I think our Rob is just making that part up. A quick read of some reports from the time didn’t tell me anything about squished, and indicated the performer felt positively toward the butterfly…for example:
Strange as its sounds, Ota viewed the butterfly effect as a sign of good luck. It forced her to focus even harder on the task at hand.
“It left a good impression on the judges because they saw I had good concentration on the music,” said Ota…
…
It has been described as a fairy tale event. Coincidentally, the concert hall during Ota’s encounter with the butterfly sits near the home of author Hans Christian Andersen (“The Little Mermaid,” “The Ugly Duckling” and more).
“I was thinking Hans Christian Andersen came in the form of the butterfly,” Ota said.
After the performance, Ota said she visited Andersen’s home.
