Trains in Japan tend to be both crowded and sturdily built, so should you find yourself standing and hanging onto a strap, you might find yourself impressed at how stable the bar the strap is attached to is. Sometimes that admiration can turn into curiosity, and you find yourself thinking “Hmm…I wonder if I could do a pullup on this?”
That’s a question that most people resist the urge to answer, but two demographics that are occasional exceptions are teenagers and people who have been drinking. In a sense, you could say those both applied when the 49-year-old man in the video below, who’d had a few beers while at his high school reunion before getting on the train at Isahaya Station in Nagasaki Prefecture, decided to bust out a set of pullups inside the train as it made its way down the JR Omura Line.
It’s not a particularly good look for anyone, especially someone of his age, but what made the situation especially awkward is that that’s Takahisa Kitamura, who as a member of the Nagasaki Prefectural Assembly is one of the highest-ranking politicians in the prefecture.
Kitamura says he’d had “three or four beers” at the reunion, and when asked why he decided to try to get in some exercise on the train ride home, said “It is incredibly embarrassing, but I truly have no distinct memory of how I arrived at the decision to do that.” “I have no memory” is a commonly trotted out phrase in Japan when public figures have to fess up for inebriated misconduct, but in this case there really doesn’t seem to be any possible explanation than “It seemed like a fun idea when I was drunk.”
To his credit, Kitamura didn’t mince words in criticizing himself during a press conference he held on December 14, four days after the incident took place. “I did pullups [in the train]. It was inappropriate of me, and a violation of the manners a passenger on public transportation must abide by. I wish to offer my sincere apologies to all the people of Nagasaki Prefecture and other involved parties. I am deeply sorry,” he said, adding “What I did was inexcusable, and I will exercise better self-control so that this does not happen again.”
This isn’t the first time Kitamura’s image has taken a hit due to drinking. In a 2006 blog post, he admitted to having driven while drunk, and at his December 14 press conference he confirmed that he had done so more than once.
Reactions on Twitter have included:
“Hey, Mr. Politician, do that sort of thing at the gym, OK?”
“Is he an idiot?”
“Dude acting like a junior high kid.”
“49 years old…If I’d been there, I’d have wanted to smack him in the face.”
“Drunk driving is bad, but this isn’t exactly good either.”
Sources: Nitele News via Livedoor News via Hachima Kiko, NHK News Web, TBS, Twitter
Read more stories from SoraNews24.
-- Get your chills on the rails with Kyoto’s Ghost Train 【Video】
-- Hokkaido man found naked in laundromat in middle of the night
-- Personal information of everyone in Amagasaki City lost by person who passed out drunk on street
© SoraNews24
51 Comments
Login to comment
Jonathan Prin
I find it nice to see what he likes doing in life (exercises).
No one hurt.
So Japanese to think gaijin are uncivilised if they do that in their country.
If my president Macron would do that, I would applaude.
No chin-up for sure but not like he was going for the Legion etrangere (first test is just to do 7 full chin-ups).
Strangerland
I don't really have a problem with this (I've actually done it myself, holding on to the bar triggers muscle memory), particularly as there wasn't anyone in near proximity that he was bumping into or anything, but I do understand the problem - there's an expectation that politicians wll act in a proper manner, at a higher expectation than the general public.
Still, not a big deal in the overall scheme of things in my opinion.
Garthgoyle
Ages of the offended by everything.
juminRhee
"I will exercise better self-control.. "
Probably shouldn't bexercising at all on trains. ;)
smithinjapan
Ah, the bounenkai season. Saw at least one guy throw up all over the street last night. Two people slumped on benches and passed out, and then some. They really need to crack down on the enkais.
justasking
How is this an issue?
wallace
blue
I wasn't laughing at Suga. I'm the same age and couldn't even do those in my dreams. I am impressed by it.
Erik Morales
He is very active for his age and must be very fertile and full of testosterone. Props to a well developed Japanese man! Keep this up and many more men will do pull-ups in your honor Kitamura San.
wallace
Ex-PM Suga 74 years, does 100 sit-ups every morning before breakfast.
Sven Asai
What’s your problem? On all other channels we are bombed 24/7 with healthier lifestyle and doing sports recommendations. And now really someone does exactly that and draws flak? That’s at minimum similar mentally sick like that drunken guy in a public train.
