politics

Ishihara disappointed at low home support for Tokyo Olympic bid

32 Comments

Tokyo Gov Ishihara Shintaro on Saturday expressed disappointment over the low approval ratings that Tokyo residents have given tothe city's bid for the 2020 Olympics.

Tokyo made the cut on SWednesday along with Istanbul and Madrid. But the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said that public support for Tokyo’s bid was by far the lowest among candidate cities, despite what it called a “very strong technical plan.”

The support rate stood at 78% for Madrid, 73% for Istanbul and 47% for Tokyo. The IOC report said that Tokyo also has the highest ratio of those who had “no opinion” — at 30%.

Ishihara said that the lukewarm support indicated that Japanese people have become "selfish and extremely narrow-minded," Sports Nippon reported.

Ishihara added that the Japanese, as a race, lack the conviction to achieve anything great. "The people of Japan are not committed to raising Japan's approval rating. They don't think big," the governor said.

Ishiuhara said holding the Olympics in Tokyo would be a chance to thank the world for supporting Japan during the March 2011 quake-tsunami disaster and showcase the extraordinary power of sport to heal, unite and inspire all kinds of positive change.

The IOC will announce the host of the 2020 Olympics on Sept 7 next year.

© Japan Today/AFP

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32 Comments
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the Japanese, as a race, lack the conviction to achieve anything great.

That's a pretty weird thing for a nationalist to say about his own "race". But then again, maybe Ishihara's ideology is based on nothing more than a super-inflated ego and an infantile view of the world around him....

4 ( +7 / -3 )

With all the other problems like the nuclear situation, power crisis, debt crisis, etc., I can't believe this moron is surprised and even disappointed that very few have time to care about the Olympic bid. “selfish and extremely narrow-minded,”??? The guy should have a serious look in the mirror and at his comrades in government office.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

First he has said that the tsunami was "divine punishment", and now this... Anyone who disagrees with him is apparently just being too selfish (although he thinks that people should just blindly support his plans, I'd suppose).

I really have trouble figuring out why people support this guy.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Ishihara said that the lukewarm support indicated that Japanese people have become “selfish and extremely narrow-minded,

LMFAO !!!! He is clueless! Yet somehow he keeps getting re-elected..?? Come on young voters get out there and get this guy out of office!!! あねがい お願い

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Ishihara added that the Japanese, as a race, lack the conviction to achieve anything great.

"Japanese" is not a race, you stupid ojisan!

3 ( +4 / -1 )

yo - ishihara give it up already

2 ( +3 / -1 )

He should resign and relax instead of getting disappointed.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Here he goes with the "race" thing again! Japanese is a NATIONALITY, not a RACE!

3 ( +4 / -1 )

how can ishihara say that this olympic bid is to "thank the world" for their support over 3.11 when the process started a few years ago? he's just trying to get the sympathy vote from the IOC. pathetic and disgraceful to use 3.11 to win an olympic bid.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Ishihara said that the lukewarm support indicated that Japanese people have become “selfish and extremely narrow-minded,” Sports Nippon reported.

Quite the opposite I think. People are waking up to the fact that local and national government have been wasting for years. And after seeing people dying alone and hungry, it's obvious no one is helping the citizens of Japan. I wouldn' t call this lukewarm support, I would prefer to call it just being practical. Ishihara would just prefer blind nationalism over helping his fellow man in a productive way.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Ishihara said that the lukewarm support indicated Japanese people become “selfish and extremely narrow-minded,” Thats right and they deserved to be punished by Tsunami and radiations, those so-called 'divine punishment' from their shindo god....etc. And that means more tsunami, earthquakes is due coming for cold approach of 2020 olympic game in Tokyo!!! You have got to love Mr Ishihara's logics!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Tokyo Gov Ishihara Shintaro on Saturday expressed disappointment over the low approval ratings that Tokyo residents have given tothe city’s bid for the 2020 Olympics.

His ego is too strong and this is his way to accept the defeat.

While many politicians are doing very poorly, Japan is doing just fine as people of Japan have a common sense and understand a priority of many pending trouble issues around their necks (debt crisis, tohoku restration act, Fukushima radiation leak, electric shortage due to Nuke shutdown), not Tokyo Olympics. Thank god!

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Japanese is not a 'race' it's a nationality. Asian is a race.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

“selfish and extremely narrow-minded,”

Says the one person who wants the Olympics and uses everyone else's money in a third attempt while the people express their disapproval! But will he heed the voice of the people? Of COURSE not, because they are merely 'selfish' while this sole man will decide what they want for them. :) I'm just surprised he didn't call everyone who expressed disapproval 'gaijin'.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

“The people of Japan are not committed to raising Japan’s approval rating..."

