Takahiko!

They're doing an ice dance program? I wasn't expecting that! Really excited now...

Thanks for the links, shikure!

periperi wrote:

They're doing an ice dance program? I wasn't expecting that! Really excited now...

Thanks for the links, shikure!

you are welcome and I put rest of update in Mao off-season thread
http://www.maoasadaforum.com/t1021p540-mao-news-off-season-2011#38771

they are super cute

New interview yesterday
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewYRKSV7cC0&feature=player_embedded

practiced with D/W is so cute

From what I could glean from Google Translating this blog entry, Taka's new EX program music is the Cello Song by Nick Drake (great piece, though not sure if it translates well to show music. first heard it as the opening song for the film The Blind Side) and choreo by Yuka:

http://ameblo.jp/shion-925/entry-10954832377.html

Crazy aqua shirt?? Does anyone have video of the performance?

Since the performance didn't be broadcast, there is no vid yet.
http://gotakahiko.exblog.jp/15121896/
The shirt looks like blue version of last year's SP one

Based on report by audience, he did a crazy "straight line" eagle cross the rink from side to side~of course the long side not short one

In addition, his ballerina-jump is over 180 degree

I am dying to see the performance

shikure wrote:

Since the performance didn't be broadcast, there is no vid yet.
http://gotakahiko.exblog.jp/15121896/
The shirt looks like blue version of last year's SP one

Based on report by audience, he did a crazy "straight line" eagle cross the rink from side to side~of course the long side not short one

In addition, his ballerina-jump is over 180 degree

I am dying to see the performance

Thank you, shikure -- that's a much clearer photo of Taka. The shirt seems to be sheer...interesting! The shirt, the spread eagle...maybe channeling a little Kurt Browning circa 1998 SOI?
http://www.veoh.com/watch/v6519629m52pkKbk?h1=Super+Spreading+Eagle

What is a ballerina-jump?

I am dying to see this performance too Also everything and anything from THE ICE this weekend!!

dlynndao wrote:

shikure wrote:

Since the performance didn't be broadcast, there is no vid yet.
http://gotakahiko.exblog.jp/15121896/
The shirt looks like blue version of last year's SP one

Based on report by audience, he did a crazy "straight line" eagle cross the rink from side to side~of course the long side not short one

In addition, his ballerina-jump is over 180 degree

I am dying to see the performance

Thank you, shikure -- that's a much clearer photo of Taka. The shirt seems to be sheer...interesting! The shirt, the spread eagle...maybe channeling a little Kurt Browning circa 1998 SOI?
http://www.veoh.com/watch/v6519629m52pkKbk?h1=Super+Spreading+Eagle

What is a ballerina-jump?

I am dying to see this performance too Also everything and anything from THE ICE this weekend!!

Love Kurt. I wouldn't be surprised if Taka was channeling him. He has mentioned Kurt as his biggest idol.

This is a ballerina jump:


In figure skating terms, I think it's simply called a split jump if the skater goes into it from a flip jump takeoff. If the skater goes into the split from a loop jump takeoff it's called a split falling leaf jump (which is considered more difficult because you don't have the toe pick assisting you). I think so anyway. Anyone feel free to correct me!

dlynndao wrote:

shikure wrote:

Since the performance didn't be broadcast, there is no vid yet.
http://gotakahiko.exblog.jp/15121896/
The shirt looks like blue version of last year's SP one

Based on report by audience, he did a crazy "straight line" eagle cross the rink from side to side~of course the long side not short one

In addition, his ballerina-jump is over 180 degree

I am dying to see the performance

Thank you, shikure -- that's a much clearer photo of Taka. The shirt seems to be sheer...interesting! The shirt, the spread eagle...maybe channeling a little Kurt Browning circa 1998 SOI?
http://www.veoh.com/watch/v6519629m52pkKbk?h1=Super+Spreading+Eagle

thank you dlynndao~ based on the figure provided by ppl of 2CH as follows that is exactly what he did
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　　　南エキサイティングシート

periperi, thank you for the explanation for ballerina jump
since i didn't see the pic for the performance, i am not sure what kind of jump he did~maybe like the one he did in 2010 SP ?
Based on what they saw, they said the jump was 200 degree in first performance~OMG
The performance is similar style with free falling and included four jumps 3Lz・2A・2A・3T.
They said he aviod 3A during PIW and don't know the reason. maybe he wanted to save his energy for 4 back-to back shows.

http://t.co/8wQsSel pic from twitter today-->they said you can see through his shirt

oooh can't wait to see this program!

haha taka and yuzuru @ what looks like PIW:

original: http://tumblr.com/xnp3jrn6u0

thank you for including additional information about the program, and also explanation of the ballerina jump! yes, it is called a split jump in skating. usually splits that are greater than 180 degrees are "russian" splits, where the skater faces sideways like this:



so excited!!

dlynndao yes~that is PIW

here is the other pic http://t.co/ElsJkuP
there was the story~when Taka fan were taking pics of him then Yuzuru came and pass him~he planed to hide behind Taka and not bother Taka fans then he said "I can't hide behide you" then Taka answered him that "yes, don't know when you (grow up) can't hide behide me"..both of them were laughing.

