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© 2014 AFPMori slammed for critical remarks about Asada
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© 2014 AFP
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the_odeman
Really nice comment to give to someone who has worked her ass off the past few years.....way to go you old goat
TokyoGas
Remove this clown as the head of the 2020 Olympic Committee. It is one thing for any of us regular people to criticize, jeer or even parody the performance of an Olympic Athlete. But when the head of the committee publicly does this, it is time for him to pack his bags and for security to escort him out of the building.
David Foley
77 year old geezer's jaded opinion doesnt matter any more. This guy is a shriveled old sausage and is just waiting to die. His opinions are meaninlgess and his existence is nothing next to Mao's.
Laguna
Why is it that these sports groups - not just in Japan, but globally - are often chaired by troglodytes like Mori? If he and his ilk were horses, they'd be taken behind the barn and end up as dog food.
Maria
I would never wish death on anyone, but this miserable old fool needs to be put out to pasture pronto.What were they thinking, giving him the 2020 committee leadership?
Thus criticising his own Olympic team and being racist at the same time. What a horrid little man.
Bluebris
Another old fool who has no idea what the hell he's talking about.
Bogi
She came out and gave the performance of her life in the free skating. Very admirable.
If Mori is allowed to stay in his position, shame on the whole country.
HongoTAFEinmate
Not the brightest tool in the shed. As with many runaway mouths in the world of Japanese politics, it sometimes amazes me how many people can be offended by such brief remarks. It is sort of like a morbid game of twitter. How many people can you alienate in less than 200 characters (or with a 30 second sound bite)? Not exactly subtle. Then again, Mr. Mori has form for such outbursts (or leaving his brain in neutral while his mouth is in gear). Anyone who has been a member of the Japan Rugby Football Union for any length of time can give you a whole list of funny (or not) episodes. Trust me, there are some real classics.
Regarding the Olympics, the idea of Mr. Mori being around for the Tokyo gig in 2020 is spine tingling. Just imagine if they were dumb enough to give him the microphone and an audience of billions? The results are mind boggling. Anyone want to throw their hat into the right to be his simultaneous interpreter?
SenseNotSoCommon
Foot in Mouth disease.
Jeff Ogrisseg
So, the parade of Mori Olympic gaffes is finally underway. How many does he get before he vacates the position? Strap on a pair of skates yourself, Yoshi, and let's see what you can do.
borax
His comments are beyond offensive; they are completely unacceptable for someone in his position. He must be forced from his position ASAP, without being given the chance to gracefully step down. That is the only way to rectify this situation. Japan forgives way too many offensive and idiotic remarks from its politicians and other leaders. With the whole world watching what Japan does leading up to 2020, the line must be drawn here.
daito_hak
The old ugly nasty Japanese Oyaji has spoken again....
This guy should be in an elderly house specialized for old people who have lost their mind but he was promoted boss of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic committee. What a joke, Japan is owned by old people.
Jimizo
'If I'm lucky' - you are very lucky indeed given how you've landed jobs ( PM?! ) way above your abilities. A very silly, unpleasant man who was a laughing stock as a statesmen. Why are these chocolate teapots given responsible jobs after proving themselves woefully inept?
yokatta
Mori say's "Who are you?" Mao say's "I'm the figure skater who won a silver medal at the Vancouver Olympics" Mori says, "me too".
theeastisred
Complete and utter jackass. He has even managed the impossible of unifying the contributors to this site in their opposition to the hopeless buffoon. Quite an achievement.
sighclops
Ladies and gentlemen, the head of the 2020 Olympics campaign.
The Original Wing
...in total seclusion, with no methods of communication to the outside world, if the rest of us are lucky.
LOL!
techall
Good mixed metaphor....it's not rocket surgery, this clown needs to go. To paraphrase LBJ vis-a-vis Gerald Ford, "Thats what you get from playing rugby without a helmet."
CrazyJoe
Mori is a walking foot-in-mouth disease. Another of Mori's faux pas.
akihase
Let's put Mori on the ice and see how he does.... hes an a-hole
Guy Fawkes
I've never wished ill will on anyone. However, in Mori's case, I'll make an exception. Japan sure does have an over abundance of know-it-all, out-of-touch old farts.
papigiulio
How on earth did THIS guy make it to become the head of the Olympic Committee? WTF
77....just retire already
Disillusioned
I'd like to see this twit get out there and do a triple axle! He's probably lined her up for a good old fashioned Japanese hazing back at the hotel too.
