The Mao cheer thread #3 - "For the love of skating"

Here is the most recent photo of Mao from April 24th from a recent CM appearance in Nagoya. The article also says that Mao was awarded a Aichi Prefecture People's Honor Award.

http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/1812705.html

https://postimg.org/image/krpfq4hjn/

In another article at the CM appearance, Mao said," "I could make this kind of start in Nagoya and I am feeling new," and showed a refreshing look. .

As for her future activities, "Since I myself walked with skating, I really appreciate it, so I think that it would be good if I could repay it in a different way. I like children and I would like to tell small children if there is an opportunity "She said about her future hope.

Furthermore, she said that it is a pleasure to be honored as Aichi Prefecture's Prefectural People's Honor Award, "I am glad that it is possible to receive a prestigious prize and I am honored."

There is a video and text of Mao's comments at this link: http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20170424/k10010959461000.html
 
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Sylvia said:
Yes, rosewood is from Japan. :) @rosewood, do you want to start the thread for THE ICE in GSD now or wait for more skaters to be confirmed? Thank you so much & :respec: for taking the time to translate Mao's retirement press conference in the GSD thread: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/in...rite-memories-here.101061/page-7#post-5058840


:(

ETA a small anecdote: I got in the elevator at the official 2016 Worlds hotel in Boston and only realized after the door had closed that Mao Asada and a woman accompanying her were the other 2 people in there with me. :) I didn't say anything to her but remember thinking "this is really cool that I'm in the elevator with Mao Asada and she's not surrounded by tons of fans, just me." ;)

My one big regret was not attending her JGP debut in Long Beach, California in 2004 - that would have been :cool:. I'm so glad I was in Kitchener to witness her win 2005 Junior Worlds in person!
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Thank you for asking me about a thread of THE ICE. @Sylvia, can you please start the thread in GSD? I think I'm kind of moving on. I mean I'm going back to myself between Midori and Mao, a light fan of this sport. I'm getting addicted to growing roses in my (new) garden these days.

Happy to know you had special moments about Mao. I'm jealous! :)
 
rosewood said:
I think I'm kind of moving on. I mean I'm going back to myself between Midori and Mao, a light fan of this sport. I'm getting addicted to growing roses in my (new) garden these days.
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Oh, I'm sorry you aren't planning to post as actively here anymore :( -- your "rough translations/summaries" of Japanese skater news articles & videos were always appreciated so much by me and many others here! Arigato dear @rosewood and please continue to drop by when you feel like it. I hope the roses flourish well in your garden! :encore:
(I'll start the GSD thread for THE ICE 2017 in the near future.)
 
rosewood said:
Thank you for asking me about a thread of THE ICE. @Sylvia, can you please start the thread in GSD? I think I'm kind of moving on. I mean I'm going back to myself between Midori and Mao, a light fan of this sport. I'm getting addicted to growing roses in my (new) garden these days.

Happy to know you had special moments about Mao. I'm jealous! :)
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Well, you deserve a rest, thank you soooooo much for everything!!, you are a :glamor:. It's good to know that you're not leaving completely :D.
 
rosewood said:
Thank you for asking me about a thread of THE ICE. @Sylvia, can you please start the thread in GSD? I think I'm kind of moving on. I mean I'm going back to myself between Midori and Mao, a light fan of this sport. I'm getting addicted to growing roses in my (new) garden these days.

Happy to know you had special moments about Mao. I'm jealous! :)
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Oh boy, we lose not only Mao but you too? This is too sad! What about Mao's show skating? - it will be fabulous! What about Shoma, Yuzu, Marin and Mai?

But of course I wish you whatever brings you joy. I do understand about roses (I grow them too, and peonies) :) Be well and happy, @rosewood dear - (although I hope you change your mind) and thank you for all the wonderful news and translations over the years, and for teaching us a little about Japan. Big hugs.
 
