GIFT -- the story which is aim to focus on
Yuzuru Hanyu's the first life on ice is mainly directed by Yuzuru Hanyu while the performance produced by Mikiko.
Yuzuru Hanyu was the first skater who performed in Tokyo Dome. How was it completed? Through their conversation, we can know their collaboration, experience and the idea clearly
Q：What are the new challenges for both of you to work on GIFT- ICE Story.
Yuzu: After turning to professional athlete, I requested to assistance from Mikiko on two programs, <A fleeting Dream> and <Come, spring>. Both were for <Prologue>, which was my first solo ice show. In terms of cooperation with Mikiko, <Come, spring> was the first one which jumps were add in. Meanwhile, I felt extremely afraid since both of us only had a little run-in period. However, she is reliable person for sure, I believe that there wouldbe no problem if I passed the assignments to her.To be honest, when I tried to perform <A fleeting dream> firstly during the Ice show in Yokohama, the actual skating with trace behind was quite difficult. As this program was performed after skating for a lot of programs, it was very tough with that speed. Moreover, pursuing the accuracy was also very difficult. I strongly insist on that the motion should be comply with the video. Thanks to a lot of trials, the meaning of lighting became obvious. I am not sure if my expression is correct or not, as figure skater, as Yuzuru Hanyu, as Mikiko, I strongly feltthat the performance did express as it expected.
I am considering how to describe it correctly. It does not mean that performance simply comply with the video or force the video to comply with the performance either. For me, I paid a lot of attention so much such as how to leave the blank note to audience during the performance, how to give the meaning of the program and how the feeling will come from the audience during the Yuzuru Hanyu's performance with the music and with the exact motion of dance. Since there is a lighting trace, I should not only focus on skating forward, but also need to feel how the lighting trace behind looks like. Thanks to the feature of figure skate which enable the scene to be seen from different kinds of angles, I can imagine what the audience who were sitting around the slanting rear area, may see from their point of view and how the performance can be shown. When watching from the front, although I couldn’t see the lighting trace behind, what I considered deeply is how to do to enable the trace behind comes out. From this point of view, as expresser, I strongly believe that Yuzuru Hanyu’s expressing became come true through GIFT itself.
MIKIKO: For me, all were the challenge. Basically, Different from the performance in regular concert,there are almost no intervals which the performer does not appear. Skating one program, later interval comes into and then skating another one, whosecomposing itself was the first for me. How to express with such composing was quite a big challenge. In GIFT, it was full of the Yuzuru’s ownfeelings that were described by himself. It was basically designed to lead audience to feel that all of these feelings were shared to them just like one-to-one dialog only. How to achieve that goal was the initial challenge for me. Project-mapping is the technical skill which brings the feeling to audience that the performer is able to control the video to come out, if the project mapping does not comply with the performer, then audience may only think that the project mapping itself is very powerful. If it is, it would be worst solution as a producer. For producer, it is very important that never be told as the set itself was good. What I must do was to acknowledge that Yuzuru’s performance itself was good instead. Since it is not general live, basically during the whole live where to prioritize, how to balance and how to put eyes on Yuzuru was my responsibility. Despite intervals inside, how to sing with the rhythm of soul, and even creating the flow of timeframe during the performance were also great challenge.
Yuzu: As the location is Tokyo Dome, the scope of utilization became wide. However, due to the limitation of angel and view, audience who were seated far from the stage received limited information as it may be difficult for them to see these scenes. On the other hand, within such wider scope of utilization, it means that different kinds of information can be received. Therefore, I should do the adjustment of performance only for GIFT.
What I did is to skate on this link. On the other hand, in terms of the whole performance, others also assisted to add compensative part that I would like to express. As it was my initial experience to perform on that area, I felt very nervous at that time, but I also received a lot of trust on me. Before the show opened, I was very excited since it was a huge challenge for me. So far what I could perform was only in ice rink, like the size of 30M*60M. This time, I skated some programs, like <Let me entertain you>, which something new has emerged. In terms of skating inside, the performance just completed as common. However, beyond my scope of skating, GIFT even continued and extended to another wider scope. In that point of view, I strongly feel that it was a big challenge to me. Especially for the two new programs, <A summer day> and <Ashura-Chan>,both have a strong impression of being designed for GIFT. As GIFT-orientated programs, the overview of world became wider. Provided this premise, they needed to have corresponding performance and overview. That was why the dance steps became like that. I hope that these points could be focused on when watching. I would like to bring the feelings to the audience such as:
“I see. That is why the steps are like in that way.”