Knox Harrington
Sure, Mori is a little outspoken and comes across as an a-hole but what he says is correct. The girls has tried over and over and over and she just cannot win. She is simply not good enough.
I also find it hilarious (or tragic, I can't decide) that all of Japan gets all worked up over this clown (a guy everybody knows talks out loud too much) complaining over poor sports performances, yet when the equal bigger clowns at NHK spout their mouths with really offensive stuff, nobody reacts. Get your priorities straight, Japan.
Guy Fawkes
Good one! Wiping coffee off my computer as I type this! Well played, Sir!
DaveAllTogether
This guy is about as bright as a burned out light bulb.
HongoTAFEinmate
@techall
Thanks for picking up my metaphoric clanger. Realized it just AFTER hitting the submit button. What can I say, I played rugby, aka "the game they play in heaven." :)
HaraldBloodaxe
Now, will this bold samurai do the honourable thing, quit, and return to the obscurity he so richly deserves?
Or will he insist on insulting all Japan by keeping his nose in the trough?
We should be outside his offices with pitchforks and flaming torches.
What an unutterable arsehole this man really is.
Qamar
.... Great, guy who has no idea what sports is all about and to me seems to only care about how great Japan fares has no right to criticize a woman that has tried her best. When someone falls, you gotta encourage them to go further, both physically and psychologically. The way he acted is terrible.
ReformedBasher
What a moron.
Please make way for somebody more sensible.
kimuzukashiiiii
I dunno. . . I like the girl a lot, she seems sweet and is liked by the public ALOT. But she is pretty crap nowadays - she should quit while she is still somewhat ahead.
some14some
I applaud Mori for telling the plain truth.
Vincehwr
But when he's going to be in the head committee of 2020 International Olympics, this sort of embarrassment should be quickly dealt with before he opens his hole again in a bigger event humiliating the entire nation. Considering his age, the dementia is going to set in, it should be as good as now to find a new representative to replace the guy.
RomeoRII
Mori is saying what the rest of the world thinks about Asada's skating ability. Even with Japan's conservative approach in the routines presented, Asada still wound up with her butt on the ice after attempting her so-called signature move.
Time for Asada to do herself a favor and announce her retirement from ice skating.
RR
tokyoclambake
My post from the other thread on this earlier; ...she is arguably Japan's most-successful female figure skater and didn't have any problems with pressure when winning 2 World Championships, 4 Grand Prix Finals, 3 Four Continents Championships, a World Junior Championship and a Junior Grand Prix Final (and many silver and bronze medals, too)... Also, she is a member of the Olympic team and was named to the team as the best female skater Japan could put forth-if a country is not going to put out their best in the team event, why bother?
...It is not his place to criticize her or any of the other athletes; Takanashi didn't win ski jump, women's hockey team failed to win a game, etc...who cares? Every country sometimes doesn't meet expectations (Russian men's hockey, anyone?), but the athletes did their best and should be accorded the courtesy of a "Thank You," for representing their country with dignity, rather than being smacked down by a clueless, old barf mat like Mori.
KariHaruka
Alright then you old codger lets see you trying to figure skate.. I'm sure it be nice and easy for you as you wouldn't 'fall over just like that'.
The only person who has embarrassed themselves is this old fool.
JoeBigs
Maybe former PM Yoshiro Mori needs to don a pair of skates and show the world how it's done.
Love to see him try a triple Axel while wearing one of those skin tight outfits.
