Kazuki Tomono

For anyone who hasn't seen Kazuki's Summer Cup performances yet and are interested here are Google Drive links to the cuts I made.

SP https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-UoFu_lAns_A85YvjKk6lQy2ADJLICwL/view?usp=sharing
FS https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-ai439dhAyQPmiHueOX2QpHDnc4jmxIr/view?usp=sharing

Just a heads up, I had to stream and record the event using my phone so the quality of the final edits are not very good.
Since internal audio cannot be captured on mobile devices the audio is extremely tinny.
Also, soon after he starts performing his SP the stream buffers for a couple of seconds.

Please let me know if there is any problems accessing the files or with playback.

A huge to tsuyoboogie, I finally got to watch his new programs. His SP is just If it's this good (minus spins) at this stage it's going to knock everybody's socks off when the season is in full swing. He'll just need to have enough energy to perform that wonderful and exhausting choreo, like seriously every single beat is used :roll9:
As for his FS, I agree with Tsurara-san that the cut could've been more continuously Roxanne (god I can't believe I said that), but I could clearly see what he was trying to show, his hakuryoku (in Korean it's 박력 (bakryeok), same characters different readings. Adding this because literally the first thought that came into my head as I watched was 'he's showcasing his 박력'). As Tsurara-san explained it's something like 'masculine drive', a powerful/energetic/fierce strength usually associated with men. I'm not 100% convinced yet but the program is a good vessel for it. Overall it shows Kazuki is growing just as he said he wanted to, he deserves the beef :luv17:

Thanks for the video links! I didn't catch his SP and was intrigued to take a peek at the program, and the main reason is that the choreographer is Philip Mills. When I heard Kazuki is working with Mills, it immediately reminded me of Machida. The program with a strong sense of modern dance...this could be another master piece. Hope Kazuki can grow with the program throughout the new season.

awwwwww thank you Tsuyoboogie for uploading the programs!!!!! The short is
I would love to know what Kazuki and Hiraike sensei were saying at the K&C

tsuyoboogie said:

For anyone who hasn't seen Kazuki's Summer Cup performances yet and are interested here are Google Drive links to the cuts I made

Click to expand...

Thank you so, so much for this!

My God, that crazy really did go full extra on both on the quads and the choreo! :eeking:

I really, really like his SP. Yes, the moves are still awkward and stamina is definitely an issue, but it has such potential! I'm honestly amazed at how complex and unique the choreo is, I can't remember anything like that on the field... I'm very proud of him for being up to such a challenge, and I do believe it'll be an amazing programme!

I also like Moulin Rouge a lot, although I agree the music cuts could be smoother. I do appreciate Misha tried to give him a breather in the middle of the programme so he can do his jumps, though... I'm not super familiar with the soundtrack, but I wonder if there were other parts he could have used to make it a bit more organic.

Still, we can already see Moulin Rouge is a huge crowd pleaser (and hopefully the judges will like it too), and Kazuki can showcase all his passion and 'masculine energy' I do think his interpretation was better at DOI but it's understandable since he was under the stress of competition and also dead from the day before

Overall, I think it's a smart strategy to balance the 'avant-garde' SP with a 'crowd pleaser' FS. I am also very impressed that his energy in the SP is so different than the FS - it really shows how good a performer he is. I can't wait to see how these programmes will evolve over the season :luv17:

Some updates

Our boy has new boots by Edea, with personalised blades by John Wilson Blades! So cool!
https://www.instagram.com/p/B1JaFuhDbok/

There is a new video interview from the Team Japan annual training camp! I'm not sure if this is just the video version of the interview Tsurara already translated, or a new one. Sorry!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdwkFyBcVZs

Also, Asahi Shimbun uploaded Kazuki's 'Mirai Note' video on their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TummEeTxnE

Kind of late but congrats to our boy for winning that meat

Good to see his quads behaving and him hitting some targets at his first competition, really good job!! But looking at the programs and protocols, there sure are many things need to be done but hopefully, things will get better with the next competition.

