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

rosewood

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Mao was awarded the woman of the year by GQ Japan (men's fashion magazine).

Seems another photo shoot was done and the photos will be published on the GQ's next issue.
https://gqjapan.jp/culture/celebrity/20181121/moty2018-mao-asada
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DsgWzWZUcAAEoWl.jpg
https://gqjapan.jp/uploads/media/2018/11/21/asada.jpg
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/912wnc8DE0L.jpg
https://twitter.com/GQJAPAN/status/1065142781247549442

Here are photos from the ceremony. It was fun that Mao asked DA PUMP who were awarded the man of the year prize to show her how to do their dance to their popular song U.S.A. (which has kinda nostalgic type of rhythm). Nice to see Mao's smiles are infectious on the stage. :)
https://img-mdpr.freetls.fastly.net/article/TnJd/wm/TnJdSjlAs6ZZn-m1gOGGqQeszu8GPgbdh_fSrXYH7ZE.jpg
https://storage.mainichikirei.jp/images/2018/11/21/20181121dog00m100005000c/001_size10.jpg
https://img-mdpr.freetls.fastly.net/article/Qgn9/hm/Qgn9oVSvHVzRNShOjxgXly9f49IR2sNt4H6EioMXnuc.jpg
https://img-mdpr.freetls.fastly.net/article/k9BA/wm/k9BA6QwSqQAYZSV0HYQvwDTD84QeWXnkvzmBArnP184.jpg

Watch how an ice queen dances on a 10cm spike heel. :D
https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/1065349565988036608/pu/vid/1280x720/M8glaQ6Fc5Kfpotx.mp4
https://youtu.be/eWsKdnMARSI?t=98

https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20181121-728249/images/001l.jpg
https://i.daily.jp/general/2018/11/21/Images/d_11839937.jpg
https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20181121-728249/images/003l.jpg
https://abematimes.com/posts/5280423#&gid=1&pid=3
 
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rosewood

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I quite liked the reason why GQ Japan awarded Mao 'the woman of the year' prize. (By the way it's rare they award 'woman of the year' since GQ is a men's fashion magazine.)
https://gqjapan.jp/culture/celebrity/moty2018-report-1/page/3
(my rough translation)
She created an epoch-making ice show working as a producer meanwhile showing off her high quality skating performances that never decline after the retirement. She's stepped out of the frame of just being a skater. She's got out of the shell into an independent pro-athlete and an entertainer. We adore the strong and stand-still and yet a lively image of a woman that Mao Asada showed us.

After all the success of Thanks Tour brought her this prize. She answered in the interview that she's happy to receive this prize. She thought she was awarded it due to her endeavor in figure skating up to today.
https://mdpr.jp/news/detail/1806044

Congrats to her! I'm happy people outside of figure skating are happy to have her closer to them than when she was competing. Hope more various creating works to come and/or she starts in advance.
 

rosewood

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Maybe it's because Mao announced Thanks Tour 2019 will be held, she's again on fashion magazines one after another these days, like she did when she was busy with promoting MTT 2018 earlier this year.

Photos from GQ Japan's latest issue.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BqqrAnxguJN/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BquKpJ0gztw/

Photos from Numero Tokyo
https://www.instagram.com/p/BqtvHP4DpIm/
https://numero.jp/news-20181127-mao-asada/

From Fujingaho which is coming soon
https://www.hearst.co.jp/var/hearst...ssue/181201/362278-4-jpn-JP/1_image_large.jpg
https://www.hearst.co.jp/brands/fujingaho/issue/181201

Since we've seen various skating costumes on her, high-end fashion look fitting her quite naturally.

Shame these magazines are on sale now so I can't post other photos which are very nice. One thing I want to add is Mao said on the magazine that her plan to skate this hard will be by turning 30. I assume she'll not continue MTT after that. MTT 2019 can be the final tour.