Oh no, the visual pain of that image will stay ingrained in my brain for a while!
upbeat7
This is so inaccurate article. The chair man didn't criticize her at all, in fact, it's opposite. He cared about her so much because she's been under pressure being expected winning the gold medal. He used a Japanese word meaning "flip over" or "turn over" if in English. But what he actually meant is the result of Team competition new from this Olympics. He thought Japan might have a chance to get a medal at least Bronze, but since Japan doesn't have any medalists in Ice Dance/Pair, it turned out to be nothing for Japan at Team competition. This "turn out" was misunderstood because a Japanese or Korean (there are many Korean immigrants) journalist was stupid enough to misunderstand him. So he didn't mean Mao's failure of triple axle. But this stupid journalist from online news in Japan took every opportunity to bash a famous politician just because he hates LDP, that's all.
nath
Hoping that was satire... but unfortunately probably not.
jforce
So what ... it's icecapades. She'll be fine. They all mess up at some point.
nath
Mr. Mori , with all due respect , she , aka, Mao , is a million times more than you are a true representative of Japanese potential and allure for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Gobshite
No surprise really, indicative of the old duffers running Japan
nath
Mori-san, you may be an old person who should be respected for age, but comments like this are completely inane and just show the world what an a'hole you are.
If you are so good as to be able to go out and figure skate and not lose then please get on the next plane to Sochi and show the rest of us how to do it. If you can't, then I respectfully ask that you shut the f up and stop lambasting pretty girls who have devoted all their life and energy into doing something and trying their best. Your idea of devoting yourself to something is paying off some other ossan to get what you want and, I really hate myself for saying this, you should hurry up and die so that the 2020 Olympics can go ahead without any of your stupid, spiteful, ill-informed nonsense!
tokyoclambake
@haraldbloodax "We should be outside his offices with pitchforks and flaming torches" Then he'd come out of his office, look around in a daze and in his best Grandpa Simpson voice say, "What are you people doing in my bedroom? Get off my lawn..." and wander off looking for his teeth...
Stewart Gale
Two points if I may;
I don't know why anyone cares about figure skating, it's rubbish. How did such a bumbling fool become head of an Olympics committee?nath
if this the remark of a person who has the responsibility of representing a nation, in the most important sporting event, an event that is supposed join the hearts of peoples across the world..
then surely, we do not deserve this opportunity. Such a callous remark, is akin to throwing asunder those who have failed.. when in reality, a nation is strengthened and emboldened by those who have failed, faced adversity and succeeded..
julia2014
Such a shameful figure. Japan seems like such a backward country with old men dictating the nation bringing only disgrace. SHAME on you MORI and dissapear forever!!
Knox Harrington
Upbeat,
Wow, long time since I heard that Japanese chestnut: "No, we are misunderstood."
Vincehwr,
Yep, you are correct. Mori, as a rep for the Tokyo Olympics should definitely have refrained from commenting on individual athlete's performance, however he felt about it.
Octagon
Asada fall on triple Axel was not only once. For the individual competition, she could take the risk as she wished for. For the team competition, her fall was not only embarrassment for herself but also her team too. She has let her team mates down.
Mori is correct to say that Asada should be excluded as member of team competition. I have been a die hard fan of her for a long time. However I realized that after seeing many errors,she is not the asset for team. She is the liability of Japan national team.
Thanks God she will retire soon.
Achernar
A crassly stupid and grossly insensitive comment from Mori, but unfortunately not a surprise. As the article states, he has past form. It is staggering how bad Japan's politicians are compared to so many other aspects of the country's people and a pity they drag it down so unnecessarily.
It is clear from remarks like this that Mori is unsuitable to be in charge of the 2020 Olympics. He should be immediately replaced by someone with more grace, experience and a more international outlook. Does Japan really want someone who doesn't "want to learn the language of the enemy" as the face of the nation for the Olympics?
Lowly
sorry to say but that kind of negativity is really common in Japan, the fair weather friend syndrome. I believe it is one of the reasons why people are always so afraid about coming up with new ideas and making suggestions. the amount and kind of criticism that comes down is awful. been there.
glad to see so many jpns criticizing Mori, tho, I believe the sheer popularity of cute little Mao holds back that negativity in this case. also think it is more symptomatic of older generations, probably younger jpn is less into that mindset. but it definitely still exists.
nath
Why does anyone care about any sport? Because it's watching someone who has focused their life on performing as best they can at some athletic endeavor, which people respect. I don't like figure skating, but I also don't like football, hockey, basketball, the other football, or any other sports. Sports are subjective, so calling it rubbish is meaningless. Your rubbish is another person's entertainment, and vice-versa.
el
Mori wasn't completely wrong; Mao IS weak under pressure, she can land her jumps perfectly in practice but when it comes to competitions she more often than not crumbles. But the full context of his remarks is even worse; a report I read had him saying basically why did they put her on for the team event and shame the nation? It's tactless and stupid - and mean. Not to mention his racist remarks about the Reeds. People like him are the kind that kept children born to Japanese mothers from getting Japanese nationality until immigration laws changed in 1985. (I think that's when it was; don't quote me).
