Yuzuru Hanyu started skating at the age of 4, competed in his first competition about six months later, and continued competing until two months after turning 27. If we add the three years of his professional career to that total, Hanyu has dedicated 26 of his 30 years to figure skating. I’ve summarized his professional career data in three posts (one, two, three); now I’ll go back and look at what he accomplished during his competitive career.
I’ve done my best to keep this list as complete as possible. It’s not everything, at least not for his younger years. Hanyu officially began competing in the 2004-05 season, when he was 9, and first competed in the Novice B category. What did he do before that? We know very little. The JSF website doesn’t record competitions below the Novice B level, and sometimes it doesn’t even record regional youth competitions. There’s some evidence of a couple of competitions, but for others… maybe someone who speaks Japanese can find them, but not me. This is what I’ve found:
Season 1999-00
Coach: Mami Yamada
Music: Ultraman Gaia (choreography: Mami Yamada)
Miyagi Prefectural Tournement: 2nd (the winner was Jun Suzuki)
Season 2001-2002
Music: Amateur Horse Race (choreography: Mami Yamada)
There’s a short video from Hanyu’s first grade days, showing him wearing a cowboy costume. It could be this season or the end of the previous season.
Shin-Matsudo Daiei OSC Cup Tournement: 1st
UHB Cup: 1st
Season: 2003-04
Coach: Shoichiro Tsuzuki (probably form the previous season)
Music: From Russia with Love (choreography: Shoichiro Tsuzuki)
Badge Test Level 3 for Novice B
Competitions aside, there are the Badge Tests. If you don’t know what they are, they’re mentioned in the anime (and manga) Medalist. They’re tests skaters must pass before competing in a certain category. To register for the Tohoku-Hokkaido Championships in the Novice B category, Hanyu (like all the other participants) must have passed the relevant Badge Test. When did he do it? I have no idea. These are the requirements established by the JSF (in 2010, I don’t know if the requirements were lower in 2004) to obtain the Level 3 Badge Test, the one needed to compete in the Novice B category:
Mandatory elements:
| ① Axel Paulsen Jump ② Any double jump ③ Jump combination (2+1 or more). Double jumps can be combined with ②. ④ Camel Spin (5 or more rotations) ⑤ Flying spin (any type; 5 or more rotations after landing) ⑥ Spin combination (no change of foot, 6 or more revolutions, but 2 or more revolutions in one position) |
Set pattern steps:
| ① Back Change Half Circle (Starting foot is chosen by lottery) ② Bracket turn step (out/in is determined by lottery) ③ One-Footed Snaking (Forehand) – Starting foot is chosen by lottery ④ One-foot snaking (back) – the foot opposite to the fore |
Free skate:
| Time: 2’00” for both men and women ●Include at least the required jump elements. ●Select two or more of the required spin elements. ●Include a step sequence. |
Season 2004-05
Coach: Shoichiro Tsuzuki until December, Tatsuyoshi Matsuda from January
SP: Spartacus (choreography: Shoichiro Tsuzuki)
FS: From Russia with Love (choreography: Shoichiro Tsuzuki)
Tohoku-Hokkaido Regional Novice B: 1st (FS only)
National Championship Novice B: 1st (FS only)
To understand Hanyu’s skating level compared to the requirements, the minimum requirement for jumps was 1A and a double jump+single jump combination. Without looking at the quality details (pre- and under-rotations, which perhaps weren’t looked at at the time, and in any case we don’t know anything about what other skaters did), Hanyu’s layout was this: 2A; 2S; 2Lz+2Lo+2T; 2T+2T, 2Lo, 2Lz+2T (or it was 2F+2T? bad camera shot and not so clear edge), 2A.
