Wikipedia

Continues with Wings

Continues with Ｗings (コンティニューズ・ウィズ・ウィングス, stylized as 'Continues ～with Wings～') was an ice show produced by Japanese figure skater and two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu in collaboration with TV Asahi and CIC Co., Ltd. The one-off event was held on April 13–15, 2018, at Musashino Forest Sport Plaza in Chōfu, Tokyo. It was Hanyu's first self-produced ice show, commemorating his win of back-to-back Olympic titles in 2014 and 2018, and to express his gratitude to fans and skaters who had inspired and supported him in the course of his career.

Continues with Wings
Official logo of Continues with Wings
Ice show typeEnsemble show
FormatFigure skating exhibitions
ThemeCommemoration of Hanyu's back-to-back Olympic titles
Cast size9 skaters
Duration180 min
DateApril 13–15, 2018
No. of shows3
CountryJapan
VenueMusashino Forest Sport Plaza
Attendance27,000
Cinema live viewingJapan (April 15, 2018)
BroadcastCS TV Asahi
ChairpersonYuzuru Hanyu
Producer
OrganizerContinues with Wings Executive Committee
Sponsor
(among others)
Websitecontinueswithwings.com
Yuzuru Hanyu article series
Skating career
Other works
Solo ice shows
Ensemble ice shows

Background

edit
Main article: Yuzuru Hanyu Olympic seasons
 
Hanyu skating to Seimei at the 2018 Winter Olympics

At the 2018 Winter Olympics, Yuzuru Hanyu from Japan became the first figure skater in 66 years to win back-to-back Olympic titles in the men's singles discipline after American Dick Button in 1952.[1] At his first Winter Games in 2014, he also became the youngest Olympic men's champion since Button in 1948.[2] Hanyu is the first Asian male skater and second Japanese after Shizuka Arakawa in 2006 to win Olympic gold.[3][4]

Continues with Wings was scheduled two months after Hanyu's victory at the 2018 Winter Olympics to commemorate his historic achievements and express his gratitude to skaters who had inspired and supported him in course of his career until then.[5][6] The cast included coaches, choreographers, and team mates as well as Hanyu's role models in figure skating.[7] Due to rehabilitation from a ligament injury in his right foot, which Hanyu had sustained in November 2017 after a fall on a quadruple Lutz jump,[8] it was announced prior to the show that he would not perform on the ice himself.[9][10]

Concept and structure of the show

edit
 
Side view of the stage at Continues with Wings in the Musashino Forest Sport Plaza in Chōfu, Tokyo

The show lasted 2.5 hours and was directed by Hanyu,[11][12] featuring a mix of exhibition programs as well as multiple talk rounds between Hanyu and the invited skaters.[13][10] Each guest was introduced with a personal video message by Hanyu.[7][14] Due to his recuperation from an ankle injury, he was not initially scheduled to perform. However, at the end of the show, he gave a surprise performance with a medley of past competition programs, skipping jump elements due to the injury.[5][9] The show finale was arranged by Hanyu's former choreographers Jeffrey Buttle and Shae-Lynn Bourne to the song "Time to Say Goodbye", performed by the full cast.[15]

Skaters

edit

Main cast

edit
Skaters at Continues with Wings

Johnny Weir

edit

Johnny Weir is an American television commentator and retired figure skater who has competed in the senior men's singles discipline. He is a two-time Olympian (2006, 2010), and the 2008 World bronze medalist.[16][12] Known for his graceful and elegant skating style, Hanyu named him as one of his role models.[17][18] Weir has designed two free skate costumes for Hanyu, among them his top for the 2013–14 Olympic season.[18][19] In the 2018–19 and 2019–20 season, Hanyu dedicated his short program Otoñal by Raúl di Blasio to Weir who had skated his free program to the music piece in 2004–05.[20] The two also performed together as lead cast members in the show Fantasy on Ice from 2010 until Weir's retirement in 2023.[16]

