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
- You’ve sure been a busy person since you were a child.
- Hanyu
- (Laughs)
- Itoi
- Have you even had any spare moments?
- Hanyu
- Of course. That’s probably where I fit in video games.
- Itoi
- Ah, I see.
- Hanyu
- When I was a boy, any free time I had outside of studies and family obligations was for video games.
- Itoi
- I’m glad you had that.
- Hanyu
- Truly. There are so many things I learned through it. I think I learned from games that life is a story intertwined with many things, such as having the courage to step out, the importance of friends, and that not everything is what you think it is.
- Itoi
- Ah, I’m glad to hear that. I think kids these days learn all kinds of things—up to and including ethics—through the two pillars of video games and mangas.
- Hanyu
- Yes, yes.
- Itoi
- You could even say the same thing of me or the people who were my teachers. Children learn through play.
- Hanyu
- I agree. I especially think so because I’m a millennial and experienced pressure-free education, or the so-called yutori kyoiku in Japan.
- Itoi
- Ah, yutori kyoiku.
- Hanyu
- We had moral education and integrated studies built into our timetable, so maybe we’re influenced by that.
- Itoi
- I’m not familiar with those kinds of classes. Did you find them interesting?
- Hanyu
- I did. For example, we played Hyakunin-Isshu during class because my homeroom teacher liked it.
- Itoi
- Ah, that’s nice.
- Hanyu
- That’s how classes went, but we also had a lot of free time, so we probably spent more time discussing and talking with one another than past generations.
- Itoi
- Hmm, I really like that. I think more people should know that about you.
- Hanyu
- I’m definitely a millennial. (Laughs) So I do think the pressure-free education of Japan in our generation was a success, but we millennials have to think about how to learn from there.
- Itoi
- In the end, it is important for you to think about and decide things for yourself, rather than have someone else decide.
- Hanyu
- Exactly. It’s about what someone has to offer as a person, and how we as a society can make use of that potential.
- Itoi
- I’m learning so much from someone way younger than me today.
- Hanyu
- That’s not true. (Laughs)
- Itoi
- I’ve been amazed the whole time we’ve been talking. Although, looking around, I think everyone’s ready for us to be done. (Laughs)
- Hanyu
- (Laughs)
- Itoi
- I’m sorry it’s gotten so long. I really enjoyed talking with you. And I’m glad I made MOTHER 2.
- Hanyu
- Yes, truly.
- Itoi
- I’m really, really glad I had the opportunity to talk with you. We’ve never really heard about these things you talked about until today.
- Hanyu
- I should show that side of me more then.
- Itoi
- Yeah. Please meet with me again sometime.
- Hanyu
- Yes, of course.
- Itoi
- I’d like to talk about things even more trivial.
- Hanyu
- (Laughs)
- Itoi
- I also think there’s definitely something in your stories that will be useful to everyone in a tangible way, whether that be your talk about mirror neurons or how you improved your skills. Even for people who aren’t aiming for the Olympics.
- Hanyu
- Yes. I feel like many younger siblings have strong mirror neurons.
- Itoi
- I’m particularly interested in preschool education and mirror neurons lately.
- Hanyu
- Is that so?
- Itoi
- I think it’s a really important aspect for adults too. Well, I don’t know whether we’d talk about that next time, but we’ll end things here, now that it’s time and we’re asked to stop. Thank you so much.
- Hanyu
- Thank you.
- Itoi
- It was so interesting. I was taught so many things.
- Hanyu
- No, not at all.
- Itoi
- There were a lot of times I had to stay on my toes.
- Hanyu
- Ah, I’m happy.
- Itoi
- Do you want this Mr. Saturn plush?
- Hanyu
- Are you sure? Yay!
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
（Thank you for reading until the very end.）
2024-03-12-TUE
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Photography: Toru Yaguchi
Clothing: tk.TAKEO KIKUCHI