jump

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Misha Ge announced on twitter and IG that Kazuki’s FS next season will be to Moulin Rouge.

https://twitter.com/mishageofficial/status/1114877196177297409

#kazuki tomono #Misha Ge #figure skating #team japan #2019/2020 season #sorry I've been mia of late #life is a thing

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Today in Japan it’s “Seijin no Hi”, a coming of age ceremony for everyone who turned 20 in the previous year. Ladies usually wear Kimono, while men generally go for western formal wear.

Kazuki looks so dapper and grown up in his new suit!

#kazuki tomono #i'm sorry i've been neglecting this page #sick cat + holidays makes for fewer updates #also a sick cat severely cuts in to ones FS magazine fund #kitty is doing great now and is oblivious to the fact that her illness is the reason there are no new magazines for her to sneeze on #back to kazuki #am I seeing a member of team japan in a well tailored suit? #I think I am #I'm not sure how to handle that #seijin no hi #成人の日