SENDAI (Kyodo) -- Yuzuru Hanyu says the desire to support his native northeastern Japan in its recovery from the 2011 earthquake-tsunami catastrophe was a major motivating factor in his decorated figure skating career.

The magnitude-9.0 quake struck 14 years ago when the then first-year high school student was practicing at a rink in his home city of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. His house was deemed "completely destroyed," forcing the youngster to spend time at an evacuation center.

Delivering for northeastern Japan has "been one of the missions of my figure skating career," Hanyu said during a Kyodo News interview on Monday in Sendai, the prefectural capital.

"There remain lots of unresolved issues. I hope to be by the side (of those who suffered) and keep sending messages (of support)."

The quake and tsunami claimed around 15,900 lives, with 2,520 people still unaccounted for, and destroyed large swathes of Miyagi, Iwate and Fukushima prefectures as well as triggering a long-running nuclear disaster.

"The sights from that period, and the fear I felt at that moment, I can recall them like yesterday," he said.

After becoming the first Asian to win figure skating Olympic gold in the men's event in Sochi in 2014, Hanyu returned to Japan and began making visits to the city of Ishinomaki in Miyagi Prefecture among other devastated areas, using his fame to bring a positive distraction to struggling locals.

Hanyu, who went on to defend his Olympic title in 2018 in Pyeongchang, said despite having personal experience of the disaster, he still felt unsure whether his efforts were ultimately worthy.

"I wasn't sure if it was right for an outsider to step into such areas," he said. "I'm aware there are people yet to return to their houses, and those left with scars on their hearts."

Hanyu's support for disaster-hit regions extended to other parts of Japan after he visited Wajima in Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan, last June after the M7.6 quake jolted Noto Peninsula on New Year's Day in 2024, killing more than 200 people.

He appeared in a charity event held in the prefecture in September and donated 44 million yen ($300,000) raised through livestreaming and T-shirt sales.

Hanyu promoted an exchange between Ishikawa Prefecture and his home region when he offered Wajima store owners who lost their businesses in a post-quake fire an opportunity to open booths in Sendai during his three-day ice show through Sunday.

"The fans who came to watch the show bought products from Wajima to support them, and I could sense the circle of support expanding," Hanyu said. "It made me realize that this could actually be the best way I can help."

With Hanyu's status as an icon of his sport not waning despite him leaving the competitive rink in 2022 for a professional career, the 2011 disaster will always be in the back of his mind.

"I want to be the catalyst to ensure the memory of the Great East Japan Earthquake never fades," he said.