ETA:
Two more photos from Numero Tokyo.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq1I6khnE97/
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq19kK0jP0_/
 
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rosewood

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Another stuff that Mao does these days is she's promoting Tokyo Paralympic 2020. NHK broadcasted a TV program named 'Mao visits!' earlier this year. She visited/interviewed with a few para athletes who are aiming at making a Tokyo 2020 team. Seems she did it again recently and it will be aired before long.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BqKeB2QA3iG/

ETA:
Here are photos from 'Mao visits!' aired in August.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bm0nWSpAWhS/
 
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rosewood

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Hey guys, it's one of the time of a year that sponsor companies release their commercials. Mao appeared on an energy drink commercial with Ichiro and he taught Mao how to play catch. She was excited and so cute. It was after 12 years since she met Ichiro for the first time. He said "I was already middle aged at that time and now I'm a grandpa."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7fDTjZ9hJY
 
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rosewood

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Talking about sports that she does outside of figure skating, one of Mao's hobbies these days is ice hockey. 'Mao ga iku' (=Mao visits) is a NHK's TV program in which she visits para-athletes is scheduled to be broadcasted on new year's eve. Preview clip shows she plays ice hockey a bit in the TV program since one of the para-athletes she visits this time is an ice hockey player. Can't wait to see! Wish this preview clip is not geo-blocked outside of Japan.
https://www.nhk.or.jp/docudocu/program/92409/2409375/index.html
http://www4.nhk.or.jp/P4996/
 

Spun Silver

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Talking about sports that she does outside of figure skating, one of Mao's hobbies these days is ice hockey. 'Mao ga iku' (=Mao visits) is a NHK's TV program in which she visits para-athletes is scheduled to be broadcasted on new year's eve. Preview clip shows she plays ice hockey a bit in the TV program since one of the para-athletes she visits this time is an ice hockey player. Can't wait to see! Wish this preview clip is not geo-blocked outside of Japan.
https://www.nhk.or.jp/docudocu/program/92409/2409375/index.html
http://www4.nhk.or.jp/P4996/

First Brian Boitano, now Mao! 😅 Too bad the clips are geoblocked. I would love to see beautiful Mao playing hockey! It makes sense since she loves the ice so much, but the other players must be two or three times her size!
 

gotoschool

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Thanks for all the updates, rosewood. It's great to see the short clips of Mao's performances, but I wish I could see more. She looks to be in great condition. I read that she enjoyed working with others in her show a lot, so I am glad she is enjoying the support. It would also be nice to see Mao working with the para-athletes. Also nice to see Mao and Ichiro playing catch after not meeting for so many years.
 
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rosewood

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Happy new year, everyone! I just posted some clips from MTT's final stop. Go there watch them and have a good time in the beginning of this year. (They are low quality clips on twitter, tho.)
https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...ting-from-may-2018.103898/page-4#post-5496159

As I posted on the MTT thread, a TV program of MTT 2018 is scheduled to be aired on 4th January. I'm expecting the whole show will be aired finally. If not, I can provide you Mao core fans some links by PM later.
 

rosewood

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Now it's a short break between 2018 and 2019 tours of MTT. She's appearing in some sponsor companies' events.

Last week she ran 3 km in Shinjuku City Marathon (in Tokyo) as an ambassador of her sponsor company Sumitomo Life Insurance. Happy to see her enjoying running. :dog:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BtLbRlbgdmX/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BtLbLf8gELk/

Disney is not her sponsor company but they asked Mao to perform in 'Magical EXhibition' video to promote their movie 'Marry Poppins Returns.' She collaborated with them on choreography, music selections, and costume ideas for the special exhibition video. Today was the premier day in Japan. She appeared in an opening event for the movie. Watch this promotion video made by Disney on a as big screen as possible. The quality of the video is wonderful. Happy to see Mao enjoying this event. Disney knew she skated to Marry Poppins medley as an exhibition number in the past and they asked Mao to work with them this time. :love:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsCsSzxOrKE

article https://www.asahi.com/and_w/articles/SDI2019012490031.html
her instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/BtQtqImgMmn/
 
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Spun Silver

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Yes! That's lovely. Mao looks so happy and the costumes are incredible. Looks like they are exact replicas of the ones in the movie. I don't know how she can jump in them.

Off to rewatch Mao's original MP.

Love the leaping gif!
 

rosewood

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Yes! That's lovely. Mao looks so happy and the costumes are incredible. Looks like they are exact replicas of the ones in the movie. I don't know how she can jump in them.

Off to rewatch Mao's original MP.

Love the leaping gif!
Are you able to watch the YT video in my #1,037 post? The video should be viewed on a big screen. The glimpses on twitter don't convey the magical quality/effects added in the original video which was made to be shown on theater screens.

Yes I loved Mao's original MP. That was the one which saved Mao from retiring at that time due to losing her motivation after her mom's death. Happy to see Mao is excited about skating for MP Returns in the blue coat version after several years. :) Mao and Disney is the best match for making people smile.
 
