News and Topics 2015

Hi! Sorry for my long laziness.

Today's Sankei EX has his last essay of the series of "Between calmness and passion". It's the last one.    

I thought this was like his sincere letter to his fans who he is going to leave soon, trying to explain what he is thinking and how he made up his mind. (2000days is the same)


Sorry again for my poor translation skill!


http://www.sankeibiz.jp/express/news/150127/exe1501271145001-n1.htm
http://www.sankeibiz.jp/images/news/150127/exe1501271145001-p1.jpg

"Between calmness and passion"

Three months has passed since I officially announced my retirement. The life as a competitive skater seems so long ago. I used to have nothing with new year mood as I started to practice from the next day of new year’s day. But this year I enjoyed the new year’s spirit for the first time in many years and it made me realize again I was not a competitive skater anymore. I used to have only a day off per week before but now both Saturday and Sunday are off. I go to practice only when I want. The callus on my foot has disappeared, as well. The fact that no one accuses me when I miss practice, also tells that I’m no longer a competitive skater.

Surprisingly I don’t feel it strange at all to find myself not skating in competitions. I don’t miss them either. I’m glad that a lot of young skaters who can compete at the world level are coming into the scene and simply I’m rooting them.

<The joy to respond the expectation>

After a few ice shows which I plan to skate, I will stay away from figure skating and go to US. to train myself for a while. Because the most important purpose is to master English, I’m not going to limit the length of the stay. I’m still searching which city to go but the reason why I chose US. is that I will be able to take dance lessons, experience art and stages and get stimulated by its diverse culture and people, as well as its livability.

As my personality is dependent and passive and plus I lack social experiences, I want to acquire the ability to take action and judge, which make me enable to act positively without any hesitation, by putting myself in the tough situation. I won’t put “skate” as a purpose in my mind, and want to review fundamentally my feeling toward skating.

In fact, I occasionally suspected if I really liked skating in the last two years of my competitive career. I think, I competed for the joy to meet the expectation, more   than pure love for skating. Probably due to it, I lost my confidence by thinking of the change of the expectation and times too much, and consequently I couldn’t raise my motivation. I think it accelerated the retirement. After Sochi, my heart was burned out and motivation toward skating never comes back. I think I should better move away  from skating once in order to redeem my lost confidence.


<Empty myself and the next step>

I left all of  my honest thoughts in my book “2000days” this time. There might be harsh parts for readers and fans, but by letting out all of my real feelings into the book, I can empty myself and take a next step finally. Now I’m feeling clear and light, since I’ve come to be able to speak publicly my honest feelings after the book went on sale.

It was fun to skate in front of the people in the some ice shows which I took part in after I retired. I can do it most naturally among the various jobs. But I feel fit better with the title “figure” skater, not “professional” skater as I just want to enjoy it during the short period before I go to US. I think the real change of myself will begin after I go there. I can’t change unless I go to train myself. So at this moment I want to behave just as my heart leads and I don’t think the title is important. I don’t have a certain image of my future at all. Of course I have anxiety. But  I have a strong will to change and my expectation for “to change” is bigger. I want to find something I can do with the same amount of energy which I used to spend as a athlete.  Something  worthwhile in the true meaning and I can face faithfully.


< To know about losing >

My competitive life over 20 years has passed so fast, especially the last 10 years when I was very aware as an athlete was something beyond my imagination. All those years are my special assets which formed my present self. If I hadn’t done the sports, I wouldn’t have even traveled to Tokyo and would have lived looking down gloomily. (laugh)

What is a good thing that I continued to compete, is “to know about losing.” As I’ve learned gradually that there are times when you won’t be rewarded even if you work as hard as you can, I think I can work patiently without giving up easily in my future life.

Thank you very much for reading this serial essay for four years after Vancouver. It was just the same as the title “Between calmness and passion”. You shouldn’t be too calm but also you shouldn’t be too passionate, either. I’ve been thinking the most difficult part is to move forward with balancing them properly. This serial essay finishes this time. However I have a feeling that everything is finishing one by one like this, I think it’s better to eliminate everything like “bang!” in order to take a next step.  

