Gold Nails on Gold Medalist's Fingertips -- Yuto Totsuka Talks About the Appeal of Nails
An interview with snowboard gold medalist Yuto Totsuka about the appeal of men's nails, conducted by the NPO Japan Nailist Association. He discusses how nails enhance his performance and serve as a form of self-expression.
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- 📰 Published: April 27, 2026 at 19:32
- 🔍 Collected: April 27, 2026 at 11:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 27, 2026 at 11:40 (38 min after Collected)
In recent years, interest in "men's nails" has been growing, gaining attention as a form of self-expression.
The NPO Japan Nailist Association (JNA, located in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Chairperson: Sachiko Nakanosone) conducted an interview with Yuto Totsuka, who won a gold medal in the men's halfpipe at the Milan-Cortina Games.
We focused on the "nails" that also drew attention at the awards ceremony, and he spoke about the meaning and appeal of nails for top athletes, and his thoughts on the competition. Here is a part of it.
―― Congratulations on your gold medal. Looking back at the competition again, how did you feel?
The Milan-Cortina Games was the highest level competition I've ever experienced. Usually, in qualifiers, everyone doesn't put in high-difficulty tricks, but this time everyone was going for it. When I thought, "This should be enough," and did my first run, the athletes behind me kept getting amazing scores, so I panicked and thought, "I need to attack a bit more in the second run." At the same time, I was excited, thinking, "If this is the qualifiers, what amazing things will everyone do in the finals?"
This was my third Winter Olympics, following Pyeongchang and Beijing. I got injured in Pyeongchang, and couldn't perform my own style in Beijing. In both competitions, I couldn't be the last one to stand in the first run of the finals, and I fell midway through the second run. This time, when my first run in the finals was successful, I felt a strong sense of my own growth, realizing, "This is different from before." That led to me challenging my best routine in the second run.
When I landed the trick, a feeling of happiness washed over me, almost as if it wasn't real. Usually, even when I land a trick, I try to stay cool, but this time I spontaneously exclaimed, "I did it!" and pumped my fist.
When I stood on the podium, it was like a dream. When my name was called last and I stood on the highest spot in the center, I was so moved that I cried a lot.
Totsuka's trick, with unparalleled height and beautiful trajectory.
―― At the awards ceremony, Totsuka's nails also attracted attention.
The night before the finals, a nailist did my nails at the venue. I had been overseas for about two months with bare nails, and my cuticles had grown out, making me feel a bit down. Then someone suggested, "You should get your nails done." So, with the hope of boosting my spirits for the finals, I got gel nails. The effect of the nails was significant.
It was the nailist's idea to incorporate gold into the design. I only requested blue colors, but she brought a whole set of curing lights and gave me flash nails.
When I checked my runs in videos, or held my smartphone, my nails would catch my eye, and each time it made me think, "Let's do my best." Even in such small ways, my nails encouraged me.
While waiting for other athletes' runs, I would take off my gloves, thinking, "It's cold," and then, "Look at my nails" (laughs). I was able to win, and my nails also got recognized, so I think it was really great.
He brought his gold medal for the photoshoot.
―― What made you decide to get your nails done?
I love Mrs. GREEN APPLE, and I got interested in nails after seeing their hands on Instagram and thinking, "That looks nice." I've been hooked ever since I first got them done; now I can't feel comfortable with bare nails (laughs).
I get my nails done at a nail salon, so during the season, I get them done before going overseas, and then rush to get them done again when I return to Japan. I have a lot of cuticles, so when they trim them with nippers, it feels good when they get right to the edge, and the first time I had them cared for, I was surprised, thinking, "Wow, it can get this clean." I thought, "They really take care of it this much, they're professionals."
―― What was the reaction of those around you when you first got your nails done?
About two and a half years ago, when I suddenly appeared with nails, everyone around me was surprised. They weren't used to seeing men with nails, so even my best friend, Ruka Hirano, was like, "Huh?!" Foreign athletes also asked, "Why are you wearing nails?" When I said, "Because they're cute," they understood, "Oh, I see, I see" (laughs). Now, it's completely normalized, and some athletes have even started saying, "Maybe I should try it too."
