Giorni Cantabili

Hello. Please pardon me for writing in English (I live abroad. I can read Japanese but cannot type in Japanese using the computer here). I always enjoy this blog very much. Thank you very much for your entries.
But I just think it too hard on Oda-kun to blame for "making an easy decision." I think that it would have actually been an extremely difficult, courageous decision for a skater to give up one entire season. I think that he has already been blamed more than enough. I feel sorry that he is now blamed further for "not coming back strong" from psychological damage.

Thank you for your response, too. But we don't really know whether or not he is "making an excuse." Let's not blame a person for the things we don't even know. Only thing that I as a fan can do is to wish him well and look forward to seeing him skate again next season.

I try to understand that you meant to be encouraging. But I wonder who would feel encouraged by the words questioning their integrity such as "made the easiest choice" and "making excuses" as if they were escaping or lying.
It is his life. I believe that he made this difficult decision after thinking of his future career, current psychological and physical conditions, all the social circumstances, the people who have been involved in his case, and the people who support him. I do not think that he deserves his integrity being questioned like that just because his life choice did not meet what the audience expect the athlete should be.

It is not that he suddenly decided by himself without consulting with anyone. It is reported that he had let the Japanese Skating Federation know that he would like to withdraw early in December already. Oda-kun and the Federation had long discussions up until it was announced late December. I do not think he is blameworthy for the lack of accountability to the Federation.
http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/p-sp-tp0-20071225-299464.html
Additionally, a part of the reason why the Japanese Skating Federation was somewhat upset was because they were concerned about ensuring the three spots in the next Worlds. But I don't think that they should force him to compete for the country when he decided not to after considering all the circumstances.
Third, although he withdrew from the Japanese Nationals this time, it does not mean that he entirely gave up his skating career and wanted to enjoy his student life. It is reported that they are going to have discussions about his plans for the next season.
Finally, it is true that we do not have much information about this matter and that you as an audience might feel being left out. But is he really responsible for detailing what he is thinking right now in front of the media reporters and to the public when it has already been reported that he currently has a vulnerable psychological state of mind? What makes you demand him that receiving the finanical support from JOC entails so much accountability to the public?
I understand that everyone is entitled to speculate his motivations to fill in the lack of information. But let's not spread negative speculations about his integrity as if it were a tangible fact.

Let me remind you that the reason for Oda-kun's withdrawal was officially announced at the webpage of the Japanese Skating Federation. It is not correct to say that Oda-kun did not do anything to let his fans know the reason for his withdrawal, even if you interpret it merely as an "excuse" and "not enough."
I do not have anything to say about your main point because I believe that everyone is entitled to one's opinions. Yes, I responded to your first post because I simply thought it too harsh and unfair. After reading your opinions, however, I came to understand what you mean, and I totally respect that. But the reason why I have kept responding to you has been that every response of yours kept coming up with negative stories about Oda-kun's personal integrity and honor out of speculations without much evidence. That's why I kept saying let's not blame a person for things we don't even know. I simply consider it too unfair to blame him that the receipt of public fund entails the full accountability to the public to the extent that he/she must to have a "serious mental disorder" to be forgiven for a "lack of accountability." While Oda-kun indeed made an official announcement through the Federation, it is then discarded as an "excuse." I don't really understand what this is. Is he again blameworthy for not having made himself clear enough to prevent such negative speculations and interpretations on your part? These are the reasons why I kept responding to you, especially because Oda-kun's public honor and integrity have been so much undermined after the incident. But I understand that "opinions" may necessarily entail such speculations, either positive or negative, and that you have all the rights to speculate his culpability in the way you wish to. I respect your opinions including such speculations and twisted facts. But I still do feel sorry for Oda-kun who is blamed for things he did not even do.

Sorry if my response was not clear enough. By “negative speculation,” I was referring to two points.

1. “Making an excuse”

それから私が“言い訳”という言葉を用いたのを問題にされているようですが、私がこの言葉を用いたのは「深刻な精神障害にでも陥っているのなら仕方ない」という仮定の話の中でのことです。もし彼がこの決断を下した主な要因がそうしたことにあるのだとしたら「自粛」という説明は言い逃れだったことになる、ということです

Yes, I found this comment to be misleading. I think that it gives an impression as if he were lying.

