Mixed fortunes for Japan in judo, swimming, gymnastics, badminton

Sunday 10th August, 07:19 AM JST

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TRUTHxHURTS at 12:35 PM JST - 10th August

Part 2 Why I hate it. It's difficult and sometimes immpossible for an amateur to play. For example The USA (NBA) Basketball Team. They won the BRONZE. They are the highest paid basketball players in the WORLD and they couldn't even get a Silver Medal. They got the Bronze Medal in Athens. it was probably EGO and ARROGANCE. If they repeat the same this year. I think the future USA BASKETBALL TEAM should be amateurs. I do not want to even see college students play. I want to see American Amateurs to play. Or make it competative. Amateurs vs. College players. That would be nice to see.
USNinJapan2 at 12:39 PM JST - 10th August

smithinjapan

It's great to have hope, but one has to be realistic and at least expect that their hero may NOT win.

Right, and it certainly doesn't help your chances when you send in an athlete like Tani who isn't even the current national champion and didn't deserve to be chosen for the Olympic team. If I were a Japanese Olypmic athlete I would hate the Japanese media...
moonbeams at 12:51 PM JST - 10th August

I caught the first half of the volleyball game last night. As a short guy, I was rooting for Japan.

It upset me how the announcers were blaming Japan's losses on the height of the Americans. The problem seemed to be strategy, or lack of a feasible one.

Forgive my armchair comments, but I couldn't help to notice that the Japanese team formed a "block wall" in front of the net. The ball would go over the hands and land in the open space behind them because they had three players standing in front of the net.

Another strategy problem seemed to be that the Japanese team was not prepared for blocks. It seemed as if they thought as long as they spiked the ball over the net , they would win. I wonder if any coach thought about training the team by drawing a net on a giant wall that would simulate any block. That would train the team to react.

As for the hight excuse..

Japan scored several accidental points when their ball fell just over the net, with less power than a bunt from baseball. The Americans were open here.. why not turn that into a strategy?

They should have had Tani on the volleyball team. She is quick on her feet. Maybe it was nervousness, but from the television it seemed that the team was stiff.
ExPrinceska at 01:27 PM JST - 10th August

The american volleyball team looked very disorganized at some moments. The Japanese women were better in the combinations but lacked power. The Japanese team led in the result several times and the american team did not look good at some moments. I do not think the american team will go forward and win a medal.
ExPrinceska at 01:37 PM JST - 10th August

But it was funny how the commentators said that americans do not have technque but "tada takasa dake"
European1 at 03:27 PM JST - 10th August

i love to watch them cry. why is it that it is almost only the japanese who cry when they lose? my wife says it's because of their "warrior spirit". I say they just can't take a loss like an adult.

You took this from my mouth. I was thinking the same, why is this phenomenon ONLY in Japan? Well, it is not "warrior spirit", this is their expectations which are too high and first of all TV propaganda. The only way to show how hard you tried but unfortunately end up losing, the only way to show excuse and make people still love you is to cry like a baby. Look at some Japanese guys with "cool" body, but at the end they cry too. They just love to cry in front of TV so everyone feel sorry for them.
Sagecat at 04:24 PM JST - 10th August

I'm just loving all the "... and then Japan lost to the USA..." Sweet.

PS: Japan #2 with USA #1 is perfect for me.
cleo at 05:09 PM JST - 10th August

Japan #2 with USA #1 is perfect for me.

Why, what's your contribution to making America #1? Or is your pleasure purely vicarious?
ExPrinceska at 05:55 PM JST - 10th August

Japan beat New Zealand in women's hockey! That is great, congrats!
presto345 at 06:41 PM JST - 10th August

Tani should be allowed to retire to spend more time with her family. She has a very impressive record in judo, but now it's time younger judoka take over.
Sarge at 08:16 PM JST - 10th August

"The Japanese women lacked power"

They lack height. Hard to spike or block against opponents several centimeters taller than you are.
Sarge at 10:34 PM JST - 10th August

Right now, Ogu-Shio are in a real dogfight with the Danish girls! This is great...
Sarge at 10:49 PM JST - 10th August

I swear, badminton is one tough sport!
Sarge at 11:38 PM JST - 10th August

And Ogu-Shio emerge victorious over the Danish girls!
rtrhead1 at 03:19 PM JST - 19th August

Sarge - so get taller players? Or get some strategy.