Honestly, I am a bit disappointed with the SP. Not sure but maybe it is because I did have high expectation for it somehow I felt detached and confused and awkward watching some of the moves there, I hope he grows more into it and gives us a better look on it next time.

Wish him the best

Sunday Paper article (NIE version)
https://digital.asahi.com/articles/DA3S14136173.html
4) 好敵手に憧れて/Admiring Rivals


The digital extra version with more photos (and grey letter parts):
https://digital.asahi.com/articles/ASM880D69M87PTQP01Y.html
(go to the previous page for the video translation)
Notes: There are a few things I need to correct in the video translation post and its notes. Nothing big and serious but I'll just ninja-edit it later.

-----

According to one of the writer's tweets, Tomono gave him two hours in total for the whole coverage when he's busy with his practice and all. He tweeted a few more things later to fill us in with the info he got but couldn't put in the published articles on his twitter account as follows:

https://twitter.com/ohnishi_f/status/1160054543373070336
While Tomono talked about "admiration", he repeatedly mentioned Tatsuki Machida whom he had long trained/practiced with. "I just repsect him, unilaterally feeling like I'm taking on his passion and perspective toward figure skating. His expression, of course, and I want to follow and inherit his passion as well. It was Tatsuki Machida senshu that I started admiring naturally because he was near and dear.

https://twitter.com/ohnishi_f/status/1160372493967740929
As for last season, he says "I tried for real. I had been doing it as a sport before, but (I started to think) now I want to devote my life to it. Top athletes are like that. All I got is skating. I wanted a big medal, not a small one. So, it was 'kuyashii'. Now (it's about) how much I can make up for it in my third year.

https://twitter.com/ohnishi_f/status/1160535504862900225
I didn't want to spoil those who were looking forward to (watching Gensan's to learn for themselves) so I didn't reveal before, but now that SP is over. Kazuki Tomono senshu clearly stated his SP layout as 4T3T/4S/3A. As for 2 kinds of quads, "I'm filled with anxiety, but (I need them) to win. I'm sure Sota is going to have them too. Can't let them beat me (I need to keep up.)" He showed the gambler's eyes for a moment.

https://twitter.com/ohnishi_f/status/1161107367624183808
At Gensan Summer Cup, I went over to Kazuki Tomono senshu to thank him for Mirai note. Bathed in sweat all over, he said, "My feet weren't moving (at my command) at all after the axel. It was tough, seriously." But he had a beaming smile on his face. I'm sure he was tremendously relieved after feeling anxiety for the 2 quads, and that he managed to add 3T for the second!

---

My thought: Why couldn't the writer mention even one word on Machida-kun in the article when Tomono-kun actually repeated his name in the interview!? I bet Ohnishi-san still keeps a lot more he's not revealing to us readers!!!

Okay, there is a bit more in the digital version that I haven't translated yet... I'll do that later (yet again), and I have to do that video by Fuji too. (No, KiraraChin, that's a whole different new video that we all are seeing for the first time! Fuji kept it to themselves until today!) I'm afraid there are more that I'm forgetting... please someone add to a list below if I'm forgetting something important...

My to-do list:
-Digital extras
-Fujiskate video interview at senior camp
-https://hochi.news/articles/20190812-OHT1T50132.html and/or https://doshisha-atom.net/headline/result.php?linkno=5&no=3639 or https://digital.asahi.com/articles/ASM8D666FM8DPTQP00T.html or https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2019/08/12/kiji/20190812s00079000261000c.html
I think I've seen Tomono-kun's raw interview right after FS (Gensan) somewhere, but I can't find it now or I just had a day-dream...?

I need to thank Tsurara-san when I have the chance, so a huge, huge I can mostly manage on my own with written Japanese, but I'm terrible with spoken Japanese so I'm always grateful for your translations. Otsukaresama

AQFS said:

Honestly, I am a bit disappointed with the SP. Not sure but maybe it is because I did have high expectation for it somehow I felt detached and confused and awkward watching some of the moves there, I hope he grows more into it and gives us a better look on it next time.

