This is Sota at age 14. Here's an excerpt from Sota interview by “Figure Skating Days”vol.18.
The interview was done around April 2014 after his Junior debut season (2013-2014).
https://ameblo.jp/kmn-psn/entry-12235561864.html
He finished 11th at JGPF, 6th at Japan Junior Nationals, 14th at Japan Nationals, 1st at All Japan Middle School Championships.
Translation:
Note: I skipped the paragraphs about how he started skating and moved to Nagoya, since these are the same old stories. The remarks inside (← ) are the actual results achieved, which were added by the blogger.
From admiration to aspiration
-- How did you feel when you watched Yuzuru Hanyu senshu win the gold medal at Sochi Olympics?
I could not watch him live because I went to bed early to be ready for the morning practice. I learned the result before leaving home. I was really happy. I want to train hard to achieve the goal of going to PeongChang Olympics together with Hanyu senshu in four years.
-- So you will work hard chasing behind Hanyu senshu.
I have been admiring Hanyu senshu for some time. When I move up to the senior circuit I will be competing with seniors including Hanyu senshu. I will turn my admiration into aspiration and would like to keep doing my best so that I will be able to compete with him on the same stage.
-- What type of skater do you think you are?
I think I am good at skating skills and I can pick up speed. I use my speed in jump take-off. But in the free I get exhausted in the second half and lose speed. This is the issue I need to tackle. Without enough speed my jump take-off is not good at all. I jog every morning from 5 o’clock to increase my stamina so that I can skate without losing steam in the second half. Also I want to work on expressions more, because there’s a part of me that still feels a little embarrassed.
-- I get the impression that you take things very seriously. Do you think you are like that?
Skating is on my mind all the time. Even while I wait for the traffic light to turn on my way to school, I hum the program song or do some exercises such as one foot standing or stretching.
-- What kind of song do you hum?
I often watch the free program of Hanyu senshu and I hum the tune of Romeo and Juliet. I would like to skate to Romeo and Juliet some day.
-- Looking back on your first junior season of 13-14, what are your thoughts on the season?
In the free when I failed jumps in the first half it affected my skate in the second half as well, and as a result my points dropped each time. Thanks to the points carried over from the short I held onto the top group overall. That’s how I competed at each event throughout the season. I entered the free at my first Japan Nationals fired up to go for my best skate of the season. But I made mistakes again and I felt frustrated.
-- How did you feel about the big stage where you competed with top skaters in Japan?
I was in the third group in the free. I was in the same group as Takahito Mura senshu and Kento Nakamura senshu. During the official practice and 6-minute warmup I was overwhelmed by their presence and I kept avoiding them. I could not help noticing their kicking into the ice because the sound was so powerful and I ended up watching them jump. I could not concentrate.
The Olympics is the final goal.
-- You want to start off the new season with good results at junior GPS.
I want to train to be in top form to get good evaluation so that I can get two assignments for sure. (←accomplished) My goals next season are to win a medal at Japan Junior Nationals (←accomplished), participate in Japan Nationals (←accomplished), and go to the Junior Worlds (←accomplished). I am in the third year of middle school, and Hanyu senshu won the gold medal at Junior Worlds in his third year of middle school. I have to do my best as well (←bronze meal).
-- Then you will have to make yourself known to the world as a rising star following Hanyu senshu.
My strengths are speed and jumps and it would be great if I could get recognition for executing high-quality jumps.
What is your dream as a skater?
As long as I skate my ultimate goal is the Olympics. My final goal is not only going to the Olympics but also to win the gold medal.
-- Aside from skating what is your dream?
After I retire from skating I want to go back to Osaka to be with my grandparents. My grandparents saw me off when I left for Nagoya. While we are far away from each other they have been supporting me in many ways. If I can get a medal at the Olympics in the future, I want to put my medal on them.
-- Next season what do you want your fans to pay attention to?
