Hi everyone, I’m new to this forum. I’ve been a Mao fan for a very long time.
I came across
this interview which I think was broadcasted quite recently. I did a quick summary of what was said in the video as I really enjoyed this interview. The video is 25 mins long, so apologies for the long post! Also I’m not a native Japanese speaker, so hopefully I’ve interpreted what was said correctly.
The interviewer mentioned when Mao made her comeback, she was aiming to participate in the PC Olympics, so he asked her what her feelings were watching these Olympics that she didn’t end up participating in.
Mao said when she came back to competition, she was indeed aiming for these Olympics. But during that time, she felt physically and mentally she was a her limit and had done as much as she could. The feeling of having done everything she could to aim for that goal was much stronger (than any regret of not being able to participate).
Especially, when she was watching these Olympics and seeing the wonderful performance by Kaori and Satoko, she knew they had worked hard towards these Olympics and was glad she was able to pass the baton onto them.
The video then talks about her feelings post announcing her retirement. Mao mentioned at that time, she felt she had had enough of skating and wanted to leave it behind for a while. She even said things like maybe I should throw away my skating boots.
After that she went travelling alone and did some soul searching and also attending her exhibition events around the country. The video then shows people thanking Mao for what she’s done and they always feel inspired by her.
Mao mentions that everyone’s support gives her a lot of power, when she thought about what she could do (for others), there is really only skating. Also, she felt sorry for saying goodbye to figure skating which has grown up with her along the way since she was five years old. She wanted to skate not just to express gratitude to her supporters, but also towards skating itself.
The video then shows Mao visiting an outdoor man-made skating rink in Fukushima in Feb 2018 that had been rebuilt after it was destroyed by the earthquake and tsunami in 2011. Mao actually visit the same place 3 years ago after Sochi Olympics, back then the rink wasn’t rebuilt yet, and Mao made a promise to the manager of the rink, Kanno-san, that she would definitely come back here once it is rebuilt.
Mao says she really enjoys teaching skating. Although now she’s concentrating on ice shows, but when she thinks about what she could be doing when she stops skating, she has the thought of coaching.
The interviewer asked Mao, what is figure skating to her now. She said it was like a lover, family – it was her destiny. To have encountered figure skating was her destiny.
Lastly Mao said her ultimate dream is to live a self-sufficient lifestyle. After she’s done everything she wanted to do, she’d move to some mountainous place, if it’s near the sea she can catch her own fish and go hunting for food (and preparing/cooking a wild pig). Interviewer asked her why she had this thought, and she said it’s because she loves food! She thinks this would be the most extravagant lifestyle. She’d like to live a free and carefree life.