Evgeni Plushenko

edit

Evgeni Plushenko is a Russian figure skater and skating coach who has competed at four Winter Olympics (2002–2014), having won four medals, among them gold in men's singles in 2006 and the team event in 2014.[12] Plushenko is one of Hanyu's childhood idols who influenced him in style and technique.[14][21] Upon the conclusion of Continues with Wings, he was asked by Hanyu to allow him skate to Plushenko's 2003–04 free skate program Tribute to Nijinsky with music by Edvin Marton. With Plushenko's agreement, Hanyu used a new arrangement of the music piece for the free skate, titled Origin, and performed it as a tribute to his skating idol in the 2018–19 and 2019–20 season.[20]

Jeffrey Buttle

edit

Jeffrey Buttle is a Canadian figure skater and choreographer who has competed in men's singles. He is the bronze medalist of the 2006 Winter Olympics and the 2008 World champion.[12] Buttle was in charge of Hanyu's short programs from 2012 until 2022, having choreographed six different programs for him,[22][note 1] which scored seven historical and three world records in international competition.[24] He also made the choreography for the final group performance of Continues with Wings to the song "Time to Say Goodbye" in collaboration with Shae-Lynn Bourne.[15]

Shae-Lynn Bourne

edit

Shae-Lynn Bourne is a Canadian ice dancer and choreographer who competed with Victor Kraatz, becoming the 2003 World champions and finishing in fouth place at the 1998 and 2002 Winter Olympics.[12] Bourne has choreographed all five of Hanyu's free skate programs from 2014 to 2022,[22] which scored three historical and two world records in competition.[25] She also contributed to the choreography of Hanyu's Olympic short program Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso in collaboration with Buttle.[26] Since its inauguration in March 2023, Bourne has been a recurring cast member of the ice show Yuzuru Hanyu Notte Stellata, a commemoration event of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami in Rifu, Japan.[27]

Takahito Mura

edit

Takahito Mura is a Japanese figure skater who won the 2014 Four Contintents Championships in men's singles among others.[12] He was Hanyu's senior and training partner at their home rink in Sendai, Japan. When Hanyu had moved up to junior level, Mura guided him in mastering the triple Axel jump,[7] which later became one of Hanyu's signature elements and most consistent jumps in the history of figure skating.[28] Like Bourne, Mura is also a recurring cast member at the ice show Yuzuru Hanyu Notte Stellata.[27]

Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov

edit

Yuko Kavaguti is a retired Japanese figure skater who changed citizenship in 2007 and competed with her partner Alexander Smirnov for Russia in pair skating.[29] They are the 2010 World bronze medalists and two-time European champions (2010, 2015).[12] Kavaguti's successful move from Japan to Russia encouraged Hanyu to pursue a skating career overseas as well,[7]: 2  moving from Sendai to Toronto, Canada, in 2012 to train under Brian Orser and Tracy Wilson at the Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club.[30]

Minoru Sano

edit

Minoru Sano is a retired Japanese figure skater who competed in men's singles. He is the 1977 World bronze medalist and founder of Prince Ice World, the first ice show to be held in Japan.[31] It was Sano who introduced Hanyu and his sister to the sport of figure skating and "fundamentally inspired" Hanyu to start skating.[7]: 2 [32] From then, Hanyu was trained by Japanese coach Shōichirō Tsuzuki [ja] who also coached Sano and Kavaguti.[7]: 2  For Sano, it was the first skating performance in 22 years at Continues with Wings at 66 years old.[33]

Video messages

edit

The invited guest skaters Stéphane Lambiel and Javier Fernández were not able to attend the show in person, so they sent video messages that were shown on screen at the venue.[15] At the 2018 Winter Olympics, Hanyu named both skaters as his role models alongside Weir, Plushenko, and Dick Button.[34] On the final day of the show, Hanyu's former training partner Javier Fernández gave a surprise performance of his Olympic free skate program Man of La Mancha, which was recorded live at Fernández' home rink in Madrid and shown on screen at the show.[15]

Attendance and accessibility

edit

The venue was sold out on all three days of the show,[6][35] with a capacity of 9,000 seats and ticket prices ranging from 6,000 to 18,000 yen ($57–171 as of 2018).[12][36] The last day was screened live in 66 movie theaters nationwide and aired live on the Japanese subscription channel CS TV Asahi.[37][6][14] On May 6, 2022, Continues with Wings was rebroadcast on the channel as part of the program special "Golden Week Figure Skating".[38] The event was sponsored by the cleaning and skin care company P&G as well as the Japanese airline ANA among others.[12]

