Yuzuru Hanyu facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Yuzuru Hanyu
羽生 結弦
Hanyu at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang
Born	(1994-12-07) December 7, 1994 (age 30) Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
Alma mater	Waseda University (2020)
Occupation	Figure skater Ice show producer and director author
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Awards	People's Honor Award (2018) Medal of Honor (2014, 2018) Kikuchi Kan Prize (2022)
Yuzuru Hanyu Personal information Country represented  Japan Began skating 1998
YouTube information
Years active	2022–present
Genre	Figure skating
Subscribers	791 thousand
Total views	38 million
Subscriber and view counts updated as of June 20, 2025.
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Yuzuru Hanyu (羽生 結弦, Hanyū Yuzuru, Hiragana: はにゅう ゆづる; born December 7, 1994) is a Japanese figure skater and ice show producer. Many people consider him one of the greatest figure skaters ever. He started skating at age four.

Hanyu competed in men's singles from 2004 to 2022. He was the first male skater in 66 years to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals. He won at the 2014 and 2018 Winter Olympics. He was also the first and youngest Asian Olympic champion in men's singles.

He is a two-time World champion (2014, 2017). Hanyu also won the Japanese national title six times. He was the first single skater to win four Grand Prix Finals in a row (2014–2017). In 2020, he became the first man to achieve the Super Slam. This means he won all major international junior and senior titles.

Hanyu broke world records 19 times. This is the most in singles since the ISU Judging System began in 2003. He was also the first skater to land a quadruple loop jump in an international competition.

In 2022, Hanyu became a professional skater. This change marked "the end of an era" in competitive figure skating. His first big professional work is the Yuzuru Hanyu Ice Story series. This includes Prologue (2022), the first solo ice show. The Repray Tour (2023–24) was the first solo tour in figure skating. His show Gift (2023) was the first ice skating event at Tokyo Dome. It set a record for the largest ice show audience with 35,000 people.

When he was 16, Hanyu experienced the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami in his hometown of Sendai. This event greatly influenced his life. He has taken part in many charity events. He also dedicated performances to those affected by the disaster. He is the chairperson of the annual Yuzuru Hanyu Notte Stellata ice show. This show started in 2023 to remember the 2011 earthquake. Hanyu has donated over $3 million USD for recovery efforts. This includes his Olympic prize money and earnings from his autobiography Blue Flames I–IV.

Hanyu received the People's Honour Award in 2018. He was the youngest person to get this award from the Prime Minister of Japan. He also received Japan's Medal of Honor twice (2014, 2018). In 2022, he was given the Kikuchi Kan Prize. He was the first figure skater nominated for the Laureus World Sports Award (2019). He was named the Most Valuable Skater at the first ISU Skating Awards (2020). In 2024, he was listed among ESPN's top 25 greatest Olympians of the 21st century (#10). He was also on the International Sports Press Association's list of most impactful male athletes of the last 100 years (#6).

Early Life and Training

Yuzuru Hanyu was born on December 7, 1994, in Sendai, Japan. His father, Hidetoshi Hanyu, was a junior high school teacher. His mother, Yumi Hanyu, used to make his early skating costumes. His father chose his name, Yuzuru, meaning "tie the bowstring." This name symbolizes confidence, strength, and straightness.

Hanyu started skating at age four at Ice Rink Sendai. His first coach, Mami Yamada, noticed his eagerness. She asked Shōichirō Tsuzuki to train him. Tsuzuki was known for strict practices. Hanyu said Tsuzuki helped him build strong basic skills. He especially focused on the Axel jump.

At age two, Hanyu was diagnosed with asthma. This condition affected his stamina, especially when he was younger. It improved over time. In 2012, his mother moved with him to Toronto, Canada. This allowed him to train with coaches Brian Orser and Tracy Wilson. He increased his on-ice training to 3–4 hours a day.

Competitive Skating Journey

Junior Success (2004–2010)

Hanyu first competed in the 2004–05 season. He won gold at the Japan Championships in the Novice B category. His home rink closed for a while due to money problems. He then trained at Katsuyama Skating Club.

In 2006, at age 11, Hanyu challenged Olympic silver medalist Stéphane Lambiel to a spin battle. He lost, but it taught him to improve his spins. In 2008–09, Hanyu moved to junior level. He made his international debut in Italy. He won gold at the Japan Junior Championships. He was the youngest male skater to win at 13.

