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''' '' SECOND BEST
SORRYS '' '''
SECOND BEST IN THE WORLD - BUT STILL SAYING SORRY. Japan's athletes who fail to win gold often apologize, even after winning silver.
KENICHIRO FUMITA WAS CRYING SO HARD that he could barely get the words out. ''I wanted to return my gratitude to the concerned people and volunteers who are running the Olympics during this difficult time,'' Mr. Fumita, a Greco-Roman wrestler said between sobs :
''I ended up with this shameful result,'' he said, bobbing his head abjectly, '' I'm truly sorry.'' Mr. Fumita, 25, had just won a silver medal.
In what has become a familiar - and, at times, wrenching - sight during the Olympics, many Japanese athletes have wept through post-competition interviews, apologizing for any result short of gold. Even some, who had won a medal, like Mr. Fumita, lamented that they had let down their team, their supporters, even their country.
Apologizing for being second best in the world would seem to reflect an absurdly unforgiving metrics of success. But for these athletes competing in their home country the emotionally charged displays of repentance - which often follow pointed questions from the Japanese news media - can represent an intricate mix of regret, gratitude and obligation and humanity.
''If you don't apologize for only getting silver, you might be criticized,'' said Takuya Yamazaki, a sports lawyer who represents players unions in Japan.
From an early age, Japanese athletes ''are not really supposed to think like they are playing sports for themselves,'' Mr. Yamazaki said. ''Especially in childhood, there are expectations from adults, teachers, parents or other senior people. So it's kind of a deeply rooted mind-set.
In some respects, these athletes have offered an extreme form of the apologies that are everyday social lubricants in Japanese culture.
When entering someone's home, a visitor literally says sorry. Workers going on vacation apologize for burdening colleagues, while conductors express deep regret i a train is a minute late - or even a few seconds early. Generally, these apologies are a matter of convention rather than a declaration of responsibility.
At times, the mea culpas ring hollow. Corporate chieftains and politicians frequently bow deeply to the news cameras to apologize for the corporate scandal or that political misdeed. For the most part, few consequences follow.
The former president of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee, Yoshiro Mori, initially tried to use such an apology to avoid resigning after making sexist remarks. But a vociferous social media campaign helped depose him.
People who study Japanese culture say the athletes' apologies even in the face of victory, stem from an instinct that is cultivated from childhood.
''Americans are very good at finding reasons why you are great even when you fail,'' said Shinobu Kitayama, a social psychologist at the University of Michigan. But in Japan, he said, ''even if you succeed, you have to apologize.''
The apologies are also to be recognized as tacit expressions of gratitude, said Joy Hendry, an anthropologist and the author of ''Understanding Japanese Society.'' I expect they feel that they need to apologize for not having achieved the very best they could'' for those who trained or financially supported them, Ms. Hendry said.
Mr. Fumita, the wrestler, may have also felt pressure to please his father, a well-known wrestling coach. In an interview on NHK, the public broadcaster, he said he was afraid to answer a call after his silver medal win. ''I could not pick up the phone,'' he said. ''I just didn't know what I could say to my father.''
During the soccer's semi final between Japan and Spain, when Japan lost in the final minutes of extra time, Yuki Soma, 24, a midfielder paid tribute to those who could not be there. ''By winning a medal at any cost, I would like to give energy to Japan and make them smile,'' he said in a postgame news conference, his eyes downcast.
Ofcourse, it's not just Japanese Olympians who express bitter disappointment after missing out on gold. Liao Qiuyun of China wept openly after winning silver in women's weight lifting. After the U.S. women's soccer team fell to Canada on Monday night in a semifinal, one member of the team, Carli Lloyd, crouched on the field. clasping her head in her hands.
But in a post-match interview, she made no apology. ''I was just gutted,'' Ms. Lloyd said, adding, "we give up so much, and you want to win.''
The urge to apologize may stem in part from the harsh coaching style found in some sports in Japan, said Katrin Jumikop Leitner, an associate professor in sports management and wellness at Rikkyo University in Saitama. When she first came to Japan to train in judo, she said, she was shocked by her coaches' aggressive language. '' I thought, if that's the way to become an Olympic champion, I don't want to be an Olympic champion,'' she said.
Some Japanese athletes have been subjected to public criticism for failing to show sufficient humility. Yuko Arimori, a marathon runner who won silver in Barcelona in 1992 and bronze in Atlanta in 1996, was accused of narcissism by some of the Japanese news media after declaring in Atlanta that she was proud of herself.
Ms. Arimori understands why athletes continue to offer apologies, given that they can convey a sense of gratitude. ''Nut I think supporters know the athletes have worked hard enough,'' Ms. Arimori added. '' So there is no need to apologize.''
The Honor and Serving of the Latest Global Operational Research on Culture and Sports and the World, continues. The World Students Society thanks author Motoko Rich, Mokiko Inoue and Hikari Hida.
With respectful dedication to the Grandparents, Parents, Students, Professors and Teachers of Japan, and then the world. See Ya all prepare and register for Great Global Elections on The World Students Society : wssciw.blogspot.com and Twitter - !E-WOW! - The Ecosystem 2011 :
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