Hanyu Yuzuru's "Challenge" - A helping hand for Noto Peninsula Earthquake victims
The two-time Olympic figure skating champion is hitting the ice to raise money for those affected by the M7.6 quake on New Year's Day - because Hanyu has been there, and he knows.
Figure Skating
Hanyu Yuzuru knows.
Figure skating’s two-time Olympic champion knows what it feels like to be in the dark in the cold, displaced from the confines of one’s home by a megaquake, not knowing what awaits tomorrow.
Which is why this weekend, he’s going to bat for all those affected by the M7.6 Noto Peninsula Earthquake that struck on New Year’s Day, with a charity show near the devastations in Ishikawa Prefecture - titled “Challenge”.
“There are people who are suffering at this moment, as we speak,” Hanyu told organisers of the show scheduled for Sunday (15 September). “I hope I can deliver a performance that can help them, give them even the slightest lift.”
Hanyu Yuzuru will be skating for a good cause this weekend.
Thirteen years ago, Hanyu’s hometown of Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture was rocked by the Great East Japan Earthquake, a M9.1 that triggered a tsunami and a nuclear powerplant disaster, crippling the country’s eastern coastline.
Hanyu was forced to spend time at an evacuation centre and his home rink was wrecked. After retiring from competitive skating in 2022, he has since produced a show honouring all those who were impacted by the catastrophe, “notte stellata”.
The Noto Peninsula quake is the deadliest earthquake since 11 March, 2011. It has claimed 360 lives, injuring 1,300 across nine prefectures including Ishikawa. While the tragedy has not received the attention globally as the Great East Japan Earthquake did, Noto Peninsula has been nothing short of calamitous.
Sunday’s show is not being opened to the public as there are no stands at the venue. The performance will not be aired outside Japan due to rights issues, and can only be watched domestically through one streaming site. Purchasing details can be found here.
Public viewing will also be offered in four locations in Ishikawa - Suzu, Wajima, Shika and Nanao.
Proceeds from the livestream will be donated to Ishikawa Prefecture towards relief efforts.
Despite the lack of crowd capacity, Hanyu - who will be joined by fellow Olympians Suzuki Akiko and Miyahara Satoko, and Four Continents champion Mura Takahito - believes the show should be held in Ishikawa
“Me personally, I think there’s tremendous meaning in skating on the actual site. Being there, I think I will feel a lot during the performance,” Hanyu said. “There must be a skate that I can only skate being there.
“A bit of hope, a few smiles skating with my friends. That is something I really want to be able to provide, even if it is for a split second.”