“That is why the performance is like in that way.”
Or “I did want to see such performance and a wider world before” etc. Both of two programs were not only considered on basis of the collaboration of Yuzu & Mikiko, but also were based on GIFT, as an ICE story in Tokyo Dome. As for other programs, they were similar. So far, the world of the programs was restricted to 30M*60M. Through GIFT, I hope that everyone couof enjoy watching these programs in much wider world.
MIKIKO: <Ashues-chan> was the example. We did some trials of pattern on how ELEVENPLAY took roles. It was very important to compromise when it came to separated patten or merged patten. I did a lot of research on whether ELEVENPLAY should perform the dance step with Yuzu together, which designed by himself, or they needed to wait until his complete. At the beginning, I just designed ELEVENPLAY-styled’ s dance completely, but I gave up at last. In terms of designing, I feel that the synchronization between Yuzu and ELEVENPLAY such as they performed and stopped together with the same motion was unavoidable. After that, I did some trials and completed the design. For myself, I also practiced a lot and had real experience how to perform Yuzu’s dance. For example, “I did the slow motion here, oh, the right hand should move like that, I see”, such conversations happened when doing practice during a couples of evenings. After encountering this experience, we really hope that everyone can realize them. I did consider a lot, such as whether another “Yuzu” who was standing in the middle of ELEVENPLAY’s surrounding should appear or not, the musicians should appear when performing another melody or not, etc. On Basis of these considerations, we really hope that in such area as Tokyo Dome, they should appear for everybody to see them. More than back-dancers, they should be placed with deepfelt meaning.
Yuzu: I was glad. However, I also felt very ashamedas the dance I considered were all implemented by Mikiko and ELEVENPLAY’s members. Besides this, I still feel happy while I had a lot of responsibility with me, therefore I worked very hard.
Q: For what, how leads both of you to collaborate in GIFT.
MIKIKO: One day, I heard that this plan of project was in progress, I just commented as “It seems so fantastic that I would like to see.” and then I was requested if I can give them a hand. At that moment, I just realized that it was me who would accept this proposal. In that period, I really would like to do the challenge what I never did before and I cherished the feeling of willing to watching such performance.Therefore, at that moment I don’t know if I had the confidence or not, I just replied as “if it is me to accomplish, I will do my best”.
Later, I met with Yuzu, so I had the opportunity to talk with him and heard the actual feeling from him.Just after the announcement in press conference, I received his response again from him what he emphasized in the conference. His feeling and concern were proactively delivered to me, which gave me a strong impression. Later, when we talked about a lot regarding something creative, I noticed that he did see a lot and did listen a lot of music. I am surprised about his knowledge since he even knows about some maniac music. After that, I came to recognize that we could connect with the word of expressing.
Yuzu: Through GIFT, I got to know whether the word we are using can be understood or not, which was very important since the explanation of words, the concept of value can be different as well as the expression, or the meanings. Since both of us had similar experience on how to express during the performance or live, we may share the same imagination. Even though one little word has different feeling, whatever how little it is or not, it will change dramatically. Just as Mikiko mentioned as “If the word can be understood or not”, which was quite important. When I met Mikiko at the first time, I believe that this person was so reliable that I could request to her without any problem.
I am a fan of Mikko, so I really dreamed to watch her stage or performance previously. Of course, I do not want to be only her fan, as Yuzuru Hanyu, When I talked with her, I realized that I can pass over to her with the word that I would like to express now. When she seemed to doubt if she was qualified, I just replied as “of course, please”.
Q: What is the preparation or concern that Yuzu mentioned.
Yuzu: In press conference of turning to professional athlete, I named as “announcement of decision”.Therefore, I told to her how much I need to emphasize and how much I would like this show to be. Moreover, to deliver expression, I needed to get more assistance. I am athlete and an artist. Of course, In terms of art part, I could dig out and figure out by myself. Meanwhile, it means that a lot of assistances from different counterpart were also necessary. I promised to her that I would continue to study how to express from now on and I would also take my own responsibility of putting my whole soul into the performance and achieve diligently.
