The Champion Returns Triumphantly to the City of Trees Yuzuru Hanyu's Thoughts and Hopes, Shared in His Hometown of Sendai

The beautiful city of Sendai, "where green leaves flourish," was enveloped in jubilation. On April 26th, a victory parade was held in Sendai City for Yuzuru Hanyu, who won Japan's first-ever men's figure skating gold medal at the Sochi Olympics. The event was organized by the "Yuzuru Hanyu 'Congratulations on the Gold Medal' Parade Executive Committee," composed of Miyagi Prefecture, Sendai City, and the Miyagi Prefecture Skating Federation.

The parade took place along Higashi-Nibancho Street in central Sendai, stretching approximately 880 meters from the Aoba-dori intersection to the front of Sendai City Hall. On the afternoon of the first day of the holiday weekend, blessed with clear skies that beautifully highlighted the lush greenery, the streets were packed with about 92,000 people—Sendai citizens and fans who had rushed in from all over. Riding on an 11-meter-long parade float, Hanyu responded to the roaring cheers from the crowd, occasionally striking signature poses seen in his Sochi performances. The approximately 65-meter-long procession moved slowly at 4.8 kilometers per hour, basking in the blessings of the spectators lining the route.

 

At a press conference after the parade, Hanyu stated, "Being in my hometown, I felt the warm cheers, and seeing so many people who came from far away made me truly happy." Reflecting again on the Sochi Olympics, he said, "It was everyone's support that allowed me to win the gold medal. Even now, every time I see that gold medal, I feel it's proof that I became one with everyone." He also remarked, "It was a luxurious competition where I achieved results but also identified challenges."

He also touched on support for the Tohoku disaster areas and the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, stating, "What both have in common is the need for unity."

When asked about his thoughts for younger skaters, he emphasized the importance of environment. "I hope Japan can build many more year-round skating rinks," he expressed.

Regarding his future aspirations, he stated, "What I'm chasing is the version of myself five or ten years from now. And since that version is something I can never fully catch up to, I want to give it my absolute best effort."

The 19-year-old champion appears to still be evolving.