Continues ~with Wings~ Day 1 / Talk with Johnny

Translation post 35

Original language: Japanese (except Johnny's comments)

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 28:32-42:48

(After Jeff Buttle finished skating "For Forever")

PA announcer: From here, we are going to present to you an entertaining talk section between a guest skater and Hanyu san. What kind of talk will they have? Can't wait to hear it! Now, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the stage, Yuzuru Hanyu!

(Hanyu goes on stage while Let's Go Crazy is being played)

Hanyu: OK. Hello, everyone. (Laughs) You know, this makes me so nervous.

(Audience laugh)

Hanyu: I am really nervous… Uhm, fortunately, this time, so many… well, not so many, but great skaters have kindly gathered here for this show, and we have this talk session, so I would like to interview skaters that I love to interview. This is such a section. So, please watch this thinking that I am reporter Yuzuru Hanyu. (Laughs) Now, let me introduce our guest, Mr. Johnny Weir!

(Johnny goes on stage dancing to Lady Gaga's Poker Face)

Hanyu: (After exchanging a hug with Johnny) Thank you. (Gladly) He gave me a nice hug.

(Audience laugh)

Hanyu: (In English) Please sit down.

Johnny: (To the audience) Konbanwa. (=Good evening) Hehehe. Arigato gozaimasu. (=Thank you so much)

(Johnny, Hanyu, Kaori Niimura (MC and interpreter) take their seats)

Hanyu: OK.

Johnny: Don't be nervous!

Hanyu: I am, already. (Laughs) OK. (Opening a notebook on his lap) Now I would like to throw questions I would like to ask one by one!

Johnny: Special interview book, Yuzu kun?

Hanyu: Yeah! (After hearing Johnny's words through Niimura san) Hehehe. Hahaha~. OK, first question. What do you like most about figure skating, Johnny san?

Johnny: The thing I like most about figure skating is the ability to take my audience away, away from everyday normalcy, away from bad things, even away from good things. I like to transport my audience with me when I'm performing because, for me, it's my happy place, and it's my honor and joy to be able to skate for my fans, for my audience. My favorite part about it. And also it's very fast.

Hanyu: (Nods with a big smile)

Hanyu: (After hearing Niimura san's translation) I agree. Wow, great answer. Uhm, is figure skating a sport for you? Or is it art?

Johnny: Both. Hehehe… For me, I of course like the artistry of skating. It's what made me interested in figure skating when I watched Oksana Baiul won the Olympic Games. Her artistry, her costuming, and the ability to make the world stand up is what caught my attention with figure skating. Of course, I love to jump, I love to spin, but just… the ability to perform to music and show people your heart is the most attractive thing of figure skating to me.

Hanyu: (After hearing Niimura san's translation) Now you mentioned Oksana Baiul senshu… or Should I call Oksana Baiul san? Is there anyone, including non-figure skaters or animation characters that you admire as your hero, idol, or role model?

Johnny: So, I have a long list… When I just started to skate, my heroes were Irina Srutskya san and Evgeny Plushenko.

Hanyu: (As Niimura san is translating) Wow. I didn't know that…

Johnny: And of course, through my carrier, I have admired so many celebrities, and singers and actors, but the people that I most admire, I think, are Christina Aguilera, and Lady Gaga because they are individuals, they are unique, and they let their talent speak for them.

Hanyu: Uh-huh.

Johnny: (After Niimura san finished translating) And now that I am an old lady… (Laughs) I have to watch some skaters to make myself want to go practice and want to train because life is so busy now. Thus for me, I need some inspiration. So, of course, I watch videos and listen to the songs of my heroes. But now, to make me excited to go skating and to practice, I watch Evgenia Medvedeva and Yuzuru Hanyu.

(Audience applaud while Hanyu is bowing down feeling awkward)

Hanyu: (After Niimura san finished translating) Thank you so much. Well, er… As you know, the theme of this show is "Continues," and uh… now I heard that Johnny san used to admire Pluschenko san… and Srutskya san as well. I, of course, have my own list of skaters I admire, and Plushenko san is one of them, and after Johnny san went up, I mean, grew up and became one of the skaters I could watch on TV, I got fascinated by Johnny san's performances. I think it is amazing that we have such a connection, and it gave me goosebumps.

