Yuzuru Hanyu’s “super speedy divorce” is a burden.
I’m really sorry for the trouble I’ve caused you. We are outsiders who know nothing about it, so we are very surprised and troubled in that respect. …… We are also sad for Yuzu and his family. I also have two daughters, so my heart hurts when I think about their feelings.
When a reporter who has interviewed Yuzuru Hanyu (28), who lives in Sendai, asked to interview his grandmother, she politely expressed her feelings.
I have married a civilian. （When I thought about the future, I wanted my partner to be happy, and I wanted her to be happy without limitations, so I decided to divorce her.
Late at night on November 17, professional skater Yuzuru Hanyu (28) announced on his official social networking service that he had divorced, and public opinion was split down the middle over the speedy divorce that took place only 105 days after the marriage announcement on August 4.
Some people say that it was a wise decision to protect his partner, while others criticize him for leaving the woman he loves so easily.
Hanyu cites ‘slander and stalking’ as one of the reasons for his divorce. He also exposed the harsh situation, saying that the other woman was not allowed to leave her house even once. Looking back, Mr. Hanyu, who became a national star in his teens, has always been subjected to ‘excessive expectations’ and ‘curious eyes. He must have come to this conclusion after worrying that he could not involve his marriage partner in his special circumstances.
When she won the gold medal at the Sochi Olympics in 2002, she attracted attention as a medalist who had experienced life in a shelter after suffering from the Great East Japan Earthquake. Since then, she has been expected not only for her results but also for her inspiring story. It was also around this time that her “personal life” outside of competition began to attract attention. It was in March of 2004 that she first opened up about her dissatisfaction with the situation surrounding her.
In January of that year, a women’s weekly magazine reported that Mr. Hanyu was dating a classmate from high school. Upon arriving in Boston, where the World Championships were to be held, Hanyu told a reporter familiar with the story at the airport, “I just want to skate. Skating has nothing to do with my private life, and I am not an idol.
Even so, Hanyu continued to express his gratitude to his fans when he was on stage. He did not want to destroy the illusion of “Yuzuru Hanyu” held by the public, but of course he had his share of heartache.
I heard that he once cried unexpectedly and could not eat at all.
At a press conference in July of last year, when he announced his decision to turn pro, Hanyu also spoke about his troubles. The above-mentioned reporter recalls.
In the latter half of his active career, when he continued to aim for the heights that no one had ever achieved, such as three consecutive Olympic titles with a quadruple-half jump, he was very determined. In his ice show “RE_PRAY” held on November 4 and 5 this year, he showed his determination to pursue further expressiveness, including a combination jump that he never showed during his active career. The ideal that Mr. Hanyu is aiming for is no longer something that can be realized with someone else. ……
Hanyu has once again returned to a solitary existence. The grandmother spoke frankly about the future of her grandson, who continues to pursue his ideal expression.
She said, “I’m sure the two of you have made a decision after much consideration, so there’s nothing we can do about it. I hope that they will accept the fact that this has happened, accept the criticism, and make the most of it for the rest of their lives. That’s all I have in mind right now.”
The noble path that this genius is walking will no doubt continue to be difficult for many years to come. However, he is sure that the pain of losing his partner will also be a source of inspiration for his fans.
From the December 8-15, 2023 issue of “FRIDAY
PHOTO： Asahi Shimbun Kyodo News
