Yuma Kagiyama: “I had some worries like, ‘Can I make it back to where everyone else is from scratch?’ But my mindset gradually changed to moving forward steadily at my own pace.”
Translation of the interview with Yuma Kagiyama.
source: digital.asahi.com dd. 27th September 2023 by Yu Iwasa
Figure skater Yuma Kagiyama, 20, struggled with a left ankle injury last season. He missed the Grand Prix (GP) series and finished 8th in the only event he participated in, the All Japan Championships (Japanese Nationals). He mentioned having numerous discussions with his father and coach, Masakazu Kagiyama. On the other hand, he drew significant inspiration from his peers of the same generation, such as Shun Sato, 19, and Kao Miura, 18.
In a interview, Kagiyama reflected on the past year.
Last season, you suffered an injury in July and had a season where you could hardly participate in competitions. How was that year for you?
Yuma Kagiyama: It was really frustrating to get injured. But, it’s because of that period that I’ve grown into the person I am today. It became a great opportunity to identify the areas where I was lacking. I’ve learned a lot during that time, and because of that, I absolutely do not want to get injured again. Right now, I’m determined to go through the season up to the Milan-Cortina Olympics without injuries, not wasting any more seasons.
It seems like you had a year of dialogue with your father and coach, Masakazu Kagiyama.
Yuma Kagiyama: Yes, when I was considering whether to withdraw from competitions or not, I had thoughts like, ‘What should I do?’ ‘Should I endure the pain and compete?’ My father told me, ‘When thinking about the future of your figure skating career, it’s not a good idea to push yourself too hard this season. There are three more years until the Olympics. If you train properly, it will be fine.’
Eventually, I agreed with him and decided to withdraw from the GP series. However, the All Japan Championships held a special place in my heart. Many people gather there, and it’s the most intense competition in Japan. I had a strong desire to participate and hoped that they would let me compete somehow. I couldn’t give that up easily. It’s not only in words, but I practiced with all my might to show my strong desire to compete. In the end, I was allowed to participate in the All Japan Championships on the condition that I wouldn’t regret it.
It’s unusual to see you assert your own opinions so clearly with coach Masakazu Kagiyama.
Yuma Kagiyama: Yes, that’s right. I’m not the type to assert my own opinions too much. At first, it was a bit difficult to speak up, and I thought, ‘What if he gets angry?’ But I wanted to make my point here. We had multiple discussions, and I underwent regular MRI scans. I was allowed to participate based on approval from the doctor. Once I made the decision to compete, I did so with the condition that I would give it my all, regardless of the outcome.
I’m glad I participated in the All Japan Championships. Because of that frustration, my desire to compete with a fully prepared state has grown even stronger. After the All Japan Championships, I decided to take a good rest.
After the All Japan Championships, you didn’t skate for about two months. How did you spend those days?
Yuma Kagiyama: I was in a condition with my injury, so I couldn’t put too much strain on my left leg. Therefore, I focused on strengthening my upper body core on mats. I regularly had blood tests at the hospital to check for any nutritional deficiencies and received guidance from a nutritionist on nutrients to accelerate bone recovery. One thing I was lacking was vitamin D, which is found in fish. So, I started sprinkling salmon flakes on my rice and made an effort to get more sunlight. I learned that I could quickly replenish what was lacking.
You returned to the ice around the end of February after a long break. How did you feel?
Yuma Kagiyama: It felt like the one place where I could still be a figure skater. I was really happy, and it made my passion for figure skating grow even stronger.
Did you gradually increase the number of rotations in your jumps?
Yuma Kagiyama: My father made a well-structured plan. During the first week, there were no jumps; I focused on regaining my skating feel. Then, until around mid-March, I started with double jumps. I began attempting quadruple jumps during the U.S. training camp in May. I tried the salchow and surprisingly felt like I could do it. Although there was a gap in my training, my body remembered, and it was quite quick to get back into it from there.
This past year, where you couldn’t participate in competitions much, what were your thoughts?
Yuma Kagiyama: I had some worries like, ‘Can I make it back to where everyone else is from scratch?’ But my mindset gradually changed to wanting to move forward steadily at my own pace, without rushing and setting small goals. So, I didn’t have that much anxiety.
At the World Championships, Shoma Uno won back-to-back titles, and at the Four Continents Championships, Kao Miura won. How did you see the performances of Japanese skaters?
Yuma Kagiyama: I was solidly supporting the skaters who were competing. However, for events like the GP Series, I did feel a sense of regret, thinking, ‘I couldn’t stand where I should have stood.’
Were there any particular skaters who inspired you?
Yuma Kagiyama: Kao (Miura) and I have known each other for a long time, so I was really pleased to see him excel, winning at the Four Continents and the World Junior Championships. Shun (Sato) had injuries the previous season and things didn’t go as he hoped, but he still made it to the GP Final and stepped onto the podium at the Four Continents. His achievements were truly inspiring, and I felt happy. I wanted to catch up quickly.
Miura mentioned that he received advice from you before his free skate at the Four Continents.
Yuma Kagiyama: When the short program (SP) ended, I received a message like, ‘It’s tough at high altitudes, what should I do?’ I told him, ‘Breathe wherever you can breathe during the free skate, take breaks, but make sure to perform your steps carefully; I think you can achieve Level 4.’ (He achieved Level 2) so I felt a bit apologetic about that (laughs). But in the end, he won, which was truly amazing. I’ve seen Kao struggle since he was about in middle school. He used to be quite unpredictable, but recently, he’s been really consistent. So, this season, although he’s a tough opponent, I think he’ll do something incredible.
You have a close relationship with Sato and Miura. Did you have a chance to talk with them during your difficult season due to injury?
Yuma Kagiyama: We stayed at the same hotel during the All-Japan Championships. When we all went to the pool, we talked about how it would be great if the three of us could compete together in international competitions someday. Not just the Olympics but also at the World Championships or any major event, we wanted to compete together and stand on the podium. I had always had that strong desire, and it made me happy to know that they felt the same way.
Related topics: Yuma Kagiyama
Leave a Reply