Kamikaze Marathon Runner 我慢強いので死ぬまで走ります

Japanese follows English.　日本語の後に英語が続きます。

A few days ago, a commentator of a news program said that Japanese runners are likely to win a medal or medals in the marathon in 2020 Olympic Games because they are "patient." She meant by this that Japanese runners will run hard no matter how hot it will be while non-Japanese may not to use their physical power for other races after the Olympics or not to die.

Does it sound familiar? The commentator's remark reminded me of the very famous wartime slogan in Japan, "Want nothing until we win." It also made me think of again kamikaze tokkotai. 

Japanese runners may run hard to death, but this isn’t because they are patient but can't say that they don't want to die, like a member of the Nihon University American Football Team who couldn't or didn't say no to the head coach, made a late tackle and injured a member of the opposing team.

Don't confuse patience with irresponsibility.

この前テレビを見ていたら、あるスポーツコメンテーターが、「日本人は我慢強いので、東京オリンピックではマラソンでメダルを取る確率は高い」と言っていた。外国人選手はあまりの暑さで走るのをやめてしまうか、オリンピックの後のレースに力を入れるだろうとのこと。

「欲しがりません、勝つまでは」と「神風特攻隊」を思い出した。死んでも走る日本人ランナーいるかもしれません。でもそれは「我慢強い」からではなく、日大アメフト部の選手のように監督にノーと言えない、死ぬのは嫌と言えないだけ。

我慢強いと無責任を混同しないでください。