Worse, he's the head of the 2020 Committee. All of the people on the committee are old men; there's not one woman, athlete or Paralympian. I'm assuming that he will be replaced, but let's hope he doesn't embarrass Japan before then and bring shame upon the nation.
Mirai Hayashi
This guys brain is obviously disconnected from his mouth.
Serrano
"Mori has a track record of verbal gaffes that set him apart—no mean feat in a world where senior politicians frequently voice eyebrow-raising thoughts.
In Sochi, he told a press conference he had never bothered to learn English fluently because it had been “the language of enemies” during World War II."
Hee hee!
Mao should not retire, but hone her skills over the next 4 years and blow everyone away at the next Olympics.
bruinfan
Stupid is as stupid does. I'd like to see Mr. Mori put on some skates and get out there. It would be easier to teach a wild boar to skate...
Ali Khan
This young girl won several titles for Japan, the comments from the head of the Japanese Olympics committee is unfair. I think too much public pressures and expectations pressurized her during her performance otherwise she is a wonderful talent and Japanese should be proud of her.
CGB Spender
What a douche! Maybe he should get onto the ice and try skating! Asada-san did fine, nobody's perfect!
Simona Stanzani
what a twat.
HaraldBloodaxe
Simona. Stanzani: If I could give you a million thumbs up for your most succinct appraisal, I would do so ten times.
Just magnificent.
realist
Mori was a disaster as Prime Minister of Japan. Always known for opening his gob and putting both feet right in. A very bad choice for the Tokyo Olympics. His English is appalling, too. Remember how he made a mistake addressing President Clinton, by confusing "Who are you?" with "How are you?" Clinton's response was priceless. "I'm Hillary's husband, who are you?" The further reply from Mori was totally hilarious. "Me, too!" A man like this should not be anywhere near the Tokyo Olympics. He will be a laughing stock.
Kurobune
The man's maguro has slipped plumb off his rice !
tonttu2012
Mao Asada failed us. Period.
vctokyo
Mao has so much class. If you've seen her interviews today, she's been graceful in defeat and grateful with her achievements to date. Poor lady so much pressure for such a young lady. Good luck going forward
Elbuda Mexicano
This guys needs to step down, shut up and stay away from microphones, etc..!!
spahnmatthew
Asada-san gave it her best shot; I watched her routine. Imagine the crushing pressure on her and others to perform with all eyes watching.
Congratulations, Asada-san. Folks like me appreciate your years of sacrifice and training to make the Olympics.
Memo to Mori: "Put up or shut up!"
Serrano
"Mao Asada failed us. Period."
Yeah, and over in Korea there's another group of whiners who say Kim Yu-Na failed them. Good grief...
karlrb
The comment from Upbeat7 is quite important. Is everyone responding to what he really said or an inaccurate translation of what he said? Some of his other comments leave no doubt as to his nature, but I wonder what he really said about Mao. I don't know Japanese well enough to judge (and didn't see the article with his quote in Japanese).
Stewart Gale
Remember the classic Mori gaffe. When he met Bill Clinton instead of saying "how are you?" he accidentally said "who are you?" Quick as a flash, Clinton replied "I'm Hilary's husband." What an idiot. Great comeback from Clinton though.
Kaori Georges
Typical old walking nuisance in Japan. This guy still doesn't seem to realize why he got kicked out of his PM position.
tmtmsnb
A sermon: "If you do not win, it's because you do not love your country. You betrayed the people and the media who supported you and cheered you with "Gambare! Gambare!!" till their vocal cords broke and their typewriter worn out, yet you heartlessly let them down, so you are ostracized with a Mura Hachibu---as good as dead in a Japan society."
In nature programs you watch the defenceless, fearful, constantly nervous small animals suddenly drop dead when face to face with the fierce-looking bloody big mouth of a predator. Some commentators say the animal pretends dead. It is not. It simply "can't think, can't feel, can't move, it's as good as dead". It's a state of suspended animation, of apparent death---temporarily, yet really dead.
