In Japanese schools there’s a pure approach taken to sports; Participate for love of the sport and to show that you’re willing to give 100%. While there’s no doubt that Japanese schoolkids, like schoolkids all around the world, love to compete and show their stuff on the field, track, etc…, it’s also clear that they’re encouraged to support each other and keep animosity out of competitions.

Even in elementary schools (and sometimes earlier) kids are expected to participate in undokai, or sports festivals. By the time they reach junior high school age, Japanese children are usually quite comfortable with making appearances in sporting events and are very often unwilling to back down from challenges, even in the face of certain defeat. The shedding of tears is common in the aftermath of a loss, but for most there’s no shame in this; it’s just a way of expunging the tension and frustration that gets built up inside while in the heat of competition. It’s true that many westerners, including myself, have a hard time accepting this part of sports culture in Japanese society, but it is part of the culture and is not to be criticized as far as I’m concerned.

Having said this, however, I do believe that the “Shoganai” mentality when applied to losses in sports can have a negative effect over time for obvious reasons. Mainly, for a young person who has a passion for competition and a lust for victory that burns deeply inside, repetitive exposure to the attitude that it’s acceptable to be OK with mediocrity will certainly cause him or her to fall victim to this line of thinking if there isn’t an inspiring mentor or coach there to help fuel the fire and continue to encourage. Often, young athletes who excel are held back for the sake of the rest of the group. They’re often encouraged to put their personal ambitions aside for the benefit of their peers. While there is some merit to this kind of thinking, it eventually suppresses the individual spirit and breeds a maddening sense of “normalcy” when unchecked.

To hail athletes like Ichiro Suzuki or Daisuke Matsuzaka as Japanese heroes for their successes, but to passively encourage discouragement of individual stellar efforts by young people who possess the same fire that has always burned within the hearts of the two above-mentioned superstars, is inconsistent and unfair. Of course, the opposite case of over-encouraging individuals to pursue their own goals while leaving everyone else in the dust is not desirable either. Balance, as is often said here, is the key.

Submitted as part of the latest Japan Blog Matsuri

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