Japanese fans wish Worlds not to be Cancelled

[Shinku]

First of all, as a Japanese citizen living in Tokyo, I'd like to thank all the people who have expressed their concern for my country's unfortunate chain of disasters for the past few days. Many countries have sent people and supplies to help the victims in the upper north damaged areas, so although there have been many casualties and countless people still missing, things are slowly but surely heading towards rivival. Right now the Fukushima nuclear power station is a main problem as reactors no.2-4 have started to have troubles since yesterday, following the explosion of reactor no.1. However, specialists have announced that radiation leaks will influence only up to a range of about 30km around the station. Please note that the radiation will not be reaching Tokyo which is about 230km from Fukushima.

Now fortunately, ISU has officially anounced that they will be postponing Worlds. However, it seems JSF thinks it will be difficult to arrange a different rink with the dates being changed in such a short time. According to some Japanese articles, it seems they are also considering cancelling Worlds along with WTT altogether. Although I can understand the difficulties they are facing, I'm sure all the FS fans in Japan do not want the competition to be cancelled. We all thought there was a need for postponing or relocating, but not cancelling. Worlds is an international competition which doesn't belong only to us, and all Japanese fans are very well aware of that.

We've already found out from Takeshi Honda, Shizuka Arakawa and Akiko Suzuki's tweets that Yuzuru Hanyu and all the other FS related people residing in the Miyagi prefecture are all right. There has been no casualty reports on anyone in FS so far. There's no need for Worlds to be cancelled as any gesture of mourning, or just for the sake of Japan in any way. It wouldn't be fair for the skaters in other countries, and also for all the FS fans around the world.

I am a member of a Japanese FS forum (http://japanfigureskate.forumotions.com/). Most of the members wanted Tokyo Worlds to be postponed from the start, so you can imagine how surprised we were when ISU first announced it'll be held as scheduled. We were all relieved when they came to their senses and decided to postpone. Note that the members in our forum have all been looking forward to Tokyo Worlds all along. We are some of the ones in Japan who would've wanted it to see it no matter what. But Tokyo still has after shakes from time to time and earthquake specialists assume it will go on for at least 2 months. Some of these quakes have been as strong as seismic intensity 4, which is enough to cause accidents for performing skaters. Distribution of goods are being delayed due to roads being destroyed in the north and traffic jams so many shops are full of empty shelves. Yesterday, a bleach was found in one of the gas tubes underground in my neighborhood. Although things may seem calm and mostly undamaged in Tokyo, there are still dangerous influences from the first major quake and the after shakes. All the FS fans here I know of, think that it's not a good idea to have Worlds in Tokyo or anywhere in the east of Japan, even if the competition is postponed to April. As much as we wanted to enjoy Tokyo Worlds, we do not want have the skaters forced to compete under such unstable circumstances, and surely do not want to see any of them injured in our country.

One of our moderators resides in the city of Sendai in Miyagi prefecture which was the closest area to the center of the earthquake. She mailed me from her cell phone yesterday and said she does not want Worlds to be cancelled nor even postponed, and that she wishes it would be held as scheduled. She made it clear that she doesn't want the competition to be influenced from what's happened to her and the people in Miyagi. I mailed back and told her that Worlds has been postponed already, but it's not her nor the people in the damaged area's fault, but that it was simply a matter of security. But like her, should Worlds be completely cancelled because of the chain of disasters which hit my country, Japanese FS fans will all feel extremely guilty.

I hope ISU would not leave matters only in the hands of JSF; they are not that reliable, and I doubt they are up to pursuing all possible options which may save Worlds from being cancelled. Should ISU leave everything up to JSF, there is a high chance that Worlds will end up being cancelled for this season for they will only be searching available rinks within the country. Areas in the far west of Japan including Osaka would be ideal candidates for there is definitely no danger of influence from the earthquakes nor the nuclear power station accident. However, there are only very few rinks large enough of holding a proper competition in those areas. , I think ISU should not only postpone, but also relocate Worlds to a different country this season. I'm sure not all the large rinks in the world are fully booked next month. There must be somewhere they can relocate it to. I think Korea might be a possible candidate to take our place. Yuna is returning so it would be a treat for her fans there too. At least some good will come out of the relocation in that way. Plus I'm sure the Korean FS fans will drop the anti-Japanese attitude for now and welcome Mao and the other Japanese skaters with sympathy. It might be a good chance for some of those extreme Korean and Japanese FS fans to end their stupid war.

