sports

Ichiro turns down Japan's prestigious People's Honor Award for 3rd time

23 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

23 Comments
Login to comment

Ichiro's achievements speak for themselves and don't require the government's seal of approval. He's also smart enough to understand that the government does these things in its own self interest and not for his benefit.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

He is just being polite, he doesn't want the award!

7 ( +8 / -1 )

I will be real disappointed and angry if this is a kind of snub of the Abe Government.

Then be angry and disappointed.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

tina watanabe: "There are many good baseball players who remain in Japan and receive no awards."

What's your point? He wasn't offered the award because he didn't remain in Japan, although he did as well as he did because he left.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Good on him! These "honor" awards are just made for photo op by officials.

Thumbs up!

6 ( +6 / -0 )

I will be really disappointed if he accepts an award by the government that is dubbed "the people's choice award " when it's nothing more than a tool for a government looking to score points with the general public and their easily influenced public. Not so puzzling of a decision for someone who made his career proving that he shuns the typical way things are done here, IMHO .

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Suga said Ichiro indicated, through a third party, that he'd rather receive the award "when he draws the curtain" on his life.

So, he wants the award when he's dead?

4 ( +4 / -0 )

His achievments are far greater than an award designed to make the ldp look good esp with elections coming up.

He's never been one for BS - whether it's from the media, officials or govt snakes who want to suck as much out of his success for their own sakes.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

There are many good baseball players who remain in Japan and receive no awards

becuase theyre not the best, nearly all the best Japanese baseballers go to the majors to play with the worlds best, to see how they compare to the worlds best, no need to be butthurt its just the way it is.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

He probably knows full well that the award is just propaganda. Too many years living in freedom.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

"New York Yankees star Hideki Matsui won the award in 2013."

I continue to be fascinated by the differences in personality between Matsui and Ichiro. Really shows that Japanese men aren't some giant standardized monolith. Matsui has always been comfortable in mainstream circles in Japan and being cooperative and a good sport. Makes total sense that he joined the Giants and then went to the Yankees. Ichiro has always been something of an outsider in Japan. No coincidence that he had greater success in MLB than Matsui did. The latter did quite well and won a World Series title with the Yankees (something Ichiro wasn't able to achieve), but he never blew people away in America the way Ichiro did.

Ichiro's first ten years with the Mariners (2001-2010) were incredible and that decade alone would have made him a first ballot Hall of Famer in the U.S. Can't say that about too many other players in MLB.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Ichiro turns down Japan's prestigious People's Honor Award for 3rd time

If it's so "prestigious" I would think that it would be an honor to receive it, and not refuse it, not only once, but three separate times.

Maybe it's not so prestigious in the eyes of the people.

The first winner in 1977 was baseball player Sadaharu Oh. New York Yankees star Hideki Matsui won the award in 2013.

Excuse the sarcasm here, but what did they do here to WIN it? It's not like there is a competition between contestants, it's an award given for achievement and sadly it seems it only goes to people who are "famous"

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Ichiro is a true sports legend. Just like Wayne Gretzky.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Suga said Ichiro indicated, through a third party, that he'd rather receive the award "when he draws the curtain" on his life.

Sounds to me like its not so much political as it is personal. Perhaps he feels he still has things he wants to do and there will be time enough for awards when he's done doing them?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Somehow I doubt comments would be claiming that the award is just some cynical propaganda ploy if their preferred politicians were in power.

And somehow you would be wrong! IF it's that damn prestigious, you dont turn it down. You accept the honor.

Unless of course Ichiro himself hates Abe and the LDP?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Ichiro is a true sports legend, just like Wayne Gretzky

Like Sachin Tendulkar, Jahangir Khan and Jan-Ove Waldner?

If you are getting people to run to Google, I thought I’d join in.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Ichiro is a true sports legend. Just like Wayne Gretzky.

I am willing to bet if you same the name Wayne Gretzky to any average Japanese person and they will scratch their heads.

But if you say the name Ichiro to a Canadian or American, everyone will know who he is.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Ichiro’s hall of fame vote should be first round AND unanimous

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Ichiro’s hall of fame vote should be first round AND unanimous

First round I agree, unanimous, highly debatable. and dont see it happening, not because he is Japanese, but for the type of player he was in the position he played. Too many voters will hold that against him. He will get a lot of votes, but I'll bet it's not unanimous.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Somehow I doubt comments would be claiming that the award is just some cynical propaganda ploy if their preferred politicians were in power. Civil honors like this are typical around the world, just because you hate the LDP doesn't mean that every government function is suddenly suspect. Was Naoto Kan awarding it to the Japan women's national football team also a cynical ploy to boost his own popularity?

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

There are many good baseball players who remain in Japan and receive no awards.

-10 ( +0 / -10 )

I am really puzzled why Ichiro-san didnt accept the Peoples Honor Award. Just accept the Award, Ichiro-san. The chance may not come again.

I will be real disappointed and angry if this is a kind of snub of the Abe Government.

-13 ( +1 / -14 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites