Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 2023 GIFT at Tokyo Dome

GIFT is an ice show like no other. The content is delivered as a unified story where ice skating, live music (Tokyo Philharmonic and GIFT special band), visual effects and dance are combined to present a deep introspection on the theme of aloneness and pursuing dreams. GIFT is a fully immersive experience where the viewer can interpret the meaning of the images, narration, and ice skating programs from different viewpoints. Hanyu is the solo skater performing with the technical quality and expressiveness that has characterized his career. In GIFT (where he is also the producer), Hanyu creates a new genre of sports as performing arts.

The most amazing show I've ever seen. In GIFT skating, music, dance, plays of light and storytelling, all of the highest level, are combined to create a whole that is much more than the sum of the individual parts, and which is unprecedented in history. The emotional impact is very strong, both for the beauty of the whole and for its depth, because the story told is at the same time the story of the protagonist and that of each of the spectators. GIFT is a new form of art, capable of taking your breath away and which deserves to be relived over and over again, to better appreciate the perfection with which every detail has been taken care of and to relive an emotional journey that digs deep in the human soul crossing joy and pain, to finally arrive at that light to which we all aspire.

I have never watched any ice shows before I meet Yuzuru Hanyu. I watched his other ice shows before I watched this. This one is different. Truly a genre of it's own. I didn't expect this from an ice show. It's not only an ice show. It's a story about human journey. It is his journey. But, probably almost every person feels what he tells in the monologue. It's just we respond differently. His monologue really captures me inside his story.

The orchestra, the lighting, the rink, they all are very beautiful. They are even better from his previous ice shows. But, Yuzuru still be able to make himself as the center of attention. His stamina, incredible. His skating, it's not supposed to be mention anymore how beautiful it is.

This show is a masterpiece. The programs, along with the costumes, music and lightnings and the stages are aesthetically beautiful with all the orchestra, band and side dancers.

But what I love the most is the story he tells with the show. As someone has said, watching the show feels like flipping through someone's personal diary/journal where he expresses his internal struggles. It follows the story of the MC as he struggles with existential crisis, trying to deal with his loneliness, trying to accept the support from people. It was beautiful watching how the main character finally accepts himself as a person and accepts the light he once believed he doesn't deserve with open arms. The directing by MIKIKO and acting and narration by Yuzu himself is beautiful and couldn't be better.

GIFT exceeded the boundary of an ice show, the combination of sports and art have redefined what ice show could be. The mesmerising visual effect and projection mapping on ice were stunning and perfectly done. The sound effects are amazing too, there's no delay and you can literally hear every musical instrument during the show. Above all, Yuzuru Hanyu's figure skating is out of the world. He always deliver, his figure skating brought audience to the world only he can reach, he upgraded what figure skating could be, precise execution of difficult elements & dancing on ice. You could watch this show tirelessly for more than 5 times and still discover new things. The story was connected with narrations and figure skating, he performed with figure skating, bringing a world view and never bore you for a single second. What a wonderful show, what a wonderful performance. GIFT is probably one of the greatest creation you could ever imagined, until the next self-produced solo dome show, I believe no one but Hanyu Yuzuru could surpass Hanyu Yuzuru.