'Scary moms' power Japanese figure skating

People from Aichi are crazy...

Scary Mums are a good thing?! Sounds more like pushy parents to me, Like with that table tennis player Ai chan -I saw footage of her aged 3 crying her eyes out while she hit practice ball after practice ball, with her mother looking on angrily. Is it really worth it? She hasn't won a major title as far as I'm aware-just a team bronze at the last Olympics I believe.

I am bored of this kind of articles. It will not help the world to be better.

They're no worse than scary soccer parents in the US who scream at the kids and get into brawls when the game isn't going their way.

Those 'scary mothers' are a plague, and the same people who gripe about 'vacations' and loss of taxes when the person they literally demand gets gold does not. Happened last ti,e with Mao, and thanks to these parasites it may happen again. How about these old ladies slap on some skates and show us all how it's done? They beat Mao, THEN they can complain and be 'scary,.

I live near an ice skating rink in central Tokyo. I often leave the house at 6 a.m. to go to work and I invariably see mothers taking their daughters to the rink as I pass by. This happens all throughout the year, not just during vacation periods. These girls may genuinely want to skate themselves silly and then go to school for a full day of studying but I suspect that some of these moms may be imposing their will on their daughters.

I'm afraid none of these skaters have any chance at a gold medal. Perhaps bronze for Suzuki but that's about it.

Not hating, but being realistic.

What's wrong with a parent giving their child some direction? I was brought up with a lassiez-faire type attitude and as an adult now I think my parents were wrong to take such a "whatever" attitude.

Obviously its a different matter if parents are abusing their child, but since when is encouraging your child to do their best in sports a kind of abuse?

I have skated many times at the OSU rink in Nagoya where all these champions trained. I have two comments. One, the rink is full of smiling young figure skaters every day of the week. I have never seen anyone being pushed against their will, in fact quite the opposite. Second, if you saw how bad that facility was (until last year when they renovated) you would be surprised that any competent skaters were ever produced there - never mind world champions. I once saw dead grass in the corner between the boards and the ice.

This article smells like more JT Japan bashing to me.

I watched a documentary about "skate moms" in South Korea. Since Kim Yu-na won the gold and became a national treasure in SK the rinks have been literally packed with young skaters (some not older than tots) trying to become the next Kim. The building was full of mothers screaming at their daughters (and each other). Most were saying things like "you have to become famous so we can get a lot of money and buy a big house"' Now, if you wanna talk about scary, you should have seen these harpies.

Nice pic. i would like to see the same pic but with the 3 mums also.

This article is pushing into Bode Miller/intrusive topic territory. Strange that it doesn't mention that Japan's leading skater, Mao Asada, was at an international competition when her own mother passed away not so long ago! Pretty insensitive to start asking Mao's teammate about skaters' mothers.

Mao-san, Kanako-san, and Akiko-san, Ganbarre ! To heck with the doubters ! Ganbarre !

Well I guess these moms have to focus on something since they aren't focusing on a career... Kyoikumamas or sports mothers exist all over the world but I do find they take it just that one step further here. Kids are well known to cry at practise here and many hate the sport they are expected to perfect. Frankly, I feel sorry for the kids. As mentoned, was it worth it for Ai and all the other kids that won't become great? Expectations and guiding are one thing, screaming at a crying kid is another.

If Mao can land three triple axels, three triple lutzes and three double toeloops, she might have a chance to score more points than Queen Yu-Na.

since they aren't focusing on a career

Yes, yes, we get it tmarie. Any woman not focused on a career is an object of scorn for you.

Expectations and guiding are one thing, screaming at a crying kid is another

And you have evidence that the mothers of these three young ladies "screamed at their crying children"? You do realize you are insulting the deceased here, right? Unbelievable.

I guess these moms have to focus on something since they aren't focusing on a career...

If you're not in the rat race, you're nowhere?

The only thing in life worth doing is earning money?

I agree. Thinking that women have to work, is just as sexist as saying women have to stay in the kitchen. True feminism is recognizing that women should be able to do whichever they have the means and desire to do. Pigeonholing them into one or the other is not recognizing them as human beings.

I think the term is actually "monster parents". I've heard students call their parents that, in English.

Careers aren't always about making money Cleo. I just find it sad that so many women put unrealitic demands on their kids - who in many cases, are not enjoying the sport they have been forced to do. If mommy has a dream, mommy an do the training, not expect her kid to do it.

Hiding, have you ever spent time around sports and parents here? Screaming and crying is rather normal. Sadly. It isn't just skating either.