Q: What’s your impression on each other before you met
Yuzu: I love Gen Hoshino’s song basically and then I noticed that Mikiko was responsible for dance-design for Perfume etc. These dances, and motion in Live video were quite good. When watching these video, I kept thinking in my mind such as” it is fantastic, they danced quite well, Mikiko(she) is the leader of this dance group, the skill of dance is too smart” etc. After watching ELEVEN’s dance, I noticed that it was also conducted by Mikiko. Since then, I became a fan of Mikiko.
MIKIKO: Yuzuru Hanyu is well known all over the world. As for me, one of Japanese resident, I have above impression on him. Furthermore, I feel that he is the one who really surpass the scope or limitation of athlete, who already achieved in artist level. Of course, his skating skill is perfect. I just wonder how much he can immerse himself into the music. From this point, immersing is always mentioned in our Japanese daily life, but the number of the person who can really immersing into music is quite few. The word of “Into” is mentioned very often. However, even only pretending to be in that status is also very rare among Japanese.Therefore, I really appreciate that he can bring himself into the performance. Furthermore, he can skate with the perfect skills and fantastic performance infighting stage, globally. As one of Japanese, I am very proud to watching all his performance.
One day, someone told me that there was also a dancing video from Yuzu, who performed <Love Dance> recently. At that time, I also post a message in Twitter (Now it is X): Yuzu samaperformed <Love Dance>.
Yuzu: I am so glad that my dance was noticed by Mikiko. I was excited at that time. Of course, the importance of figure skating is to immerse oneself to the music, but if the basic practices cannot be implemented well, basically there is no way to dig out. Whether the outliner shape of figure skate looks beautiful or not depends on how much practices are done or not. Only if the practices are implemented strictly, when the difficulties come to the skaters, he/she will quickly understand which motion can be implemented wonderfully, which shape can be seen much beautifully. Basically, the basic practice is necessary. During the press conference in Pyeongchang Olympics, I was asked whether I am artist or athlete. At that time, “I believe that jump is very important while the score is also necessary. However, only once carrying with solid skills and basic strength, the artistic elements will appear. I replied as above on this topic. Both perfume and ELEVENPLAY have the solid skills. When I watched ELEVENPLAY, I really appreciate and also understand how much efforts they can achieve, like making up together by moving 1CM every time with their detailed and solid formation. Even through implementing one simple motion, it already surpassed the scope of artistic. I love their meticulous motion, which attracts me a lot.
MIKIKO: We are not aim at showing off the skills.However, skill must be a compromise. On basis of the skills, the inside personality begins to appear. I would like to accomplish the assignment which I am making progress to lead the inside concept to appear. Therefore, their dance does not simply work together. When they dance together, later their own personality will appear. I am always considering telling them that only through their body, it can touch the soul. I am very happy since they also did as I told to them.
Yuzu：I believe that it is our common part. When I skate, I have a lot of ad-libs. Such as the ways of expressing, the way of expression on fingertips and the way of opposite face are all different from time to time. Although the motion which is done by individual or by group is different for sure, they still can figure out thoroughly and are trying to make every progress step by step. I am not showing off the skill, either. Of course, skill is mandatory. I love their performance as they perform diligently. I love the free part of ELEVENPLAY very much because of the different approaches of showing inside personality and different ways of expressing. Such concept of values maybe matched with mine when we met at first, which we may click at that moment. Now I just realized that during our current conversation.
Q: Just as mentioned, could you please share the feeling when immersing yourself into the music.
Yuzu: For example, I am the type who is completely immersed in the world of music like singing proactively when doing the warming-up exercise. However, especially as Japanese, we can hardly do as we may feel ashamed. I am the opposite type who may immerse myself into the music thoroughly. From that point of view, I am rare person. When immersing into music, it is not only just enjoying, not only attaching on the music, but I am also working on how to express. To be honest, I am not only enjoying the music in good mood, but also totally bringing myself into the music. Through the music, I also wonder how many souls of music, or how many internal personalities can be extracted from me. When skating, I am considering from that aspect. When considering the outline of ice story, I am also thinking with this concept. In terms of this point, I believe that my thinking model is close to the dancer, artist, or the expresser.