I can’t see you for a while on this paper, but see you again someday.


-End-

Hello miyu we missed you! Thank you so much for translating Dai-chan's words.
Your translation skills are excellent!

miyu, so happy to read you again here!!! Missed you so much!!

Thank you for translation: you convey Dai's feelings so well..
Hope that you and/or some other friend can complete translation soon, although I already know that the very last words will bring tears back.

https://www.facebook.com/DaisukeTakahashiRoadtoSochi/posts/591548564316046

useless to say.. my eyes are wet... but in the deep of my heart I know and understand that this is the right thing to do for him, a new road to walk. La Strada... Wish him to find the greatest treasure at the end of the rainbow.

Dai-chan, in my life I love you more

Miyu, thank you so much! You have translated it beautifully!

Oh....  

   


On a personal note:

miyu wrote:

As my personality is dependent and passive and plus I lack social experiences, I want to acquire the ability to take action and judge, which make me enable to act positively without any hesitation, by putting myself in the tough situation.

- that's me  and that also kind of were my motivations to come to US. But actually it was on this Forum that I started to use English for the first time. My love for Dai-chan has made me break out of my shell...

So thank you Dai-chan for everything! And Good Luck!!!    


Please, choose NY...

Thank you for your warm words, guys!!

I added my morning job to the first post. The second part of the article <Empty myself and the next step>. Have a look!

Thank you again miyu!


I don't know if it's too much to ask, but I wonder what the "harsh parts" are about? We keep hearing he is almost brutally honest in the book, but is it possible for us, not understanding Japanese, to hear something more? I'm buying the book anyway, but I want to ask our Japanese friends for some translations - just the worst parts, because I'm so puzzled - what it is about? If it's too harsh - it can be posted in the 'for members only' part of the forum. Or just PM me - I'm really curious and worried...

Done! I added the final part to the first post. Please have a look!

ilica wrote:

I don't know if it's too much to ask, but I wonder what the "harsh parts" are about? We keep hearing he is almost brutally honest in the book, but is it possible for us, not understanding Japanese, to hear something more? I'm buying the book anyway, but I want to ask our Japanese friends for some translations - just the worst parts, because I'm so puzzled - what it is about? If it's too harsh - it can be posted in the 'for members only' part of the forum. Or just PM me - I'm really curious and worried...

Don't worry. It's not too much. And I can easily understand your anxiety.  
But sorry, could you wait for a while? It will be my morning task tomorrow!

Thanks miyu for the additional translations!

ilica as miyu says don't worry to much about the brutally
honest stuff in Dai's book. I believe as his long time fans we will not
be shocked or suprised.

Thanks miyu and Shyla for calming me down!

Of course I'll wait!  Thank you again miyu!

miyu, once again thank you so much for being so kind. and skilfull in English!

in this hard time we non-Japanese fans need so much help and comfort from our Japanese friends

Seems strange... the more I read the article, the more I feel that "this is what it has to be".
Dai-chan himself said so many times that nothing is meaningless.
We cannot see now what lies in his future (and he doesn't, either   ) but one day we'll know. And it will be bright and beautiful!! Beautiful like Daisuke!

Dai-chan wrote:

see you again someday.

We'll be here waiting    

ilica, glad to know that now you have calmed down. We need to keep up our spirits, enjoying with Daisuke the short period before he goes to US

On a more cheerful note: on FSU, rosewood posted in Mao's fans thread the translation of "Stars On Talk", the fluff of SOI with Dai, Akko, Mao and Nobu chatting and having fun.  Very good and nice translation, full of emoticons!! and very funny!!

http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/index.php?threads/the-mao-cheer-thread-after-finishing-the-season-i-could-truly-say-figure-skating-is-wonderful.89260/page-21


Dai-chan, in my life I love you more  

Thank you Pattina! And a big thank you to the great rosewood!!