Stranger, I agree but there is a serious issue when women here have no other identity than being a wife and mom. Putting their entire focus on creating a star is not fair to the kid.

there is a serious issue when women here have no other identity than being a wife and mom.

What's wrong with having their identity being a wife and a mom? Some women have no other identity than their job. A wife and a mother is a job as well, and taking pride in it is a good thing, not a bad thing. I'm not sure what the problem here is.

Putting their entire focus on creating a star is not fair to the kid.

I would agree with this, but it is a separate issue than the one you mentioned above.

Nothing wrong with taking pride in it at all but when your sole existance is related to someone else, things won't be so good when /if the someone else doesn't need them anymore. Been plenty of article about depression in women and why. One main theme is that many women have their identity attached to someone else - usually husband or kids. Not having something that is independant of family is a huge factor.

How is it a sperate issue? This IS the issue, no? There is supporting the kid - most parents want their kids to do well - but then there is the "scary moms" - you'll notice it's moms, not parents, right? See above.

Nothing wrong with taking pride in it at all but when your sole existance is related to someone else, things won't be so good when /if the someone else doesn't need them anymore.

People change. Just because a woman ties her identity up as being a mother and a wife when the kids are young doesn't mean she will continue to do that forever.

How is it a sperate issue? This IS the issue, no? There is supporting the kid - most parents want their kids to do well - but then there is the "scary moms" - you'll notice it's moms, not parents, right? See above.

All scary mothers are moms, does not equate to all mothers being scary moms. Which is why it's a separate issue. A mother can be a working mom, and still be scary and yelling at her kids. It has nothing to do with with her being a housewife, and everything to do with the type of woman she is. This is why it's a separate issue.

I do NOT think the word "scary" is the suitable word for this.. the word "scary" was probably a literal translation of the word "kowai" but the kowai moms are not actually scary moms.. they are more like enthusiasm moms to push their children to their best. Look at the results of those "scary/enthusiasm" moms - they aren't just scary but I'm sure they've been fighting with their daughters :)

People change. Just because a woman ties her identity up as being a mother and a wife when the kids are young doesn't mean she will continue to do that forever. Indeed but not all moms DO continue to do this - you might want to read the parasite single article posted today.

No one has suggested that all moms are scary moms. We're disucssing the scary moms here, certainly not all moms. If you think these mothers that this article is discussing are not housewives, be my guest.

Fishy, disagree. There is enthusiastic moms and then there are the scary moms. Kyoiku mamas and sports mothers are frightening - in any culture.

There is enthusiastic moms and then there are the scary moms

And you are qualified to make the distinction based on some isolated viewing of the interaction between parent and child?

There's a reason Western cultures are getting their asses kicked by the Asian cultures when it comes to scholastic achievement.

Mental abuse of any form is unacceptable. But unless you have evidence that "scary" equates to abusive, I think your conclusions here are suspect.

You're all over the place. We're discussing sports, not scholastic ability - and if you really want to go there, you might want to take a look at the recent ranking and comments about the ranking. Lack of critical thinking is a huge issue in Asian societies and last I checked, Japan wasn't doing so hot. But I guess Japan is the same as China and Korea and all other Asian nations, right? Be sure to let them know that eh?

Am I qualified? I think when you see kids crying and a mom screaming at them, yep. Not rocket science is it?

And you've bumped it up to abusive? How about you stick your goal posts somewhere and keep them there. That's now abuse claims and academics in a sport's thread. Nice.

We're discussing sports, not scholastic ability.

You are the one who brought up "kyoiku-mamas", not me. Twice. Are you suggesting that term is limited to ice-skaters?

And you've bumped it up to abusive?

Bumped it up? You keep referencing all the "screaming" you apparently see on a daily basis. Its obvious you think that's abuse. I'm agreeing with you on that, just questioning the frequency with which it occurs. What's the problem?

I gave them as an example of how some women are indeed scary and Kyoiku mamas and "scary sports moms" are pretty much cut from the same cloth in terms of unreal expectations towards their kids. Results of scholastic tests was not brought up by myself. And again, you might want to check those out. The 80s and 90s are over.

And I've claimed daily have I? Care to point out where?

The problem is you can't stick to what I've written.

Screaming and crying is rather normal.

Normal, daily ... whatever. I think I'm sticking exactly to what you wrote.

And I don't appreciate you suggesting I've taken the topic off course with one small comment about scholastics after you went on (another) tirade against housewives and totally derailed the thread.

Not exactly what I wrote. And what "tirade"??