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Sun apologizes for 'ugly' anthem jibe

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He didn't apologize for it, he said he was sorry the media reported it. Two very different things.

10 ( +15 / -5 )

@combinibento

You must be lost in translation. He apolgized. Let it go and move on.

-16 ( +7 / -22 )

+1 does not appear to be a real apology. It seems he didn't think people could get translations of what he was saying to Chinese media.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

"About the anthem, I'm sorry that some media reported that"

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Hope he concentrate on swimming now. I don;t know how he said in Chinese but it seems he is regretting his stupidity.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

His apology comes so much faster than some professional Japanese politicians. Yet!

-12 ( +5 / -17 )

He knows he screwed up and that's what's important. Back to the games...

3 ( +6 / -3 )

He didn't apologize for it, he said he was sorry the media reported it.

You must be lost in translation. He apolgized.

The translation used in this article (I’m sorry that some media reported that) would seem to say he was sorry that his comments were reported, not that he was sorry for the comments. Of course, without knowing the original Chinese, it's hard to say what he was actually apologizing for, this could be a bad translation.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

But of course it was a "misunderstanding." It always is, isn't it?

6 ( +6 / -0 )

What an awfully bad written text!

Sorry. But hey, it goes from Sun apology to the ban of a female basketball team, goes back to Sun again and finishes with a weightlifting report. Really, the headline is all about Sun apologizing...

2 ( +2 / -0 )

"China’s Sun Yang apologized for calling Japan’s national anthem “ugly” Friday."

Strictly speaking the AFP writer interpreted his comments as an apology. The actual quotes in the article (in my opinion) don't rise to the level of an apology.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Most anthems are pretty "ugly" as music and rhetoric, though the old Soviet Union anthem was easy on the ears.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I'd guess that he was ordered to say something by some official. That would be a good sign that China is trying to maintain even relations with Japan. Now if something could be done about Abe.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Most anthems do not sound as good as one's own.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

“About the anthem, I’m sorry that some media reported that,”

So thoughtful of him to apologize on behalf of the media for their having reported his comments. Perhaps he might someday consider apologizing for his own words or actions.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

There you go, he said he is "sorry that some media reported it." Could it be that if it wasn't reported, he wouldn't be sorry for saying it? Besides, he said he is sorry because it was reported, not that sorry because it came from his mouth.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

"Maybe there was some misunderstanding about that. I don't really know about other countries' anthems," he added. "But every swimmer wants to listen to their own national anthem."

Translation: "I am sorry people heard what I said and I still don't like other nations anthems."

Stellar example of Communist diplomacy.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Stellar example of Communist diplomacy.

More like Asian diplomacy, as this is almost exactly the same type of apology you hear coming out of Japan.

1 ( +8 / -7 )

If I were playing the Chinese and Korean game, I'd say he hasn't apologized enough

3 ( +8 / -5 )

I didn't know that cricket was now part of the Asian Games. A good inclusion. Anyone know how the Japanese mens team fared?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

"Apology" not accepted, since it wasn't an apology so much as a justification for the original comments made. Sun is a prime example of the infantile attitude an alarming number of Chinese, young and old, demonstrate when faced with anything having to do with Japan. He's a snot-nosed brat, is what he is, and he's tarnished the sport of swimming with not only his his immaturity, but also his ignorance.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Cricket does indeed sound like a great addition. India and Pakistan are nuts about it. Not really sure about Koreans in Incheon or the Japanese though.....

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Why do muslim people always seem to insist that rules be changed to accommodate them?

Why can't they adapt to the rules?

It often seems that they demand special treatment.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

This ugly guy should be banned from future international events since he does not belong there. A damn ignorant and uneducated communist Chinese person. The trashy language of his belongs to a low end trashy person. Here is one for you, Chinese still honor Mao Tse Tung- the mass murder in millions without trial during bloody cultural revolution. Stay in China and sing praise to chairman Mao, that is where he belongs.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

sfjp330Sep. 27, 2014 - 07:09AM JST

@combinibento

You must be lost in translation. He apolgized. Let it go and move on.

Saying he was sorry the media reported it is no apology. Just like a criminal who is sorry he got caught.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

LeChatBotte: "If I were playing the Chinese and Korean game, I'd say he hasn't apologized enough"

Well, if you akin someone saying they don't like another's song to the slaughter of MILLIONS of people and praise for those who did it, then yes. On the level of just not being sincere when apologizing, and the need for sincere apologies, then you are correct that Japan is no different.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

It's good that Japan plays this cool. If it was the opposite situation then we'd likely see anti-Japan riots in China.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Sun's remarks are typical trash talk that many Chinese spout without forethought. I have had many Chinese customers who are so selfish and rude you have to bite your lips till they bleed but its their way and maybe In a few thousand years their culture will progress to a level of civility on par with other first world countries. For now it doesn't really matter, Sun still lives in a third rate communist country and I dont.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

smithinjapan

if you akin someone saying they don't like another's song to the slaughter of MILLIONS of people

This is not just "another's song" but a national anthem. He's just expressing primal hatred resulting from an education based on ideological brainwashing.

Funny you should mention the slaughter of millions of people hen talking about Communist China. I wonder what is behind that quasi-adoration for Mao Zedong ....not.