What saved Mao the second day around is: "I'm already "dead" in my own country. Can I be more dead? To **** with it!!"
highball7
LOL!!!!
Another Japan politicians with foot in mouth disease.
You people seriously need to reflect on your political acumen and judgment on voting in these geezers as leaders of Japan.
Mao-chan should get up and slap that old "gigi" across the face and let him know what's up. How that heck did this guy get the top post for the Tokyo Summer Olympics game in 2020? Mori does not possess the spirit of the Olympics games or sports in general. He should excuse himself and go back to living in shame or with those prostitutes that he so loved.
Goodness, is there any capable or sensible Japanese political leader at all? What's wrong with you people?
danalawton1@yahoo.com
The reverence for the Sempai - Kohai relationship in Japan breeds too many Sempai's that become full of themselves due to too many Kohai's brown nosing them. No matter how stupid the remark a Sempai makes, the Kohai will laugh and encourage, thus lulling the Sempai into a false sense of reality.
Louis Tan
Whoever Shinzo Abe puts in charge of any event or organization is a failure. Tokyo will not have its 2020 Olympics. It will never happen.
JohnDigsJapan
In a country where the PMs quit left and right, this guy should fall on his sword and do the same. He even agrees he may not be alive to see the games....
shanabelle
Stupid oaf just who just keeps on keeping on. Show him the door please.
samwatters
“I am going on 77 this year,” Mori told a seminar. “I am destined to live five or six more years if I am lucky.”
Don't stick around on our account. You won't be missed. Not for a second.
jerseyboy
This coming from a man who continually embarrassed himself and his country while he was PM. And now J-Inc. gives him the chance to do so again has head of Tokyo 2020. Lord, Japan really is starving for real leaders.
Open Minded
In the Alzheimer Olympics Japan leaders would make all gold medals!
slumdog
Stewart,
Mori is such a moron that I almost wish that story was true, but it isn't.
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_areyou%3F%E6%8D%8F%E9%80%A0%E5%A0%B1%E9%81%93
kcjapan
“That girl, she always falls over whenever it’s important,” Mori sniped
Shameful.
The depth of insensitivity, entitlement and distain Mori expresses is shameful. To publicly shame an athlete who spent countless hours in training (and with injuries), who strove for the highest level of competition is nothing less than shameful. Mori embarrasses himself, his office, the body charged with organizing the 2020 summer Games and Japan.nath
This morning when the news was on, I wasn't really paying attention, but my wife suddenly said 'hidoi ne' (that's harsh) when they were reporting Mori's comments. So whatever it was he said, it wasn't nice in Japanese either.
Thunderbird2
What a total waste of space that man is. Love to see him try and even skate in a straight line, let alone perform complex movements. Muppet.
purple rose
No, it isn't. Goodness, even now someone brought this "Who are you"-to-Clinton joke even these days! I heard this story from a Japanese Rakugo-Ka many years ago, as a beginning joke of his performance to warm up the audience. It went like this. Mori wasn't really a good English speaker, but Mori wanted to do his best, so one of his staff told him what to say in the first few minutes in greeting Clinton then his interpreter would intervene. When he was meeting Clinton Mori just had to remember two sentences "How are you?" and "Me too." to follow after Clinton would say "I'm fine.How are you?". Then there is Clinton. Mori became so nervous, then he slipped the first sentence then made a mistake asking Clinton "Who are you?", this question surprised Clinton as so unexpected, but recovering from it, he replied with a smile. "I'm Hilary's husband." This time Mori correctly said, "Me too.".
Open Minded
And this guy is in charge of the 2020 Olympics? Wow! But at least he made a clear point: Olympics are not a sport event, but a political one! Naives: please wake up!
tmtmsnb
"hidoi", generally more "cruel" than "harsh".
kaimycahl
To all the Asada haters
you can barely walk let alone on ice, IF you got drunk you fall so stop hating!! Why say such rude things about a young lady who has a talent ! Just to make the Olympics should be an honor.
cleo
NOONE who gets as far as the Olympics in the first place is 'pretty crap'.