Santa Claus Cup (Tampere, Finland), Novice A: SP 1st – FS 1st – Final rank 1st
Asian Novice Championship (Hong Kong): SP 4th – FS 4th – Final rank 4th
Season 2005-06
Coach: Tatsuyoshi Matsuda
SP: Amazonic/Totentanz (choreography: Megumu Seki)
FS: Summer Storm (choreography: Meguymu Seki) and From Russia with Love (National Championship only, choreography: Shoichiro Tsuzuki)
Tohoku-Hokkaido Regional Novice B: 1st (FS only)
National Championship Novice B: 2nd (FS only)
Asian Novice Chapionship: performed as a guest skater
Badge Test Level 4 Novice A
Mandatory elements:
| ①. Double Toe Loop Jump ② Double Salchow Jump ③ Double Loop Jump ④ Jump Combination (2+2) ⑤ Spins Women: Layback spin or Sideways Leaning spin (minimum 5 revolutions) Men: Sit spin or Camel spin (with change of foot) including at least one difficult variation (minimum 5 revolutions/minimum 5 revolutions) ⑥ Spin combination (with change of foot, 6/6 or more rotations) |
Set pattern steps:
| ① Open Choctaw and Three Turn Steps ② Toe Step (2 or more rotations) ③ Twizzle Step Four (Out/In determined by lottery) ④ Twizzle Step Back (Out/In determined by lottery) |
Free skate:
| Time: Women’s 2’30”, Men’s 3’00”. The number of elements is the same as for Novice B. ● Includes at least three types of double jumps (including both toe jumps and edge jumps) ● Includes jump combinations (2+2) ● Spins (including flying, one position (men), layback (women) spin combinations) ●Women: Spiral Sequence, Men’s: Step sequence |
Badge Test Level 6 Junior
Mandatory elenents:
| ① Double Axel Paulsen Jump ② Jump combinations – Women: combination of 3 consecutive jumps of your choice (2+2+2), Men: 3+2 or more ③ A free jump immediately following a connecting step or other comparable free skating movement (in accordance with the Junior SP program of the current year). ④ Spin Combination (including 3 positions, back entrance, and change of foot) (6 rotations/6 or more rotations) ⑤ Flying spin (correct position in the air. 8 or more revolutions without changing position). In addition, this must be the flying spin specified in the Junior SP for that year. |
Second test:
| Time: Within 2’50”. ISU Junior Short Program for the current year |
Free skate:
| Time: Women’s 3’30”, Men’s 4’00” Based on the ISU Junior Free Skating of the current year The jump must include at least the following elements: Women: Includes double axel and double+double or higher jump combinations (2 or more consecutive). Men’s: Includes a double axel and one triple. |
Season 2006-07
Coach: Tatsuyoshi Matsuda until October, Nanami Abe from October (Soshi Tanaka, who was specialized in jumps, collaborated with Abe, I don’t know if for the entire period Abe trained Hanyu or for a shorter period)
SP: Amazonic/Totentanz (choreography: Megumu Seki)
FS: Summer Storm (choreography: Megumu Seki)
Hanyu did not compete in the Tohoku-Hokkaido Championships, which are usually required for skaters registered with a club in Miyagi Prefecture to participate in the National Championships. His absence from the Tohoku-Hokkaido Championships suggests that Hanyu achieved such exceptional results in the tests held at the Nobeyama Camp that the federation seeded him and excluded him from participating in the qualifying competition.
National Championship Novice A: 3rd (FS only)
Layout of Hanyu’s program: 2A+2T, 3Lo<, 3S<, 3T (fall), 2A, 2F, 2Lz (fall). At the time, there was no distinction between underrotated and downgraded jumps; the < sign assigned the jump the base value of a jump with one less rotation. It is unknown when Hanyu passed the Badge Tests, but the layout of the program he competed with at the Novice Championships (if executed correctly) would have allowed him to pass the Badge Test in the junior category. Riuju Hino, who won the competition, landed three triples (a toe loop and two salchows) and seven doubles, including two 2A, without falling or having any problems with the rotations. Keiji Tanaka, who finished second, correctly completed two triples (a toe loop and a salchow) and nine doubles, including two 2A.
Junior National Championship: SP 18th – FS 4th – Final rank 7th
Junior North Japan Figure Skating Games: SP 1st – FS 1st – Final rank 1st
Mladost Trophy Novice A: SP 1st – FS 2nd – Final rank 1st
Season 2007-08
SP: Sing Sing, Sing (choreography: Nanami Abe)
FS: The Firebird (choreography: Nanami Abe)
Gala: Sing, Sing, Sing (choreography: Nanami Abe – different from the SP version)
When a program originally intended for competition is presented as an exhibition program, it’s usually performed without the most difficult jumps, and in the case of free skate programs, only a part of them is skated. For programs used in competition for more than one season, there are always some changes to the steps and perhaps even the layout. I only note where there are significant changes.
