For the original report in Japanese by blue-C, please click here.
I thank you, C-san, for your permission to translate it.
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Amino Vital Talk Show No. 4 in Sagamihara
June 15, 2014
This was the final talk show of the 2-day talk-a-thon.
Daisuke wore the same outfit as you saw in his Instagram picture holding aminoVITAL products.
Again, Mr. Kurihara of Ajinomoto Co. emceed the event. As a representative of the Amino Vital Victory Project, he has known and supported Daisuke for 9 years, including three Olympics. It was apparent from his words and great chemistry with Daisuke that Mr. Kurihara had so much respect and understanding for this athlete. Daisuke’s response was spontaneous and fun, too. The whole event turned out to be full of laughter, applause and cheers.
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Daisuke comes in. Finding his seat is so much closer to the audience here,
D: Wow, it’s so close! I get nervous!!
Kurihara: But you always get watched close at skating rinks.
D: The rinks are fine because my switch is ON there.
The switch is OFF now, so I get nervous here!
(A group of children are sitting in the front)
K: What was your childhood like?
D: I was a sissy child. I still am. I think the ladies around me are stronger.
D: When you are little, you should (train) at your own pace.
I myself didn’t get serious until about 18. LOL
So I trained at my own pace, learning from many different people. I got acquainted with many wonderful people along the way.
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K: As we (Amino Vital Victory Project) support a number of athletes, we sometimes come across a few athletes who have a natural trait that make us WANT to support them, WANT to do something to help them. All athletes who have that trait have won medals. (audience applause)
There are actually some athletes who are self-centered and alienate others. They tend to fall short when it counts.
Kosuke Kitajima (Olympic Gold medalist in swimming), for example, is always conscious of his surroundings and courteous to others. He is a leader by nature and thus his teammates respect him.
Mr. Takahashi is one of those athletes, too, and that’s why we are happy to do something for him. He is someone who would always say hello to others, would always smile and have a positive attitude. (a huge applause)
K: When we went to interview you at Kansai University right before the Sochi Olympics…, things were pretty rough for you then.
D: You saw me at the worst time.
K: The fact that you let us see you in such a condition is, I believe, a sign that you trust us. You told us after the interview, “I’m sorry I was awful today”, Then you went on to say “I’m sorry for having a bad attitude”. It’s amazing you said it, and that’s when we sincerely wished to help you.
Your fans, too, want to root for you because of those words that are coming out of you. (a big cheer from audience)
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(D has a little conversation with the kids about Father’s Day)
K: What is your memory about your father from your childhood?
D: Well, he didn’t like answering phone calls…, didn’t do much at home…
But he trained with me after dinner; he had built this training regimen for me that he made up on his own.
He loved watching me skate, too. Mom said she was too scared to watch, but Dad always watched my old performances on DVD’s. Then Mom would say, “You can watch the videos anytime! Let me watch my favorite drama”. LOL. She usually ended up watching her drama on a small TV set in the kitchen, out of her love or respect for Dad, maybe, I dunno. He was pretty bossy around the house, but kind.
K: Have you ever been scolded by your father?
D: Only twice. At one time I was scolded for having a bad attitude during a skating practice. When we came home, he kicked me and I went rolling around on the floor (he gestures by drawing circles in the air). I don’t remember about the other time. LOL
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K: I still remember clearly the first scenes at Torino Olympics, such as the one at the Short Program, when you took your starting pose.
D: I hardly remember anything from the Torino Olympics. LOL
K: There were many empty seats at the figure skating events in Torino! I’d say it was only about half full. Look how things have changed: this time we had so many Japanese flags. It almost felt like being in Japan! I almost thought I was in Yoyogi! LOL
How many of you went to the Sochi Olympics? (many people from the audience raise hands)
K: That’s amazing! It’s Sochi, I’m telling you! That’s quite a journey.
D: And you went all by yourselves unassisted. It’s hard enough for us the athletes to go there all assisted.
K: It’s all your doing, Mr. Takahashi, to have turned Men’s figure skating so popular.
D: No, no, no!
(The whole room explodes with applause, still going on when Daisuke speaks again)
D: It’s all thanks to the people who are here!
K: And it was you who set the fire in the hearts of these people!
(Even louder applause and cheers!!!!!)
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（will continue to Part 2)