Reigning Olympic and former world champion Yuzuru Hanyu delighted fans on Saturday by taking part in a ceremony in his hometown of Sendai to unveil the design of a new monument celebrating the superstar figure skater.
Six hundred lucky lottery winners picked from among some 20,000 applicants were permitted inside the venue and got a glimpse of the 24-year-old, who appeared in a suit and tie instead of his familiar rock star-style skating costume.
The 2.3-meter tall, 1.6-meter wide monument depicting his trademark "Seimei" pose performed at the 2018 Olympics will be located near the south exit of Kokusai Center Station on the Sendai municipal subway Tozai Line next to another commemorating his 2014 Olympic title. The unveiling ceremony is scheduled for April 29.