Tohoku-Hokkaido Championship Novice A: 1st (FS only)
Miyagi Prefecture Junior High School General Sports Festival: 1st (SP only)
National Championship Novice A: 1st (FS only)
Junior National Championship: SP 7th – FS 1st – Final rank 3rd
Tohoku Junior High School Skating: 1st (FS only)
Tohoku Skating Championship Novice A: 1st (SP only)
Japan Junior High School Championship: 1st (SP only)
Skate Copenhagen Novice A: SP 1st – FS 1st – Final rank 1st
Season 2008-09
SP: Bolero (choreography: Nanami Abe)
FS: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (choreography: Nanami Abe. Program created in two partially different versions because it was skated in the Junior and Senior categories, which have different requirements on the length of the program)
Gala: Change (choreography: Nanami Abe)
JGP Merano: SP 6th – FS 4th – Final rank 5th
Tohoku-Hokkaido Championship Junior: SP 1st – FS 1st – Final rank 1st
East Japan Kunior Championship: SP 1st – FS 1st – Final rank
Junior National Championship: SP 4th – FS 1st – Final rank 1st
National Championship: SP 8th – FS 5th – Final rank 8th
Junior High School Championship: 1st (only SP)
Junior World Championship: SP 11th – FS 13th – Final rank 12th
Junior North Japan Figure Skating Games: SP 1st – FS 1st – Final rank 1st
Season 2009-10
SP: Mission: Impossible II (choreography: Nanami Abe)
FS: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (choreography: Nanami Abe)
Gala: Change (choreography: Nanami Abe)
JGP Poland: SP 1st – FS 1st- Final rank 1st
Tohoku-Hokkaido JuniorChampionship: SP
JGP Croatia: Sp 1st – FS 1st – Final rank 1st
East Japan Junior Championship: SP 1st – FS 1st – Final Rank 1st
Junior National Championship: SP 1st – FS 2nd – Final rank 1st
JGP Final: SP 3rd – FS 1st – Final rank 1st
National Championship: SP 13th – FS 5th – Final rank 6th
Junior High School Championship: 1st (SP only)
Junior World Championship: SP 3rd – FS 1st – Final rank 1st
Badge Test Level 7 Senior International competitions
Required elements:
| ① Double Axel Paulsen Jump ② A triple jump immediately following a connecting step or other comparable free skating movement. ③ An isolated triple jump (a jump different from 2). ④ Jump combination (3+2 or more) ⑤ Any flying spin. After 8 rotations without changing the position/variation, a flying spin with a difficult variation or change edge. ⑥ Spin combination (with change of foot). At least three positions must be performed from the spin combo with change of foot on the ISU difficulty level table for the current year, and three features must be satisfied (6 rotations/6 or more rotations) |
Second test:
| Time: Within 2’50”. ISU Senior Short Program for the current year |
Free skate:
| Time: Women’s 4’00”, Men’s 4’30” Based on the ISU Senior Free Skating of the current year. Furthermore, for jumps, the minimum required elements enter the assignment. |
Not knowing the JSF rules, I don’t know if Hanyu ever took the Badge test to compete in senior international competitions. He was already capable of completing these types of elements during his first season in the Novice A category. Could it be that, having already completed the elements in competitions where the elements weren’t required, the JSF decided not to require him to take the test? This happened to Canadian Kurt Browning: he was granted permission to participate in some international competitions without having him take the tests that were supposed to determine whether he was fit to participate in those competitions, and his results were such that Browning never took the final tests, which, according to Skate Canada, are mandatory. Japan has made exceptions for the National Championship in some cases: participation is mandatory for assignments to the Four Continents Championship, the World Championship, and the Olympic Games, but sometimes skaters are assigned to competitions thanks to an exemption. This is what happened to Hanyu in three seasons, when he skipped three straight National Championships but was still assigned to the 2017 4CC, the 2017 WC, the 2018 OG, and the 2019 WC based on his previous results. The same goes for Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara, who skipped the National Championships for four years in a row but were regularly assigned to the 4CC, WC, and OG because there’s no doubt they are the strongest Japanese pair. As for the regional qualifying competitions for the National Championships, if a skater were to participate in one of these competitions while simultaneously registered for an international competition, they are granted an exemption. So, did Hanyu take this Badge Test? Perhaps, or perhaps the JSF decided it was unnecessary because he had already proven he could compete at the senior international level.