CaptDingleheimer
Well lord have mercy! That’s quite the scandal.
Aly Rustom
that' s probably the only thing he ever does in his office.
my advice is get a home gym
Kobe White Bar Owner
Keep ya "chin up" the world too flipping sensitive.
daito_hak
Not a single pull-up was done by this dude. Not a single.
Ricky Kaminski13
‘I did pullups [in the train]’
What a legend.
eric_japan
ME: “What’s the big deal he’s not hurting anything”
WIFE: “That’s the gaijin way of thinking”
それがガイジンの考え方
Another lost battle….
garypen
Jeez, he was 49, not 79.
Kenny
He did it for fun
so whats the problem?
Chabbawanga
Come on. Weve all had a crack at it at some point.
Mr Kipling
I can think of a lot of worse things to do drunk on a train. Give the guy a break, however, they were not very good form pull ups.
Abe234
Before the age of twitter, instagram, line Facebook, this wouldn’t even get a mention seriously! This is what people think about, and a worry about. Atleast he wasn’t touching anyone, shouting at anyone, peeing in public or fighting. There are a lot worse things a politician can, like give money to certain groups, take backhanders. Hang on! I real size todays real news is….. no murders, no middle launches, no pandemic panic.no teachers perving. Some Japanese really need to get a grip!
Gaijinjland
Yeah I’m sure that’s the worst thing a politician has ever done, drunk or sober! Also to be fair, even one beer in your system is considered drunk driving in Japan even if you’re nowhere near plastered.
kurisupisu
Fit dude!
Numan
Not really! It was not a proper chin up or pull up.
Agree!
Numan
Alcohol releases a person's inhibitors. Thus, people react to being inebriated differently. Some people become friendlier, some angrier, some more sexual, some braver, some funnier, more curious and some more responsible. It can also change each time for the same person. I have gotten tipsy before and was flooded with guilt because I had not done something, yet. While still inebriated, I would then start doing it immediately or when I got home. I think this happens with a lot of busy people. After a night of drinking, I have cleaned my entire place, called people, started working on assignments, worked out, had a night of passion, binged watched my favorite show, or simply passed out.
The dude was having one of those moments. It was irresponsible and a poor decision, but I would not make a big deal about it. At least, he is not a "mean drunk!"
buffalo
They should give him an award for being cool.
bass4funk
Seriously? Does he have to do hardcore time for this?
Meiyouwenti
He should have taken off his mask before offering his sincere apologies. Also it’s bad for health at his age to do pull ups after drinking three or four beers. In today’s health conscious society that’s inexcusable.
miss_oikawa
Impressive set!
Japantime
This would be very rare for someone at that age to be able to do one. He must be in impressive shape.
dbsaiya
Half assed chin ups, not pull ups. Idiot.
Rodney
Aso says he does 100 sit-ups in in office every morning.
I actually do pull-ups on trains and do stretching and small muscle training when waiting on the street for something. Don’t waste your spare time!
BeerDeliveryGuy
If he’s good at his job, and if he’s not hurting anyone or damaging property, I really don’t care where he does his cross-fit.
Yubaru
I've seen HS kids do the same thing on the monorail here. No one said anything, and after a couple of reps, the kids stopped, and that was it.
Publicize it and watch other idiots copy it!
Yubaru
He should be thanking Sora News, they are the one's who reported it.
Aly Rustom
a japanese politician can do a pullup???
Stephen Chin
Mr Kitamura just wanted some publicity. Now that he is known all over the world, is he happy? Is he going to thank Japan Today today?
dagon
They would be appalled by the NYC subway.
I am convinced that these tempests in a teacup of some politician breaking the "wa" are a distraction.
Gross incompetence, negligence, graft, corruption, ignorant xenophobia,racism, sexism and kleptocratic policies are all brushed aside.
"Don't embarrass us in the media!" seems to be the golden rule in the Japanese political establishment.
JeffLee
If he didn't damage the train or endanger fellow passengers, what's the big deal?
Hiro
These days everyone is so sensitive and get offended easily. I find it impressive that he did that. At least he ain't some people who hit or harass others while being drunk.
Good
Impressive at his age