Ok, well you guys already started discussing one of the articles I'm going to post, but I figure 44 pages is enough, and it's time to start a news thread for the OLYMPIC SEASON!!

1) Here's a full translation of that article about Mao and the two triple axels:

http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/psp-tp0-20091005-551817.html

Mao will keep her triple axels x 2

Figure skater Mao Asada (19=Chuukyou University) vowed to maintain the two triple-axels in her free program. At the first competition of the season, the Japan Open on the 3rd, she failed on both triple axels at the beginning of her program. Even so, "the only thing I won't give up is the 2 triple axels. I even told that to Tatiana (Tarasova)-sensei," she said, revealing that she had strongly demanded this earlier.

Up to now, she has been completely following Coach Tarasova's opinions, but despite her coach's view that she should lower the difficulty of her program, she insisted. Her free program music, "Bells of Moscow" is quiet from start to finish, and Asada said, "The beginning is not difficult, per se, but I felt vaguely dissatisfied. But if I can do the jumps perfectly, then it will be a good program."

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Another related comment:

http://mainichi.jp/enta/sports/news/20091004spn00m050012000c.html

Mao said, "It was the first competition, so the thought, 'I wonder how this will go,' was very strong. I was not able to do everything I practiced.'
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This is why I'm not very worried about the jumps...I think Mao just psyched herself out because she knows she always does badly at the first competition of the season.

However, I *WAS* disappointed that she kept the same jump layout as last year. I really would prefer to have her do the 3F-3Lo and 3Lz instead of 3F-2Lo and 3S. But perhaps Mao 'dumbed-down' her layout for JO. We'll have to see.

If Mao wants to keep the two 3A's, if she believes she can do it, then I definitely think she should!!

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2) This is interesting, because it's about the Korean fans' reaction to Mao's program.

http://news.searchina.ne.jp/disp.cgi?y=2009&d=1005f=national_1005_002.shtml

[Korea Blog] Figure skating's Japan Open 2009 is an "Entertainment Failure"

On the 3rd, at Figure skating's "Japan Open 2009" held in the Saitama Super Arena, Mao Asada gave her first performance of her free program for the season. Team Japan's mistakes stood out, and they missed their fourth consecutive win.

In Korea, where interest in figure skating has increased dramatically thanks to Yu-Na Kim's efforts, the results of the Japan Open were widely reported. On the 4th, on the website daum, the keywords "Mao Asada mistakes" surged in popularity and attracted attention, and several net users raised the topic on their blogs.

Blogger maddux26 reviewed Laura Lepisto, Joannie Rochette, Mao Asada and Yukari Nakano in order, and among them, about Mao Asada, he/she wrote, "It's the worst costume which does not have one bit of the elegance/grace that Mao Asada naturally has. The music is also completely
heavy, and it seems like it doesn't match Mao at all. The step sequence did not seem to match the music, and compared to the song, the movement of her body seemed light, as a result only the music stood out." He/she continued, "Before the Olympics, she should change her free program," and also severely criticized Yukari Nakano's costume.

Another blogger, Kimai, expressed doubts about the music choice and said "I feel that her upper body movement and overall performance improved from last year. But because the music is too heavy or somehow, it feels like she is weighed down…Light music matches Mao Asada better.." She added, "No matter how I look at it, Mao Asada and Coach Tarasova don't seem to match."

Furthermore, blogger CraZy said, "It seemed like the announcers were disappointed by Mao Asada's poor condition. In the end, from Japan's point of view, this was a competition that was a complete 'entertainment failure.' They wanted to raise the morale of their team of skaters, but they were completely defeated by 30 points by the Europe and American teams.”

In addition to this, several bloggers touched upon Mao Asada's jump mistakes, costume, choreography, and song choice, giving an altogether harsh critique, "The choreography does not show Mao's flexibility"; "The song is too heavy, it's endlessly the same rhythm."

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Well, it is a very strange day when I agree with the Korean fans!

I do not agree that Mao/TAT do not match, but oh how I wish they picked something like "Fantasy for Violin & Orchestra" or "Por Una Cabeza," which I absolutely adored. Those songs were not light, fluffy, pretty Chopin (I agree with polosatik that perhaps she's outgrown those)--but they were beautiful, elegant, lyrical, and I think they showcased Mao's talents and maturity.

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3) Here's a quote from the Grand Prix press conference that the Japan team members attended on the 4th.

http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/f-sp-tp0-20091004-551679.html

According to this article, Mao said "Yoyogi is a stadium where I can hear lots of cheering voices, so it's a good rink. I wonder if it matches me. But, first, I will do my best for the France Trophy [Trophee Eric Bompard]."

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Mao-chan, ganbare!

Thanks for the translations Batsuchan

My thought about the music choice:
Yes, it does not match with mao's natural style. But this dark,heavy music is almost the opposite side of the familiar mao style. I assume that we all agree that mao can do very well in various styles, but mao still can not control this heavy,dark,powerful style very well. So, this may be a chance for her. If she could survive in this, she will be superb. If she can't......well, I hope there is no if not. Finger crossed and pray for mao.
I am also in those people who are disappointed with mao's insistence with two triple axel. However,since it's mao's decision, what I can do is praying for her.

Well, it seems Mao-chan can be very stubborn.