Lots of Japanese are pretty upset about what he said, and they aren't relying on translations. The moron said exactly what people are saying he said. Apparently his office and the office of the Japanese IOC have been inundated with (mostly angry) phone calls.
nath
You say potato...
wildwest
Dementia seems to be the norm among the appointed, and may say some elected?
purple rose
So whatever it was he said, it wasn't nice in Japanese either.
Your wife should read this article.
http://biz-journal.jp/2014/02/post_4198.html
Full of his speech.
http://www.tbsradio.jp/ss954/2014/02/post-259.html
"A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes."
Mark Twaintoshiko
yokattaFEB. 21, 2014 - 04:23PM JST Mori say's "Who are you?" Mao say's "I'm the figure skater who won a silver medal at the Vancouver Olympics" Mori says, "me too".
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Yokota wrote how Mori talks with Foreign dignitary. Clinton answered :I am husband of Hiilary Clinton" and he said "me tpp"/ There are many gaffes he said in Japanese language during his campaign and short term PM. He is now enjoying limelight for his comments got plenty attention.
Tom Webb
Another fine example of an idiot Japanese official.
Guy Fawkes
It has multitude meanings. Back to the books.
Tahoochi
Well, it's a good thing Mao either doesn't read the news, or doesn't care what an old fart has to say, because as it states in the article, she came back with a near perfect performance in the free-skate. Good for you Mao! That guy has absolutely no idea what he's saying.
Guy Fawkes
*multiple meanings.
gelendestrasse
Well, Mori skated out of being PM into another cushy establishment job....but he doesn't know diddly about actual skating. Probably doesn't really know what it takes for an athlete to compete at that level. Probably does know about handing out taxpayer money to the old boys network to build new stadiums, etc. Too bad he hasn't learned how to keep his mouth shut. If I had to pick one of them to have lunch with it wouldn't be Mori.
toshiko
In Sochi, he told a press conference he had never bothered to learn English fluently because it had been “the language of enemies” during World War II.
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
During WW II, he was in elementary school. English had never been an elementary school curriclum. By the time he entered Jr HS, English was mandatory.
Saketown
Mori remembers English.
He tugged on my Grandpa's Dungarees and said, "Hey Joe, give me chocolate!".
This guy has just become a Huge Liability at Tokyo retaining the 2020 Olympics.
tokyodoumo
Why is a politician who knows nothing about the sports and the athletes become a boss of the olympic committee? It's clear he's in it for his legacy and not for the athletes.
Triumvere
No. You failed her. You're a fair-weather fan who only cares about the medal count and has no regard for the individual athletes.
sf2k
What an idiot. Japanese athletes deserve better
toshiko
Mori became President of the Japan Rugby Football Union in June 2005. It had been hoped his clout would help secure the 2011 Rugby Union World Cup for Japan, but instead the event was awarded to New Zealand in late November 2005. This led former PM Yoshiro Mori to accuse the Commonwealth of Nations countries of "passing the ball around their friends." Mori later assisted in Japan's successful bids for both the 2019 Rugby World Cup and 2020 Summer Olympics
In 2014, at the age of 76, he was appointed to head the organizing committee for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. He quipped that "I am destined to live five or six more years if I am lucky. This will be my one last service to the country."
But he is not familiar with other sport.
KojiWada
TokyoGas, don't worry. Mori is 77, I doubt he's going to live much longer. Let nature take it's course.
Even if Mao skated clean, the best she would have won was bronze. The only way she could have won gold was to land 4 triple axels in the free skate. Since that wasn't in her program, the best she could have done was bronze.
Fadamor
So... how many Olympic medals has this moron won for Japan? Until he can do better than the athletes, he should shut his trap.
Sensato
Here is the direct quote from Mori in Japanese: "米国に住んでいる。(米国代表として)五輪出場の実力はなかったが、帰化させて日本選手団として出した"
What this article failed to mention is that Mori asserted that the Reeds had "naturalized" to gain a spot on Japan's team, which is utterly false — they have been Japanese citizens their whole lives — and highly offensive, particularly to families like mine with Japanese bi-cultural children who do not have Japanese last names. I really feel down on Japan when I regularly hear these sorts of bigoted remarks from the nation's 'elite.'
Major League Baseball export Yu Darvish tweeted: “He doesn’t understand what sport is all about.”
