# Prologue (ice show)

Prologue (プロローグ) was a solo ice show by Japanese figure skater and two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu in 2022, organized by TV Asahi, CIC Co., Ltd., and Team Sirius. The show was held in two cities at Pia Arena MM in Yokohama on November 4–5 and Flat Hachinohe in Hachinohe on December 2–3, and 5.
It was the first solo ice show in the sport of figure skating and the prologue to the Yuzuru Hanyu Ice Story series, produced and directed by Hanyu. Each show had a duration of 90 minutes and featured 8–10 programs performed at the athletic level of skating competitions, opening with a six-minute warm-up session and a challenge of Hanyu's free skate program Seimei from the 2018 Winter Olympics.
The show was sold out with 24,800 spectators at the two venues in total. The final day of the show in each city was screened live at cinemas in Japan and aired live on the subscription channel CS TV Asahi. A DVD and Blu-ray of the show was released on July 19, 2024. The broadcast of the Hachinohe show was awarded the Grand Prize in the category "best relay broadcast" at the 13th JSBA Original Programs Awards [ja] in 2023. The event was sponsored by Kosé, Ajinomoto, and Nishikawa, with the Yokohama shows receiving special sponsorship by Tōwa Pharmaceutical.

## Background

Prologue is the first solo ice show to be produced in figure skating, with Hanyu as the only scheduled skater, which is an unusual approach compared to established show formats. The first major era of ice shows, headlined by Ice Follies and Ice Capades from the 1930s to 1980s, typically featured large skating ensembles inspired by ballet and theater. Since the late 1980s, ice shows experienced a shift towards smaller casts with elite international skaters, including multiple Olympic and world champions. However, a solo ice show of 90 minutes was considered impractical due to the physical limits of skating and performing for a longer period.$^{:2}$ Hanyu's preparations included a significant improvement of his stamina, five practice run-throughs of the full show, and a new approach to commitment and pacing, stating: "I'm used to emptying the tank for one skate. I've never thought about heading back out immediately after. But I managed to add the strength and stamina I needed to get through it all." Three-time world champion Patrick Chan from Canada expressed his respect for Hanyu's accomplishment: "Just one person, without any group dancing in the middle? How is that possible? I think, Yuzu is the only person in the world who can do that. It's unbelievable stamina."$^{:1–2}$

## Global concept and structure

The show was produced and directed by Hanyu.$^{:2}$ Tsugaru-shamisen player Kōki Nakamura co-starred as a guest artist and performed live with Hanyu to the song "Change [ja]" from Monkey Majik and the Yoshida Brothers.$^{:3}$ The title Prologue was selected by Hanyu, marking the beginning of his professional career.
According to Hanyu, the priority at Prologue was to adapt to the new show format and get through the planned content without injuries or overstrain. He performed eight to ten programs on one day, some of them being trimmed in length and technical content to match his physical capacity.$^{:2}$ His free skate program Romeo + Juliet was arranged as a split performance, with the first half being screened as a recording from the 2011–12 Grand Prix Final and the second half skated live in the arena.$^{:2}$ Another challenge was the limited number of breaks for recovery. He bridged the time between his programs with a "talk corner", answering selected questions from fans, and a live voting round, with the audience choosing a program for Hanyu to skate on each day. In addition, a series of video segments were shown on screen, featuring scenes of Hanyu's childhood and competitive career.
Unlike most ice shows where skaters perform in a dimly lit arena, Hanyu opened Prologue at full lighting with an unconventional six-minute warm-up session and a four-minute version of his Olympic free skate program Seimei, reproducing the setting and atmosphere of a competition. Despite the physical strain of a 90-minute solo show, the program featured two quadruple jumps and three triple Axels, a technical merit that exceeded the difficulty of a common exhibition performance.$^{:2}$ The show setting allowed Hanyu to circumvent the repetition rules of figure skating competitions and include more than two triple Axel jumps in his program.$^{:2}$$^{:2}$ Also notable was the implementation of projection mapping in two programs, directed by Japanese choreographer Mikiko, who had previously worked with the Japanese pop trio Perfume among others. The skating was filmed from a distant, aerial perspective, being captured together with the projected text elements and images. Hanyu used this technology in his performances to "Haru yo, koi [ja]" and his new, self-choreographed program to "Itsuka owaru yume" (lit. 'A dream that ends one day') from the soundtrack of the video game Final Fantasy X.$^{:5}$ The choreography was motivated by Hanyu's practice cool-down routines, which enjoy great popularity among fans.$^{:4}$