MIKIKO: In the terms of the emotion of immersing into music, I totally agree with what Yuzu said.When I designed the dance step, besides the good dance itself or interesting formation, I would rather be focusing on which instrument should be complied with, which rhythm should be in accordance with, which note should be subject to. If we took our body as instrument, it can be violin, or it also can be a drum, which is very important. Sometimes, we also thought it over how to get the accurate intervals among each item. Therefore, we choose the appropriate way of dance, the appropriate way of skating which vividly reflect the musical score. I always appreciate that Yuzu’s ear is very good when listening to the music. He does not only listen to the music, but he will also response his reaction to the corresponding music, his word that generated from music, his feeling of music accordingly. I believe that he paid a lot attention at that time when he seemed to become to play that instrument and even his whole body was feeling the music as an instrument itself. When I do the dance-design, I also cherished this part very much. In this point of view, although there was a status that we went into the lyrics of songs or into the music, it was also important if we felt good or bad when playing instruments by ourselves.
Yuzu: When I was a little boy, I watched Michael Jackson’s performance. I dreamed to be a person like him. He was good at immersing himself into rhythm, and his scope of rhythm-controlling was also wide. Not only above that, but he was like to turn to a keyboard, turned to a synthesizer, even a cymbal. Different kinds of sounds seemed to be generated from his body. I love him very much. During my childhood, I loved one jazz music, whose name is <Sing, Sing, Sing>. I loved to express all the sounds when performing that program. From my childhood, I regarded the rhythm as very important.This time, I designed the dance step for <Ashura-chan>. Basically, I love the rhythm, so it is easy for me to rely on the rhythm. I thought a lot of instances over and over such as how to in accordance with that vocal, how the singer sings this song, and how about the rhythm of this song goes with etc. When preforming, I paid a lot of attention whether I need to focus on vocal or at the other time, I need to comply with the sound of keyboard instead.
Q: Could you please share with us the meaning and feeling of GIFT.
Yuzu： A lot of experience and matters happened on me. So finally, all of them were connected the “DREAM”. Because of dream, I am struggling, because of dream, I have paid the cost, but I was still abandoned by the dream. On the other hand, these people who support me are still there. In terms of describing my first life, I would also tried to make up the specified word for the story. The main concept of GIFT which I would emphasize most was Yuzuru Hanyu, the owner of skating. People who may understand why I was turn to professional athlete, why I am diligent to work in artistic world and why I have such concern to continue. Someone may believe that Yuzuru Hanyu is just that style. For others who are not interested in me so far, I am glad if one or two little pieces of word can be in their memory. On basis of these above considerations, I completed the world view of GIFT. I believe that the story is very important, because of these programs, so far, the word view represented by these programs is totally different now. To complete this worldview, I also thought over the setlist of these programs. I am very glad that if my creative word could touch the audience, who was fond of my favorite program, even only one phase or even one nodule will also be fine. If GIFT can link the audience with their memories, the tough experience they encountered, their happiness, or the current happenings, I will be happy. That was my first concern when working on and considering the composition. To be honest, I do not think that all of feelings can be understood, which is far beyond of my expectations. Only little sympathy is enough, I will feel good if the whole part can be touched by the people like gift. Even though it may bring sad memories, in terms of good experiences, it is a new formation of ice story that we built up. At first, writing the outline of story, adding the programs, recording the narration by myself, and making up the story were basic process. However, if the whole ice story is only filled with my own words, it will be less interesting or only kindness is left in that worldview.I would like to provide more feelings to people with wider world instead, therefore, I requested Mikiko’s assistance. Word itself is still the main part of the program. It is good if GIFT can be regarded as Yuzuru Hanyu’s new skate as well as the world of new story.
MIKIKO: When this proposal came to me, I just realized the fact of his turning professional athlete. I had the below feeling when hearing this news. The parts that should not be seen so far, including his suffering, the experience he encountered can be written to the public literally after his turning to professional athlete, whose scope was already from the world of scoring and ranking to the artistic world. Including struggling, his experiences were all poured out, which I have a little worried at first. It is obvious that to the trained eye, in GIFT, there must be the person who was also raising the question and answer by himself. Finally, through the idea-exchange, his own value can be confirmed.It is the very part that he may want to convey. According to him, if no such conversation, nothing founded. Furthermore, the specified word and word in aggregation are both essential. He seemed to emphasize the word in aggregation, which could be heard somewhere. It is fine that different kinds of answer may appear on basis of different one’s imagination. However, we hope that it can reach the core of soul. Maybe some person cannot hear the word hidden in aggregation anymore when growing up while others may still can hear even though growing up. Once discarding the evil intention, he/she may hear. I believe that Yuzu is the rare person who can continue to hear these hidden words. It is good if these kind words can go across to the heart of everyone. Well, I have the feeling for whom is only relying on the body to express his meaning and feeling, when he is speaking out, the word they choose will be extremely serious and then the answer will be poured out. Previously, he had difficulties that how to express his meaning without speaking,but he was qualified to accomplish. This time, I feel that he must cherish and prepare initially to lead the audiences to be immersed in his word as much as possible.