Set list

edit

First half [39]

  1. Johnny Weir – "Ave Maria"
  2. Takahito Mura – The Phantom of the Opera
  3. Jeffrey Buttle – "For Forever"
  4. Minoru Sano – "The Heart of Budapest"
  5. Kawaguti / Smirnov – Manfred Symphony
  6. Shae-Lynn Bourne – "Bom Bom"
  7. Evgeni Plushenko – Tribute to Nijinsky

Second half [39]

  2. Takahito Mura – The Beauty and the Beast
  3. Kavaguti / Smirnov – "Bubbly Dance"
  4. Jeffrey Buttle – "Better to Be Loved"
  5. Johnny Weir – Beyoncé medley
  6. Evgeni Plushenko – "Tango Amore"
  7. Yuzuru Hanyu – program medleys
  8. Group finale – "Time to Say Goodbye"

Program medleys by Yuzuru Hanyu [39]

Show 1

  1. From Russia With Love
  2. Zigeunerweisen
  3. Ballade No. 1 (step sequence)

Show 2

  1. Mission: Impossible II
  2. Étude in D-sharp minor
  3. "Parisienne Walkways"

Show 3

  1. "Sing, Sing, Sing"
  2. Romeo + Juliet
  3. Seimei (choreo sequence)

See also

edit

Notes and references

edit
  1. ^ With the change of the judging system, the ISU decided to start the recording of highest score statistics from zero and declared all records historical that were achieved before the 2018–19 season.[23]

Official guide and documentary books

edit
  • CWW official (April 16, 2018a). 「Continues ～with Wings～」オフィシャルガイドブック [Continues with Wings – official guidebook] (in Japanese). Shibuya, Tokyo: Axel Entermedia Co., Ltd. ID 675. 40 p.
  • CWW official (April 16, 2018b). 「Continues ～with Wings～」愛蔵版ブック [Continues with Wings – collector's edition book] (in Japanese). Shibuya, Tokyo: Axel Entermedia Co., Ltd. ID 687.