I will miss your insights and translations about Mao very much, rosewood, but I certainly understand your decision to move on, though for me it will be moving on from the world of competitive skating, and I will still follow and comment on Mao in whatever she chooses to do because she is my favorite skater and a great inspiration as an artist, performer and person. And I think it would be nice to see what new exhibitions have to offer. I live in a desert so gardens are difficult to cultivate. So in moving on, I have taken to exploring and listening to a lot of music especially classical which Mao's performances helped me to develop a deeper appreciation of not only those compositions she skated to, but she planted a seed that germinated into greater exploration. I have also started playing the guitar again, which I used to do a lot. Plus, I will certainly continue to enjoy older competitive performances.

Mao displayed such profound beauty and athleticism in her performances, but in my opinion, the system greatly undervalued her outstanding qualities and this is a view shared by those I have showed Mao's performances to. I also think the JSF didn't give her support or protection in scoring or in training, and I think it was that way throughout Mao's career. I am happy in a lot of ways that Mao can now express herself more freely in whatever she decides to do, even though I will dearly miss her competitive performances. And is great to see that the magazines issued upon her retirement are so popular.

Here are some recent high quality photos of Mao that are charming and beautiful:

http://www.gettyimages.ae/license/673215186

http://www.gettyimages.ae/license/673215180

http://www.gettyimages.ae/license/673215182

http://cfile28.uf.tistory.com/image/272BF13758F77F932AE98C

https://68.media.tumblr.com/7813802f0c93acb02cc7565d1362cdd6/tumblr_op9avscWz81ssuiapo3_1280.png

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fxtw3Kk7...cB/s1600/Mao_Asada_2016_red_Collage_Fotor.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C_AYIT7XUAA92Rz.jpg

https://68.media.tumblr.com/eb4b07be5d7775b98b1d6c99fd2eff3a/tumblr_op2g09f2HO1vucczao2_1280.jpg
 
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I don't really remember what links were given for Mao's ritual fire dance, but I found this long piece called El Amor Brujo, which contains all the pieces of music from Mao's long program in it, but is much longer. I was really impressed with the piece and the sound quality is fairly good in this version. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0ZtwTbgZaQ

I found a copy of Artur Rubinstein playing the piano version that Mao used for her short program. Maybe it has already been posted.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj6_5qWZCDY

I found this other great piece by the composer, De Falla, Noches en los Jardines de España which would make another great piece for a program. Here was the best sound quality I could find.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIenFNUUNfI
 
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I found this incredible recording of Rachmaninoff himself playing dreamy and beautiful Chopin's Nocturne Opus 9 number 2 which Mao skated to during her 2013-2014 season, in addition to his second piano concerto. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kj3CHx3TDzw

and here is Rachmaninoff's playing his 2nd piano concerto with the Philadelphia Symphony orchestra in 1929.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddTVZy-ZwVI


This window into the past brings back a lot of memories of Mao and how the music inspired her to give some of the greatest performances I have ever seen to some of the greatest music I have ever heard with Mao's skating to Rach II being my favorite combination.
 
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I hope skating will draw you back here, @rosewood !!!
Your posts have been treasures through the years, it has been such a pleasure to read all your insight. I loved them all.
Hope to see you more, and very best wishes in everything you do!!!
... and Mao surely will keep giving all of us great joy with her skating and life:)
 
Here are a couple of videos of a ceremony wishing Mao well and receiving a boquet of flowers as she leaves from the airport for Canada to prepare her programs for The Ice this summer. Marvelously Magnetic Mao attracts photographers wherever she goes.

I can't wait to see her new exhibition program / programs and old favorites this summer.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wAPLXkWKBA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKblqseD2qo
 
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The Ice 2017 -updates: casts added
http://fs-theice.com/cast/

From domestic: Daisuke Takahashi, Kozuka Takahiko, Shoma Uno, Kanako Murakami (only Osaka, too bad Kanako has been booked by PIW show and won't make it to the Nagoya shows)
From out-of-country: Adelina Sotnikova

More skaters and guests to be added!

NB: a belated 'thank you!' to @rosewood. Since I'm going for The Ice during the summer, I'll try to share some updates whenever I catch the news!
 
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