Yuzu: I hope that I could share Mikiko with the worldview that I described as well as this child (another persona) in that status could also be delivered to. Maybe the concretization of the inside feeling could be several personas, however in GIFT, the main characters were 2 personas. I did cherish if these concerns could be delivered like how both 2 personas do the expression, how feeling they were, how the word was delivered or if it could be delivered accurately. However, I could only mention that at most since if I talked too much which may have less explanation.
Q；You just mentioned that because of dream, I am struggling, because of dream, I have paid the cost, but I was still abandoned. What is detailed meaning for that.
Yuzu: if the person who watched GIFT, they may understand. When I coped with the story or word, I just realized that the most important part was my mental feature as a human. In terms of human, I guess that we may remember the unhappiness and suffering on most occasions. When talking about the situation as if this unhappiness can be converted completely or not, the reality is obvious that it cannot be converted to happiness. I understand that it is reality, however, how to say…. For example, we never know how the attacking Ukraine, COVID9 will be in future. Lots of suffering do exist but we have no way to overcome. However, thanks to these people who are doing the contribution, this unhappiness may convert to a little lucky thing through words in our daily life. Even though he/she is alone, I strongly believe that he/she can be survived by some music, or my program. Although suffering from the difficulties, if he/she still could feel such a little luck, it will be good enough. It is not only me who is suffering, if my experiences can be overlapped with their experiences or powerlessness, I will be released. When writing this story, I felt a lot of unhappiness, but I am also very lucky. For everyone who spent the time to watch my skating, I hope that they can have a journey with something meaningful during such restricted period. Although suffering, I really hope that I can create a period of an exactexperience of being able to feel lucky things forthem.
When performing the programs, it is always in my mind during my skating life. In terms of the whole life, I guess that it must be something meaningful when I feel suffering. At most lasting 3 mins for one program, I would like to give it meaningful, which is also the soul of my skating. GIFT is just to enlarge this part.
Q: What is the part that both of you are cherishing for.
MIKIKO: Basically, it is concluded as complying with the expectations but contrary to the expectations, which I cherished most. GIFT itself did not comply with regular expectations. When receiving the story of GIFT, I totally felt that it would be beyond the expectations. Besides looking at the other one’s story, I feel it is much more important to focus on the common feeling, or the part which was overlapped with my life. I had the similar feeling as Yuzu, whose pain was like 98% of the whole producing-period. Even through the comments around were all good but I did not totally satisfy. Some objects were left to me as usual, so my life is always in pain. When the show finished, I have a hope that I still can continue to work on. I am ok to be alone, but I will be very happy if my work can please others. Only depending on some light, I can continue to work on. I believe that every occupation is similar.Meanwhile, I have a strong desire that I am not willing to forget. What I would like to bring to audience is that the next scene was not expected instead of the next scene came as expected. All the scenes are connected and all of them are touching. For example, if the transition between two scenes could be 0.5 sec earlier than expected, it would bring gooseflesh to the audience. On basis of strong conviction on these objects, even one detail. I kept considering when I paid attention on working on GIFT.
There were some words in story of GIFT, which were contrary to the expectations. Some of them were delivered with the feeling of vivid and exciting. As GIFT was brand-newly produced and lead to a new world widely, it is very good memory when I recall my whole performance- produce life. It was the extreme challenge so far. When I become very old, it is still worth of recalling as GIFT was important for me.
Yuzu: As I skated for long time, the way of connection to music was obviously escalated to next level. Word with the music, word with the video, the way of display and the way of expression were all challenge for me. This time, the most difficult was how to merge the different worldview together among goodness of my skate, goodness of Yuzuru Hanyu, the goodness and imagination of Mikiko, the goodness and balance of team and even the good direction and goodness of music itself. It was tough to combine and take the best balance among above objects, but when accomplished, it was also fantastic.