The Japanese media are probably the most probing and intense group on the planet. Go to an ISU event where he is skating, and they outnumber world press ten to one.
Any answer steered towards a yes in Beijing, would definitely place a huge amount of pressure on Team Yuzu's shoulders. At times, he only looks like he actually enjoys competing, once an event is actually done.
Remember when Midori Ito ONLY won silver in Albertville, how she apologised to her nation. Anything less than gold would be considered a humiliating failure.
Here's hoping if he does decide to continue, and with his own injuries and new rivals to consider, that he skates simply for the joy of it.