I've been dying to know what they were talking about and what were the questions - they all pointed at Dai-chan so surely, Akko-chan even with both hands
Rosewood did such great job with all these emoticons, so funny to read! And I have to repeat after her:
"Simply I love them all"

PATTINA wrote:

Seems strange... the more I read the article, the more I feel that "this is what it has to be".
Dai-chan himself said so many times that nothing is meaningless.
We cannot see now what lies in his future (and he doesn't, either   ) but one day we'll know. And it will be bright and beautiful!! Beautiful like Daisuke!

Dai-chan wrote:

see you again someday.

We'll be here waiting    


ilica, glad to know that now you have calmed down. We need to keep up our spirits, enjoying with Daisuke the short period before he goes to US

Thanks for worrying about me! But actually, I feel the same as you - strangely I feel almost... excited for Dai-chan's new adventures!

Yes, Dai-chan, we'll be waiting here for you!      

(But don't forget to bring your cheerleader outfit from US - we all heard you're gonna be cheerleading to Queen Mao when she comes back - so after pink shorts it's time for a cheerleader miniskirt  (I think I've seen Nobu in something like that))

- see Pattina, I'm trying to keep up our spirits here  while waiting for the serious stuff from miyu...

Thank you so much miyu for your great translation!!! I am so happy to see you here.  
Please come back just for a little "hi" even. (Missed you...)

The article sounds like his real farewell to all the years of his career before. Whether he is coming back to skate in shows/charities or not, one of the chapters of his life is surely over...

Thank you, Dai-chan. I'll wait for you here for that "some day" with all my fellow Dai fans and praying for your journey from now to have even greater blessings than on your earlier years.

Thank you PATTINA for the "Stars on Talk" article!! Oda kun always is so nice to praise how great the other skaters around him are with an on-target observation . He is going to be a great commentator!


[Edit:]

I just missed your post, ilica.

I am glad to find you are very positive about his new adventure!!
Yes, he said himself he is a great anticipation how he can change himself so let's see!

Hopefully not too much of a change in his physical figure in consequence of rich American food...  

Shyala wrote:

ilica as miyu says don't worry to much about the brutally
honest stuff in Dai's book. I believe as his long time fans we will not
be shocked or suprised.

Sorry, Shyla. I meant, “Don't worry about what you asked me, ilica.”

2000 days includes a loooot of stories. Some of them will make you cry, for sure. But the good thing is that 2000 days is far more positive than his previous book, Be Soul2. Be Soul2 was the very straight expression of his anguish and it was written in the middle of it.    But 2000 days is different. The time of anguish which he also wrote about in the book, is almost over and now (or at that time when he wrote 2000 days) he’s already started to try to find something which will lead him to his new future. So the book ends with a positive note.

As I wrote above, 2000 days has a broad range of topics which we should share. (if we could) So I can’t tell you it briefly here, and now as well. I opened a new thread “Discussion on 2000 days” in the limited area. I think it would be nice if we can exchange our opinions on the book in the thread. I will add partial translations of it when I have time.

Discussion on "2000 days"
https://daisuke-takahashi.forumotion.com/t978-discussion-on-2000-days

ilica wrote:

but I wonder what the "harsh parts" are about?

It seems he worried most that he might hurt his fans as he wrote there was a time when he couldn’t even believe the big cheers from his fans. He talked about it in the talk show on 1/19. He said it was because he lost his confidence so badly and nothing was wrong with the fans.

PATTINA wrote:

Seems strange... the more I read the article, the more I feel that "this is what it has to be".

So do I. I was shocked to read how he was worn-out to the bone, even though I knew he was tired.  It seems his energy drained out of his body and nothing was left after the Game. Do you remember he said he was empty? He still needs rest both mentally and  physically to regain the energy, I think.  

Twind wrote:

Thank you so much miyu for your great translation!!! I am so happy to see you here.
Please come back just for a little "hi" even. (Missed you...)

Thank you, Twind. You are so sweet as always. I’m afraid you translated the article, too…. From next time, I will tell you in advance by twitter. But you don’t need to tell me as I rarely do.

Thank you miyu! It means so much to me/us.

Thank you miyu!

