Daisuke leaves for Torino

http://www.jiji.com/jc/c?g=spo_30&k=2010032000182
He didn't give any interviews, but his management said "He's concentrating on the competition right now."

http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/100320/spm1003201152005-n1.htm
Comment from Utako: "He was pretty tired from the Olympics, but he's finally recovered. There's no change in the program layout, and he will include the quad."

As always, he looks kind of shady at the airport. (Hope he doesn't get detained by immigration in Italy!) Good for him for not talking to the media though, I never understood why the Japanese media always stalks skaters at the airport and asks them the same questions over and over again. Just let them travel in peace!

Thank you for the heads up, Calliope!

Daisuke looks def cool!

Calliope wrote:

I never understood why the Japanese media always stalks skaters at the airport and asks them the same questions over and over again.

Because they need to fill those pages with news?

http://www.daily.co.jp/general/2010/03/21/0002799420.shtml

This article basically says the same thing as the other two, but it also says that he's still using Takeshi Honda's skates. Hopefully they last through the week!

Also, it looks like the pressure is on... They're calling him the "big favorite" to win.

Hopefully Daisuke will still be able to perform great under all the pressure even though he did mention in an interview that he doesn't do that well under pressure...

But he can always bring a Quatchi along with him.

Thank you for the news, Calliope!!

Calliope wrote:

but it also says that he's still using Takeshi Honda's skates.

Thanks. It's a big relief to hear that. I've been worried about his skating shoes very much.

Calliope wrote:

Hopefully they last through the week!

Please!!!!!

hsuhs wrote:

Daisuke looks def cool!

He looks like a rocker!!

Calliope wrote:

Also, it looks like the pressure is on... They're calling him the "big favorite" to win.

blacksugarbomb wrote:

Hopefully Daisuke will still be able to perform great under all the pressure even though he did mention in an interview that he doesn't do that well under pressure...

I think the pressure is no longer a big issue for him. He has experienced it in 08 Worlds and renewed it in 09 GPF.( ) Probably it's motivation and concentration rather than pressure.
I can easily imagine how difficult it would be to get motivated again and forcused on a new competition especially for a person like Dai-chan, who had worked sooooo hard fighting against the clock for the olympics and actually got something there. (Of course all the skaters are always working hard and I respect them, though.)

Anyway, for me who had prepared myself to see him retiring after Vancouver for a long time, this worlds is like an extra gift from him. Just hope he can enjoy it like the olympics. And no injury!!