Olympic and world champion Yuzuru Hanyu expressed confidence in his preparations as he attempts to win a third straight national title at the All-Japan Championships beginning here at Big Hat on Friday.
Hanyu, who defended his Grand Prix Final crown two weeks ago in Barcelona, Spain, said he was looking forward to the event despite going through an uneven practice session earlier where he struggled with his triple lutz and hit his quadruple toe loop intermittently.
"Being the Olympic and world champion doesn't have any effect on this competition," Hanyu said on Thursday. "I want to be the best there is here."
Several weeks removed from his collision with Yan Han at the Cup of China, Hanyu was sublime in Spain at the GP Final earlier this month. Hanyu beat second-place finisher Javier Fernandez of Spain by nearly 35 points.
"I'm building up confidence with each competition," the Sendai native stated. "I'm working hard each day at practice. It's not about how I practice, it's about how I feel in my heart after the practice."
Hanyu appeared comfortable and relaxed as he spoke to the media.
"I have checked the conditions of the rink and confirmed my condition," he noted. "I'm going to concentrate on my short program and free skate and do my best."
Hanyu welcomed the chance to interact with other Japanese skaters at the domestic event.
"I feel calm compared to other competitions," he said. "I'm able to meet other skaters I know but have not seen for a while."
Tatsuki Machida, who was second last season at both the worlds and nationals behind Hanyu, but finished last at the GP Final, was optimistic about his chances here.
"I'm feeling good and confident," he commented. "After the GP Final I wasn't disappointed. I just started aiming for the nationals right away."
Takahito Mura, who was fifth at the GP Final, says he is jumping well.
"My jumps were good in practice," Mura said. "I want to jump well in my competitions."
Mura made his goals here very clear.
"I want to get a medal and go to the worlds," Mura said.
Junior Grand Prix Final champion Shoma Uno analyzed his day concisely.
"I was good at the official (afternoon) practice, but not so good in the morning practice," Uno stated.
Uno, who was impressive in victory in Spain, isn't planning to hold back.
"I'm looking for full output on the ice, just like at the GP Final," Uno said. "I feel like I have matured a lot in the past year. It doesn't feel like just one year, but many."
Uno, who will use a quad in his short program, admitted he was fired up.
"It's a different atmosphere here," he said. "I'm very motivated and excited."
Takahiko Kozuka, whose results have been inconsistent the past few years, does not believe his window of opportunity has passed.
"I'm only 25," Kozuka pointed out. "Last season, Daisuke Takahashi was 28. I don't feel like I'm losing my energy or anything."
Kozuka is hoping his jumps will help him return to his previous level.
"I have to bring my jumps back to where they were three or four years ago," he said.
Kozuka, who was the world silver medalist in 2011, has been training with Uno and says it has inspired him.
"Skating with Uno has been motivating," he noted. "He is a skater on the rise."
On the women's side, Rika Hongo admitted she had a few butterflies when she took the ice on Thursday.
"I was kind of nervous at first, but now I'm excited," she said. "I felt I skated well during practice."
Hongo, who was Japan's only female competitor in the senior GP Final, spoke softly but firmly during her interview session.
"This is my first time to compete in nationals as a senior," she said. "I see it as a positive challenge and want to do my best."
Hongo cited her victory at the Cup of Russia last month as giving her a boost.
"It helped my confidence to win in the GP series," she stated. "I don't want to get too anxious. I have been working hard in practice so I can do my triple/triple combination."
Kanako Murakami will be seeking her first national title here after coming in second the past two years. She was especially impressive last year in Saitama, where she faced huge pressure going in and came through to clinch a spot on the Olympic team.
"I was practicing like crazy after the last Grand Prix (the NHK Trophy, where she finished fourth)," Murakami said. "My coaches thought I might be overdoing it. I was sometimes doing my routines five or six times. I think that has helped me settle down."
Murakami, who finished 12th at the Sochi Games, is focused on the task at hand.
"I have pushed myself in practice," she commented. "I have been working on the connection between my elements."
Satoko Miyahara, who took fourth at nationals last year, is hoping to improve on her showing during the GP series (where she finished third at both Skate Canada and the NHK Trophy).
"I could not do my best in the GP series, so I want to do it here," Miyahara said.
Miyahara feels she must get full rotation on her jumps to be a factor.
"I'm working to have complete jumps," she stated. "I have not been turning enough on my triple/triple combination."
The competition gets underway on Friday afternoon with the men's short program, followed by the short dance and pairs short program.