In the 2009–10 season, Hanyu won the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final and World Junior Championships. He became the fourth and youngest Japanese man to win the junior world title. He also greatly improved his triple Axel jump.

First Olympic Cycle (2010–2014)

Senior Debut and First World Medal

Hanyu moved to senior level in the 2010–11 season at 15. He faced strong Japanese competitors. He made his international senior debut at the 2010 NHK Trophy. There, he landed his first successful quadruple jump in an ISU event. He won his first international senior medal at the 2011 Four Continents Championships, taking silver.

On March 11, 2011, the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami hit his hometown. His house was damaged, and he stayed in an evacuation center. His rink was also damaged. He trained in other cities and performed in 60 ice shows. These shows helped him practice and raise money for disaster relief.

In the 2011–12 season, Hanyu won his first gold medal at an international senior event, the Nebelhorn Trophy. He said his goals were to land all quad jumps and win Olympic medals. He won the Rostelecom Cup by a tiny margin. At his first World Championships, he won a bronze medal. He was the youngest Japanese world medalist.

First Olympic and World Titles

In the 2012–13 season, Hanyu won his first national senior title at the Japan Championships. He set two world records in the short program. He finished second at the Grand Prix Final.

For the 2014 Winter Olympics season, Hanyu used his "Parisienne Walkways" short program. He won his first major international senior title at the Grand Prix Final. He set a new world record in the short program with 99.84 points.

At the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Hanyu broke his world record again with 101.45 points. He won the gold medal, becoming the youngest male gold medalist since 1948. He was the first Asian skater to win Olympic gold in men's singles. He then won the World Championships in Japan. He was the first skater to win the Olympics, Worlds, and Grand Prix Final in the same season.

Second Olympic Cycle (2014–2018)

Injuries and More Grand Prix Wins

After the Sochi Olympics, jump expert Ghislain Briand joined Hanyu's coaching team. The 2014–15 season was tough for Hanyu due to injuries. He collided with another skater at the Cup of China. Despite injuries, he finished second. He then won his second consecutive Grand Prix Final. He also won his third national title. He had surgery for an abdominal issue and later sprained his ankle. He finished second at the 2015 World Championships.

Breaking World Records

In the 2015–16 season, Hanyu aimed to include two quad jumps in his short program. This strategy led to him breaking world records twice in two weeks. At the 2015 NHK Trophy, he set new highest scores in all three segments. He became the first skater to score over 200 points in the free skate and 300 points overall. At the Grand Prix Final, he broke his own records again. He became the first man to win the Grand Prix Final three times in a row. He won his fourth national title. However, a foot injury affected his performance at the 2016 World Championships, where he placed second.

Second World Title and Quad Loop

In the 2016–17 season, Hanyu became the first skater to land a quadruple loop jump in competition. This happened at the 2016 Autumn Classic. He won his fourth consecutive Grand Prix Final. He missed the Japan Championships due to the flu. At the 2017 Four Continents Championships, he won silver. At the World Championships, he moved from fifth to first place. He set a new world record in the free skate and won his second world title. He later said this free skate was his most perfectly executed performance.

Defending Olympic Gold

For the 2018 Olympic season, Hanyu used his "Ballade No. 1" and "Seimei" programs again. He set a new world record in the short program at the 2017 Autumn Classic. He also landed his first quadruple Lutz jump. In November, he injured his right ankle and had to withdraw from competitions.

At the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, he set a new Olympic record in the short program. He won his second Olympic gold medal. He was the first male skater in 66 years to defend his Olympic title. After the Olympics, Hanyu announced his goal to land a quadruple Axel. He withdrew from the World Championships to recover from his ankle injury.

Third Olympic Cycle (2018–2022)

New Judging System Records

In the 2018–19 season, Hanyu chose programs to honor his childhood idols, Johnny Weir and Evgeni Plushenko. He won the 2018 Autumn Classic. At the Grand Prix of Helsinki, he set new highest scores in all segments under the new judging system. He was also the first to land a quad toe loop-triple Axel jump sequence.

