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Happy Honda

19 Comments

AC Milan's Keisuke Honda hugs forward Giampaolo Pazzini after scoring his first goal for his new club during the Italian Cup soccer match between AC Milan and Spezia at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, on Wednesday. Milan won 3-1.

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19 Comments
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I had to see this ridiculous goal 6 times on the news this morning. Japan media continues to focus on individual achievements rather than wins and losses, which is why Japan is a far inferior nation when it comes to sports. One commentator actually said "I have seen a real samurai with my own eyes" after Honda scored. OMG...

-9 ( +9 / -19 )

I'm from Italy, and I don't think it's silly if Japanese are proud of their players who play in Europe. They are so proud exactly because they know European soccer is top-notch, unlike Japanese soccer.

8 ( +11 / -3 )

I can see your point. Lots of people here just follow specific players. I know people who 'follow' Man City because they like David Silva, just like all those Nippon Reds over a decade ago supporting Man Utd, then suddenly they were all Real Madrid fans when Beckham transferred. To be fair though, there was a fair amount of coverage in the British press when Bale went to Madrid. Maybe "He was a real samurai out there" will become part of the footballing lexicon, along with sick as a parrot, a game of two halves and over the moon.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

The cult of celebrity is destroying this wonderful game. It was a team game with loyalty to ones local team not the one doing best or who the celeb player plays for, as shallow as a worms grave.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

@Debucho

”I had to see this ridiculous goal 6 times on the news this morning”

Did someone put a gun to your head and tell you to watch it every time ?

And Japanese people care more about Japanese players than non-Japanese ? OMG, who would have thought ? LOL

7 ( +11 / -4 )

It was a pick up the scraps type of goal, but good on him, he was in position and capitalized.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I can see your point. Lots of people here just follow specific players. I know people who 'follow' Man City because they like David Silva, just like all those Nippon Reds over a decade ago supporting Man Utd

This happens everywhere. I've been a Man City supporter for years - including when they were in the 3rd tier of English footy. The sudden proliferation of Sky Blue shirts where there was once none, is bemusing. But Japan is certainly not the only place it happens in.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Yeah, nigh-sayers - its your time...

The situation was nothing special but he (or any other player) could have easily missed. Sometimes what you persieve easy is not always so obvious.

And did you see how his famous teammates were happy for him? Well that says all I think!

2 ( +4 / -2 )

HONDA!!! Make your dream a reality!

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Advice for you Debucho for this summer.. Stay away from the TV coz cwill shout out "Samurai samurai "when Honda score this summer! You might want to stay at home and play with a bonsai while everyone are going to be out to shout out Banzai!

Don't hate da player, hate da game baby~!!

Anyways back to topic... I am sure Honda will enjoy the oversea success just like Nakata and Nakamura Shunsuke. It is definitely an exciting chapter for soccer fans in Japan and worldwide.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Nothing against Honda but he scored against a midtable serie B team. Whoopdedoo. Keep overrating him Japan media.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

such negativity here. Be happy for Honda he could get a chance to score, make the Japanese proud. Lets hope he keeps this up and gets more chances.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

papigiulio: "Be happy for Honda he could get a chance to score, make the Japanese proud."

This is a discussion forum, not a place solely reserved for praise. In any case, I am actually happy for Honda, though I agree with other posters the coverage of the goal is extremely overdone, and no one looks at the team effort -- just Honda's.

0 ( +2 / -3 )

@smithinjapan. Exactly. It was much the same the other year when Kagawa went to ManU

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

"Japan is a far inferior nation when it comes to sports" "European soccer is top-notch, unlike Japanese soccer"

Why are you all surprised that Japanese people want to do so well in international sports? I mean especially if Japanese sports is as bad as some of you think, it makes even more sense that Japanese would be excited.

This is your line of thinking: "Japanese suck at sports. Why are they excited when they win anything?"

Does this make sense to you? Think about it.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

jojotoday:

Nothing against Honda but he scored against a midtable serie B team. Whoopdedoo. Keep overrating him Japan media.

Yes I wish the media didn't always get carried away, and acknowledge the fact that the opponent was weak, etc. That said, this has nothing to do with Honda in particular. They'd do the same thing for any Japanese athlete.

sourpuss:

If Japanese sports is as bad as some of you think, it makes even more sense that Japanese would be excited.

While I agree with you somewhat, I think that getting excited for every little thing could make the average person think that something great happened when actually it was nothing special. This could especially have a negative effect on young athletes who will think that all they need to do is score against a Serie B team to get treated like king, etc.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Good for you, Honda. You are realizing your childhood dreams. Here is an excerpt from his essay he wrote when graduating elementary school, translated for an English news website :

When I grow up, I want to be the best football player in the world. No, I will become the best.

To be the best player in the world, you have to practice harder than anyone else. That’s why I’m working hard right now.

I’m not a very good player, but I’ll work hard and absolutely become the world’s greatest. When I become the world’s best, I want to become rich and repay my parents.

I’ll become famous in the World Cup and be called to play for a Serie A team. After that I’ll become a regular and play as No. 10.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Thanks, Kickboard!

When I grow up, I want to be the best football player in the world. No, I will become the best.

First poster, what's your affirmation?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

He did great and hope he builds on this for even greater success but yes the Japanese sports media are horrible and are almost looked on with contempt - even by Japanese athletes who really get embarrassed by them.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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