Hanyu Yuzuru and other top figure skaters from Japan and abroad delivered a message of hope in an ice show in Miyagi Prefecture.

This is the fourth time for Hanyu to hold the “notte stellata” ice show commemorating the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.

The special guest this time was the Tohoku Youth Orchestra, made up of students from Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures ranging in ages from elementary school to university.

Music used for the performances included the theme song for Japanese historical drama "Yae’s Sakura" which was composed by musician Sakamoto Ryuichi with the disaster in mind.

Outside the venue, there were food stalls selling local specialties and a booth for a pop-up morning market from Ishikawa Prefecture that suffered the Noto Peninsula earthquake in January 2024.

Hanyu Yuzuru / Figure skater
I skated with the hope that I could provide, even if only in the slightest way, a spark of happiness or energy or a reason to look forward and, for those working toward recovery and reconstruction, a gentle push from behind. Ready, set, thank you very much!

"Notte stellata" was held for three consecutive days through March 9.

Hanyu survived the Great East Japan Earthquake 15 years ago when he was in Sendai, the prefectural capital of Miyagi.