## Critical reception

The show received universal praise among Japanese media, who pointed out Hanyu's ability to skate full shows at high quality and technical difficulty, making no major mistakes on multiple days,$^{:5}$ which earned him standing ovations from the audience. Writer Takaomi Matsubara from the magazine Sports Graphic Number named Prologue a new milestone in professional skating. In June 2023, the broadcast of the Hachinohe show was awarded the Grand Prize in the category "relay broadcast" at the 13th JSBA Original Programs Awards [ja].

## Attendance and accessibility

The show was sold out on all five days, with prices ranging from 15,000 to 25,000 yen ($107–178 as of 2022) and tickets being distributed by lottery sale. The Pia Arena MM in Yokohama accommodated 7,900 viewers, the Flat Hachinohe 3,000. Due to the small venue capacity and high ticket demand for the Hachinohe shows, an additional third show on December 5 was added to the initial schedule. The final days of the two stops were screened live in movie theaters nationwide, with 81 participating cinemas for the Hachinohe show. In addition, they were aired live on CS TV Asahi, leading to a significant increase in subscribers on the Japanese television channel.
A full recording of the final show in Yokohama as well as behind-the-scenes footage and a digital photo book was released on DVD and Blu-ray on the second anniversary of Hanyu's professional career on July 19, 2024. It sold more than 11,000 copies in the first week ranking second on Oricon's Blu-ray weekly chart and fourth on the DVD weekly chart. The event was organized by Hanyu's management company Team Sirius in partnership with TV Asahi and CIC Co., Ltd. It was sponsored by Kosé, Ajinomoto, and Nishikawa Co., Ltd. The shows in Yokohama received special sponsorship from Tōwa Pharmaceutical.

## Set list

Main show
* Seimei (from Onmyōji I and II by Shigeru Umebayashi)
* "Change [ja]" (by Monkey Majik and the Yoshida Brothers)
* Fans' program choice 1: Live arena voting
* Fans' program choice 2: YouTube voting
* Romeo + Juliet (by Craig Armstrong)
* "A Fleeting Dream" (from Final Fantasy X by Nobuo Uematsu and Masashi Hamauzu)
* "Haru yo, koi [ja]" (by Yumi Matsutoya, piano version by Shinya Kiyozuka [ja])
Encore
* "Parisienne Walkways" (by Gary Moore; step sequence)
* From Russia with Love (by John Barry; Hachinohe, day 3)
Live arena voting
* "Let's Go Crazy" (by Prince; Yokohama, day 1 & 2)
* "Hana ni nare" (by Fumiya Sashida; Yokohama, day 2)
* "Otoñal" (by Raúl di Blasio; Hachinohe, day 1 & 3)
* Étude in D-sharp minor (by Alexander Scriabin; Hachinohe, day 2 & 3)
YouTube voting
* Spartacus (by Aram Kachaturian; Yokohama, day 1)
* "Hello, I Love You" (by The Doors, remix by Adam Freeland; Yokohama, day 2)
* Mission: Impossible II (by Hans Zimmer; Hachinohe, day 1)
* "Somebody to Love" (by Justin Bieber; Hachinohe, day 2)
* "Sing, Sing, Sing" (by Louis Prima; Hachinohe, day 3)

## Notes and References
### Official guide and documentary books

* Prologue official (November 1, 2022a). 「プロローグ」オフィシャルガイドブック [Prologue – official guidebook] (in Japanese). Shibuya, Tokyo: Axel Entermedia Co., Ltd. ID 3410. 64 p.
* Prologue official (December 2, 2022b). 「プロローグ」愛蔵版ブック [Prologue – collector's edition book] (in Japanese). Shibuya, Tokyo: Axel Entermedia Co., Ltd. ID 3475.

