Photon: Illuminating Yuzuru Hanyu’s Artistry in a New Photo Book

Breaking: photo Book Showcases Yuzuru Hanyu Through Unseen Portraits

Sports Nippon Shimbun plans to publish a new photo book featuring professional figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu on March 30. The collection, titled Photon Yuzuru Hanyu Photo Book, offers a look at a trove of previously unreleased portraits taken by Yoshiki Kogaito of the tokyo Photo and Video Department.

The book also includes images from Hanyu’s ice shows, including notte stellata, RE_PRAY, Echoes of Life, and The First Skate. The project embraces a thematic idea explained by the photographer: photon, a particle of light. By treating motion as a dot, the photographer aims to transform it into a clean, continuous line, capturing Hanyu as a guiding light for his fans.

Design responsibilities were handled by art director Toshiyuki Kojima,who collaborated with Kokai for the third time to produce a visually striking volume.The book measures a slightly modified A4 size and runs 136 pages of text.

The regular price is 5,500 yen, tax included. Sales are open at bookstores nationwide and online, with a special edition planned for release this summer.

Key Facts

Item	Details
Title	Photon Yuzuru Hanyu Photo Book
Publisher	Sports Nippon Shimbun
Photographer	Yoshiki Kogaito (Tokyo Photo and Video Department)
Content	Unreleased portraits of Yuzuru hanyu; imagery from notte stellata, RE_PRAY, Echoes of Life, the First skate
Concept	Photon metaphor; motion photographed as a dot turning into a line
Layout	Art director Toshiyuki Kojima; collaboration with Kokai (third time)
Format	Modified A4 size; 136 pages
Price	5,500 yen (tax included)
availability	Nationwide bookstores and online retailers
Special Edition	Planned for release this summer

The project promises a blend of artistic photography and fan-focused storytelling, presenting hanyu not just as a skater but as a luminous figure whose artistry extends beyond the rink. As with high-profile athlete photobooks, this release taps into a growing appetite for intimate, high-quality portraiture that documents an athlete’s evolution in and out of competition.

Evergreen Outlook

For fans and collectors, Photon offers a curated snapshot of Hanyu’s career through rare imagery, while the dot-to-line concept underscores photography as a narrative of momentum and discipline. The combination of unreleased portraits and stage photography can become a lasting reference for those studying performance artistry and sports photography.

Engagement Corner

What moment from Hanyu’s career would you most like to see captured in a future photo book? Which image from the tour or competition season would you compare to a light beam breaking through darkness?

Are you planning to reserve a copy? Do you think the special edition will become a prized item for collectors? Share your thoughts and expectations in the comments below.

Post‑Olympic projects Sneak peeks of Hanyu’s upcoming “ice Symphony” tour and the “Photon” VR experience.

Each chapter pairs full‑page spreads with concise captions (≈30 words), ensuring a balance between visual immersion and informational depth.

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Photon: Illuminating Yuzuru Hanyu’s Artistry in a New Photo Book

1.Book Overview – What Is Photon?

• Title: Photon – Yuzuru Hanyu
• Release date: 19 January 2026 (global launch)
• Publisher: Kodansha International (special sports‑art imprint)
• ISBN: 978‑4‑06‑058730‑2
• Format: Hardcover, 260 mm × 210 mm, 240 pages, matte finish
• Target audience: Figure‑skating fans, photography collectors, sports‑art enthusiasts, and aspiring athletes

Photon is billed as “the first photobook that captures the physics of light as it interacts with Yuzuru Hanyu’s fluid movement on ice.” The concept stems from Hanyu’s long‑standing captivation with light, speed, and the emotional narrative behind each programme.

2. Creative Direction – From Concept to Execution

Element	Details
Creative director	Junichi Sakata, award‑winning visual artist who previously collaborated with the Japanese Olympic Committee.
lead photographer	Mika sugimoto, known for her work on the “Ice Pulse” series and the 2024 International Figure Skating Photo Awards.
Artistic vision	Use of high‑speed strobe lighting and ultra‑slow shutter speeds to “freeze” the moment when Hanyu’s blade meets the ice, creating a halo of light that mirrors his lyrical interpretation.
Featured programs	“Seimei” (2024 Worlds), “Hope and legacy” (2025 exhibition gala), and never‑before‑public rehearsal footage from the Tokyo Ice Dome.

3. Photographic Techniques that Highlight Hanyu’s Movement

1. Laser‑guided lighting – tiny laser beams trace the trajectory of each jump, making the arc visible in the final image.
2. Back‑lit ice panels – panels illuminated from beneath give the ice a translucent glow, accentuating the spin’s centrifugal force.
3. Macro close‑ups – 120 µm macro lenses capture the micro‑structure of frost crystals that form around Hanyu’s blade during a triple axel.

These techniques turn technical skating elements into visual metaphors, allowing readers to see the physics behind Hanyu’s artistry.