Citations

edit
  1. ^ Longman, Jeré; Mather, Victor (February 16, 2018). "Yuzuru Hanyu Writes Another Chapter in Figure Skating Legend". The New York Times. New York City. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on February 17, 2018.
  2. ^ "The day Yuzuru Hanyu announced himself to the world". International Olympic Committee. Lausanne. February 14, 2020. Archived from the original on May 15, 2021.
  3. ^ Sarkar, Pritha (February 14, 2014). "Hanyu survives blunders to win gold". Reuters. Canary Wharf, London. Archived from the original on May 15, 2021.
  4. ^ "Winter Olympics: Emotional Hanyu gives Japan first men's gold". The Straits Times. Singapore. AFP. February 15, 2014. OCLC 8572659. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Hanyu skates in own show, will compete next season". The Japan Times. Chiyoda, Tokyo. Kyodo News. April 14, 2018. ISSN 0447-5763. Archived from the original on June 18, 2018.
  6. ^ a b c 羽生結弦の凱旋報告イベント、最終日を生中継 [Yuzuru Hanyu's triumphant return event, last day will be broadcast live]. Oricon (in Japanese). Minato, Tokyo. April 3, 2018. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Matsubara, Takaomi (April 19, 2018). 羽生結弦のあまりに深いスケート愛。アイスショーで語った仲間と幸福 [Yuzuru Hanyu's love of skating is too deep. Happiness with friends who talked at the ice show]. Number (in Japanese). Chiyoda, Tokyo: Bungeishunjū. pp. 1–3. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022.
  8. ^ Longman, Jeré (November 10, 2017). "Yuzuru Hanyu Withdraws From Key Skating Event After Injury". The New York Times. New York City. ISSN 1553-8095. Archived from the original on April 29, 2021.
  9. ^ a b Kano, Shintaro (April 13, 2018). "Figure skating: Hanyu returns to ice, plans to be ready for new season". Kyodo News. Minato, Tokyo. Archived from the original on October 27, 2021.
  10. ^ a b 羽生結弦一問一答:今後は「勝てる」より「見せたい」プログラムつくる [Yuzuru Hanyu Q&A: From now on I will create programs with the purpose of 'wanting to show' rather than 'win']. Daily Sports (in Japanese). Kobe. April 13, 2018. Archived from the original on October 23, 2021.
  11. ^ 羽生滑った!ジャンプなしもメドレーで演技披露「ただ楽しんで」 [Hanyu skated! Performing medley without jumps: 'Just having fun']. Sports Nippon (in Japanese). Chiyoda, Tokyo. April 13, 2018. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Continues with Wings". 'Continues With Wings' executive committee (in Japanese). Tokyo. 2018. Archived from the original on May 5, 2021.
  13. ^ 羽生5歳少女から宝物聞かれ即答 9000人からの祝福に「幸せ」 [Hanyu asked about his treasures by 5-year old girl with immediate reply – 'Happy' after being blessed by 9000 people]. Sports Nippon (in Japanese). Chiyoda, Tokyo. April 13, 2018. Archived from the original on March 2, 2022.
  14. ^ a b c 羽生結弦が激白「週刊誌の問題があって、何回も死のうと。でも生きててよかった」 [Yuzuru Hanyu's fiery speech: "I had an issue with a weekly magazine, and I thought I would die many times. But I'm glad I'm alive"]. Daily Sports (in Japanese). Kobe. April 15, 2018. Archived from the original on December 8, 2022.
  15. ^ a b c d CWW official 2018b.
  16. ^ a b FS Life 2023, ch. 4.
  17. ^ 羽生47日ぶりリンクに立つ 記者役に挑戦も「本当に緊張しますね」 [Hanyu stands on the ice for the first time in 47 days and challenges the role of a reporter: 'I'm really nervous']. Sports Nippon (in Japanese). Chiyoda, Tokyo. April 13, 2018. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020.
  18. ^ a b Flade, Tatjana (April 21, 2011). "Shooting for the top". Golden Skate. Cary, North Carolina. Archived from the original on August 23, 2011.
  19. ^ Gaines, Cork (February 14, 2014). "Figure Skater Wins Gold Wearing A Costume Designed By Johnny Weir". Business Insider. New York City. OCLC 1076392313. Archived from the original on April 13, 2021.
  20. ^ a b "Hanyu skating for himself this season". International Figure Skating. Denville Township, New Jersey. August 31, 2018. Archived from the original on January 16, 2022.
  21. ^ 羽生結弦企画のアイスショー「Continues~with Wings~」が開幕 凱旋演技にファン熱狂 [Yuzuru Hanyu's ice show Continues with Wings opens – Fans being enthusiastic about the triumphant performance]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). Chiyoda, Tokyo. April 13, 2018. Archived from the original on May 9, 2023.
  22. ^ a b "Hanyū Yuzuru: Career Highlights and Photos of Memorable Moments". Nippon Communications Foundation. Minato, Tokyo. July 22, 2022. Archived from the original on July 24, 2022.
