Ajinomoto (1) Yuzuru Hanyu
Special Interview with Yuzuru Hanyu in Ajinomoto “Kachi-meshi” Recipe Book.
Q: What do you think about practicing “Kachi-meshi”(Victory meal) while competing in international competitions?
H: It isn’t just “eating”. The interesting point of “Kachi-meshi” is that it is designed to cater for our “peak” as athletes. Throughout the season, if there are certain peak moments, a peak moment also lasts for/occurs in 1 day. Not only the amount of vitamin and carbohydrates accumulated during competitions is calculated so that I can peak in the free program, but (Kachi-meshi) also makes sure not to neglect post-competition care. Being thoroughly informed of such planning is interesting.
Q: Thank you very much. It’s also rewarding to know that Hanyu-senshu understands our intention.
H: Speaking of sports, I’m very grateful that (Kachi-meshi) takes into consideration that figure skaters must maintain a certain diet. Not only in figure skating, but ballet, or gymnastics, or in other competitive fields, weight influences the competition (t/n: athletes’s condition in competition). We don’t want to eat excessively, but we mustn’t become sluggish at the same time. I think Kachi-meshi is thinking about such “body balance”. Figure skating is unique, so I can always feel everyone’s (t/n: Ajinomoto team) wish for (planning meals) that would contribute to building athletes’ body condition that could withstand characteristics of this field, and maintaining their good health.
H: I think it’s really tough to cater to requests like “I don’t want to gain weight but want to stay healthy but again I don’t eat much , so how should I eat?”
Q: The most important thing to us when supporting the “Victory project” is to help athletes eat regardless of anything. The most important thing is (for athletes) to eat properly. To send this spirit across, we think that it’s important to create “make-easy dishes” for any mothers.
He also seems to eat “Power balls”, which contain dashi and are divided into small onigiris, well.
H: Yes. When looking at large onigiris or rice piled up in a large bowl, I’m discouraged from eating, but “Power balls” are small, so the barrier to my heart is lowered (t/n: his appetite is improved). Also, since they’re divided in small portions, I can be confident that I’ve eaten even when I only ate 1 of them. If I don’t eat, I’ll feel guilty about leaving food behind, but with “power balls”, there’s a sense of fulfillment for eating even 1 piece.
Q: If we don’t weigh the amount of leftover, we couldn’t know how much the athletes have eaten. However, we can count how many balls have been eaten and it’s convenient for nutrition supervision. “Power balls” are divided in small portions (t/n: so it’s easier for him to eat), but it’s also helpful that you’ve let us know the “dashi”(Japanese seasoning powder” takes its effect and makes it easier to eat.
H: From an athlete’s standpoint, adjustment is easy. We can decide that we only do this much today, depending on our body condition, and we are in control of ourselves. Even it’s just the amount of rice, there are times in the day that we feel “tough”(t/n: lack appetite ig).
Ajinomoto will include the next part of this interview in the next recipe book.