Aw! That's really nice shikure! Thanks for keeping us updated.
OT: Since yesterday one of the guys assigned to do asset tagging at work for inventory this week looked like someone I'm familiar with... now I know who. There's a similarity between him and Taka-chan! hehe!

Taka's grandpa passed away R.I.P.
http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2011/07/26/kiji/K20110726001288140.html

I remember he messed up WTT since his grandma pass away
don't know how he can perform in such situation tomorrow ...and bring others happiness

ppl said finally knew why he was in Tokyo today and others went to Aomori yesterday

Rest in peace, grandpa Kozuka.

poor Taka-chan... He must be strong...
RIP grandpa

This is an interview that Chukkyo Figure conducted in '07 with all the Kozuka men. Takahiko's grandfather, Mitsuhiko, was 92 years old at the time. Taka and his father, Tsuguhiko, visited him in his nursing home called "Taiyo". He looked through newspapers everyday to search for any articles on his grandson that he could put in his scrapbook.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NNRgrEnIkc&NR=1

Honda Emi: Do you like figure skating?
Mitsuhiko: I like it.
Narration: What was it like for Tsuguhiko to be coached by grandpa?
Tsuguhiko: He was extremely tough (in Japan, "sparta" means Spartan-like). He coached with an iron fist.
Mitsuhiko: In my son's era people were doing doubles, but now they're doing triples.
Honda Emi: But your grandson has already mastered the triple jumps.
Mitsuhiko: From my perspective, he still has a long way to go.
Tsuguhiko: Even from a couple of years ago, he told Takahiko that the quad age would definitely be coming. That's what he said to you, right?
Takahiko: Right after I got my triple axel, he kept on saying, "do the quad", "do the quad", "do the quad" all the time.
Honda Emi: What goal do you have set out for your grandson?
Mitsuhiko: The goal is "hurry up and get married!" [laughter]
Honda Emi: Grandpa, you're way off topic! Besides, he still is so young.

Mitsuhiko-san also wanted his grand-grand children to figure skate.

thank you maowataiyo for sharing, I've also memored this interview today and how Mitsuhiko-san wanted to see how taka is getting married

Poor Taka. May his grandfather rest in peace.

I'm sorry to hear this. R.I.P. grandpa Kozuka.

R.I.P.

My condolences to the Kozuka family.

I think it's really hard time for him.

His grandpa passed away 3am yesterday then we saw Kozuka left for Aomori around 3pm at the same day.

Last night, I saw Amodio tweet "the mall was closed only for us !!! crazyy"...I thought...so everyone was happy about the mall thing but I don't think Kozuka can be happy with them.

Then he performed today and the funeral will be at tomorrow, which means when others are going to Osaka after charity show, he needs to go back to Nagoya.

After the funeral, he will need to go to Osaka for The Ice on the weekend~

and he said he feels lonely /alone since his grandpa used to look at him all the time and he won't be there anymore TOT

I feel so bad about the situation.

This is so sad! My deepest condolences to the Kozuka family. Taka-chan and his grandpa seemed to have such a sweet relationship. He must be heartbroken.

shikure thank you for the info. Taka-chan is so busy.

maowataiyo for translating. That reminds me of: (from page 3 of this thread).

Batsuchan wrote:

I can only imagine this...

Grandpa: That Mao-chan is really cute.
Kozu: ....
Grandpa: And she seems like such a good girl.
Kozu: Mmm...
Grandpa: Why don't you marry her?
Kozu: [turns red in the face]

It seemed like his grandpa treasured all of Takahiko’s achievements. I remember hearing somewhere that his grandpa cried when Taka-chan got his medal at World’s. I think he lost his most passionate fan. I am glad Mitsuhiko-san got to watch his grandson skate to the music he loved so much! I think Taka-chan talked about that in some interview after the World’s. Too bad he didn’t get to see him get married.

Rest in Peace Mitsuhiko-san.

So sorry for Taka and his family, RIP .

Spacey wrote:

This is so sad! My deepest condolences to the Kozuka family. Taka-chan and his grandpa seemed to have such a sweet relationship. He must be heartbroken.

shikure thank you for the info. Taka-chan is so busy.


It seemed like his grandpa treasured all of Takahiko’s achievements. I remember hearing somewhere that his grandpa cried when Taka-chan got his medal at World’s. I think he lost his most passionate fan. I am glad Mitsuhiko-san got to watch his grandson skate to the music he loved so much! I think Taka-chan talked about that in some interview after the World’s. Too bad he didn’t get to see him get married.

Rest in Peace Mitsuhiko-san.

When they broadcasted Taka's performance in Olympic, they also broadcasted grandpa's scene then grandpa cried when he saw the performance.
There was a picture in newspaper yesterday that grandpa wore Taka's national champion medal. They said grandpa went to see Taka's training everyday when he was at his 80's.
That is why Taka said he felt lonely~hope someone there hug him since sounds like he needs hug.

Here is a photograph:

WayCon wrote:

Here is a photograph:

Thank you! It seems Taka inherited his grandfather's ears.