Takahiko Kozuka Appreciation Thread

[midori]

Thank you Taka, for your incomparable skating skills, for your many beautiful performances, and for great moments through your 23 years of skating career you shared with us.

His last performance and ceremony was held yesterday in Tokyo, at Stars On Ice Japan Tour. The program was "Epilogue". It was clean, quiet, and exquisite.

While I don't have to agree with his decision of quitting skating, it's his choice. I wish him a bright future, and hopefully someday somehow he come back to the ice.

# There are many relevant posts at the JSOI thread but I think this is worth a thread.

 

[Sylvia]

Re-posting from the Kozuka interview thread: http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/index.php?threads/takahiko-kozuka-interview-part-2-added.98238/

Fan project to thank Takahiko:
https://twitter.com/thankstaka0417/status/718825917032759296

Thought maybe people from here would want to participate too.

Original news thread in March has some nice comments for Kozuka: http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/index.php?threads/takahiko-kozuka-announces-retirement.98152/

 

[midori]

From JSOI thread

Glimpses of Kozuka's final skate and the retirement ceremony from news clips.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4542et_soi-soi東京がラスト演技_tv
Kozuka in the ceremony: "For 23 years I could really enjoy my life as a skater." Announcer said Kozuka completely leaves the ice, and he'll never skate in shows. (My note: This article says he works in a section that related to sports in Toyota. I don't know what he exactly does in Toyota, though. Kozuka said "It would be great if I will be a person who is truly needed by figure skating world some day," in the article.
http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2016/03/19/kiji/K20160319012242370.html

Another clip of Kozuka's final show.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x453pjw_soi-23年間のスケート人生に幕_sport

 

[midori]

The retiring ceremony was held after the show finale. Other cast was all there while Taka gave a speech. Some says Oda was crying hard. ; ) Taka didn't know Coach Sato was coming. He was wearing skating blades developed by Kozuka, and gave Taka a big bouquet and one strong back-pat.

 

[rosewood]

Touching photos:
http://www.sankei.com/photo/story/news/160417/sty1604170021-n1.html

 

[Sylvia]

... Taka didn't know Coach Sato was coming. He was wearing skating blades developed by Kozuka, and gave Taka a big bouquet and one strong back-pat.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEUakE2LKTK/?taken-by=takakozuka

 

[rosewood]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEUakE2LKTK/?taken-by=takakozuka

いってきます〜

#今までで
#1番
#強かった
#かな
#ちなみに
#エッジ
#おそろい

I'm leaving~
#of all [patting] in the past #the #strongest one #maybe? #BTW #blades #the same as mine

Awwww THE patting

I heard for this season Mao wanted to use the mono-plate blades which Kozuka has been working on creating, but Mr Sato didn't allow her and he volunteered to be a guinea pig to check whether the blades are good enough to use in competitions for her. I found the story was true by Kozuka's hashtags. I wish Kozuka will not quit working in the area.

 

[midori]

Translation of an article about the retirement show and speech, http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/1633428.html
From https://twitter.com/negisobaaan/status/722410337203392512 : (translation was done by a friend of the poster)

KOZUKA Takahiko The Retirement Speech
Truly feel grateful for your support and encouragement.
I'm KOZUKA Takahiko who work for Toyota Motor Corporation, not belong to any more.
Heartfelt thanks to these 23 years.
I enjoyed glorious and fulfilling skating career.
And more than all, it became a really good memory that I spent same years with these wonderful skaters here.
Thank you all. Thanks to my coach, thanks to my parents, and especially thanks to generous cheering from you; all the fans of mine.
For the days ahead, I'll support figure skating as one of the fans as you.
Thanks in advance.
Thank you.

(After his performance)

Honestly feeling, I get nervous before any of performances, even though it is the final one. I was skating in a such tense situation. After that, I felt a big relief and thought, "Ah, I've just done it!"
Something went through my head. But more importantly, I was moved to the point of tears by cheers and applause from legion of fans which I get after giving a bow. I'm not used to cry easily. But now, I'm getting old and sentimental.
I'm so happy to do skate on a high note.

 

[arakwafan2006]

I'm leaving~
#of all [patting] in the past #the #strongest one #maybe? #BTW #blades #the same as mine

Awwww THE patting

I heard for this season Mao wanted to use the mono-plate blades which Kozuka has been working on creating, but Mr Sato didn't allow her and he volunteered to be a guinea pig to check whether the blades are good enough to use in competitions for her. I found the story was true by Kozuka's hashtags. I wish Kozuka will not quit working in the area.

YIKES... Maybe she should stick to her Pattern 99's or up to Gold Seals. lol.

 

[rosewood]

In this video I found Mr Sato gave the patting to Kozuka with a mike for a speech during the retirement ceremony, and not before Kozuka started his final skating. Kozuka took the last patting from Mr Sato as "Good luck for your life out into the society." Kozuka choked up during the interview when he explained about the scene. He said that the word from Mr Sato was "いってらっしゃい" which literally means "See you later," and it also has nuances of "good luck." It was the same word Mr Sato would say to him at the boards in competitions. With tears in his eyes Kozuka closed his comment with "がんばってこようとおもいます" which means "I'll do my best" with nuances that he'll be back to the place someday. Awwwwww
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x453tea_2016-0417-最後のくるくるぽん_sport

 

[paskatefan]

^ Arigato! I heart Taka, & will miss him so much on the ice! All the best to you, Taka, in everything you do!