Fukuda congratulates Uchishiba for giving courage, confidence to Japanese people

Monday 11th August, 01:17 PM JST

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Latest 15 of 21 Total Comments Show All

Mark_McCracken at 08:07 PM JST - 11th August

That explains the sudden boost of courage and confidence I felt the other day. It was from Michael Phelps winning his gold metal.
serindipity at 08:31 PM JST - 11th August

Sad that 127 million people have no courage or confidence without one person winning a gold medal. The fella that won a gold in the breast stroke was as surprised as the rest of the world. Good on him! He is adding more courage and confidence to an otherwise cowardly and timid society....... Isn't that what the prime minister is saying?
thepro at 08:38 PM JST - 11th August

Hopefully the next time I see someone fall off their bike then the other Japanese people on the street won't just walk by and pretend they didn't see - cause now they have courage and confidence.
yabits at 09:10 PM JST - 11th August

Another stellar example of why politicians do so much to undermine and otherwise suck the joy out of any experience. All with the best of intentions.
Ah_so at 09:37 PM JST - 11th August

Yesterday my wife was a pathetic, timid creature. Hearing the news of this gold however, she was transformed into a courageous, confident woman, brimming with Yamato spirit.

Thank you Masato for this. And thanks also Fukuda for explaining what brought about this transformation.

I also am so happy that Japan is on the medal table, because I really want to watch endless re-runs of the moment of victory rather than watching live Olympic events.
OssanULTRA at 09:58 PM JST - 11th August

"Sad that 127 million people have no courage or confidence without one person winning a gold medal. The fella that won a gold in the breast stroke was as surprised as the rest of the world."

Where did it say in the article that the entire population of Japan had no courage or confidence? I'd think it would be pretty hard for any country or society to function like that.

And that fella...you mean gthe one who'se been saying he's going to take the Gold and set a new workd record for the last couple months? And took the Gold at Athens 4 years ago? What planet do you hail from?
lipscombe at 10:00 PM JST - 11th August

make him PM then
Triple888 at 10:12 PM JST - 11th August

How does Japan rely on Olympic golds for confidence and courage is beyond me. Japanese nationalism still lives on!
bamboohat at 10:51 PM JST - 11th August

I understand the politician part. Like someone said before, coattails and all that. What I don't get is the part about the wife saying "Thank you" over the phone. Not: Honey I'm proud of you! or, Oh Baby I knew you could do it! or, I'm so happy for you!

but

Thanks? WTF?
yupa at 11:33 PM JST - 11th August

Receiving courage and motivation from someones action and "requiring" others actions to get motivated are two completely different things.
usaexpat at 11:46 PM JST - 11th August

It's nice for the PM to congratulate and praise a gold medal athlete. These athletes make us all proud although of course I have to cheer for both Japan and the US. The games are off to a great start. Triple888 the games are friendly competition with a spirit of nationalism or do you cheer for random countries rather than your own?
chibaman at 11:55 PM JST - 11th August

bamboohat, maybe she was thanking him for all the extra yen that is rolling in now, and they can finally go to Hawaii. Their relationship seems dysfunctional at best, her and the son straight out the door and on to the plane home after the gold medal win, no congratulations or here embrace your son, not to mention me. TV Commentators were surprised but didn't want to touch this, and one of them even went so far as to say 'You can't touch this.' No that last part is not true.
roomtemperature at 01:24 AM JST - 12th August

"He was still surprised, wasn't he?"

No, he wasn't. Still in Japan he said he was going to take the gold medal. And he did. I tell you, he's from another planet!
bamboohat at 10:50 AM JST - 12th August

Uchishiba ain't got nothing on this guy:

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news?slug=reu-indiareaction_pix&prov=reuters&type=lgns

single, 25 y/o Indian dude, FIRST INDIA GOLD MEDAL EVER he's gonna get some mad props...
rajakumar at 11:40 AM JST - 13th August

Uchishiba needs Fukuda's praises, it is good for Uchisiba's hard work in getting medal.