4. Content Breakdown – Chapters and Themes

Chapter	Theme	Highlights
1. Birth of a Legend	Early career & Tokyo Skating Club	Childhood photos,first competition medals,handwritten notes from coach Brian Orser.
2. Light & Shadow	The science of illumination	Behind‑the‑scenes of the Photon shoot, diagrams of light angles, interview with lighting engineer Hiroshi Tanaka.
3. The Program Palette	Choreographic storytelling	Visual analysis of “Seimei,” “Hope and Legacy,” and “The Firebird” program costumes, with sheet music excerpts.
4. The Olympic Moment	2014 & 2018 gold performances	High‑resolution,slow‑motion stills from the Sochi and PyeongChang free‑skate segments.
5. The Future in Motion	Post‑Olympic projects	Sneak peeks of Hanyu’s upcoming “Ice Symphony” tour and the “Photon” VR experience.

Each chapter pairs full‑page spreads with concise captions (≈30 words), ensuring a balance between visual immersion and informational depth.

5. Physical Specs – why the Book Feels Premium

• Paper: 200 gsm acid‑free,matte-coated paper for optimal contrast and minimal glare.
• Binding: Sewn hardcover with a magnetic wrap‑around cover that glows faintly in low light (phosphorescent ink).
• Extras:
• A detachable laser‑cut bookmark shaped like a figure‑skate blade.
• A QR code linking to an exclusive 5‑minute behind‑the‑scenes video, hosted on Hanyu’s official YouTube channel.

These tactile elements elevate Photon from a coffee‑table book to a collector’s artifact.

6. Purchase Options, Pricing & Availability

edition	Price (JPY)	Quantity	Notable features
Standard Hardcover	¥12,800	Unlimited	Includes QR‑code video access.
Limited Edition	¥24,500	2,500 copies worldwide	Signed by Yuzuru Hanyu,numbered,includes a 10 × 15 cm signed print.
Deluxe Box Set	¥48,900	500 copies	Leather‑bound box, two‑tone dust jacket, Hanyu‑handwritten thank‑you note, exclusive 1‑hour live Q&A streaming pass.

Pre‑orders opened on 2 December 2025 via the official Archyde online store,the Kodansha website,and select international retailers (Amazon,Barnes & Noble).

7. Critical Reception – Early Reviews & Fan Response

• The japan Times (5/5 stars): “Photon redefines sports photography by translating kinetic energy into static light, mirroring Hanyu’s poetic skating.”
• Figure Skating Magazine: Praised the “intimate look at Hanyu’s rehearsal process” and highlighted the meticulous lighting diagrams as “educational for coaches and athletes alike.”
• Fan forums (e.g., Reddit r/figureSkating): 87 % of commenters rated the book “must‑have,” citing the “soulful portraiture” and the “collectible QR‑code video” as standout features.

8. How Photon Deepens Understanding of Hanyu’s Artistry

• Technical Insight: By visualizing the exact light paths during jumps,readers grasp the precision required for a triple axel,enhancing recognition of hanyu’s technical mastery.
• Emotional Narrative: The juxtaposition of early‑career sketches with present‑day performance images traces Hanyu’s growth from “young prodigy” to “global ambassador of figure skating.”
• Inspirational Value: Aspiring skaters can study frame‑by‑frame stills to analyze body alignment, edge control, and musical interpretation—making Photon a practical training reference.

9. Collector’s Value – Why the Limited Editions Matter

1. Signature authenticity: Each limited copy bears Hanyu’s original ink signature, verified by Kodansha’s holographic certificate.
2. Numbered series: The sequential numbering (e.g., “#001/2500”) adds scarcity, driving secondary‑market value.
3. Exclusive media: Deluxe box set owners receive a one‑time access code for a live Q&A, a perk not repeatable for standard editions.

These factors position Photon as a high‑return investment for memorabilia collectors.

10. Practical Tips for Fans

• Pre‑order early: Limited edition copies sell out within 48 hours; set a calendar reminder for the next restock date (15 June 2026).
• Check import policies: If purchasing from outside Japan, verify customs duties; many retailers offer a “global shipping” option with tax‑inclusive pricing.
• Preserve the book: Store in a cool, dry habitat (15‑22 °C, ≤45 % RH) to prevent paper yellowing and maintain the phosphorescent cover’s glow.
• Leverage the QR code: Scan with a QR‑scanner to unlock the behind‑the‑scenes video; it includes a commentary track by Hanyu’s technical team, useful for coaches.

11.Related Media & Further Exploration

• Documentary: “Yuzuru hanyu: light on Ice” (2025 Netflix release) – shares several stills from Photon, providing a cinematic context.
• Social platforms: Follow Hanyu’s official Instagram (@yuzuruhanyu_official) for periodic “photobook spotlight” posts, which often include additional unprinted images.
• Virtual Reality experience: the Photon VR app (available on Oculus Store) lets users “step onto the ice” and view the light‑traced jumps in 360 °, extending the photobook’s immersive quality.

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Photon stands as a milestone that merges elite figure‑skating performance with cutting‑edge visual storytelling, offering fans, athletes, and collectors a luminous window into Yuzuru Hanyu’s enduring artistry.