  23. ^ "The new range of Grade of Execution" (PDF). International Skating Union. Lausanne. September 26, 2018. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021.
  24. ^ ISU progression of men's highest short program scores. Lausanne: International Skating Union:
  25. ^ ISU progression of men's highest free skate scores. Lausanne: International Skating Union:
  26. ^ 羽生結弦、語る SP編（1）「全部、見ていただけるようなプログラムにしていきたい」 [Yuzuru Hanyu talks about his SP (1) "I want to make it a program, where everything can be seen"]. Sports Nippon (in Japanese). Chiyoda, Tokyo. December 24, 2021. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021.
  27. ^ a b 羽生結弦さん「notte stellata」にハビエル・フェルナンデスさんら 出演者発表...来年3月、宮城 [Yuzuru Hanyu's "notte stellata" performers including Javier Fernandez announced ... Held in Miyagi next March]. Sports Hochi (in Japanese). Minato, Tokyo. December 8, 2023. Archived from the original on December 8, 2023.
  28. ^ Galocha, Arthur; Samuels, Robert; Berkowitz, Bonnie (February 10, 2022). "How Yuzuru Hanyu nearly landed a quadruple Axel". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on April 12, 2022.
  29. ^ Fyodorov, Gennady (October 20, 2009). "Kawaguchi braves taunts to skate for Russia". Reuters. Canary Wharf, London. Archived from the original on February 24, 2024.
  30. ^ Russell 2022, p. 27.
  31. ^ Sagakami, Takeshi (May 18, 2022). 元ジャニーズ×大ちゃん「コバヒロ」がPIWに注ぐ情熱の理由は? [What is the reason behind the passion that former Johnny's x Dai-chan 'Kobahiro' has for PIW?]. The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Kita-ku, Osaka. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022.
  32. ^ Kiss & Cry 2018.
  33. ^ 佐野氏、22年ぶり演技に緊張「水がぶ飲み」 [Mr. Sano being nervous about performing for the first time in 22 years: "Drinking [lots of] water"]. Sankei Sports (in Japanese). Chiyoda, Tokyo. April 14, 2018. Archived from the original on February 23, 2024.
  34. ^ 羽生結弦「嫌われたくないってすごい思う」金メダル獲得後の記者会見で漏らした本心 [Yuzuru Hanyu "I really don't want to be hated" at the press conference after winning the gold medal]. Logmi Inc. (in Japanese). Shibuya, Tokyo. February 18, 2018. Archived from the original on April 13, 2021.
  35. ^ 羽生結弦、ジャンプなし47日ぶりサプライズ演技「足首はいい状態」 [Yuzuru Hanyu surprises with first performance in 47 days without jumping: 'My ankle is in good shape']. Daily Sports (in Japanese). Kobe. April 13, 2018. Archived from the original on April 15, 2018.
  36. ^ Takagi 2018, p. 24: "当初トークのみでの参加を予定していたショーでは、メドレーを披露し、9000人の観客を沸かせた。" [At the show, where [Hanyu] had initially planned to participate in talks only, he performed a medley to the excitement of the 9,000 spectators].
  37. ^ "Continues with Wings – Live Viewing". Live Viewing Japan Inc. (in Japanese). Shibuya, Tokyo. April 13, 2022. Archived from the original on April 14, 2018.
  38. ^ ゴールデンウィーク フィギュアスケート一挙放送 [Golden week figure skating broadcast]. TV Asahi (in Japanese). Minato, Tokyo. 2022. Archived from the original on May 8, 2022.
  39. ^ a b c Kosaka 2018, pp. 14–27.
edit
  • FS Life (June 21, 2023). 華麗なるスケート衣装の世界IV [The world of splendid skating costumes IV]. Figure Skate Life Extra (in Japanese). Minato, Tokyo: Fusosha Publishing. ch. 4. ISBN 978-4594620592.
  • Kiss & Cry (June 8, 2018). 「Continues～with Wings～」フォトリポート&佐野稔さんからメッセージ [Continues with Wings photo report & message from Minoru Sano]. Kiss & Cry (mook) (in Japanese). Vol. 21. Chūō, Tokyo: Tokyo News Agency. ISBN 978-4863367722.
  • Kosaka, Yuki (May 5, 2018). 羽生結弦選手「2連覇おめでとう」祝賀パレード&凱旋アイスショーを総力レポート [Yuzuru Hanyu: "Congratulations on your second consecutive win!" Comprehensive report on the celebration parade and triumphant return to ice show]. Figure Skate Life (mook) (in Japanese). Vol. 14. Minato, Tokyo: Fusosha Publishing. pp. 14–27. ISBN 978-4594612887.
  • Russell, Susan D. (September 6, 2022). "Yuzuru Hanyu – An icon leaves the competitive stage". International Figure Skating. Denville Township, New Jersey. pp. 22–33. IFSISS22-05.
  • Takagi, Megumi (April 14, 2018). 羽生来季フル回転!!右足首の回復順調サプライズで滑った [Hanyu to compete at full power next season! Recovery of right ankle is going smoothly, skating a surprise performance]. Sports Hochi (in Japanese). Minato, Tokyo. p. 24. OCLC 835693295.
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Continues_with_Wings&oldid=1244287775"