### Citations

* ↑ "Figure skating hero Hanyu Yuzuru to start gaming-inspired 'RE_PRAY' solo ice tour in Saitama". International Olympic Committee. Lausanne. September 4, 2023. Archived from the original on September 4, 2023.
* 1 2 Tanaka, Yukifumi (December 6, 2022). 羽生結弦さん、アイスショー「プロローグ」終幕...新章「GIFT」はスケーター史上初の東京ドーム単独公演 [Yuzuru Hanyu's ice show "Prologue" comes to an end ... New chapter "GIFT" is the first solo performance at Tokyo Dome in the skater's history]. International Olympic Committee (in Japanese). Lausanne. Archived from the original on December 16, 2022.
* 1 2 3 4 Matsubara, Takaomi (January 12, 2023). "Going Pro: Hanyū Yuzuru Reinvents What It Means to Be a Figure Skater". Nippon Communications Foundation. Minato, Tokyo. Archived from the original on January 12, 2023.
* ↑ Hamilton, Scott. "Figure skating – Ice shows". Encyclopædia Britannica. Chicago, Illinois. Archived from the original on December 19, 2022.
* 1 2 3 4 5 Matsubara, Takaomi (April 19, 2018). 「1番、羽生結弦さん」"企画もプロデュースも出演も" 羽生結弦...記者が驚いたプロ初のアイスショーの中身「まさか90分を1人で...」 [No. 1, Yuzuru Hanyu: "I planned, produced, and performed." Yuzuru Hanyu ... reporters were amazed at the contents of his first professional ice show, "I didn't expect 90 minutes by himself ..."]. Number (in Japanese). Chiyoda, Tokyo: Bungeishunjū. pp. 1–3. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022.
* 1 2 3 羽生結弦さん、語るプロローグ編(2)「フィギュアスケートの限界を超えていけるように」 [Yuzuru Hanyu, Prologue interview (2) "I hope, I can push the limits of figure skating"]. Sports Nippon (in Japanese). Chiyoda, Tokyo. November 4, 2022. Archived from the original on November 10, 2022.
* 1 2 3 4 5 Matsubara, Takaomi (December 6, 2022). 羽生結弦は涙を浮かべていた...アイスショー八戸公演で見せた"魂とクオリティの90分間"に、記者は再び驚いた「28歳はプロだけの自分になる」 [Yuzuru Hanyu had tears in his eyes ... The reporter was once again surprised by the "90 minutes of soul and quality" shown at the ice show performance in Hachinohe, "At 28-year-old, I will have become a pure professional"]. Number (in Japanese). Chiyoda, Tokyo: Bungeishunjū. pp. 1–3. Archived from the original on December 6, 2022.
* ↑ Kano, Shintaro (November 4, 2022). "Hanyu Yuzuru opens the 'Prologue' - a new chapter to an illustrious career". International Olympic Committee. Lausanne. Archived from the original on November 12, 2022.
* ↑ 羽生結弦の"ライバル"たちの今 パトリック・チャンは不動産エージェントに [Yuzuru Hanyu's rivals today: Patrick Chan becomes a real estate agent]. AERA (in Japanese). Kita-ku, Osaka: Asahi Shimbun. March 7, 2023. pp. 1–3. Archived from the original on March 7, 2023.
* 1 2 3 Sakagami, Takeshi (November 18, 2022). 羽生結弦の単独アイスショー「プロローグ」「リアルタイムで羽生結弦というドキュメントを見ていただきたい」 [Yuzuru Hanyu's solo ice show "Prologue": "I would like you to see the document of Yuzuru Hanyu in real time"]. AERA (in Japanese). Kita-ku, Osaka: Asahi Shimbun. pp. 1–3. Archived from the original on November 18, 2022.
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Oriyama, Toshimi (November 6, 2022). 羽生結弦「僕の人生史上でも初めてのこと」に直面。アイスショーで模索する新たな自分 [Yuzuru Hanyu faces "a first in the story of my life". The new self he is searching for at the ice show]. Sportiva (in Japanese). Chiyoda, Tokyo: Shueisha. pp. 1–5. Archived from the original on November 12, 2022.
* 1 2 3 羽生結弦さん、語る プロローグ千秋楽(1)「スケーター冥利に尽きる」 [Yuzuru Hanyu talking about Prologue conclusion (1) "It's a skater's dream"]. Sports Nippon (in Japanese). Chiyoda, Tokyo. December 5, 2022. Archived from the original on December 5, 2022.