I believe Mao can do what she wants to do including 2 3As but I hope she won't think too much about it that it affects her performance too much. If she misses her first jumps (which normally includes 3A) she becomes too cautious. I want to see the old Mao of 2008 WC where even if she fell on her trademark 3A she came back with a vengeance and delivered an amazing freeskate.

Hahaha oh Mao, she is quite determined!

We all know that Mao can do 2 3As (as seen numerous times in practice) and that she is definitely capable of doing it in competition, but I'm just worried about the consistency of her 2 3As. It seems like even if she does not complete 1 of them, her score takes a great hit. If she attempts 2 3As and a 3-3 then it'll be okay even she she doesn't do one, but that would be a really tiring program... For the Olympics, she really needs consistent jumps, not in practice, but in competiton . Yes, we shouldn't worry because it's the beginning of the season and there's still the Grand Prix series, but what if she does her dream program clean only at select competitions- if this happens, I hope that she considers being more flexible. I hope that Mao can do something she is able to succeed in over and over in competitions-then she will definitely win the OGM.

Another thing is that Bells is a program that you have to watch over and over again to appreciate because there are so many intricate details. Everytime I watch it, I notice something else, something more beautiful. But this worries me too, because judges at each individual event probably only see it once, so they will likely only notice the slow and depressing music- although I like it, it's not a "crowd pleaser" type of music. People who are not fans of Mao will probably only watch it once too lol, so they only notice what's on the surface- but I actually do like it, it grows on me.

In my sight,
I agree with sapphiresky that when I first saw this FS, I think that it's not extremely
beautiful like some bloggers said. Spin with hands over in the back is something I saw
in Oda's and Yuna's program at World last year, and she did it not straight enough.
the shape of spin suits for "Bell", but not more beautiful than other skaters.

About spiral sequences, I think it's OK to be the same as last year because most of
skaters have their pros and cons in each type of spiral. Mao can do well with fan spiral
so she should put it in. Bielman is also. Only what we want is Arabesque not Kerrigan
but Mao cannot do right now.

Problems is Jumps.

I don't blame Step Sequences because it is quite good but not good enough in JO
because she lacked power in the end but I think it will be better soon.

I watched it again and again and....
It seems not that bad as I saw at a very first sight.
Why I'm so impressed after watching it 2-3 times. Perhaps, JO's monitor angle is
not what we usually appreciate too. For example, 3F-2L-2L< though it is downgraded
it will be better to see in the front not the back.

Last thing, I really want Mao to raise hands up when cymbals sounds. I don't want
her do it after cymbal sound.

Oh, last night I watched Asahi and there was Mao's interview.
Mao said that in this year, she will use FS program outline the same as last year to make it
more consistent. 3A+2T>3A>3F+2Lo+2Lo>Sp>SpSq>3S>3F+2Lo>3T>2A>Sp>SlSt>Sp
I'm not sure how long they will prolong this outline but hope that after she can make
it consistently, she will change 3A+2T to 3A+3T and 3F+2Lo to 3F+3Lo.
They also talked about expression too. Mao said that in FS "Bells", she hit her face
2 times (Pachi pachi) and opened mouth (say OH!!) by imitating Tarasova. It's
a style to make power. (though somebody said it's so Masochist.)

Quite disappointed that there is no Lutz, this season as Tarasova once said to TV that she
will put it in FS. (And I think Yuna don't have Flip or Loop also to play safe. I'm not sure
how people feels if their queen has no Lutz or Flip or Loop so if Yuna can do clean Flip and
Loop as well, she also deserves gold medal.)

In this news, they talked about SP Masquerade a little and it seems that it is not
a new program but Tarasova-cut Edition of last year's FS.

I'm quite disappointed><
At least, I hope a new program from Masquerade......
And, one thing I really don't understand is if she doesn't plan to have a 33 combination in LP, why not use a single triple loop to replace the 3Toe or 3 Salcow. A 3loop has higher base value than 3 toe and 3 salcow. And mao's 3 loop is more consistent than her 3 toe and 3 salcow......

ohh...I guess we'll just have to wait and see...

I heard that SP is flute version. But from TV's interview, it seems that they will not
change choreography so much so jump outline seems to be the same. I hope they
will change transition and step sequence a little to make it brighter with Mao's smile.
But we don't know until we see the real one. Joannie and Miki also in good form this
season.

Whatever Mao may or may not jump in her LP is a second grade question.
The most important is her short program! The territory of Yuna Kim, where Mao needs to engage her, otherwise everything else may turn out to be futile.
Mao needs a great, secure SP so that:
1) to have a not-so-big points gap to cover in her free skate;
2) to give judges (easily biased and seems like very weak and fragile organisms overall ) an impression that she actually can compete with Yuna;
3) the pressure before the free skate to be distributed equally between the two. If Yuna knows that she can make two mistakes in her free skate and still to win, she won't make even one. If Mao goes on the ice knowing that she has to skate perfectly, and still she won't have many chances to win unless Yuna totally messes up her program (with Yuna skating freely with all her pressure gone - bear this in mind) - neither two triple axels, nor 3Lz, not even two 3-3's wouldn't save her. Because at that point she'd have already lost. Isn't it obvious?
The jumping layout of the *short program* (not long), the program itself are the key to everything.