Yuzuru Hanyu, who achieved two consecutive Olympic victories in men's figure skating singles, responded to an online interview with Xinhua News Agency ahead of his 4th anniversary of turning professional. It was his first interview with Xinhua News Agency in a year and a half. Even after announcing his retirement from competitive skating on July 19, 2022, he has continued to pursue his own form of expression, creating new stories on the ice.

During his competitive career, he aimed for concrete results, such as winning Olympic gold medals and successfully landing the quadruple Axel jump. However, he said that the increased freedom after turning professional made it paradoxically more difficult to set goals.

Hanyu recalled, "To be honest, I didn't have many goals when I first turned professional." He continued, "It might not be accurate to say 'I achieved my goals' because I didn't have any specific goals. However, I believe I worked hard to achieve the best possible condition at each moment, and looking back, I feel that I've delivered some really great works to the world."

After turning professional, he has developed the ice show series "ICE STORY," in which he stars and also serves as executive producer. "notte stellata," held annually in March in Miyagi Prefecture since 2023, has also become one of Hanyu's signature performances.

He stated that what he focuses on in creating his works is not the difference from other skaters. "I have a desire to express myself in a certain way, to feel this song in a certain way, to skate to this music. I constantly think about how to meet and even exceed the expectations of those who come to see me, but I don't really focus on comparing myself to others," he said.

He also knows that he has many fans in China. Expressing his desire to create works that reach people of different languages and cultures, he said, "I believe that truly good things, truly beautiful things, truly wonderful things can be appreciated across borders, languages, and cultures. I hope to continue creating such things."

Hanyu has also performed numerous programs incorporating traditional Japanese themes and Japanese music. He believes that the appeal of art can be conveyed even with different cultural backgrounds. He stated, "The way things are seen, the rhythm of breathing and language might be completely different. Even so, we can feel the wonder in it. I believe that's something only art, which isn't confined by words, can achieve."

Regarding the future, he said that he has not specifically planned his life after skating. Hanyu expressed his understanding that his encounter with skating includes an eventual farewell, and then showed his determination, saying, "If I ever feel like I can't do it anymore, I'll probably quit completely. But until then, I want to maintain myself so I can perform proudly in front of everyone, and continue to evolve even further."

In 2011, when Hanyu was 16, he experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake in his hometown of Sendai. The stars twinkling in the night sky of the blacked-out city became a light of hope in the darkness. "notte stellata" means "starry night" in Italian and embodies the memories of the earthquake and his thoughts for the people who continued to live thereafter.

Regarding the earthquake, Hanyu recalled, "It was because of that event that I learned many things, was hurt by many things, and then tried hard to rise up from them." Touching upon the fact that there are still people suffering in various parts of the world, he said, "Even so, I am grateful that I can continue skating, and I hope to fulfill the meaning of my life as I live in the present moment." (Provided/Xinhua News Agency)