Click to expand...

Bear in mind this was a summer competition (so major stamina issues) and new programmes almost always look awkward anyway! Especially when you have such complex and unique choreo... I think it'll still take some time for Kazuki to be able to perform this SP perfectly, but I'm sure it'll be worth the wait

Tsurara said:

Sunday Paper article (NIE version)
https://digital.asahi.com/articles/DA3S14136173.html
4) 好敵手に憧れて/Admiring Rivals

Click to expand...

Thank you so much, Tsurara-san! :luv17:

I agree with you, he could have included Tatsuki Machida in the original article. I absolutely love Kazuki's perspective on other skaters, he has such a kind but analytical eye, and his assessments are spot on! All we can hope is that step by step he gets closer to his idols

I also loved the writer's tweets about Kazuki, thank you so much for translating them! Hopefully he'll share more stories in the future!

Your 'to do' list looks right to me! I'm afraid I haven't seen Kazuki's raw interview after the Gensan Summer Cup, sorry!

Just wanted to share these gorgeous pics from Rostelecom!

Riverdance:
https://twitter.com/anya3Lz3Lo/status/1162577425651257355
https://twitter.com/anya3Lz3Lo/status/1162578391029014528

Pentatonix:
https://twitter.com/anya3Lz3Lo/status/1162658840791224321
https://twitter.com/anya3Lz3Lo/status/1162659723553828864
https://twitter.com/anya3Lz3Lo/status/1162660447503278080

I have such mixed feelings, because I absolutely love his new programmes and EX, but at the same time really miss last season's programmes and EX!
Does anyone else feels this way?

Wow, check out this fan art inspired by Kazuki's latest instagram post: https://twitter.com/nozomi500k4/status/1163081696679346176
This artist is so good, even Kazuki himself follows her on Twitter

I love this one as well, which is probably a very accurate depiction of him after the Gensan Summer Cup
https://twitter.com/nozomi500k4/status/1162021023807447041

Asahi Shimbun's Digital version bunus parts:

https://digital.asahi.com/articles/ASM7T5DGQM7TPTQP01D.html
Lessons in the beginning

―As you were playing softball, karate, and figure skating, what was the reason you chose figure skating among all the sports?

"As soon as I was back at home from school, I finished homework right away, gathered friends in my neighborhood, and played baseball with a plastic bat almost every day. I really wanted to play baseball, as I used to play softball too, to the point that I still wish that I'd play baseball in my next life if I get reincarnated. That said, it was figure skating that I got really indulged and engaged in as a competitive sport. As a figure skater, I could participate in national level competitions too. So, I guess it was figure skating that I liked the best as a sport to compete.

―You had just weekly lessons in the beginning.

"I had group lessons in the first few years. No rentals (of the rink) at those lessons, just visit there once a week during public ice time, to be instructed by sensei (Hiraike coach), or to be more precise, to play with him (for fun)."

―What did you like about skating?

"Hmm, it was fun. I never thought of quitting. Because, I wasn't learning jumps or anything, it was just the same as playing baseball for fun. I went there to play. When I started the rink-rent lessons (ice time rent for serious skaters only), I was doing skating only (no other sports). Those days, I was really scared of sensei, and I was skating like a robot. [laugh] Not that he ever yelled at me nor said anything sternly to me as I recall, though. No particular reason but I was just scared of him and obeyed all his instructions before giving him a chance to scold me. [laugh]"


https://digital.asahi.com/articles/ASM7065SRM70PTQP00K.html

First year "It was a year of miracles".

―Why was it that you never gave up after failing the JGP selections for the 3rd straight year?

