Yuzuru Hanyu: “I skated to achieve results. Achieving something always brought joy to others. Back then, I believed deeply that self-satisfaction wasn’t good enough – that’s something I still feel, although the nuance has shifted slightly.”
Yuzuru Hanyu reflects on growth and artistic pursuits in celebration of his third year as a professional skater.
original source: Hochi News / Hochi News dd. July 15th 2025
Yuzuru Hanyu, a two-time Olympic figure skating champion, marks his third anniversary as a professional skater on July 19. To commemorate this milestone, a special five-part interview series is being published by Sports Hochi. In the first two parts of the series, Hanyu delves into his reflections from the past year of learning and shares insights about his artistic aspirations and global perspective, including collaborations and his desire to experience more of the world. Here’s a translation of his comments posted on Hochi News.
“It’s been a year where I realized just how little I knew and how much there was to learn. As I studied different things, I often thought, ‘I managed to come this far without knowing this, without developing certain skills.’ This past year, I’ve been able to identify areas where I was lacking,” he told.
Hanyu has always shown interest in philosophical questions, and this led him to embed philosophical themes into his ice story performance, Echoes of Life.
“I’ve always touched on topics related to the philosophy of life in broad terms, but while working on ‘Echoes,’ I made an effort to study the philosophies and ideas proposed by renowned philosophers to enhance the dialogue of the guide character. As I learned more about philosophy, I discovered that the thoughts I’ve held might be intertwined with theories that have existed before. It made me wonder if I’m simply grappling with ideas that Socrates wrestled with centuries ago. Beyond that, I delved into history, examining how past ideas connect to present ones.”
Hanyu compared this intellectual process to understanding jump theory in figure skating: “I realized that my jumps, which I thought I executed instinctively, were backed by specific theories that enabled the precision in my body movements. This year has been all about discovery – understanding these aspects and refining what I’ve already built on while also digesting the knowledge I’m continuously gaining.”
Hanyu emphasized the importance of continual learning, fueled by his competitive career: “As an athlete, I’m accustomed to setting clear goals and working toward them daily. This has instilled the habit of approaching challenges systematically – whether it’s mastering physical techniques or studying philosophy or artistry. In that sense, I’m grateful for having pursued sports; it’s shaped how I learn and approach every endeavor.”
Hanyu’s professional career has brought him into contact with trailblazers from various fields. In his third year, he performed in Notte Stellata, an ice show where he collaborated with Kyogen actor Mansai Nomura. The experience deeply influenced Hanyu’s understanding of expression.
“Mansai Nomura was right there in front of me during ‘Notte.’ He danced with me, performed alongside me, and I felt his presence so strongly. It was as if he transported me to another dimension – a world he wanted to show me. Watching him brought the world of ‘Mansai Bolero,’ a fusion of Ravel’s ‘Bolero’ and the traditional Kyogen piece ‘Sanbaso,’ to life for me. The depth and mastery Nomura has achieved in his art are far beyond my reach as someone who has ‘only’ spent 26 years in skating. Nomura’s lifelong dedication to his craft left me in awe, and without teaching me directly or telling me to learn, his mere presence urged me to reflect on the profound potential of expression.”
Hanyu has been skating since the age of four. During his competitive career, a focus on “records over memories” drove him.
“I skated to achieve results. Of course, when I first started skating, my motivation was rooted in joy – seeing my coach and parents happy when I succeeded. But that happiness was undeniably tied to results. Achieving something always brought joy to others. That’s why I prioritized records over memories. Even my two Olympic gold medals in Pyeongchang and Sochi are remembered through the history-books first, and the memories tied to them follow. Back then, I believed deeply that self-satisfaction wasn’t good enough – that’s something I still feel, although the nuance has shifted slightly.”
Now, as a professional athlete, Hanyu is committed to delivering his best work for those who believe in him and attend his performances.
“There are billions of people in the world, and each of them has their own expectations. I know I can’t meet everyone’s desires, but I strive to create something that resonates deeply with those who want to see and experience my creativity.”
In the interview, Hanyu expressed his newfound desire to experience the world, specifically mentioning London. “Right now, I have this overwhelming urge to visit London!” he said with a laugh, admitting he has never been there. “The cloudy skies and the distinctive cityscape caught my attention on a post I saw online. I feel there’s something special to be experienced in that atmosphere.”
He connected this feeling to how visitors might view Japanese scenery as unique and inspiring: “When people visit Japan, they might feel the distinctiveness of its landscapes, just as I imagine feeling a connection with the scenery in London. These environments become part of the package that enhances the experience of the art or culture tied to them.”
Hanyu hopes to create ice stories that inspire people worldwide, allowing audiences to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of Japan while experiencing his work.
“Though my art can’t exist forever like paintings or sculptures, we live in a digital age where performances can be preserved. I want my ice stories to be something that people choose to experience live, bringing them to Japan and allowing them to absorb the full atmosphere of the performance.”
During his competitive career, Hanyu frequently traveled to compete abroad but had little time for sightseeing. Now, he feels a growing desire to absorb world cultures and expand his knowledge.
“For example, when I performed Hope & Legacy at Worlds in Helsinki, I felt it was shaped by the atmosphere of Helsinki itself. Similarly, Worlds in Nice was influenced by its Mediterranean climate, the resort-like surroundings, and even the temporary venue where the competition was held. These experiences taught me to appreciate the cultural backdrop of artistic expressions, something I had previously overlooked.”
Hanyu emphasized the importance of exploring globally recognized “good things” to enhance his artistic foundation: “I realize now that I can’t promote my work to the world without first immersing myself in the great cultural experiences others value. To offer something universal, I need to deepen my education and expand my horizons.”
Related topics: Yuzuru Hanyu
If you don’t like Hanyu, that’s fine. We all have our favs. To call him a joke of a skater and overrated, well, that’s certainly a choice. To measure the greatness of a skater by how many quads they land is not only an ever moving goalpost, but it’s also a rather narrow view of what figure skating is.
Can we just please already stop talking about this overrated skater? We all remember that he can only jump quad sal and quad toe reliably. Even in his last olympic year he couldnt land a quad sal. He landed 2 quad lutzes in his entire life and he rarely successfully landed the loop either. He is absolutely overrated just because he held together 2 back to back clean performances ( which he never replicated ever again ) in 2015! that’s ten years ago!. Its really pathetic if you think about it. He scores close to 220 with just three quads whereas skaters these days dont even reach 200 for three quads. What a joke of a skater he is.