Kenshi Yonezu's "BOW AND ARROW" Music Video — A Commentary on Yuzuru Hanyu's Skating for the TV Anime Medalist Opening Theme

Second Half Bonus
In figure skating, jumps performed in the second half of the program (after 1:25) earn a 10% base value bonus.
By placing his highest-scoring combination jump in the second half, Hanyu maximizes scoring potential—BOW AND ARROW is built to deliver extraordinary points.

"Fly!"
Hanyu launches into the 4S+3T combination at the cue “Fly!” in the lyrics.

This moment may bring back memories for longtime fans of the 2014 Cup of China, where Hanyu suffered a severe collision during the six-minute warm-up. Despite heavy bleeding and head trauma, he returned to the ice—his head wrapped in bandages—and skated his free program. Before stepping onto the rink, he shouted to himself:
“Fly!”
That same word echoes here.

CCoSp (Change-Foot Combination Spin) & Biellmann Spin
In this spin, Hanyu transitions between various positions and changes his skating leg mid-spin. He finishes with the rare and demanding Biellmann position—grabbing the blade of his skate and pulling his leg behind his head while spinning.

The Biellmann requires extreme back and hip flexibility. Like the layback Ina Bauer, it’s a move that male skaters often leave behind as they age.

Hanyu stopped performing it for a time, but after turning professional in 2022, he began incorporating it again—starting at age 27. It's a rarity for a male skater to bring back such a move after shelving it, especially after turning pro.

Yet Hanyu made it happen.

Balancing the explosive power needed for quad jumps and the flexibility required for the Biellmann is no small feat. Achieving both is the result of relentless training, unshakable belief, and deep pride in his identity as a skater.

This is the Biellmann Spin of Yuzuru Hanyu at age 30—a symbol of everything he has built and become.

A Program Crafted with Care and Vision
Hanyu stated, “I packed a lot of intention into this program.”
At the lyric “Have I become the adult I once dreamed of?” he looks skyward. At “Pulled it strong”, he draws a bow with his arms—each moment filled with deliberate storytelling.

Short Program “BOW AND ARROW”
At the beginning, Hanyu exhales visible breath into the cold air, waiting for the music to start. Beneath him, the ice is already marked with countless traces—evidence of repeated practice.

The area where he launches his quad lutz is worn white, the ice visibly shaved down. It shows he has taken off and landed this jump again and again in the same spot.

Throughout the video, we see these traces. In just a few hours of filming, alone on the rink, Hanyu left behind all that evidence—a testament to how much he poured into this routine.

And yet, on this day, he is not sweating.
In practice and shows, Hanyu usually sweats heavily. Here, even his breath turns to mist. The cold is biting. The arena is dim, lit only by shifting spotlights.

It was a harsh environment for executing high-difficulty jumps and an intense program.

Still, Hanyu gave everything.
He performed at a level that could be preserved for eternity. This is the Yuzuru Hanyu the world has watched win glory. This is the skater who jumped again and again—leaving behind every trace—until he created this miraculous masterpiece: the short program “BOW AND ARROW.”

The Skating Scene in the MV

As the music begins, Hanyu exhales in the cold air, standing still amid a rink marked with countless skate traces — signs of tireless repetition. The ice is visibly carved where he practiced the quad lutz.

Despite the grueling routine, in freezing conditions and under shifting lights, Hanyu doesn't appear sweaty. It’s a testament to his professionalism and preparation.

This video wasn’t just a performance — it was a legacy, created and delivered with absolute intensity and grace. BOW AND ARROW is, quite possibly, Hanyu’s greatest masterpiece to date.

(Written by Hitomi Hasegawa)

Anime Medalist OP BOW AND ARROW

Source : ORICON NEWS