Daisuke Takahashi: “I want to create an environment where skaters can stay as skaters for a long time.”
Daisuke Takahashi about retirement.
source: hochi.news
Figure skater Daisuke Takahashi, who announced his retirement from competitive skating on May 1st, attended a press conference on the 14th in Osaka for “THE ICE 2023”.
In this summer ice show, which is full of collaborations with top skaters from around the world, Takahashi will perform as part of the “KanaDai” pair with Kana Muramoro. Additionally, they will set up a stage on the ice and both Takahashi & Kevin Aymoz (Unit A) and Junhwan Cha & Ilia Malinin (Unit B) will take off their skates and showcase a serious dance routine. Takahashi mentioned, “Taking off the skates and dancing is also a challenge. He (Kevin Aymoz) is an athlete who is very good at showcasing, and since we are about the same height, I don’t know yet what genre of music or dance it will be, but I expect something really good.”
It has been a month since the press conference announcing his retirement from competitive skating. He appeared with silver hair and purple highlights and jokingly said, “Purple doesn’t suit me, so I’ll remove the color.” Regarding his realization of retirement, he said with a smile, “When I retired the first time (from singles skating), it was a retirement without a clear vision, without goals, and I faded away. But this time, my desire to be involved in entertainment hasn’t changed, so I could retire with the feeling that it’s the next stage. It feels really refreshing, like looking forward.” He expressed his intention to continue performing in ice dance with Kana Muramoto, as well as solo activities if there are offers, and said, “I’m also interested in producing my own ice shows, and I like fashion. Without being too fixated, since I might die tomorrow, I want to live the present moment to the fullest.”
At the age of 37, Takahashi has set the period until the age of 40 as an input period and demonstrates an active attitude towards various challenges. He spoke with a serious gaze, saying, “I want to create an environment where skaters can stay as skaters for a long time. It’s difficult to continue to excel as an active skater, but if there are opportunities to showcase as entertainment or expand such platforms, I think more skaters will continue for a longer time.”
This will be Takahashi’s first appearance in “THE ICE” in six years since 2017. He promoted the show by saying, “I’m really looking forward to performing in my second hometown, Osaka, and I think it will be a very energetic performance as KanaDai. I hope you can come and see it.”
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