Season 2010-11
SP: White Legend (choreography: Nanami Abe)
FS: Zigeunerweisen (choreography: Nanami Abe)
Gala: Vertigo /choreography: Nanami Abe)
GP NHK Trophy: SP 5th – FS 4th – Final rank 4th
East Japan Championship: SP 1st – FS 1st – Final rank 1st
GP Rostelecom Cup: SP 6th – FS 6th – Final rank 7th
National Championship: SP 2nd – FS 4th – Final rank 4th
Four Continents Championship: SP 3rd – FS 3rd – Final rank 2nd
Season 2011-12
SP: Étude in D-sharp minor (choreography: Nanami Abe, Natalia Bestemianova, Igor Bobrin)
FS: Romeo+Juliet (choreography: Nanami Abe, Natalia Bestemianova, Igor Bobrin)
Gala: 1) Vertigo (choreography: Nanami Abe) 2) Somebody to Love (choreography: Nanami Abe) 3) White Legend (choreography: Nanami Abe – differenf from the SP version)
Nebelhorn Trophy: SP 1st – FS 1st – Final rank 1st
Tohoku-Hokkaido Championship: SP 1st – FS 1st – Final rank 1st
GP Cup of China: SP 2nd – FS 4th – Final rank 4th
GP Rostelecom Cup: SP 2nd – FS 2nd – Final rank 1st
GP Final: SP 4th – FS 3rd – Final rank 4st
National Championship: SP 4th – FS 1st – Final rank 3rd
World Championship: SP 7th – FS 2nd – Final rank 3rd
Season 2012-13
Coach: Brian Orser and Tracy Wilson
SP: Parisienne Walkways (choreography: Jeffrey Buttle)
FS: Notre-Dame de Paris (choreography: David Wilson)
Gala: 1) Hello, I Love You (choreography: Kurt Browning) 2) Hana ni nare (choreography: Kenji Miyamoto)
I add the abbreviation WR on occasions when Hanyu set a world record for the highest score.
Finlandia Trophy: SP 2nd – FS 1st – Final rank 1st
GP Skate America: SP 1st (WR) – FS 3rd – Final rank 2nd
GP NHK Trophy: SP 1st (WR) – FS 1st – Final rank 1st
GP Final: SP 3rd – FS 2nd – Final rank 2nd
National Championship: SP 1st – FS 2nd – Final rank 1st
Four Continents Championship: SP 1st – FS 3rd – Final rank 2nd
World championship: SP 9th – FS 3rd – Final rank 4th
Season 2013-14
Since the end of this season, Ghislain Briand has been added to Brian Orser and Tracy Wilson’s list of coaches.
SP: Parisienne Walkways (choreography: Jeffrey Buttle)
FS: Romeo and Juliet (choreography: David Wilson)
Gala: 1) Étude in D-sharp minor (choreography: Nanami Abe, Natalia Bestemianova, Igor Bobrin) 2) Notre-Dame de Paris (choreography: David Wilson) 3) Story (choreography: Kenji Miyamoto) 4) Hana ni nare (choreography: Kenji Miyamaoto) 5) White Legend (choreography: Nanami Abe) 6) Romeo+Juliet (choreography: Nanami Abe, Natalia Bestemianova, Igor Bobrin)
Finlandia Trophy: SP 1st – FS 1st – Final rank 1st
GP Skate Canada: SP 3rd – FS 2nd – Final rank 2nd
GP Trophée Eric Bompard: SP 2nd – FS 2nd – Final rank 2nd
GP Final: SP 1st (WR) – FS 1st – Final rank 1st
National Championship: SP 1st – FS 1st – Final rank 1st
Olympic Games (Team Event): SP 1st – Final rank Team Japan 5th
Olympic Games: SP 1st (WR) – FS 1st – Final rank 1st
World Championship: SP 3rd – FS 1st – Final rank 1st
Season 2014-15
SP: Ballade No. 1 in G minor (choreography: Jeffrey Buttle)
FS: The Phantom of the Opera (choreography: Shae-Lynn Bourne)
– Gala: 1) Hana wa saku (choreography: Nanami Abe) 2) The Final Time Traveler (choreography: Kenji Miyamoto) 3) Parisienne Walkways (choreography: Jeffrey Buttle)
GP Cup of China: SP 2nd – FS 2nd – final rank 2nd
GP NHK Trophy: SP 5th – FS 3rd – Final rank 4th
GP Final: SP 1st – FS 1st – Final rank 1st
National Championship: SP 1st – FS 1st – Final rank 1st
World Championship: SP 1st – FS 3rd – Final rank 2nd
World Team Trophy: SP 1st – FS 1st – Unofficial rank 1st – Rank Team Japan 3rd
Season 2015-16
SP: Ballade No. 1 in G minor (choreography: Jeffrey Buttle)
FS: Seimei (choreography: Shae-Lynn Bourne)
Gala: Requiem of Heaven and Earth (choreography: Kenji Miyamoto)
Autumn Classic International: SP 1st – FS 1st – Final rank 1st
GP Skate Canada: SP 6th – FS 2nd – Final rank 2nd
GP NHK Trophy: SP 1st (WR) – FS 1st (WR) – Final rank 1st (WR)