So... Ishihara wants the world's praise while scorning foreigners, and such praise will make Japan great? Ishihara is the epitome of what's wrong with this nation, not the other way around -- he is arrogant, fool-hardy, and an ultra-nationalist who needs praise to feel strong (getting the praise from playing the victim, I might add). The IOC should have already disqualified Tokyo based on this guy's comments alone, never mind the dismal approval ratings, but of course they want the money Ishihara will steal from the tax payers to bribe them with.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Ishihara said that the lukewarm support indicated that Japanese people have become “selfish and extremely narrow-minded,”

So, take what you see in the mirror and throw it at your enemies (the people of Japan who think independently)? Is that how it works, you old obsolete man?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

JO is a 90% commercial thing, then an 8% nationalistic thing and finally an as little as 2% thing sport. I do not see any example world wide in the past 50 years where the Olympics have promoted any progress or well being. If Coubertin would still be alive he would stop right away this corrupted kermess!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

大和民族 pretty sure the "Japanese" Ishihara speaks of is a race. Deal with it.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

This is merely another way for Ishihara to funnel public money to his wealthy friends. Like his bank that poured uncollectable loans funded by taxpayers to right wing gangsters. He might get a bit more support if he would cease to truck nuclear waste into the city and burn it, releasing radioactive gases and particulates for citizens to breathe, and then throwing the ashes into Tokyo Bay, fast becoming a nuclear waste dump.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I can actually picture Ishihara making some press conference and saying: "As the Japanese people are too selfish to know what they want, I shall take it on myself to show them" or some such rubbish. Oh wait... that's what he's doing.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Ishihara said that the lukewarm support indicated that Japanese people have become “selfish and extremely narrow-minded,” Sports Nippon reported.

LMAO!! Ishihara is a bigger clown than Ronald Mc Donald. You have pretty much just described yourself there!

Who's the one trying to be selfish by using 3/11 to gain the sympathy vote for his own personnel ego? Who's the one thats narrow minded to anyone who goes against his 'race' theory. I think its about time we get the old timer into the retirement home.

He should perhaps just take the hint now that the people of Tokyo and Japan would much rather see the money being spent on helping the people in Tohoku and any other future disasters than some over the top sports event.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Why stop at "race" why not elevate it to "species"?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

'Shintaro's Olympics' - oh dear. I wonder if this spirit of unity and healing extends to the 'ignorant' Chinese polluting the pure DNA if the Japanese 'race'. Can anyone think of a worse frontman for a celebration of nations coming together?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Ishihara: A divine punishment from god is imminent if you guys failed to support my bid !All of you were guilty of 'selfish' and unpatriotic!!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Ishihara's ego is very inflated, isn't it? I suppose he should be asked how he defines patriotism.

Popular support for an Olympic bid is low because people are more concerned about their actual lives.

Nice dreams

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Ishiuhara said holding the Olympics in Tokyo would be a chance to thank the world for supporting Japan during the March 2011 quake-tsunami disaster ....

Wait a minute, what's this buffoon saying now? Didn't Japan refuse any international help ?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

If the Japanese or Tokyoites can't be bothered to vote him out, then they deserve him.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Why is it that is a foreigner says something like this, the locals freak out but when it is good old, tax wasting, lying, tseal Ishihara, they all continue to vote for him OR look the other way and claim "shoganai"???? Have to say, I agree with what he's saying but not for the reasons he thinks it is true.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

"Ishiuhara said holding the Olympics in Tokyo would be a chance to thank the world for supporting Japan during the March 2011 quake-tsunami disaster" Sorry what, the world giving you what you want is you thanking the world? If you want to thank the world quit with the massive overfishing and whaling. Ishihara youre a nutjob.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

There are people out there still trying to come to terms with the terrible reality that their whole family was wiped out last year. Livelihoods, hometowns, their everyday world wiped off the planet in a couple of hours. Thousands of jobs gone in the agricultural and fishing industries. People displaced from the places they love. Probably for ever for some. An ongoing situation at Daiichi. Problems with food safety. Parents worried...rightly or wrongly...about their children`s health and future.....and there he is. Sat in his penthouse mansion somewhere, totally indifferent to what his fellow countyrmen and women are going through. I am so sorry Mr Shintaro Ishihara but there are thousands of souls out there dealing with a lot more life threatening conflicts than the Olympics and thanking the world just yet.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Tokyo residents should get with the program and start supporting Ishihara's bid for the Olympics, what the heck is wrong with these people, aside from re-electing him, lol.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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