And yes, it is actually about marking the difference between the Japanese athletes being able to take the higher road and that really classless Chinese delegation.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

What the previous article did NOT mention and what will definitely disappoint a lot of the posters who commented on this and the previous article is that many of Sun's countrymen also blasted him and criticized him for his nationalistic and stupid comments. But don't let that get in the way of rubbishing 1 billion other people. Leave the racist remarks to people like tinawatanabe and bgood41.

This guy obviously needs more moral guidance as he's had other problems before (associated with being a young star thrust into the limelight). I happen to think the Japanese anthem sounds morbid and fit for a funeral. It needs to be jazzed up and there's a reason why many Japanese teachers don't like it. But it's not my or his place to say so in public. What he said in public wasn't nice but not illegal. It's not as if he stole a camera(!)

Hawkeye:

Have you actually been to China? You'll be surprised, even after several decades of communism which threw manners out of the window (manners were deemed bourgeoisie), there are still plenty of people who have morals and are well-mannered. I've been there and I've seen them with my own eyes. Try it sometime.

pc3eta:

It's funny you should mention the word thief! Have you heard?

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

JoeBigs: "Stellar example of Communist diplomacy."

LeChatBotte: "This is not just "another's song" but a national anthem. He's just expressing primal hatred resulting from an education based on ideological brainwashing. And yes, it is actually about marking the difference between the Japanese athletes being able to take the higher road and that really classless Chinese delegation."

So, then, since you guys are blaming all Chinese, the system, and values of Chinese people, how do you feel about the Japanese player actually committing a crime and stealing a camera from the poolside? "stellar example of diplomacy"? "Japanese athletes being able to take the higher road that really classless (sic) Chinese delegation"? Come on, guys! Let's hear your logic and comments about the high road and the nations that reflect upon these athletes.

Suddenly... silence.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

NEW, from the People's Daily:

"We only managed to overwhelm them in freestyle events. Actually the Japanese are very good in butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and even medley events," Sun said at the press conference on Friday, "I think the Japanese have a lot for us to learn."

Sun seems to be more retrospetive now.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

He said, I don;t really know about other countries' anthems

chinese media reported first? Not Japanese mediia or Korean media?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

One of the worst apologies ever. I mean, I didn't expect a sincere one anyway, he's a hero to his communist government and many in China. It's sick how mainstream hate can be.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Very sad for the Qatar women's basketball team! They were the ONLY MUSLIM country to send a female team, and these ASIAN GAMES tell them they can not play with their head scarves?? WTF??!!! What the hell do they care if these young ladies are trying to play B BALL with headscarves or not!!!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

"Sun apologizes for 'ugly' anthem jibe."

Yes, it's not their anthem. It's the Japanese people who cannot recognize seriousness of their past war crimes. There are many Japanese who are normal, apologetic and regretful of their past crimes.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

my second posting on JT after years of being absent. seems like it got worst : the China/Chinese bashing by both JT and their followers (the closet-nationalist Japanese and like-minded Japanophiles, along with the gullible "I love Japan" minions).

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

It avoided fresh controversy at the tournament in Incheon, South Korea after Qatar's women's basketball team flew home because they were not allowed to play wearing headscarves.

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Hope Japan Olymoic will not goof against Moslem County customs.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

It's good that Japan plays this cool. If it was the opposite situation then we'd likely see anti-Japan riots in China.

Oh absolutely. The communists would go mental if a Japanese athlete had insulted them or caused them to lose face.

And Sun's words (as represented here) fall laughably short of an apology. The guy is obviously a dickhead.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

hidingout: " The communists would go mental if a Japanese athlete had insulted them or caused them to lose face."

Oh, did Japan lose face here? I know they lost face because one of their swimmers committed a crime and was expelled from the delegate (ahem, high horse arguments, anyone?), but the whole nation lost face because of the moronic comments on a Chinese swimmer and his horrible 'apology'? Surely the team can rise above it and the nation shrug and not go 'mental', as you say, like many posters on here are.

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

Surely the team can rise above it and the nation shrug and not go 'mental', as you say, like many posters on here are.

Sure. Japan can, and they did. We both know it would be a far different story if someone dared insult the commies.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@choiwaruoyajiSEP. 27, 2014 - 11:19AM JST

Why do muslim people always seem to insist that rules be changed to accommodate them?

Why can't they adapt to the rules?

It often seems that they demand special treatment.

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Qatar team did not insist that rules be changed.

They adapted basket ball rules.

They haven;t demanded special treatment,

They just wanted to wear scarfs like girls wear different color lipsticks or tie long hair on back of their neck.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Saying one is misunderstood, is not the same as saying one is sorry for having insulted another. The issue here is not whether the Japanese anthem can subjectively be considered as "ugly", but Sun's sportsmanship. Sportsmanship is defined as "Sportsmanship (or sometimes sportspersonship) is an aspiration or ethos that a sport or activity will be enjoyed for its own sake, with proper consideration for fairness, ethics, respect, and a sense of fellowship with one's competitors." "Sportsmanship is an enduring and relatively stable characteristic or disposition such that individuals differ in the way they are generally expected to behave in sport situations. In general, sportsmanship refers to virtues such as fairness, self-control, courage, and persistence,[3] and has been associated with interpersonal concepts of treating others and being treated fairly, maintaining self-control if dealing with others, and respect for both authority and opponents. " in maligning the Japanese anthem, he displayed a lack of respect towards his fellow opponent Japanese sportsmen, and therefore, a lack of sportsmanship. Did he properly apologize to them for his rude and disrespectful comments that generated more hate? The answer is clearly No.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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