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Earlier this year, Japanese vocalist Minami Takahashi retired (or “graduated,” to use the industry parlance) from idol megagroup AKB48. The 25-year-old Takahashi still remains a well-known and widely popular figure in the Japanese entertainment world, though, and recently she made an appearance on long-running TV program "Music Station."
While Takahashi was on the show, the conversation turned to what sort of men have trouble impressing women, and Takahashi opined that communication is a major stumbling block for some guys, especially when a woman is opening up about something that’s been troubling her. Making things particularly exasperating, according to Takahashi, is that there are only three simple phrases a guy needs to use when a girl is talking to him about her problems: “Hmmmm,” “I see,” and “That sounds like a really difficult situation.”
“When a girl is talking about her problems, these three are all you need,” asserted Takahashi. “But while it’s a good thing to have empathy for a girl, haven’t you noticed how guys say what their take on the situation, their conclusion, is? Why do they do that? I think that’s why they’re not popular with girls.”
Now that she’d gotten the ball rolling, Takahashi moved on to other conversational shortcomings she’s observed in men. “Guys are quick to say things like ‘You’ve gained weight recently,’ ‘Your makeup is really thick,’ and ‘The lines of your face look really tired.’ They have no chance of being popular with girls! They say too much.”
While Takahashi definitely has a point about the importance of being a compassionate listener and not forcefully shifting the conversation to your own thoughts and feelings, her later complaints about men making cutting remarks suggest she may also have an extraordinary amount of personal experience talking with tactless jerks. Here’s hoping that she gets to deal with nicer, more considerate men from here on out.
Source: Yahoo! News Japan via Jin
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© Japan Today
10 Comments
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sensei258
Why is her opinion about such a mundane topic even considered newsworthy?
Strangerland
The topic is one that is less than mundane for many, many people, and her opinion is shown because she is very popular.
Sensato
I wonder what kind of guys Takahashi hangs out with. I've never said any of these things to anyone.
Strangerland
Me neither, but Japanese people often say things like that. They'll point out when someone has gained weight, or when they look like tired etc.
Jonathan Fahey
so basically she's just saying she wants you to listen to her bitch about her problems but you're not allowed to give your opinion or advice on it. that's the problem with most women. basically she's a shallow airhead.
dcog9065
TBH, these comments seem so denigrating to women. Those "3 simple phrases" are basically lazy ways of palming off womens' problems as trivial and her focus on shallow appearance-based comments reinforce the woman's low place in Japanese society. I have a feeling this girl's life aim is to be a spoilt housewife lazying at home all day
Jay Que
Young men do need simple basic advise, innocence goes had in hand with naivite.
Para Sitius
Will people really be listening to advice being given by someone who's been denied any type of relationship due to her contractual obligations for most of her adult life?
Asakaze
What a trove of wisdom!!! lol
Really, what kind of ignorant dufus needs advice of such caliber?
ChaosWyvern
Airhead idol gives airhead advice. Anyone surprised? Don't forget being an idiot who acts like a spoiled child is part of an idol's job description!
I can give some much better advice. Lesson 1: don't ask idols for advice on anything!