Kozuka interview Part 1
http://sports.yahoo.co.jp/column/detail/201603260003-spnavi?p=1
Edited to add: Part 2 is here
Edited to add: Part 3 is here
Tidbits:
When he knew it was time to retire:
- There was an "itch" long before, and what nudged him towards it was when he "felt something" taking his final pose of his free skating at Japan Nationals.
How his coach, Nobuo Sato reacted when Kozuka told of his decision:
- All of them (Nobuo Sato, Kumiko Sato and Reiko Kobayashi) seemed to have "known" or "noticed" all along.
Before the free skate, his boot lace fell off. While Kumiko Sato and Reiko Kobayashi were trying to get it right, like "there's only 30 seconds to fix this!", Nobuo Sato was completely calm. "He looked like he didn't bother about the scores. All he seemed to care about was "let Takahiko deliver the program".
Asked if he has any regrets: "Never got to do a back flip" (LOL!) Other than that, he doesn't have any regrets.
The interviewer remembers that 2 years ago, Kozuka wished to do "one more perfect performance on an international competition" and that didn't happen: Kozuka may agree but then disagrees. He did deliver the free skate at Japan Nationals 2014. And that program "Io ci saro" was one that he was waiting for. Kozuka believes that "Io ci saro" was a program only he was allowed to do. Putting all of his emotions in that skate for Japan Nationals was enough. He can't ask for more.
Asked why he's not doing ice shows anymore etc.: His decision to work at Toyota means he cannot train everyday. It's impossible for him to skate out of mere habit.
Asked of his decision to leave figure skating (coach, pro, etc): There are 3 options for figure skaters. 1. Be a member of the Japanese skating federation, 2. Do ice shows and 3. Become a coach.
"But in my opinion, those fields all looked crowded, fully packed. So I took another option, to work for an international company (Toyota). I also think there's much more for me to learn through working here than from skating."
"Mr. Akio Toyota (Toyota's CEO) is also another reason. He values his employees very much."
Coaching did cross his mind, but decided the timing isn't right.
He love skating so it will never leave his mind. In the future however, he's not sure. He may never come back to the skating world, OR he might be back earlier than expected.
He will be involved with Japan Olympic Committee.
http://sports.yahoo.co.jp/column/detail/201603260003-spnavi?p=1
Edited to add: Part 2 is here
Edited to add: Part 3 is here
Tidbits:
When he knew it was time to retire:
- There was an "itch" long before, and what nudged him towards it was when he "felt something" taking his final pose of his free skating at Japan Nationals.
How his coach, Nobuo Sato reacted when Kozuka told of his decision:
- All of them (Nobuo Sato, Kumiko Sato and Reiko Kobayashi) seemed to have "known" or "noticed" all along.
Before the free skate, his boot lace fell off. While Kumiko Sato and Reiko Kobayashi were trying to get it right, like "there's only 30 seconds to fix this!", Nobuo Sato was completely calm. "He looked like he didn't bother about the scores. All he seemed to care about was "let Takahiko deliver the program".
Asked if he has any regrets: "Never got to do a back flip" (LOL!) Other than that, he doesn't have any regrets.
The interviewer remembers that 2 years ago, Kozuka wished to do "one more perfect performance on an international competition" and that didn't happen: Kozuka may agree but then disagrees. He did deliver the free skate at Japan Nationals 2014. And that program "Io ci saro" was one that he was waiting for. Kozuka believes that "Io ci saro" was a program only he was allowed to do. Putting all of his emotions in that skate for Japan Nationals was enough. He can't ask for more.
Asked why he's not doing ice shows anymore etc.: His decision to work at Toyota means he cannot train everyday. It's impossible for him to skate out of mere habit.
Asked of his decision to leave figure skating (coach, pro, etc): There are 3 options for figure skaters. 1. Be a member of the Japanese skating federation, 2. Do ice shows and 3. Become a coach.
"But in my opinion, those fields all looked crowded, fully packed. So I took another option, to work for an international company (Toyota). I also think there's much more for me to learn through working here than from skating."
"Mr. Akio Toyota (Toyota's CEO) is also another reason. He values his employees very much."
Coaching did cross his mind, but decided the timing isn't right.
He love skating so it will never leave his mind. In the future however, he's not sure. He may never come back to the skating world, OR he might be back earlier than expected.
He will be involved with Japan Olympic Committee.
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