I believe we are a fairly well organized country, and we've always managed to overcome the worst of times so we can make it through this one too. Please do understand once again, how FS fans in Japan are feeling about Worlds. There is no need to cancel any of the competitons, at least not for our sake, and we do not wish for that to happen. Let's all look forward to Worlds being held sometime later (maybe next month), preferably in a location where it's safe for all skaters to focus only on their performances. Although it would be disappointing, under the circumstances the Japanese people will have no hard feelings should Worlds be relocated outside of Japan. Please do not take away the competition from the skaters who had worked hard to enter it for our country's sake in any way.

[Japanfan]

Beautiful post, Shinku.

[Frau Muller]

Thank you, Shinku, for this heartfelt and touching post. We are with you 100%.

[mmot]

Shinku, thank you so much for this post. I have been thinking the same but as an ex-pat living away from Japan, I felt not legitimate or appropriate to voice my opinion.

I have a very limited means to support my country people who are under the most difficult and uncertain situations right now, which I find extremely frustrating. Together with many fans all over the world, my thoughts are with you and those in Japan and I sincerely hope the situation turns better quickly. Please give my best and kindest regards to your fellow members of Japanese forum.

皆様、どうかお気をつけて。一刻も早い状況の好転と復興を心からお祈り申し上げております。

[Angelskates]

Shinku, my sincere condolences to you and all of Japan from this Australian living in Beijing. I was in Beijing when the Sichuan earthquake occurred, and I know you don't need to be near the event to feel it tug at your heart strings. I will continue praying for you all.

Thank you for sharing. I would love the World Championships to held in Tokyo at a later date, but if it's not possible, I hope the ISU takes the JSFs view into consideration when making a decision about relocating.

(((((hugs))))))

[Celine82]

Thank you for posting this, Shinku.

As discussed in the other thread, moving Worlds to another location isn't that easy, so should Worlds be canceled, I don't think *anyone* could be blamed or should feel guilty - not the JSF, not the ISU, not any other federation, and especially...

should Worlds be completely cancelled because of the chain of disasters which hit my country, Japanese FS fans will all feel extremely guilty.

...NOT THE JAPANESE FANS!! Please don't say that and, most importantly, don't feel that way!

[RunnersHigh]

should Worlds be completely cancelled because of the chain of disasters which hit my country, Japanese FS fans will all feel extremely guilty

Why? It's natural disaster and something irresistible.

((((((( Japanese FS fans )))))))

[allezfred]

Japanese fans (or anyone else) should most definitely not feel guilty for Worlds being postponed/cancelled.

While we and the skaters may be disappointed if/when Worlds gets cancelled, it's not the end of world.

[zotza]

(((((Japanese Fans))))

This is one of the most heartfelt posts ever , nobody could have sait it better.

[Asli]

Thanks for the beautiful post Shinku!

If the Worlds are held elsewhere, I'm sure there will be a worldwide cheer for each Japanese skater! I hope they can give you all something to cheer about too!

[MichaelK]

Thank you for your post, Japan should not feel guilty that World's cannot take place as planned. I hope that the situation improves soon!

[tarotx]

You're such a sweetheart. A beautiful post

[aaron]

Thanks for the post, Shinku. My feeling is the same

[Finnice]

Great post, Shinku!
(((Japanese fans))) have no reason to feel guilty. The act of nature is not their fault.

[FunnyBut]

You are such a generous and wonderful fan of skating, Shinku. Thanks for sharing. Regardless of what happens to the World Championships, most importantly we care about the well-being of your people.

[cholla]

Wonderful post Shinku. Thank you !

[SHARPIE]

Lovely post! Thankyou! xx

[CynicElle]

But like her, should Worlds be completely cancelled because of the chain of disasters which hit my country, Japanese FS fans will all feel extremely guilty.

Just have to echo that there is no reason at all to feel guilty! Thanks for your post, Shinku. I'm hoping against hope that Worlds might take place somehow, but whatever happens, I wish the best to everyone in Japan as you all recover from this tragedy.

[rfisher]

At the risk of being redundant, please let all the members of your forum know they should not feel guilty regardless of what happens with the competition. Thank you for your post.

[bek]

Nobody in Japan should feel guilty if worlds doesn't happen. I actually feel guilty caring about worlds (even though yeah I do) when so many people in Japan are suffering. My hopes and prayers are with Japan right now.