First of all, congratulations on your hard work this season. This was your last competition of the season, how do you feel right now?
I have just finished my free program so I cannot really think about details. I am very disappointed with both my short and free programs (at this competition), and those are my honest feelings.
Talking a little bit about this season, you decided to go by Takeru Amine Kataise internationally, why did you decide to make the change?
It has no big meaning really, but my birth name is Takeru Amine Kataise so I wanted to show my identity.
Amine is a really beautiful name. May I ask about it?
“Amine” is an Arabic name and my father chose this name for me
You won two medals on the Junior Grand Prix Circuit this season, and even qualified for the Junior Grand Prix Final in Torino. Next season, you will compete on the senior Circuit. How do you think this experience will help you prepare for the senior transition?
I had very good and very bad experiences this season. Next season I will be senior, and I think it will be a tough season for me. First, I want to jump quadruple toes and level up everything in my skating, and I just have to practice every day too.
Your skating has attracted many new fans from all over the world, what do you think muskes your skating unique?
I do not think my skating is that unique, but I think that the strongest point of my skating is my soft and beautiful movements. I want to be beautiful on the ice
Now about your programs this season (SP: Yoshitsune Main Thema of NHK Taiga Drama by Taro Iwashiro and FS: Introduction et Rondo Capriccioso en la mineur by Camille Saint-Saens), what is your favorite part about them?
I like both programs very much as my coach chose them for me. The short program tells the story of a young Japanese samurai, it was a very new thing for me. This short program is pretty and I like it.
Is there a genre of music you would like to skate to in the future?
I never choose the music of my programs by myself, so I do not really know. But I want to try many genres of music next season and in the future seasons too.
About jumps, do you have a favorite one?
Basically, I’m not that good at jumps (laughs). I think it is my triple axel as it has both distance and height, it is my strongest jumping point.
Thank you for taking the time to answer all of these questions so far. We have selected a few questions that fans have submitted, if you do not mind. People would like to throw presents for you on the ice, but they are not sure what you like. Do you perhaps have a mascot or favorite character?
(pointing at the Snoopy soft toys he just received from fans). I like Snoopy!
You are currently majoring in law at university, how do you manage to balance everything between university and skating?
I separate studying and skating. When I am skating, I do not think about studying. And when I am studying, I do not think about skating. This is how I keep the balance and it is very important for me
Who are your skating idols?
I like Jason Brown’s skating very much. And for Women’s, it is Mao Asada, I like her very much too.
What are your goals for next season?
I want to try to jump quadruple salchow next season.
And lastly, many people around the world are rooting for you, is there anything you would like to say to them?
I was not that I had fans abroad, so I am very surprised. But I’m very happy about that. I will do my best, please keep cheering me on from now on!
