Part 2 of 2
https://sports.yahoo.co.jp/column/detail/201705150006-spnavi?p=2
-- You entered graduate school this April. In terms of your career after retirement it should be a good move for you.
At this moment my future plan is to be a coach and after I graduated from college nothing has changed particularly. But I will be studying subjects in various fields and I would like to retain the knowledge which will be helpful when I become a coach.
-- How many years from now do you plan to become a coach?
No idea at all. I’m not even thinking about when to retire. I want to keep skating until I feel I have done everything I could or burned out. So I haven’t decided yet.
-- Do you talk about retirement with the skaters your age?
We often do. Yuzuru (Hanyu) and Hino (Ryuju) are the same age as I am, and when we talk about retirement it leads to a question of when. We haven’t decided yet exactly when but we say things like “Let’s go on a trip somewhere or hang out together.” [laughs]
“Yuzuru is the same as before.”
-- What are they to you, Tanaka senshu?
The first time we met we were at Nobeyama camp, and since that time we have been competing alongside. As we have competed together since we were Novice we knew each other’s progress. For example, when I heard that Yuzuru landed a triple Axel I felt challenged and motivated. Thanks to them I was able to spend my Novice and Junior years with a positive sense of urgency. They helped me keep motivated.
-- What are your first impressions of them?
Hino-kun was very quiet and gentle. Yuzuru hasn’t changed over time [laughs]. (At Nobeyama camp) the first time someone ever talked to me, it was Yuzuru. We were standing in line and he was in front of me and he introduced himself to me saying, “I’m Yuzuru Hanyu.” He is still the same as before. He hasn’t changed at all [laughs].
-- These two skaters must have played an essential part in the progress of Tanaka senshu. Can you tell us any specific incident where you felt you needed to work harder?
It was when Yuzuru won Japan Junior Nationals. I became aware of the difference between him and me. He moved up to the senior level right after that and stayed competitive in the senior field as well and kept rising up. I closely watched him growing into a great skater.
-- Did you feel a little frustrated lagging behind him?
Of course I was very frustrated in myself. But it doesn’t do me any good if I keep frustrated. I had known him since we were little and I had no problem accepting the fact that he was great. I knew I could not progress at such a fast pace, and Hino-kun and I agreed that we would move forward little by little at a steady pace. I was glad we could finally compete together on the same stage at NHK Trophy last year.
He still has a long skating career ahead of him.
-- Next year the Olympics will be held.
At the Worlds I realized that I was not yet at the level to go for the Olympics. Now I only have less than a year left, and depending on how I train this year it can go either way. First of all I have to complete the tasks before me and make a solid plan that goes beyond that to aim for the Olympics. Every year is important but this year is going to be even more important; how much I can push myself is the key. I think it is essential that I make progress by clearing every issue I face so that I can make the Olympics team.
-- What is the Olympics to you, Tanaka senshu?
It is all athletes’ dream stage, and if you skate your best there, your performance is watched by figure skating fans and many other people as well. Your life may change after participating in the Olympics. In the last Sochi Olympics Yuzuru, Machida (Tatsuki) kun, and Takahashi (Daisuke) senshu looked radiating and it made me think that you will feel a huge sense of accomplishment after delivering the best performances.
-- In terms of your career what does the Olympics mean to you.
If I can deliver my ideal performance 100% on that stage, I will feel a different sense of accomplishment which I never felt before. In my skating career Olympics would be my biggest goal, but it should not be enough. I would like to compete at every competition with the same level of motivation as I would have at the Olympics so that I will be able to deliver satisfying performances as much as possible, and the Olympics would give me a sense of accomplishment at the highest level. In my skating career ahead of me the Olympics will be a guidepost for me, and I want to see beyond that. I still have a long skating life.
https://sports.yahoo.co.jp/column/detail/201705150006-spnavi?p=2
-- You entered graduate school this April. In terms of your career after retirement it should be a good move for you.
At this moment my future plan is to be a coach and after I graduated from college nothing has changed particularly. But I will be studying subjects in various fields and I would like to retain the knowledge which will be helpful when I become a coach.
-- How many years from now do you plan to become a coach?
No idea at all. I’m not even thinking about when to retire. I want to keep skating until I feel I have done everything I could or burned out. So I haven’t decided yet.
-- Do you talk about retirement with the skaters your age?
We often do. Yuzuru (Hanyu) and Hino (Ryuju) are the same age as I am, and when we talk about retirement it leads to a question of when. We haven’t decided yet exactly when but we say things like “Let’s go on a trip somewhere or hang out together.” [laughs]
“Yuzuru is the same as before.”
-- What are they to you, Tanaka senshu?
The first time we met we were at Nobeyama camp, and since that time we have been competing alongside. As we have competed together since we were Novice we knew each other’s progress. For example, when I heard that Yuzuru landed a triple Axel I felt challenged and motivated. Thanks to them I was able to spend my Novice and Junior years with a positive sense of urgency. They helped me keep motivated.
-- What are your first impressions of them?
Hino-kun was very quiet and gentle. Yuzuru hasn’t changed over time [laughs]. (At Nobeyama camp) the first time someone ever talked to me, it was Yuzuru. We were standing in line and he was in front of me and he introduced himself to me saying, “I’m Yuzuru Hanyu.” He is still the same as before. He hasn’t changed at all [laughs].
-- These two skaters must have played an essential part in the progress of Tanaka senshu. Can you tell us any specific incident where you felt you needed to work harder?
It was when Yuzuru won Japan Junior Nationals. I became aware of the difference between him and me. He moved up to the senior level right after that and stayed competitive in the senior field as well and kept rising up. I closely watched him growing into a great skater.
-- Did you feel a little frustrated lagging behind him?
Of course I was very frustrated in myself. But it doesn’t do me any good if I keep frustrated. I had known him since we were little and I had no problem accepting the fact that he was great. I knew I could not progress at such a fast pace, and Hino-kun and I agreed that we would move forward little by little at a steady pace. I was glad we could finally compete together on the same stage at NHK Trophy last year.
He still has a long skating career ahead of him.
-- Next year the Olympics will be held.
At the Worlds I realized that I was not yet at the level to go for the Olympics. Now I only have less than a year left, and depending on how I train this year it can go either way. First of all I have to complete the tasks before me and make a solid plan that goes beyond that to aim for the Olympics. Every year is important but this year is going to be even more important; how much I can push myself is the key. I think it is essential that I make progress by clearing every issue I face so that I can make the Olympics team.
-- What is the Olympics to you, Tanaka senshu?
It is all athletes’ dream stage, and if you skate your best there, your performance is watched by figure skating fans and many other people as well. Your life may change after participating in the Olympics. In the last Sochi Olympics Yuzuru, Machida (Tatsuki) kun, and Takahashi (Daisuke) senshu looked radiating and it made me think that you will feel a huge sense of accomplishment after delivering the best performances.
-- In terms of your career what does the Olympics mean to you.
If I can deliver my ideal performance 100% on that stage, I will feel a different sense of accomplishment which I never felt before. In my skating career Olympics would be my biggest goal, but it should not be enough. I would like to compete at every competition with the same level of motivation as I would have at the Olympics so that I will be able to deliver satisfying performances as much as possible, and the Olympics would give me a sense of accomplishment at the highest level. In my skating career ahead of me the Olympics will be a guidepost for me, and I want to see beyond that. I still have a long skating life.