GP Final: SP 1st (WR) – FS 1st (WR) – Final rank 1st (WR)
National Championship: SP 1st – FS 1st – Final rank 1st
World Championship: SP 1st – FS 2nd – Final rank 2nd
Season 2016-17
SP: Let’s Go Crazy (choreography: Jeffrey Buttle)
FS: Hope and Legacy (choreography: Shae-Lynn Bourne)
Gala: Notte stellata (the Swan) (choreography: David Wilson)
CS Autumn Classic International : SP 1st – FS 1st – Final rank 1st
GP Skate Canada: SP 4th – FS 1st – Final rank 2nd
GP Final: SP 1st – FS 3rd – Final rank 1st
Four Continents Championship: SP 3rd – FS 1st – Final rank 2nd
World Championship: SP 5th – FS 1st (WR) – Final rank 1st
World Team Trophy: SP 7th – FS 1st – Unofficial rank 3rd – Rank Team Japan 1st
Season 2017-18
SP: Ballade No. 1 in G minor (choreography: Jeffrey Buttle)
FS: Seimei (choreography: Shae-Lynn Bourne)
Gala: Notte stellata (The Swan) (choreography: David Wilson)
CS Autumn Classic International: SP 1st (WR) – FS 5th – Final rank 2nd
GP Rostelecom Cup: SP 2nd – FS 1st – Final rank 2nd
Olympic Games: SP 1st – FS 2nd – Final rank 1st
Season 2018-19
SP: Otoñal (choreography: Jeffrey Buttle)
FS: Origin (choreography: Shae-Lynn Bourne)
Gala: Haru yo, koi (choreography: David Wilson)
CS Autumn Classic International: SP 1st – FS 2nd – Final rank 1st
GP Helsinki: SP 1st (WR) – FS 1st (WR) – Final rank 1st (WR)
GP Rostelecom Cup: SP 1st (WR) – FS 1st – Final rank 1st
World Championhip: SP 3rd – FS 2nd (WR) – Final rank 2nd (WR)
Season 2019-20
SP: 1) Otoñal (choreography: Jeffrey Buttle) 2) Ballade No. 1 in G minor (choreography: Jeffrey Buttle)
FS: 1) Origin (choreography: Shae-Lynn Bourne) 2) Seimei (new version – choreography: SDhae-Lynn Bourne)
Gala: 1) Parisienne Walkways (choreography: Jeffrey Buttle) 2) Haru yo, koi (choreography: David Wilson) 3) Notte stellata (The Swan) (choreography: David Wilson) 4) Seimei (choreography: Shae-Lynn Bourne) 5) Hope and legacy (choreography: Shae-Lynn Bourne)
CS: Autumn Classic International: SP 1st – FS 1st – Final rank 1st
GP Skate Canada: SP 1st – FS 1st – Final rank 1st
GP NHK Trophy: SP 1st – FS 1st – Final rank 1st
GP Final: SP 2nd – FS 2nd – Final rank 2nd
National Championship: SP 1st – FS 3rd – Final rank 2nd
Four Continents Chapionship: SP 1st (WR) – FS 1st – Final rank 1st
Season 2020-21
SP: Let Me Entertain You (choreography: Jeffrey Buttle)
FS: Ten to chi to (choreography: Shae-Lynn Bourne)
Gala: 1) Haru yo, koi /choreography: David Wilson) 2) Hana wa saku (choreography: Nanami Abe)
National Championship: SP 1st – FS 1st- Final rank 1st
World Championship: SP 1st – FS 4th – Final rank 3rd
World Team Trophy: SP 2nd – FS 2nd – Unofficial rank 2nd – Rank Team Japan 3rd
Season 2021-22
SP: Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso (choreography: Jeffrey Buttle and Shae-Lynn Bourne)
FS: Ten to chi to (choreography: Shae-Lynn Bourne)
Gala: 1) Let Me Entertain You (choreography: Jeffrey Buttle) 2) Haru yo, koi (choreography: David Wilson)
National Championship: SP 1st – FS 1st – Final rank 1st
Olympic Games: SP 8th – FS 3rd – Final rank 4th
Throughout his career, Hanyu has also participated in numerous exhibitions. He has almost always been present at the final gala of the competitions he has competed in. He began competing in the gala of the National Championships, Medalist on Ice, in 2007, as the national champion in the Novice category. He certainly participated in the gala of the 2009 JGPF and 2010 JWC. Amond senior, in 2010 he did not participate in the gala of the Rostelecom Cup, where he was not invited, and due to various physical problems he did not participate in the gala of the 2012 GPF, 2013 WC (I think), 2014 Cup of China, 2014 National Championship, and 2018 Rostelecom Cup. Otherwise, he should have always participated, which is not surprising given that he almost always finished on the podium.