Johnny: Arigato, Yuzu kun.

Hanyu: Goosebumps… Oh, it has already been translated. (Laughs) OK. There is a thing I found intriguing in your comment, so… although I have prepared cue cards and questions, I am going to skip them. You mentioned Lady Gaga, and I would like to ask a little more about it. "Poker Face" was played here a while ago. When you pick a piece of music for your program, do you choose it by yourself, or is there someone who inspires you to pick it?

Johnny: I always choose my music. I am this kind of character where I have to be in control of every piece of what I present to the world, because, in my opinion, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. (Listens to Niimura san as she translates his comment) So when I choose music, it can be a very long process. Sometimes I would be driving my car and sometimes comes on the radio, and I'm like, "(Gasps) I have to skate to that!" but usually, the music that touches my heart are the pieces that I use, and then… when I am able to skate with my heart, my audience can feel that. So, whether it's Poker Face or Ave Maria, everything comes from my heart, and that makes my performances so much more interesting for me to skate every day.

(Johnny and Hanyu wait for Niimura san to finish her translation. As she gets close to the end of translation, they applaud her for her skill and effort since the comment is very long)

Hanyu: (As Niimura san finished her translation) Wonderful.

Johnny: (To Niimura san) Such a long translation. I am sorry. (Laughs)

Hanyu: (To Niimura san) Do we still have time?

Niimura: Yes.

Hanyu: We do? OK. So… you make your programs getting inspirations from many things. When I see you performing such a program, I get the impression that beauty and passion coexist in your performance. This impression intensified after you turned professional. (Wait a moment for Niimura san to catch up and finds out that she is also waiting for him) Uh… Hehehe… Well, actually, during practice sessions, Johnny san devotes much time to jumps as well. He attempts 3A too. I have said this once in a press conference, but I strongly feel that all the techniques, including jumps, are the essential components of expression and artistry, and I wonder what jumps in a program means to Johnny san. I love Johnny san's programs so much, and I think they will hold even without jumps, but only with spins, steps, and his performance, so I wonder how Johnny san position jumps in his skating.

Johnny: Arigatou. (Laughs) Uh… for me, I still practice all of my jumps because I think life is a continuous struggle to be better than yourself, and every day whether it's as an athlete or as a person, to be better than the day before. So, that's why I still practice all of my jumps. For the performances, I do, sometimes, easier jumps because it's important for me to make sure the show is good, and now that I am professional, I have that ability to, sort of, do this. I don't need to do so many quads. (Looks at Hanyu and nods, touching Hanyu's arm)

Hanyu: (Returns nods and laughs)

Johnny: Hehe… And uh… Yeah, what drives me to be better every day is the fact that I can be better than the day before. So for me, the performance needs to be very artistic, and I want people to laugh and cry, whatever the feeling I want them to be with me on the ice, and uh… it's the emotion that drives me.

Hanyu: (Nods deeply and listens to Niimura san's translation) I see… (Applauds)

Niimura: (Off-mic) It's about time.

Hanyu: OK. Thank you so much. Although I have so many things I want to ask you, looks like time is up. I am so sad to have to end this section, but Johnny Weir san, thank you so much! (Bows)

Johnny: (Bows to Hanyu) Arigatou gozaimashita. (To the audience) Arigatou gozaimasu.

(They stood up and leave the stage)

PA announcer: Thank you very much. That was a fun talk. Everyone, please give a big hand to Hanyu san and Johnny Weir san again! Thank you, Johnny! Thank you, Yuzuru!

Continues to "Continues ~with Wings~ (4) Introduction of Minoru Sano"

Other posts on Continues ~with Wings~

Continues ~with Wings~ figure skating commentary CiONTU Yuzuru Hanyu Johnny Weir CiONTU day 1