Thank you mikaboo I really wanted to read this interview.
Have to rush out now for a couple of hours, but just wanted to raise a glass to Mihoko Higuchi, the cutest, smiley-est coach of the K&C today. May she never run out of gorgeous nail polish, fluffy coats and knee high boots! We salute you! And may her skaters manage their combos, get their 2A back and gain the polish and expression they respectively need to go far! Yah, Team Fluffy!
That's what I think about Kanako: she wants to skate for herself, to simply enjoy this sport regardless of the results until she retires. I wondered before why she wouldn't "just" retire and do ice shows instead, but if she still wants to enjoy the thrill of competition, then go for it, girl. Other skaters (like Leonova of Russia) also do the same, after all.And you know that they don't care, how? From a few seconds in the KnC when they know everyone is watching and cameras are on them? What do you want them to do? And about Kanako, Kanako is about the most positive skater ever. Some people might think it is a facade, but Kanako and Higuchi are well aware of her limits as a skater. Should they start crying, when the results are expected? They are self-aware which is better than acting all defeated and shocked. Maybe she is still happy to be there, even if it doesn't work for her anymore. She hit her peak a long time ago and wanted to stop skating after Sochi. I doubt we will ever see the Kanako of old again and maybe she just wants to enjoy her last international competitions before she retires. Not everybody needs the strict coach approach.
Coach Yamada crushing one of her favorite students (at the Japan Open) in a big bear hug. Off camera, Florent Amodio and Javi are enjoying the hug too and can't help but laugh. https://www.instagram.com/p/BLCi5wKguoq/?tagged=shomauno