"One of the reasons was that I could stay in that level. As people have ups and downs, and I was at the halfway or borderline position that I could pass or fail at any time. Also, I didn't want to give up. I wanted to try my best anyways. I wanted to be strong, I wanted to make it and win. Now when I hear someone talking about failing the selection, I say, 'No worries, there's someone who failed for the 3rd year straight.' [laugh]"

―As it turned out, you were finally selected later and you took part in 2 JGP series in 2016. You even podiumed.

"I think the biggest part of it was that I started thinking I wanted to win. I podiumed at a JGP, I became a skater that could score 200+ points. And I learned that the reason why I wasn't selected before was that I wasn't trying to find and improve my weak points before. When I was assigned two spots for JGP and (one of the JSF staff) said to me, 'Counting on you for Juniors,' I got so close to crying. I was really pleased to hear that."

―You fared well in your first senior year.

"The first year was a year of miracles. I won by luck. It almost felt like I got paid back for all the struggles I went through in my junior days. It was a year that I caught a break."

(The last article had a video attached -which you all can watch without paying- instead of extra scripts like these.)

Lombardia entries are out! http://www.isuresults.com/events/cat03109502.htm
Our boy faces some REALLY tough competition: Boyang Jin, Matteo Rizzo, Andrei Lazukin, Dmitri Aliev, Morisi Kvitelashvili :eeking:
In a way, that might be good, because his GP assignments are really tough, so it's better to get used to it since the beginning of the season. Besides, who knows? Our boy has an advantage because he already tested his new programmes and elements in competition, and he's coming from a high at the Gensan Summer Cup

Also, at Lombardia he will debut a new FS costume, made by Ladu design! https://twitter.com/MishaGe_JP/status/1163623724584558594
For those who don't know, they most notably worked with Evgenia Medvedeva last season, and created some really nice dresses: Tango v2, Tosca, Tango v3. We know for a fact Misha participated in the design of the last two, so is he actively involved in the creation of Kazuki's costume, too? Aaaaahhhh I'm looking forward to this!

Tsurara said:

Asahi Shimbun's Digital version bunus parts:

Click to expand...

THANK YOU SO MUCH, Tsurara-san!
(you posted while I was writing my previous post )

Tsurara said:

―You had just weekly lessons in the beginning.

"I had group lessons in the first few years. No rentals (of the rink) at those lessons, just visit there once a week during public ice time, to be instructed by sensei (Hiraike coach), or to be more precise, to play with him (for fun)."

―What did you like about skating?

"Hmm, it was fun. I never thought of quitting. Because, I wasn't learning jumps or anything, it was just the same as playing baseball for fun. I went there to play. When I started the rink-rent lessons (ice time rent for serious skaters only), I was doing skating only (no other sports). Those days, I was really scared of sensei, and I was skating like a robot. [laugh] Not that he ever yelled at me nor said anything sternly to me as I recall, though. No particular reason but I was just scared of him and obeyed all his instructions before giving him a chance to scold me. [laugh]"

Click to expand...

LOL poor Kazuki! Maybe that's why his robot dance in his Daft Punk EX was so good, he had previous experience

Tsurara said:

https://digital.asahi.com/articles/ASM7065SRM70PTQP00K.html

First year "It was a year of miracles".

―Why was it that you never gave up after failing the JGP selections for the 3rd straight year?

"One of the reasons was that I could stay in that level. As people have ups and downs, and I was at the halfway or borderline position that I could pass or fail at any time. Also, I didn't want to give up. I wanted to try my best anyways. I wanted to be strong, I wanted to make it and win. Now when I hear someone talking about failing the selection, I say, 'No worries, there's someone who failed for the 3rd year straight.' [laugh]"

Click to expand...

I'm glad he can now laugh at this, but I can't even begin to imagine how hard it must have been. It really shows his character and determination that he went through all this and didn't give up!

Tsurara said:

―As it turned out, you were finally selected later and you took part in 2 JGP series in 2016. You even podiumed.