At the Rostelecom Cup, he re-injured his right ankle. Despite this, he competed and won. He later had to withdraw from the Grand Prix Final and Japan Championships. At the 2019 World Championships, he finished second. He used painkillers to compete due to his injury.

Achieving the Super Slam

In the 2019–20 season, Hanyu won gold at Skate Canada. He set new personal bests in the free skate and total score. He also won the NHK Trophy. At the Grand Prix Final, he landed five quadruple jumps in one program for the first time. He finished second.

At the Japanese championships, he won silver. At the Four Continents Championships in Seoul, he broke his short program world record. He called it "the most perfect performance I've ever done." He won gold, becoming the first and only male singles skater to achieve the Super Slam. The World Championships were canceled due to the pandemic. Hanyu won the Most Valuable Skater award at the ISU Skating Awards in 2020.

Training Alone and Final Competitive Season

In 2021, Hanyu trained alone in Sendai due to travel restrictions. He found this helped him learn to control himself. He did not return to Canada for training. He won his fifth national title at the Japanese championships.

At the 2021 World Championships, he placed third. He became the first male skater since 1946 to win seven World medals. He later confirmed he had an asthma attack during the free skate. He helped Team Japan win bronze at the 2021 World Team Trophy.

Hanyu competed in the 2021–22 Olympic season. He withdrew from Grand Prix events due to an ankle injury. He won his sixth national title at the Japan Championships. He attempted a quadruple Axel for the first time in competition.

At the 2022 Winter Olympics, he placed eighth in the short program due to a hole in the ice. In the free skate, he fell on his quad Axel attempt, but it was the first time it was not downgraded to a triple. He finished fourth overall. He later said he competed on painkillers due to a re-injured ankle. He withdrew from the 2022 World Championships.

Professional Skating Career

On July 19, 2022, Hanyu announced he was leaving competitive skating to become a professional. He said he had "achieved everything he could achieve." He wanted to keep pursuing his "ideal skating" and land the quadruple Axel as a professional. Many experts said his move marked "the end of an era."

Yuzuru Hanyu Ice Story Series

In 2022, Hanyu launched his first professional ice show, Prologue. It was the first solo ice show in figure skating. Each show lasted 90 minutes and featured eight programs. He performed at a high athletic level, including many quadruple jumps. Prologue was a start to the Yuzuru Hanyu Ice Story series. Hanyu produced and directed it with choreographer Mikiko.

The first main show was Gift. It was the first ice skating event at Tokyo Dome, a huge venue. It set a new audience record for ice shows with 35,000 spectators. The show on February 26, 2023, had 12 skating programs. They told a deep story about Hanyu's life. He performed with the dance group Elevenplay and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. The Olympics' news site called his programs "performances for the ages." In July 2023, Gift became the first ice show on Disney+ worldwide.

The Repray Tour was a sequel to Gift. It was the first solo ice show tour in figure skating. It had four stops across Japan from November 2023 to April 2024. Each show lasted 120 minutes with 12 programs. The story was gaming-themed, exploring virtual and real worlds. Hanyu's performances to video game soundtracks attracted many new fans.

The third show in the series, the Echoes of Life Tour, was held from December 2024 to February 2025.

Hanyu's Ice Story series created a new type of performing art. It combines live skating with deep stories and on-screen narration. The series has attracted over 100,000 spectators. All 14 solo shows sold out. Other skaters praised Hanyu's amazing athleticism and stamina.

Charity Shows and Support

In March 2023, the annual ice show Yuzuru Hanyu Notte Stellata began. It remembers the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. Hanyu is the chairperson. It features international skaters and guest artists from other fields.

On September 15, 2024, Hanyu led a charity performance called "Challenge" in Ishikawa Prefecture. The event raised over ¥53 million ($367,758). The money was donated for reconstruction after the 2024 Noto earthquake.

Skating Technique and Style

Layback Biellmann spin

Doughnut camel spin

One-handed hydroblading

Layback Ina Bauer

Side lunge (pistol pose)

Hanyu is known for his high-level technical skills and beautiful artistry. His skating is often called a "perfect combination of skills, strength and elegance." Four-time Olympic medalist Evgeni Plushenko said Hanyu was better than others because of his complete performance. This included spins, skating skills, and musical interpretation.