2. “Accountability”
Another “negative speculation” I was referring to was about his “accountability”. Although you kept saying that the main argument of yours is “encouragement”, you kept coming up with negative speculations about how Oda-kun did not fulfill his “accountability.”
But this is an imprecise negative speculation in that 1) he actually had long discussions with the Japanese Skating Federation and 2) he had made an official announcement to the public through the website of the Federation. Although these may not be “enough” from what you believe the athlete “should” be, it is not that he did not do anything to fulfill his "accountability". So I found these comments misleading to the reader.

Aside from that, I personally find it simply outrageous to demand that you as an audience cannot forgive him for not appearing at Nationals unless he develops a “serious mental disorder;” and that even if he has a “serious mental disorder,” he “should” publicly announce it to the entire nation to fulfill his “public accountability”. Furthermore, you further go on accusing him for a hypothetical situation by saying that if he was actually suffering from a psychological damage, his announcement about 'self-restraint' would have been merely an excuse.
Although I respect your opinions, I must say that I was really surprised to read these comments. These comments sounded to me quite inhumane and cruel, and made me wonder what gives you the rights to be so demanding and so accusing. Although you may assume a greater accountability in Oda-kun than in an average person because of his receipt of public funds, doesn’t every one of us benefit from public funds and resources? Doesn’t Oda-kun also pay taxes? Besides, he has not even received public fund since the incident. I personally found it quite unfair to impose such an outrageously high standard of “accountability” to Oda-kun and spreading negative speculations on the web about how he did not fulfill the “accountability” based on the limited information available.

In summary, the points 1) and 2) made me question that you seem to be being more demanding and imposing your own ego on Oda-kun than encouraging him, and that you seem to be making him look as if he were an irresponsible liar. Having said that, however, I now have a greater understanding that you also meant to be encouraging in your heart and that these might not have been your intent even though it might have not been communicated as such. Nevertheless, I got such impressions from your responses and felt quite upset and consumed; but I feel less so now after reading your response.
In any case, I sincerely wish his emotional well-being.

ずっと英語でのコメントに付き合っていただきありがとうございました。やっと日本語で書けるコンピュータを使えるようになったため、日本語でお返事します。

そうですね。大筋として、おっしゃっているご意見はよく分かりますし、それを批判するつもりだった訳ではなかったのですが、ただ、私自身がメンタルヘルスに関する仕事をしているからか、「『深刻な精神障害』ならば仕方がないけれど、そうだったとしても、それならそうと説明すべきだった」という所で、本当に驚いてしまったんです。

万が一、『深刻な精神障害』の場合には、世間に対する説明云々よりも、まず自分を守る事を一番に考えて、休養と治療を最優先すべきですし、それは周囲や世間からも最大限に尊重されるべきだと思います。『深刻な精神障害』とまではいわずとも、仮に、軽い鬱や不安症状などがある方が、自分の心身状態を人に説明することを強いられたら、それは、ものすごいエネルギーを消耗します。まして、それを世間に公表して、マスコミやネットで取り沙汰される事が、体と心にどういう影響を及ぼすかお考えになった事はおありですか？

また、最初は軽い鬱状態とか、誰でもかかるような軽い心の風邪のような状態で、少し休めば良くなるはずなのに、周囲の無理解から「頑張れ」と「励まし」や「叱咤激励」をされ、自責の念で症状が悪化したり、自殺に追い込まれたり、という事もよくあります。周りの方々でそういう事例をご覧になった事はございませんか？

誤解のないように申し上げますが、今、織田くんが心理的にどういう状態なのか存じませんし、織田くんが「精神障害」を抱えているとか、「鬱状態」だと申している訳ではありません。

ただ、事件後の心の傷とか心理的重圧といった事は伝え聞きといった形で報道はされており、心理的に辛い状況であった事は察せられ、織田くんならば乗り越えられると信じていますが、元気かなぁ、と心配はしています。彼がどういう考えに基づいて行動していて、どういう心境なのかが分からない状態で、「彼に『必要』なのは叱咤激励」とは言い切れないと思います。