I would like them to watch me land clean jumps throughout the free program.(←accomplished) As for triple Axel I am going to challenge landing one in the short and two in the free. (←accomplished in mid-season)
The interview was done around April 2014 after his Junior debut season (2013-2014).
https://ameblo.jp/kmn-psn/entry-12235561864.html
He finished 11th at JGPF, 6th at Japan Junior Nationals, 14th at Japan Nationals, 1st at All Japan Middle School Championships.
Translation:
Note: I skipped the paragraphs about how he started skating and moved to Nagoya, since these are the same old stories. The remarks inside (← ) are the actual results achieved, which were added by the blogger.
From admiration to aspiration
-- How did you feel when you watched Yuzuru Hanyu senshu win the gold medal at Sochi Olympics?
I could not watch him live because I went to bed early to be ready for the morning practice. I learned the result before leaving home. I was really happy. I want to train hard to achieve the goal of going to PeongChang Olympics together with Hanyu senshu in four years.
-- So you will work hard chasing behind Hanyu senshu.
I have been admiring Hanyu senshu for some time. When I move up to the senior circuit I will be competing with seniors including Hanyu senshu. I will turn my admiration into aspiration and would like to keep doing my best so that I will be able to compete with him on the same stage.
-- What type of skater do you think you are?
I think I am good at skating skills and I can pick up speed. I use my speed in jump take-off. But in the free I get exhausted in the second half and lose speed. This is the issue I need to tackle. Without enough speed my jump take-off is not good at all. I jog every morning from 5 o’clock to increase my stamina so that I can skate without losing steam in the second half. Also I want to work on expressions more, because there’s a part of me that still feels a little embarrassed.
-- I get the impression that you take things very seriously. Do you think you are like that?
Skating is on my mind all the time. Even while I wait for the traffic light to turn on my way to school, I hum the program song or do some exercises such as one foot standing or stretching.
-- What kind of song do you hum?
I often watch the free program of Hanyu senshu and I hum the tune of Romeo and Juliet. I would like to skate to Romeo and Juliet some day.
-- Looking back on your first junior season of 13-14, what are your thoughts on the season?
In the free when I failed jumps in the first half it affected my skate in the second half as well, and as a result my points dropped each time. Thanks to the points carried over from the short I held onto the top group overall. That’s how I competed at each event throughout the season. I entered the free at my first Japan Nationals fired up to go for my best skate of the season. But I made mistakes again and I felt frustrated.
-- How did you feel about the big stage where you competed with top skaters in Japan?
I was in the third group in the free. I was in the same group as Takahito Mura senshu and Kento Nakamura senshu. During the official practice and 6-minute warmup I was overwhelmed by their presence and I kept avoiding them. I could not help noticing their kicking into the ice because the sound was so powerful and I ended up watching them jump. I could not concentrate.
The Olympics is the final goal.
-- You want to start off the new season with good results at junior GPS.
I want to train to be in top form to get good evaluation so that I can get two assignments for sure. (←accomplished) My goals next season are to win a medal at Japan Junior Nationals (←accomplished), participate in Japan Nationals (←accomplished), and go to the Junior Worlds (←accomplished). I am in the third year of middle school, and Hanyu senshu won the gold medal at Junior Worlds in his third year of middle school. I have to do my best as well (←bronze meal).
-- Then you will have to make yourself known to the world as a rising star following Hanyu senshu.
My strengths are speed and jumps and it would be great if I could get recognition for executing high-quality jumps.
What is your dream as a skater?
As long as I skate my ultimate goal is the Olympics. My final goal is not only going to the Olympics but also to win the gold medal.
-- Aside from skating what is your dream?
After I retire from skating I want to go back to Osaka to be with my grandparents. My grandparents saw me off when I left for Nagoya. While we are far away from each other they have been supporting me in many ways. If I can get a medal at the Olympics in the future, I want to put my medal on them.
-- Next season what do you want your fans to pay attention to?
I would like them to watch me land clean jumps throughout the free program.(←accomplished) As for triple Axel I am going to challenge landing one in the short and two in the free. (←accomplished in mid-season)