Hanyu can gain speed quickly and cover long distances with few strokes. At the 2021–22 Japan Championships, he performed a clean short program without using basic crossovers. This is very difficult to do.

He can do jumps from difficult entries. He often uses a backward counter turn, twizzle, or spread eagle before his triple Axel jump. His jumps are known for their impressive height and length. His triple Axel at the 2019 World Championships was the largest measured jump. He lands his jumps smoothly and keeps his speed. He has successfully landed four different types of quadruple jumps in competition.

Hanyu can perform the layback Biellmann and doughnut camel spin. These are usually seen in women's skating because they need great flexibility. Other signature moves include the layback Ina Bauer, hydroblading, and the side lunge. His technical elements are known for their high quality. He has received 29 maximum scores in international competitions.

His programs use many music styles. These include classical, pop rock, musicals, and traditional Japanese music. He has played historical Japanese figures like Abe no Seimei. Hanyu is involved in all parts of his programs. This includes choosing music, designing costumes, and choreography.

Public Life and Impact

Endorsements and Charity Work

Hanyu pictured with his endorsing brand Kosé at the 2019–20 Grand Prix Final

Hanyu has appeared in many commercials. He was an ambassador for P&G's "Proud Sponsor of Moms" campaign for the 2014 Sochi Olympics. He also had contracts with All Nippon Airways, Capcom, and Lotte. He has worked with brands like Ajinomoto, Bathclin, Nishikawa Sangyo, Phiten, Citizen, and Kosé. In 2021, he appeared in a TV commercial for Towa Pharmaceutical. In March 2024, he became a brand ambassador for Gucci.

Hanyu has been a model for the Miyagi Prefecture Police's traffic safety poster. He was chosen for his "sportsmanship." In June 2021, he became an ambassador for the Paralympics game The Pegasus Dream Tour. Since 2014, he has been a tourism ambassador for Sendai.

Since the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake, Hanyu has supported victims. He was directly affected by the disaster. He skated in ice shows to raise money. He also sold personal items for charity. He has lent his image to organizations supporting disaster areas.

Hanyu donated his 2014 and 2018 Olympic gold medal prize money to Sendai and Miyagi Prefecture. He also donated royalties from his autobiography to his home rink, Ice Rink Sendai. Over ¥107 million ($728,303) has been donated to the rink.

He was appointed Tsunami Disaster Prevention Ambassador in 2014. He also became a spokesman for the Japanese Red Cross Society. In 2019, he donated skates to an auction that raised ¥7.12 million ($64,000). He also helped create "Yuzuru Hanyu 3.11 Smile Stamp" with all profits going to disaster reconstruction. He organized the "Together, Forward" exhibition to remember the earthquake.

Hanyu's photo exhibitions have raised over ¥150 million for charity. This money supported earthquake victims and medical welfare. In 2023, ¥10 million from a fund was donated to help victims of the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake. In 2024, another ¥10 million went to Ishikawa Prefecture after the Noto Peninsula earthquake.

From 2014 to 2022, Hanyu participated in Nippon TV's charity program 24-Hour Television. He held ice shows and visited disaster areas. He designed "Chari-T-shirts" for charity. He also became a special messenger for NTV's "news every." program. He promotes awareness about natural disaster areas. Since 2011, Hanyu has donated over $3 million for reconstruction and humanitarian efforts.

Media Appearances and Books

TV Asahi advertisement pillars at Tokyo Station, picturing Hanyu in 2022

Hanyu was a judge on Japan's New Year's Eve music show Kōhaku Uta Gassen twice. He made his acting debut in the 2016 movie, The Magnificent Nine. In May 2023, he appeared on the talk show Tetsuko's Room. He was featured in the 2022 Winter Olympics documentary Beijing 2022. In March 2025, Hanyu collaborated with singer Kenshi Yonezu for a music video.

Hanyu released two video albums of his performances. Time of Awakening (2014) was the first album by an athlete to top Oricon's DVD chart. Time of Evolution (2019) was the first sports work to top Oricon's Blu-ray chart.

He released his autobiography series Blue Flames. The series has sold over 400,000 copies. He also released several photo books. Yuzuru (2014) topped Oricon's weekly charts for photos.

Hanyu has been on the cover of many magazines. These include World Figure Skating, Elle Japan, and GQ Japan.