Kenji has choreographed a new program for Dai-chan. So exciting, can't wait to see it.

http://ameblo.jp/kenjimiyamoto/entry-11983105443.html

miyu, thank you for additional info and for new thread on "2000days".

miyu wrote:

But 2000 days is different. The time of anguish which he also wrote about in the book, is almost over and now (or at that time when he wrote 2000 days) he’s already started to try to find something which will lead him to his new future. So the book ends with a positive note.

That's good news! And indeed Dai's look during the 01/19 talk and interviews is calm and bright but above all serene, as a clear blue sky after a storm.

Shyla, thanks for link to Kenji's pic with Dai!! They both look so happy! Here is the translation - thanks to Iz Wind and Daisuke Takahashi Road to Sochi

[Choreography]
I was doing the choreography for Dai-chan.
Even with just a simple movement he captured the people around and they paid rapt attention to him.
Just what you’d expect (from him)...

https://www.facebook.com/DaisukeTakahashiRoadtoSochi/posts/592516064219296

Dai's magic enchanting all people around him

Is it a new program for AOI???? OMG it would be great!!

It would seem like it is a new program for AOI. How lucky for you if it is true.
Which show are you going to Pattina? Only a few more days and you see
Dai-chan!!!!

Shyla, I will attend the two shows in Lausanne - 10 and 11 February. I'm getting nervous and excited...

Look here - official D1SK site!!!
http://d1sk.com/

Dai is amazingly handsome        


EDIT: According to this message by Admin, Dai's page at Kansai University blog will be closed on 10 February. And they address people to new website.
http://www.kansai-u.ac.jp/sports/message/takahashi/2015/01/post_93.html

Oh I love the new site! Thanks Pattina! Love the photo too!

That is wonderful that you are going to both shows, make sure you
take your fan with you to cool yourself off. lol

Thanks Shyla and Pattina for the news!

A new program and an official D1SK site!!!  

The site looks so cool!      
(but it makes me feel sad that Dai's page at Kansai University will be closed, end of an era indeed...)


Pattina, I'm so excited for you - you will see Dai's new program! Please, don't faint and try to remember something to report to us

ilica wrote:

Pattina, I'm so excited for you - you will see Dai's new program! Please, don't faint and try to remember something to report to us

Of course, I'll do my best not to faint and to keep memories of shows. Please, dear DTFF friends, keep fingers crossed for me, as both my husband and son have a bad cold with cought. I do not want to get ill!!!

Watanabe-san issued a dvd with gym exercises for athletes and Dai played as his model!! Muscles...

https://twitter.com/Dreamy316/status/561301852986171393?lang=it

Yesterday Asahi Sports Award ceremony of 16/01 was aired. Here is Dai's part. Thank you so much to uploader!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxafkpzuOZw&feature=youtu.be

The picture of Dai's website is now my pc screen.

Have a nice Dai week-end

Oh... thanks Pattina for the video ♥♥♥

PATTINA wrote:

Of course, I'll do my best not to faint and to keep memories of shows. Please, dear DTFF friends, keep fingers crossed for me, as both my husband and son have a bad cold with cought. I do not want to get ill!!!

Oh Fingers crossed!!!

Thanks for the links! Dai is beautiful

OK, eventually I can give up my dreams of Dai coming to NY - he looks gooood receiving awards - so Hollywood and Oscars next    ?

We will enjoy a little bit of Dai skating.... he has been choosen as testimonial and he will do the commercial for the release of DVD version of movie "When Marney Was There" by Ghibli Studio.

Post by ostile

https://www.facebook.com/DaisukeTakahashiRoadtoSochi/posts/599857440151825

Thanks so much to ostile, who keeps us informed although so busy in her tour (and a bit tired, I know!!)

Watch out, friends... RED ALERT!!!!      


Source: walkerplus http://news.walkerplus.com/article/55282/image303723.html

Red Alert for sure, so handsome!

"When Marnie Was There" will also be released in the US sometime in Spring.

http://www.slashfilm.com/when-marnie-was-there-us-release/

I am wondering if we will get Dai's DVD with the movie in US or will it only be for Japan
audience.

Thanks to ostile for the update and to you Pattina for sharing.