I am glad Yu spoke out. He is an exemplary Japanese citizen and a hero for the nation's bi-cultural community.
sfjp330
What Mori said is very common in Japanese society. Unfortunately Mori did not realize that he was inadvertently telling Japanese kids to fear losing and failure. I can’t think of a worse curse to put on your children than this. There is nothing more crippling in life than to be afraid of failing. No wonder many of the young students in Japan commit suicide or attempt suicide because of extreme pressure that is put on them to succeed in schools and jobs. If you’re afraid to fail, then you won’t take risks. If you don’t take risks in your life, you’ll never make anything significant happen. It’s should be presented as a learning experience, rather than a cause for embarrassment and humiliation.
bruinfan
Mori can continue to live an easily life of luxury, being honored by a few fools. He will continue saying stupid things, but the price will be being despised by most Japanese and nearly all foreigners that know about him. Not worth it in my book, but he may be too stupid/ detached from those who have dreams to care. Mao, on the other hand, will still be loved by millions.
tmtmsnb
"Guy FawkesFEB. 22, 2014 - 02:03AM JST "hidoi", generally more "cruel" than "harsh". It has multitude meanings. Back to the books"
"Hidoi" could be about cruel languages or cruel characters--something fundamental, than about harsh words or harsh attitudes--more incidental, as one could also produce mild talks, sweet talks, etc depending on situations. So "That's cruel" could be your wife's intended meaning (ask her). Nowadays "hidoi" is used in situations ranging from jesting (from a female feigned madness) to criticism, as above.
mnogaki
What a boob--how they could let someone who clearly doesn't "get" sports and the heart of the athelete to be in charge of the biggest sports spectacle in the world is beyond.
toshiko
His action is iji-waru..... mean, nasty, not hidoi.,,,,, person is iji no warui hito/ or iji ga warui hito.
I
Patricia Lockwood
These skaters are under a lot of pressure and was figured to win gold. Her consideration was off,happens to all. Should be glad she got a medal.She put in long hard practicing. share her medal with her,don't down her.
Fukuppy
He does have a point though. If you mollycoddle, support, worship and pour money into a competitor for your country in the biggest international sporting event in the world, you expect that person to come up with the goods.
fanofjapan2005
Sighclops wrote: "Ladies and gentlemen, the head of the 2020 Olympics campaign." Can we assume, following that introduction, that the head was served -- on a platter?
Fukuppy
Her outwardly expressed confidence is an unusual Japanese trait. Isn't the normal way to be all 'tondemonai' and self-depreciating? Ah well, another Winter Olympics done with. Now onto the World Cup.
mmwkdw
Is this really true ?
lucabrasi
That's why my German sucks... language of the enemy ; )
toshiko
@mmwkdvi: No, he did not learn English durin WW II because he was in an elementary school. By the time he entered in Jr HS, English was taught through Jr Hs. 5 units (tani( a week. And he went HS, then Waseda Univ, English was taught. If you fail English test in Univ entrance exam, you were not accepted. He spoke in English to foreign dignitaries when he was PM oce upon a time. He even knew how to joke. (even though bad taste).
isoducky
It's lovely what a tactless old man can say when he knows his time has passed. A xenophobic reactionary is just what Japan needs to encourage the world to visit it's boarders. With his logic he really should never praise Ken Nishikori, Ichiro Suzuki, and Koji Murofushi. All of them have trained, or continue to train in the US. Finally from athletics standpoint, the necessity to bring 'foreigners' in a team is not a symbol charity by the host nation but more like a lack in depth by the host nation's program.
nishikat
Did anyone ever study the full context of what Mori said? I am not a listener of Japanese. But this evening an adult student of mine who is Japanese said just taking that comment out of its context sounds bad but listening to the full version of what he said does not sound as controversial as everyone is saying -- or what is being reported. Don't slam me for saying this (especially if you don't understand Japanese as much as a native speaker would). But can anyone (who is Japanese or who knows Japanese very fluently) comment on the whole context of what Mori said. I do agree Mr. Mori is not exactly the best man for the job but from listening to the whole thing he said can he be given a break, somewhat?
Sherman
Here is her press conference video last week at FCCJ http://www.fccj.or.jp/news-and-views/club-news-multimedia/396-mao-asada-mori-may-regret-his-comments.html