It all started when Yuzuru Hanyu said he was a MOTHER 2 fan on a TV program. This brought about the kind of discussion you only dream about. Not in a cliche way, but really and truly an amazing thing. Last December, Yuzuru Hanyu and Shigesato Itoi met in a studio in Sendai and talked about all kinds of things for two hours. We’re pleased to be able to bring you that discussion.
Yuzuru Hanyu
Born in 1994 in Miyagi Prefecture. Began figure skating at 4 years old and became world junior champion at age 14. Later won four consecutive Grand Prix Finals and four consecutive Japan Figure Skating Championships. Also won two gold medals in a row at the Sochi and Pyeongchang Olympics. Became a professional figure skater in July 2022. Currently concentrating on producing and starring in an ice show.
Boyhood／Mirror Neuron／Heaven and Earth／Mr. Saturn／
Ballet／Timeline／Homesick／Universe／Johnny Weir／
Reset／Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami／Picasso／Sprain／
Parallel Universe／Heroic Sword and an Evil Sword／Produce／
Astro Boy／Music／Ness／Fifteen-year-old／
Romeo and Juliet／Goldfish／Nap／Athlete／Millennials／
Elder sister／A Beatles song, XXXterday／
Score／Vinyl／Death／Youngest child／
That／Hip hop／Mozart／Dilemma／Ice Show
- Itoi
- In the end, what makes something fun is probably your already being happy and having fun, but the people around you sense that and you’re able to share and exchange those feelings with others.
- Hanyu
- I agree. But although that seems simple, it’s something that’s hard to achieve. In the world of expression, you tend to go in the direction that makes you feel good when you create something, and you end up prioritizing what you want to say. You may think you’re focusing on the delivery, but it turns out you’re simply going through what you think is good. It’s difficult to strike that balance of being able to share what you think is good, and having the audience resonate with it.
- Itoi
- Whether you’re an artist or a musician, it’s something everyone who creates something faces. But that wall might be what makes that desire to express yourself and convey your message so strong.
- Hanyu
- That’s true. I also think that maybe not everything can really be conveyed. For example, if someone who loves Picasso looks at his artwork and tries to describe everything Picasso wanted to convey...
- Itoi
- They couldn’t.
- Hanyu
- No, I don’t think they could. But even though I thought Picasso’s paintings were weird as a kid, as I grew older, I came to find them pretty awesome. People’s values change over time, even if they don’t get it at first.
- Itoi
- On the other hand, no matter how much an artist thinks they hit the nail on the head, some things simply can’t be conveyed. And they might make something they feel like they compromised on, and that ends up moving people’s hearts the most.
- Hanyu
- It really is hard, isn’t it? I struggle with this often. (Laughs)
- Itoi
- Yeah. (Laughs) Poet Shuntaro Tanigawa once told me that “Out of all the poems I’ve written, I think the one everyone knows the most are the lyrics to Astro Boy.” And even though he has written so many wonderful poems, he said he thought it was great that the lyrics he wrote for an anime theme song were the most famous. I thought that was an extremely cool thing to say.
- Hanyu
- I see. But I guess if you were asked to create something like Astro Boy continuously and that became your lifework, that would be hard too.
- Itoi
- You’re right, that would be difficult. Paul McCartney has created countless songs, but they’re sung and praised because he made them as popular music. If he declared “This is the type of music I want to create!” and only produced songs that were difficult to comprehend, I’m sure the listeners would have a hard time.
- Hanyu
- Mozart, for example, is just like that. The music he composed as court music that fit into the mold are widely known, but the music he composed during his later years—the music he actually wanted to create that expressed his true feelings—are completely buried. Of course, there are hardcore fans who love that kind of music, but it isn’t common.
- Itoi
- But, I’m guessing that if Mozart hadn’t dug deep into those areas, a melody as famous as Twinkle Twinkle Little Star wouldn’t have been created.
- Hanyu
- I agree. Because he had a strong motivation as a writer and an artist, he was able to create catchy things as well. But as a writer, he probably would have been more happy if people understood what he truly wanted to create.
- Itoi
- When someone understands confusing things you’ve been thinking about, it makes you happy, as if it recreates all the time you spent thinking alone.
- Hanyu
- That’s what it is. That’s probably why I can’t stop expressing myself.
- Itoi
- Yeah.
- Hanyu
- There’s still that dilemma of wanting to create what you want to create, but still also having to produce something catchy.
- Itoi
- But the happiness you feel when you’re able to create something you’re sure everyone will enjoy, that’s exciting too.
- Hanyu
- That’s true, but there are times that I’m sure of that, yet it ends up being a bust. (Laughs)
- Itoi
- Is that so? (Laughs)
- Hanyu
- That’s the difficult but interesting part of expressing yourself.
- Itoi
- In that sense, you say you like MOTHER 2, but it isn’t something I put my life on the line to make.
- Hanyu
- Ah, yes.
- Itoi
- Creating games isn’t my lifework, so I probably made it as if I were playing a really bad game of baseball in some public square. Even so, I didn’t only have fun all the time. It was hard, and I had my share of difficulties.
- Hanyu
- Yes.
- Itoi
- I definitely don’t think I created a piece of art, but when I meet someone like you, I feel happy that someone understood what I wanted to do. I don’t know, my feelings on it are all messed up. (Laughs)
- Hanyu
- In MOTHER 2, each town has a small story, and it’s assembled like a combination of short stories.
- Itoi
- Right.
- Hanyu
- You then collect a melody, one by one, which is engraved into the Sound Stone at the base of the story. The ice show I’m creating now has small programs existing like short stories, and that might be similar to the game’s premise.
- Itoi
- Is that so? I doubt the game has influenced your show, but I’d be happy if there’s something in common.
Boyhood／Mirror Neuron／Heaven and Earth／Mr. Saturn／
Ballet／Timeline／Homesick／Universe／Johnny Weir／
Reset／Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami／Picasso／Sprain／
Parallel Universe／Heroic Sword and an Evil Sword／Produce／
Astro Boy／Music／Ness／Fifteen-year-old／
Romeo and Juliet／Goldfish／Nap／Athlete／Millennials／
Elder sister／A Beatles song, XXXterday／
Score／Vinyl／Death／Youngest child／
That／Hip hop／Mozart／Dilemma／Ice Show
（To be continued）
2024-03-09-SAT
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Photography: Toru Yaguchi
Clothing: tk.TAKEO KIKUCHI