"I think the biggest part of it was that I started thinking I wanted to win. I podiumed at a JGP, I became a skater that could score 200+ points. And I learned that the reason why I wasn't selected before was that I wasn't trying to find and improve my weak points before. When I was assigned two spots for JGP and (one of the JSF staff) said to me, 'Counting on you for Juniors,' I got so close to crying. I was really pleased to hear that."

Click to expand...

Awww poor Kazuki. I got close to cry just by reading this! :sad21:

Tsurara said:

―You fared well in your first senior year.

"The first year was a year of miracles. I won by luck. It almost felt like I got paid back for all the struggles I went through in my junior days. It was a year that I caught a break."

(The last article had a video attached -which you all can watch without paying- instead of extra scripts like these.)

Click to expand...

He should give himself more credit - it really wasn't luck! It was the result of many, many years of hard work :sad4:

Giu said:

I have always thought like you that Yukako Sugita was one of the coaches who supports Hiraike-sensei at Rinkai; I'm sure of having seen her mentioned in some post on Instagram related to Rinkai but...if she is a coreographer, and for sure she's not Kazuki's coreographer, why does her name appear in Kazuki's ISU profile?

Does anyone know why Kazuki didn't take part in The Ice this year? He would have made history in the dance battle

Click to expand...

Yukako Sugita (her maiden name Ogino) is an ex-skater from Nagoya area (related to Ogino sensei of Howa?), and I believe she is one of the young coaches Ohnishi sensei (Rinkai's head coach and Hiraike sensei's sensei) invited to coach at Rinkai (or Kansai area) a decade or two ago. It's just me remembering her name as a choreographer, but she works both as coach and choreographer, I think. If what I've read before is correct, at the rink where Tomono-kun trains, they do team-coaching but no specific roles assigned like TCC. I think Akio once said that every coach there instructs everyone everything and so did he.
As for The Ice this year, I think the promoter/producer probably prioritized to invite well-known foreign male skaters (and Shoma as the host?) to make it different from other ice shows. Just guessing, but quite a few fs fans were moaning about not having Japanese male skaters while at the same time excited about the rare opportunity of having all those star skaters at once.

tsuyoboogie said:

However, I did notice that Kazuki's jumps seemed to stabilize during Akio Sasaki's brief stint with the team (mid 2107 season~summer 2018), .
Because Sasaki-san was not known to be a particularly strong jumper himself, I found it quite amusing to see him advising Kazuki on the 4S in a Doshisha promotional video.
But soon after, his 4S started to look really nice (pre-rotation aside). It made me think that Sasaki-san may have actually been brought in to at least partly work on jump technique.

Click to expand...

I didn't notice the change but you may be right! (I was wondering if he was brought in for his entertaining side of quality and to help Tomono-kun work with Misao sensei's choreo as Misao sensei's early disciple and the original "entertainer on ice" which makes Tomono-kun "Naniwa's" entertainer)

AQFS said:

I think part of this decision from Hiraike Sensei is also related to having Misha in the picture who may also have some instructions for training to Kazuki and so maybe he didn't want to make contradicting instructions and make Kazuki a bit troubled because of it. But also that explains more about his struggles last season.

Click to expand...

Good point! I didn't think about that. Like, too many cooks can ruin the broth, right?

KiraraChin said:

It seems he participated in a training camp at Chukyo: https://www.instagram.com/p/B03GXQ-JgZP/ (easier to spot him in the 2nd and 4th pics. The 4th pic is actually him with a bunch of girls )

Click to expand...

That one was in Morioka, Hiroaki Sato's home prefecture! (Famous for "wanko-soba" that they're eating!)
https://greater-morioka-sc.jp/facility/morioka_icerink
(And Kaori was having a camp there afterwords according to the news articles - now old news because I was late to reply...)

AQFS said:

Good to see his quads behaving and him hitting some targets at his first competition, really good job!! But looking at the programs and protocols, there sure are many things need to be done but hopefully, things will get better with the next competition.