* 1 2 3 羽生結弦さん、語るプロローグ編(1)夢への一歩、経験を「共有しながら次のステップに」 [Yuzuru Hanyu, Prologue interview (1) One step towards his dream, "Sharing experiences, taking the next step"]. Sports Nippon (in Japanese). Chiyoda, Tokyo. November 4, 2022. Archived from the original on November 4, 2022.
* 1 2 3 4 "2-time Olympic champ Yuzuru Hanyu premieres own new ice show". Kyodo News. Minato, Tokyo. November 4, 2022. Archived from the original on November 4, 2022.
* 1 2 Tanaka, Mitsuru (October 19, 2023). 単独公演ツアー初開催へ プロ２年目、羽生結弦の進化 [First solo show tour – Yuzuru Hanyu's evolution in his second year as a professional]. Wedge (in Japanese). Chiyoda, Tokyo. pp. 1–4. Archived from the original on October 19, 2023.
* 1 2 "2-time Olympic champ Hanyu stages first solo ice show after turning professional". NHK World News. Shibuya, Tokyo. November 4, 2022. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022.
* 1 2 Shinozuka, Hiroshi (November 29, 2022). 篠塚浩社長 社長会見(11月29日)要旨 [President Hiroshi Shinozuka's Press Conference (November 29)]. TV Asahi (in Japanese). Minato, Tokyo. Archived from the original on December 2, 2022.
* ↑ "Yuzuru Hanyu Ice Show "Prologue in Hachinohe" Best Program Award". Japan Satellite Broadcasting Association (in Japanese). Minato, Tokyo. June 2023. Archived from the original on June 18, 2023.
* 1 2 3 Kano, Shintaro (November 2, 2022). "How to watch Hanyu Yuzuru at 'Prologue' in Yokohama". International Olympic Committee. Lausanne. Archived from the original on November 3, 2022.
* 1 2 Kano, Shintaro (December 1, 2022). "How to watch Hanyu Yuzuru at 'Prologue' in Hachinohe". International Olympic Committee. Lausanne. Archived from the original on December 1, 2022.
* 1 2 3 4 "Prologue Official". 'Prologue' executive committee (in Japanese). Tokyo. 2022. Archived from the original on December 5, 2022.
* ↑ 羽生結弦さん、来年2月に東京ドーム公演 「プロローグ」八戸公演で表明 [Yuzuru Hanyu announced at "Prologue" in Hachinohe next show at Tokyo Dome in February]. Kahoku Shimpō (in Japanese). Sendai. December 5, 2022. Archived from the original on December 6, 2022.
* ↑ Kano, Shintaro (September 30, 2022). "Hanyu Yuzuru announces 1st professional ice show – makes debut on Instagram and Twitter". International Olympic Committee. Lausanne. Archived from the original on September 30, 2022.
* ↑ 羽生結弦さん「GIFT」と「プロローグ」がDVDとBlu-rayに [Hanyu's "Gift" and "Prologue" on DVD and Blu-ray]. Sports Hochi (in Japanese). Minato, Tokyo. April 19, 2024. Archived from the original on April 19, 2024.
* ↑ Cumulative sales for Prologue DVD and Blue-ray: 週間 DVDランキング 2024年07月29日付 [Weekly DVD ranking July 29, 2024]. Oricon (in Japanese). Minato, Tokyo. July 29, 2024. Archived from the original on July 25, 2024. 週間 Blu-rayランキング 2024年07月29日付 [Weekly Blu-ray ranking July 29, 2024]. Oricon (in Japanese). Minato, Tokyo. July 29, 2024. Archived from the original on July 25, 2024.
* ↑ Hamada, Rio (January 21, 2023). 「羽生結弦さん公式」なりすましアカウントに認証バッジ – 羽生さん事務所「公式ではない」 [Authentication badge on "Yuzuru Hanyu Official" impersonation account – Hanyu's office: "It's not official"]. HuffPost (in Japanese). Shibuya, Tokyo: BuzzFeed Japan. Archived from the original on June 15, 2024.
* 1 2 3 4 羽生結弦さん、初の単独アイスショー「プロローグ」へ込めた思い「みなさんと共有しながら、次のステップにつながるように」 [Yuzuru Hanyu's thoughts on his first solo ice show Prologue: "Sharing with everyone so that we can lead to the next step"]. Sports Hochi (in Japanese). Minato, Tokyo. November 4, 2022. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022.
* 1 2 Prologue official 2022b.