Yuzuru Hanyu bibliography

Blue Flames (蒼い炎, Aoi Honō) is a best-selling autobiography series by Japanese figure skater and ice show producer Yuzuru Hanyu who competed in the men's singles discipline and turned professional in 2022.^[17][18] Regarded as one of the greatest skaters in the sport's history, he is the first two-time Olympic men's champion in 66 years with back-to-back gold medals at the 2014 and 2018 Winter Olympics,^[17] and the first male single skater to complete the Super Slam, having won all major international senior and junior titles in the course of his career.^[19] On March 11, 2011, Hanyu experienced the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami in his hometown of Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture, which fundamentally shaped his life and career.^[18] In Blue Flames, he reflected on his skating career and memories of the disaster.^[20][21] The series consists of four volumes, published between 2012 and 2023 by Fusosha and composed in collaboration with Japanese sportswriter Toshimi Oriyama and photographer Keiko Asakura.^[22]

In June 2023, the number of sold copies exceeded 400,000 in total, making Blue Flames one of the most successful series of long-selling books in Japan.^[23] All royalties and parts of the proceeds were donated for the rebuilding of Ice Rink Sendai [ja], which had been severely damaged during the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.^[18] According to The Nikkei, Hanyu donated a cumulative total of ¥87,330,406 (US$686,000) to his local skating rink.^[24] Excerpts from the autobiography were quoted by renowned international news outlets, such as The New York Times and the Time Magazine.^[20][21] In 2020, translations of the first two volumes were published in Vietnam, China, and Taiwan.^[25][26] In Japan, Blue Flames III was also distributed as a limited edition with an alternative cover.^[22][27] On July 6, 2023, a special collector's box including all four volumes was released by Fusosha.^[28]