Honestly, I am a bit disappointed with the SP. Not sure but maybe it is because I did have high expectation for it somehow I felt detached and confused and awkward watching some of the moves there, I hope he grows more into it and gives us a better look on it next time.

Wish him the best

Click to expand...

That reminded me of your earlier comment on Tomono-kun's new ramen hair I know, that doesn't make you love him less, right?
And I think I know what you mean, and I too hope he grows more into it as well as you grow to love it too!
Just for information, I'd suggest you to take a look at these videos, an old interview with Phillip Mills by TSL. (They re-uploaded it last year it seems.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgGEAlac-gU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYFi3jHARcs
There what he talks about, mainly Machida kun, was very interesting to me (though I have to disagree with some of their comments on Japanese fans and SNS), and I'm wondering what he's gonna say about Tomono kun (and his color) after this season... It's such an interesting interview to understand Mills' programs and who he is like.

KiraraChin said:

I'm also very happy because after last season finished in such a 'kuyashi' note, he now got a great confidence boost. Hopefully he won't get complacent, and instead will use this to build up on his skills and get better and better as the season progresses.

Click to expand...

Of course he's not the kind who gets complacent easily, you know He's still keeping a certain 'kuyashii' note with his performance at this early stage in the season! He's saying he's only 15% at best of what he should have done, saying he's no way in good enough shape for an international competition yet. But I'm sure he feels a lot easy compared to how it was for him at the end of the last season, and so do we fans.

As for his FS jump layout, let's see and find out at Lombardia with his new costume!!!
(Please please please, just no illustrations of woman's face on his costume...)

KiraraChin said:

I have such mixed feelings, because I absolutely love his new programmes and EX, but at the same time really miss last season's programmes and EX!
Does anyone else feels this way?

Click to expand...

I do, actually. I really wanted to see his Riverdance in a perfect form some time. But now I'm so excited about his new ones too.

I'll work on the video at the camp later this evening.

Fuji TV's interview with Tomono-kun at Team Japan Senior Camp (in July, but the video was released in August)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdwkFyBcVZs
(Be warned that this is a raw interview with speech errors and repetitions, he was thinking while answering to these questions. I did remove many of the redundant parts but I left some of them as they are. Be sure to ask if anything is unclear.)

Q: How's your condition now?

At this time of the year, I just put in every effort on day-to-day practice and focus on my work at hand for the coming competitions.

Q: How about your training during off-season?

Particularly worked on spins and my free leg when skating, and the things that stood out (in a negative way) last season that I could work on to fix right away, even for a bit. Also, for the choreo...how should I put it, to be more committed to the details of every single movement, and the programs, I've been working carefully with the smallest details of every single movement from the tip of my finger to my head, my whole body, so those stuff. Especially my free leg and spins are getting better little by little, I hope. And 4T is getting better and it's gradually reaching the level that I can have it (safely) in my programs for competitions.

Q: Your Challenge for new jumps?

I'll go with 2 quads, 4T and 4S. I've been doing 4S for a while now and I did it last season too, and in addition to it, I'm planning to add 4T this season.

Q: How are you going to compete internationally?

What I've learned by taking part in those competitions is that you need jumps or you can't win. So, to be frank, no matter how you attract audience with your performance, it is a sport to compete, and you either win or lose. Doing (big) jumps is a requirement to win. That's how it is now. So, I'd like to specially focus on jumps, as much as possible... Well, I hope I can compete with just 2 kinds of quads, and there are also those who are competing well without that many quads. For the time being, I want to utilize what I can do to the max.

Q: What is figure skating to you?