Regarding these shows, I tried to figure out which shows Hanyu performed in each year, how many shows each tour/show consisted of, and whether Hanyu performed in all of them. The number indicates the number of shows. I’ve written an “x” where I couldn’t find the number of shows. The list is certainly incomplete. In 2011, after the earthquake, Hanyu performed in 60 shows, and I found a lower number. Is there anything else missing? It’s possible, but I have no idea. I’ve highlighted the solo shows in yellow, and the shows where Hanyu served as chairperson in light yellow.
In addition to the programs performed in competitions or at competition galas that I have already listed, and which Hanyu has occasionally performed at shows in Japan, there are several programs that Hanyu has performed exclusively at shows in Japan. These are the ones he has performed over the years of his competitive career:
- True Love (choreography: Kenji Miyamoto)
- Ienai yo (choreography: Pasquale Camerlengo)
- Believe (choreography: Kenji Miyamoto)
- Wings of Words
- Masquerade (choreography: Shae-Lynn Bourne)
- Crystal Memories (choreography: David Wilson)
- Real Face (Coreography: Shae-Lynn Bourne)
- Raison (Choreography: David Wilson)
A very intense competitive career. Just to underscore the intensity with which Hanyu has approached skating over these 26 years, I’ll include a list of the shows he’s participated in since turning professional. For the solo shows and for Notte stellata, he didn’t just skate; he had to structure the shows, tell a story, and take care of countless other aspects, all essential to the success.
- Prologue – 5 shows between November and December 2022
- Major’s Cup – 1 show, December 2022 (there was an audience, so for me this is a performance like the ones he did in competitions gala)
- Gift – 1 show, February 2023
- Notte stellata – 3 shows, March 2023
- Stars on Ice – 10 shows, March-April 2023
- Fantasy on Ice – 12 shows, May-June 2023
- Re_Pray – 8 shows, November 2023-April 2024
- Notte stellata – 3 shows, March 2024
- Fantasy on Ice – 6 shows, May-June 2024
- Challenge – 1 show, September 2024
- Echoes of Life – 7 shows, December 2024-February 2025
- Notte stellata – 3 shows, March 2025
- The First Skate – 1 show, July 2025
To understand how intense these last three years have been, I’ve included a list of the programs skated by Hanyu. In the left column, I’ve listed the programs skated by Hanyu in competition. I’ve highlighted in yellow the programs that Hanyu has performed in full (in bold) or in part over these three years. In the center column, I’ve listed the programs from the shows during his competitive era, again highlighting which ones he performed in the last three years. In the left column, I’ve listed the new programs. Where the choreographer isn’t listed, it’s because the choreography is by Hanyu. I’ve listed some group numbers either because the choreography is by Hanyu, and therefore the creative aspect is added to the performative aspect, or because they are programs for shows where Hanyu is the chairperson. I ignored the group numbers of Fantasy on Ice, even though the main focus is on Hanyu and he has a solo part of some importance, because otherwise I would have had to consider the similar programs made in the old editions of the traditional shows in which Hanyu took part, and the information I have is incomplete.
What Hanyu has accomplished in these 26 years is incredible. And while I have no idea when it will happen, I’m sure he will amaze us again.
