The interview was taken before the coaching change (she and Smirnov went back to Moskvina recently)
http://www.vseved.pisem.net/2006/kavaguchi.htmThe Eastern Wind
Russian figure skating is a special sport. Our masters are well taught and have such a reputation that they are regularly added to other countries' National teams. Moscovite Maxim Staviski won the World title in ice dance this year representing Bulgaria. Marina Anisina, daughter of famous Soviet hockey player, became the Olympic champion in SLC, under the French flag. Former World champion in pairs Alexei Tikhonov successfully represented Japan for several years. There were never any movement in the opposite direction, with the exception of "family helpings" from former Soviet countries. Then it happened - Japanese skater
Yuko Kawaguchi will be representing Russia starting this season with her pair partner Alexander Smirnov from St. Petersburg. This is really sensational. We got a pretty achieved skaters under our flag. On her resume are victories and medals from the largest junior competitions, won both in singles and pairs...
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Yuko, what led you to go under the Russian flag?
It all started with Elena Berezhnaya. I liked how she skated in Nagano. I was so impressed by her performance, I've sent Tamara Moskvina, who coached Lena, a fax. Something like I want to train with you very much. I didn't have a lot of hope for the answer, but I got it almost right away, "Come!"
The first attempt was for "singles." I went to America where Tamara Nikolaevna worked with her group and took lessons from her for two weeks. After that, I won a Jr. Grand Prix event in Mexico, and then won a medal at the next event. I performed and said, "Tamara Nikolaevna, I want to try pairs"… Another thing was that at one time, I trained at the same rink with Lesha Tikhonov when he skated for Japan with Yukiko Kawasaki. I admired him a lot! Along that, famous Russian coach Victor Ryzhkin worked with me in Tokyo for a long time. So you see how strongly I was influenced by a Russian school of skating.
I wanted to learn pairs from a Russian coach and possibly with Russian partner. However, at the time Tamara Nikolaevna didn't have a boy available. That's why I've spent several years skating singles until Valentina Razskazova and Alexander Markuntsov broke up. Then Tamara Nikolaevna sent me a fax - come here, there is work, and I came to her in America again.
It was hard for me at first. However, if I would've gone to Russia then, it would've been much harder. America became sort of an psychological buffer for me. When I moved to St. Petersburg three years ago together with Moskvins group, it was much easier to adjust.
- When you first came to Russia, what impressed you the most?
This happened in winter, three years ago and my biggest impression was "terribly cold". Of course, I was mentally preparing for that, but still it didn't feel right.
- Is there ever as cold in Japan?
Never in Tokyo, where I'm from. Even in the winter, it's never below zero. On average, it's +3 to +10. So, I almost froze in St. Petersburg, but my partner Sasha Markuntsov's parents are very warm people and they gave me such a great welcome. I liked my "introductory" visit to Russia so much.
- How old were you when you parents put you on the skates for the first time?
I was five. It's not that early - children in Japan get sent to skating when they are about that age. However, the first time I saw the skating competition was much later. I'll admit I hated skating at first. This all is my mom's influence - she made me go train. She loved the ice dance and she worshipped Pakhomova and Gorshkov. She dreamt that I'll skate like them some day.
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