Awards and Influence

Hanyu receiving the People's Honor Award from then Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe in 2018

Many experts believe Hanyu is the greatest skater in history. They praise his skills, long career, and ability to perform under pressure. His attempt at the quadruple Axel at the 2022 Olympics showed his dedication.

Hanyu helped lead the "quad revolution" in men's figure skating. He was one of the few skaters doing quadruple Salchows at the 2014 Olympics. He was the first to land a quadruple loop in competition in 2016. He is also the only skater to land a quadruple toe loop-triple Axel sequence. At the 2022 Winter Olympics, his quad Axel attempt was the closest to being fully landed.

Hanyu believes that artistry in skating comes from strong technique. He said that difficult jumps are a base for artistry. He thinks this balance is most important.

He received the People's Honor Award in 2018. He was the youngest person and first figure skater to get it. He also received the Medal of Honour twice. Two monuments showing his Olympic poses are in his hometown of Sendai. He was nominated for a Laureus World Sports Award in 2019. He won Most Valuable Skater at the first ISU Skating Awards in 2020. In 2022, he received the Kikuchi Kan Prize for his achievements.

In 2022, Hanyu was the sixth most-searched athlete on Google Search worldwide. He was on Forbes' 30 Under 30 Asia list in 2018. In 2024, ESPN listed him as the 10th greatest Olympic athlete of the 21st century. He was also ranked 6th on the International Sports Press Association's list of most impactful male athletes of the last century.

Personal Life and Education

Since 2010, Hanyu has carried a Winnie-the-Pooh tissue box to competitions. His fans started throwing Pooh bears onto the ice after his performances. Hanyu donates these bears to children in hospitals and charities.

Hanyu studied at Nanakita Elementary and Junior High School. He graduated from Tohoku High School in 2013. He then joined an e-school program at Waseda University. He studied Human Information Science from his training base in Canada.

His graduation thesis looked at how 3D motion capture technology could be used in figure skating. He hoped it could improve judging and help athletes. He graduated in September 2020.

On August 4, 2023, Hanyu announced his marriage. On November 17, 2023, he announced his divorce. He said harassment from the press caused the separation.

World Records and Achievements

Hanyu at the 2018 Grand Prix of Helsinki, where he reset the world record scores in all competition segments

Yuzuru Hanyu has broken world records 19 times. Seven times were under the current +5/-5 GOE System. Twelve times were under the older +3/-3 GOE System. He holds the historical world record in the short program, free skating, and total score.

• The table below lists Hanyu's world records in the +5/-5 GOE System.

Programs and Ice Shows

Hanyu performing his free skate program Seimei at the 2018 Winter Olympics

• Programs performed at the Winter Olympics are in bold and blue.

Shortlist of senior competition programs by season 

Season	Short program	Free skate program
2010–11	"White Legend"	Zigeunerweisen
2011–12	Étude in D-sharp minor	Romeo + Juliet
2012–13	"Parisienne Walkways"	Notre-Dame de Paris
2013–14	"Parisienne Walkways" (Background and making)	Romeo and Juliet (Background and making)
2014–15	Ballade No. 1 in G minor	The Phantom of the Opera
2015–16	Ballade No. 1 in G minor	Seimei
2016–17	"Let's Go Crazy"	Hope and Legacy
2017–18	Ballade No. 1 in G minor (Background and making)	Seimei (Background and making)
2018–19	"Otoñal"	Origin
2019–20	"Otoñal"	Origin
	Ballade No. 1 in G minor	Seimei
2020–21	"Let Me Entertain You"	Heaven and Earth (天と地と)
2021–22	Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso (Background and making)	Heaven and Earth (天と地と) (Background and making)

Competitive Highlights

• GP – Event of the ISU Grand Prix Series
• CS – Event of the ISU Challenger Series
• C – Cancelled event, WD – Withdrawal
• Medals at team events are awarded for the team result only. The individual placement at the ISU World Team Trophy is listed in parentheses.

• JGP – Event of the ISU Junior Grand Prix Series

Hanyu with Song Nan (left) and Artur Gachinski (right) at the 2010 World Junior Championships podium

See also

In Spanish: Yuzuru Hanyū para niños

• List of Olympic medalists in figure skating
• List of highest historical scores in figure skating
• Grand Slam (figure skating)