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Spun Silver

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Yes, I could see the YT vid but just on my 10 inch iPad. It's enough for me to see the high production quality and wonderful effects - they seem like they would be identical to the movie too. Love it! I love that Mao got the movie star treatment!
 

rosewood

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livetoskate

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Oh, I was hoping someone like Dice Murakami would join the tour. It's great to hear that the show has been so successful!
 

rosewood

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Posting some updates:

Japan's Emperor is elderly and he's retiring in a few months. And it's the 30th anniversary for his era 'Heisei.' For celebrating the 30th anniversary Japan is having some events right now. Yesterday a memorial ceremony for the 30th anniversary was held hosted by its government. And today & tomorrow Emperor holds three tea parties for expressing his gratitude to people. Today prime minister, ministers, Diet members and the heads of the tree powers are invited. Tomorrow morning experts in various fields such as novel prize scientists, actors&actresses, sports stars etc are invited. And tomorrow afternoon diplomatic crops such as ambassadors from each country are invited.

Articles and TV news programs are announcing the names, and in the most of them the leading name of the guests is Mao! woohoo!
https://www.sankei.com/life/news/190220/lif1902200041-n1.html
https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/20190220-OYT1T50251/

ETA:
Other guests are Sadaharu Oh (a legend in Japan's pro-baseball league), Tetsuko Kuroyanagi (actress/TV personality), Masatoshi Koshiba (novel prize scientist), Yuichiro Miura (legendary adventurer), Kazuyoshi Miura (a legend in Japan's pro-soccer league), Hideo Nomo (Japan's pioneer in MLB) etc.
 
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rosewood

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Since MTT 2019 started, Mao is busy with promoting MTT as a producer like she was last year. It's one of them and I loved the photos so much. Mao is a cover girl on a kimono fashion magazine.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BuF3iMYAnth/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BuF3uivA1GJ/
https://www.kateigaho.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/190220_kimono_05.jpg

Love love love all of them. The caption in the third photo says "Mao wears spring winds." Love it, too! Mao was given the obi band as a present. The magazine says Aero (Mao's toy poodle) is designed on it among other treasures of Mao. lol Good for her!
 

rosewood

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Mao @ Emperor's tea party in a lavender-color classical silk dress (robe montante?). 💕 Wish these clips are not geo-blocked.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uQVZAJgi_0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nt2q3X4KXWU
https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/1100220966389526528/pu/vid/1280x720/Uopgs-F5HE0DZEyq.mp4

photos
https://www.asahi.com/articles/photo/AS20190226001733.html
https://www.asahicom.jp/articles/images/AS20190226002001_comm.jpg
https://cdn.mainichi.jp/vol1/2019/02/26/20190226k0000m040080000p/9.jpg?1

In an interview she answered she talked with Emperor about MTT traveling across the country, and thanks to the invitation this experience will be a life long treasure.
https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/1100605294751535104/pu/vid/1280x720/VBffMeLkCSpfLYjQ.mp4

When Mao was asked whether she could enjoy foods in the royal tea party, she answered she was too busy to do so. Pity Mao!!
https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/1100320413471502336/pu/vid/1280x720/4SQm0MMnLsL7fNCJ.mp4

BTW it was the third time that she met him. Other two were a garden party after Vancouver with Daisuke and a tea party with Team Japan members. It looked the most formal one (since it's his era's 30th anniversary and sorta a part of his retirement ceremonies) this time.

How many of the big names in each sport of 'Heisei' era can you recognize?
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D0UxBuMVYAAPfuR.jpg

I felt Heisei is actually coming to the end. A bit sad. On the other hand it's sorta exciting to experience Tokyo 2020 Olys in the coming new era.
 
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rosewood

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Now Saitama Worlds is ongoing. Yagdin is working as a reporter for a Russian TV program in the venue. Look how he's showing Mao Bears at the 'maomao' brand shop in the venue. :biggrinbo
https://scontent-nrt1-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=f10131bb7ce6add973dd4f8188cd8387&oe=5D1BA0D5
https://scontent-nrt1-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=0261c322b078e69d58e02e87aa83a2f1&oe=5D05079B
https://scontent-nrt1-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=0e84dd226fd9af89c13ea76a5565acfc&oe=5D02C573

Two years have passed since her retirement and yet there is a 5 pages of interview with Mao on Saitama Worlds' pamphlet. :eek:
https://i.imgur.com/bV2X8Po.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/iX3S3gK.jpg

legend :glamor:
 

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