Ok, I guess I'll post it now. Yay for multi-tasking!
(Of course they show Mao's whole LP again..)
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Article/interview with the medalists
http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/winter/skate/figure/text/200812270012-spnavi.htmlAfter receiving the results of the All Japan Championship, the Japan Skating Federation announced the representatives for the 2009 Four Continents Championship (Feb 4-7, Vancouver) and the 2009 World Championships (3/24-28, Los Angeles), which will help determine who goes to the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. The top 3 men and women will be representatives [at Worlds]: Nobunari Oda (Kandai), Takahiko Kozuka (Toyota Motor Co.), Takahito Mura (Kurashiki Suishou High school); the women are Mao Asada (Chuukyou University High school), Fumie Suguri (avex) and Miki Ando (Toyota Motor Co.) The representatives for Four Continents are Oda, Kozuka, and Nanri among the men, and among the women, Mao Asada, Suguri and Akiko Suzuki were chosen. In ice dance, the Reed siblings will appear.
Below are the details of the press conference.
---What is your reaction to being selected as a representative for the World Championships?
Oda: I'm glad that I was able to accomplish my goal of going to the World Championships. As much as possible, I will try my best to aim for a high position/rank.
Kozuka: I think the number of spots per country for the Vancouver Olympics are key, so I will try my best at Worlds to perform so that we can get 3 spots.
Mura: This will be my first appearance at Worlds, so I plan to really try my best and do it so that I don't lose to the skaters around me.
Asada: This will be my third Worlds, but before we enter the competition, I'm going to try hard to get into my best condition.
Suguri: I'm happy that I get to go to Worlds for the first time in 3 years. I'm going with young people, so I will try to learn from them. Please be good to me. [This is a typical Japanese saying.]
Ando: After withdrawing from last season's Worlds, I received a ticket to stand on the same stage, so I want to practice with all my might and try my best to stand on the medal podium and not make the same mistakes as before.
Cathy Reed: I feel that it's a very good thing that we were chosen as representatives. I will practice a lot.
Chris Reed: It was very good. This season I had surgery on my knee, and it has become a difficult season...(he spoke at first in Japanese, but in the middle switched to English and he got a "What??" from the other representatives). Every competition is a learning experience, so I will try my best with all my might.
---Suguri-senshu [player/skater], this will be your first Worlds appearance in 3 years - what was your reaction in the moment when it was decided?
Suguri: Today, I was able to perform with all my might, so I had a strong feeling that it would be nice to be picked as a representative. This season, I have done a lot of preparation for Worlds, and finally, I think it's one step towards the Vancouver Olympics.
---The three women representatives - what is your goal for Worlds?
Asada: Worlds will be the last competition of this season, so everything that I can do - I want to do it without any mistakes.
Suguri: It was very difficult to get to this point, and I'm filled with happiness that so many people cheered me on.
Ando: Today there were all kinds of happenings (in the Ladies' free program warm up she collided with Suguri and hurt her leg), and I worried that I might not be able to go to Worlds, but I thought strong thoughts and checked my leg and this was the result. I think it's the result of my feelings, and the support of all the people who cheered for me. I want to carry my feelings and everyone else's feelings with me to Worlds and do my best performance.
---Each of you - how do you plan to spend New Year's Day?
Asada: On New Year's, I'll watch TV, go shopping...and eat good food.
Suguri: Usually I'm abroad and it's hard to meet my friends in Japan, so [this year] I want to meet them, but I plan to go back to the US right away.
Ando: On New Year's I'll probably be in Japan. But my leg is not good, so I think I'll have to go to the hospital. [Laughs]
Reeds: We want to have a relaxing New Year's.
---There are many skaters who have Nikolai Morozov as their coach; how has he helped you?
Oda: From April this year he's been my regular coach, and I [usually] feel weak-hearted at competitions, but Nikolai will passionately push me, so I'm able to skate strongly.
Suguri: At practice, he's always there with me, and he's pulled me up from my condition last season. I think it's thanks to his strength that I was able to get here. If I were to say what was the best thing...it was difficult for me, but [??? the fact that he wouldn't let me talk was good and bad??? - not sure how to translate] (Laughs).
Ando: This is our third year, and finally we've been able to make our feelings and thoughts about competitions the same and develop a relationship of mutual trust. In the end, he'd say "If you do each element one at a time, you'll be fine" and push me to feel strong. But, in my case, Morozov is not my only coach. If we talk about the
amount of times we've skated together, Morozov is my main coach, but Monna-sensei is teaching me to jump. This time, my triple-triple was downgraded, but the one who put it in my program is Monna-sensei. If Monna-sensei was not here, even if I had Morozov's strength, I don't think I would have been able to get there, so I'm grateful to both of my teachers.
Cathy Reed: He pulls out the best from skaters. He understands the skaters' minds and bodies, so we can practice well.
Chris Reed: He's the best coach, who can make you feel comfortable on ice no matter what.
---Asada-senshu [player], today several of your jumps were downgraded..
Asada: I haven't seen the [protocols] yet, but by the next Four Continents Championships, I want to fix my jumps.
---Each of you, in return for your great efforts up to this point, if you could receive some reward from God, what would it be?
Oda: (Oda struggled to come up with an answer, and Suguri interrupted, "There's nothing you want? You're fortunate.") I am fortunate, so I would want the power to share my good fortune.
Kozuka: (Oda whispered something in his ears, but he rejected it.) Because of the competition, we didn't have Christmas, but even if it's 1 day date or 2 days late, if we had Christmas, I'd be happy. But, I was able to get a ticket to Worlds, so I think that's the best present.
Mura: This is very unoriginal, but I'd like to get my driver's license. Because it'll be my birthday soon.
Asada: I'm thinking. Please go before me.
Suguri: (surprised by Mao's evasive answer) What? For me, I'd want a body that can skate for my whole life.
Ando: Right now I like skating, and my feelings are suited to skating, but it's hard for me to have confidence in myself, so I want to be able to have confidence in myself.
Cathy: When we were children, our grandparents passed away, so if I could, I'd like to have them back.
Chris: I'd like a new knee. (Laughs)
Asada: Ok..I'd like to go on a shopping and eating spree.
---Asada-senshu, you've won the All Japan Championships 3 times now - is it different from before? What about a 2nd World title?
This time, I had the feeling that I wanted to win a 3rd title, and I thought a little too much in the short. But I've never won 3 consecutive titles in a big competition, so I'm happy. At Worlds, first and foremost, my goal is to do all my elements without any mistakes.
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Hmm, I wonder what Oda whispered to Kozuka! 
Mao's answer made me laugh. She's always talking about food. 
I'm glad Mao is not talking about wanting to win Worlds (even if she might want to) - now is the time to challenge yourself!! Goo Mao! 
I hope Miki gets better soon! 
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Sun Dec 28, 2008 3:34 am
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Ganbare Miki!!
All the jumps landed perfectly, and as far as I could tell from the tiny Keyhole screen with lagged sound, the "Masquerade Waltz" steps in the encore were really fast!! 
I really wish her the best at Worlds.
Shizuka kept mentioning how Mao has phenomenal ability and skill in her steps.
) and we decided to meet tomorrow instead. SI I though "Great! Now I can take a short nap and then watch the Gala..." 
Mao Asada - HD version:
And more of Mao being smothered in kisses. 
Super cute, and again THANK YOU NANAE FOR YOUR HARD WORK!