Since athletes from various countries know that I wear nails, Russian male athletes show me their nails, and especially female athletes from overseas have a big reaction. They often start conversations by asking, "What kind of nails do you have this time?" We enjoy showing each other our nails.
The NPO Japan Nailist Association (JNA, located in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Chairperson: Sachiko Nakanosone) conducted an interview with Yuto Totsuka, who won a gold medal in the men's halfpipe at the Milan-Cortina Games.
We focused on the "nails" that also drew attention at the awards ceremony, and he spoke about the meaning and appeal of nails for top athletes, and his thoughts on the competition. Here is a part of it.
―― Congratulations on your gold medal. Looking back at the competition again, how did you feel?
The Milan-Cortina Games was the highest level competition I've ever experienced. Usually, in qualifiers, everyone doesn't put in high-difficulty tricks, but this time everyone was going for it. When I thought, "This should be enough," and did my first run, the athletes behind me kept getting amazing scores, so I panicked and thought, "I need to attack a bit more in the second run." At the same time, I was excited, thinking, "If this is the qualifiers, what amazing things will everyone do in the finals?"
This was my third Winter Olympics, following Pyeongchang and Beijing. I got injured in Pyeongchang, and couldn't perform my own style in Beijing. In both competitions, I couldn't be the last one to stand in the first run of the finals, and I fell midway through the second run. This time, when my first run in the finals was successful, I felt a strong sense of my own growth, realizing, "This is different from before." That led to me challenging my best routine in the second run.
When I landed the trick, a feeling of happiness washed over me, almost as if it wasn't real. Usually, even when I land a trick, I try to stay cool, but this time I spontaneously exclaimed, "I did it!" and pumped my fist.
When I stood on the podium, it was like a dream. When my name was called last and I stood on the highest spot in the center, I was so moved that I cried a lot.
Totsuka's trick, with unparalleled height and beautiful trajectory.
―― At the awards ceremony, Totsuka's nails also attracted attention.
The night before the finals, a nailist did my nails at the venue. I had been overseas for about two months with bare nails, and my cuticles had grown out, making me feel a bit down. Then someone suggested, "You should get your nails done." So, with the hope of boosting my spirits for the finals, I got gel nails. The effect of the nails was significant.
It was the nailist's idea to incorporate gold into the design. I only requested blue colors, but she brought a whole set of curing lights and gave me flash nails.
When I checked my runs in videos, or held my smartphone, my nails would catch my eye, and each time it made me think, "Let's do my best." Even in such small ways, my nails encouraged me.
While waiting for other athletes' runs, I would take off my gloves, thinking, "It's cold," and then, "Look at my nails" (laughs). I was able to win, and my nails also got recognized, so I think it was really great.
He brought his gold medal for the photoshoot.
―― What made you decide to get your nails done?
I love Mrs. GREEN APPLE, and I got interested in nails after seeing their hands on Instagram and thinking, "That looks nice." I've been hooked ever since I first got them done; now I can't feel comfortable with bare nails (laughs).
I get my nails done at a nail salon, so during the season, I get them done before going overseas, and then rush to get them done again when I return to Japan. I have a lot of cuticles, so when they trim them with nippers, it feels good when they get right to the edge, and the first time I had them cared for, I was surprised, thinking, "Wow, it can get this clean." I thought, "They really take care of it this much, they're professionals."
―― What was the reaction of those around you when you first got your nails done?
About two and a half years ago, when I suddenly appeared with nails, everyone around me was surprised. They weren't used to seeing men with nails, so even my best friend, Ruka Hirano, was like, "Huh?!" Foreign athletes also asked, "Why are you wearing nails?" When I said, "Because they're cute," they understood, "Oh, I see, I see" (laughs). Now, it's completely normalized, and some athletes have even started saying, "Maybe I should try it too."
Since athletes from various countries know that I wear nails, Russian male athletes show me their nails, and especially female athletes from overseas have a big reaction. They often start conversations by asking, "What kind of nails do you have this time?" We enjoy showing each other our nails.