There aren't many sports that has both athletic and artistic sides to compete like figure skating does. For example, an ice show, you don't have to have competitive achievements to perform in it. There are talented skaters with artistic qualities who can take part in it. So this sport can offer you different possibilities and open your path, I believe. But, I'm an athlete, and as I skate to compete, it's a sport and it's not about what I want it to be like. As far as I'm concerned, because figure skating is a kind of a sport that I can express the artistic side as well, I want to value both artistry and skating skills to perform on ice. But it's a sport, and it's about win or lose, and I guess it just happens that jumps get more focused and can't be helped. It's just one of the many ways to win in this sport. Of course, I do hope the rules become more balanced for both artistic and technical sides, but to be really honest, to think of it as a (competitive) sport, it can't be helped. That said, to think of it as figure skating, I myself want to value the artistic side. I see it separately (not to mix up) and right now I'm a competitive skater, so that's my priority to consider.

Q: You have to win as a competitive athlete?

Of course. As an athlete, I have to face the sport as an athlete. That's what every athlete has to value the most, I believe. That's MY opinion.

Q: Your goal for the new season, based on your last season's results?

Last season, especially with 4CC, and Universiade as well, I had a streak of struggling results. So, first of all, I want to achieve what I couldn't last year. Even when I had good and extensive practices, I'm afraid I couldn't push far enough at the very last moment, mentally. This season, I want to keep strong mind and face every single competition firm and solid, to do what I should do. Of course I do want to bring on results too. In order to grab them, I think I have to give my full attention to the goal of mine for real.

Tsurara said:

Of course he's not the kind who gets complacent easily, you know He's still keeping a certain 'kuyashii' note with his performance at this early stage in the season! He's saying he's only 15% at best of what he should have done, saying he's no way in good enough shape for an international competition yet. But I'm sure he feels a lot easy compared to how it was for him at the end of the last season, and so do we fans.

As for his FS jump layout, let's see and find out at Lombardia with his new costume!!!
(Please please please, just no illustrations of woman's face on his costume...)

Click to expand...

Haha it's good to know he's aware he needs to improve. As for the costume, from what I've seen from Ladu's work with Zhenya (see links on my previous post), and especially the ones Misha was directly involved with, they tend to go for classic, elegant designs. So I'm expecting dark colours but 'clean' and classy

Tsurara said:

Fuji TV's interview with Tomono-kun at Team Japan Senior Camp (in July, but the video was released in August)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdwkFyBcVZs
(Be warned that this is a raw interview with speech errors and repetitions, he was thinking while answering to these questions. I did remove many of the redundant parts but I left some of them as they are. Be sure to ask if anything is unclear.)

Click to expand...

Thank you so much again, Tsurara! You're an angel! :luv17:

Tsurara said:

As far as I'm concerned, because figure skating is a kind of a sport that I can express the artistic side as well, I want to value both artistry and skating skills to perform on ice. But it's a sport, and it's about win or lose, and I guess it just happens that jumps get more focused and can't be helped. It's just one of the many ways to win in this sport. Of course, I do hope the rules become more balanced for both artistic and technical sides, but to be really honest, to think of it as a (competitive) sport, it can't be helped. That said, to think of it as figure skating, I myself want to value the artistic side. I see it separately (not to mix up) and right now I'm a competitive skater, so that's my priority to consider.

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That bit really got me. So basically he's saying he would like to value both artistry and jumps, but he's aware that because of how the rules work, jumps are all that matters now. How sad! If only the ISU would apply PCS properly so artistic skaters like Kazuki could flourish. It's good that Kazuki himself wants to develop his artistry as a personal goal, but it's also depressing that the current ISU system doesn't incentive or reward this sort of thing, and instead it's all about jumps, jumps, jumps.

He's in the U.S.! I remember during PIW he told a fan he would go back to the U.S. in late summer to do some more work with Mills-sensei, and it seems it's true!
https://twitter.com/KiraraChin/status/1164404624582950913

So a fan went to a SEV showroom in Tokyo and it turns out they display several pics of Kazuki and his autograph!
https://twitter.com/1227_capricorn/status/1164472024690937862
There's even a picture outside the store, in the street! :eeking:
How cool is that!? :luv17:

Also, did you guys see his IG story? He went to In-N-Out again