Retired his career and became an athlete. Neko Hiroshi.

This is the English version. To see the Japanese version, please click the button below.

First ( Retired his career and became an athlete. Neko Hiroshi )

On August 19th, 2017, SEA games, SouthEast Asian Games was held in Malaysia. Tabal won the women’s marathon competition, which was the first gold medal for the Philippines in the SEA Games. She hit a record of 2:48:24. While Neko Hiroshi who also joined the SEA Games, finished the race at a record of 2:42:24. Although his record was better than Tabal’s, he is a man. So, it’s not an impressive record if you just compare it to other experienced athletes.

However, he was not an athlete originally, but a Japanese comedian before. He retired his career in Japan as a comedian and decided to become an athlete in Cambodia in 2011, thus changing his nationality. He aimed to be a popular Japanese comedian at first, but changed his mind eventually since his jokes seem to be uninteresting to the public.

He couldn’t join the London Olympics even though he’s got the right to participate as a Marathon runner for Cambodia. After 4 years, in 2016, he got it and kept running to the end as a representative runner of Cambodia. He finished the race at 139 out of 155 people. He raised his both hands with a determined pose ‘meow’ while going toward the finish line. Then he was pleased to strike a victory pose.
When he reached the finish line, his humor as a comedian came back and he was able to entertain the audience. Although he didn’t make it to the top, he boosted the venue and fascinated the audience in Brazil.

Then this year, in 2017, he made a big impact on the SEA Games.

He was interviewed about the Tokyo Olympics that will be held in 2020 and he answered that ‘I want to be the person who can make the relationship between Japan and Cambodia better. It’s time to consider about it’

On September 12th, 2017, the Production announcement of documentaries, ‘NEKO THE MOVIE (temporary title) which will tell his life story as an athlete was released.

Question

You can hear a conversation between two people after you play the sound. Answer the questions about the conversation.

Sound 1

Conversation 1

Did you watch the news about the movie that will tell the life story of Neko Hiroshi as an athlete?

No, I didn’t…or rather who is Neko Hiroshi?

You don’t know him? He was a comedian before in Japan, but made a career change to a marathon runner as a member of the Cambodian national team. He changed his nationality to Cambodian from Japanese.

Wow. But why did he make a decision of resigning as a comedian and changing to marathon runner?
He could earn money as a comedian. No need to change his job. It might be difficult to get money unless he wins his race as a runner.

Maybe it was ten years ago, there was a program named ‘challenging to be a marathon runner’ on TV. He joined and took the program seriously. Then he realized that he wanted to be a marathon runner.

Question 1

Answer and Explanation 1

Sound 2

Conversation 2

What were his jokes like? What are his famous jokes?

One of his jokes is like he opens his mouth wide, forms a claw with both of his hands then pushes them forward and says ‘Meow’ like cats.

Is that all? What else?

Portsmouth Portsmouth. He says it after cracking a joke.

Why is it funny?

Exactly! That’s why he couldn’t make it big in Japan. But some of his jokes got known to other famous comedians such as Sekine Tsutomu.
I think Cambodians will accept his jokes because his jokes don’t need talking, but just continuous moving while saying incomprehensible words.

Question 2

Answer and Explanation 2

Sound 3

Conversation 3

Anyway, not about his career as a comedian, it’s a miracle to become a marathon runner as representative of Cambodia. But I thought that a lot of Cambodians opposed and were against it since he was not born and raised in Cambodia. It’s like he just suddenly became a Cambodian easily.

You have a good point, but no need to worry about that. Actually marathon is not a popular sport in Cambodia. It was thought at first that there would be a lot of people opposing Neko Hiroshi’s being a Cambodian. But, surprisingly, he became popular and loved by the Cambodians than hated.

So, it’s better to become a representative of other countries for the Japanese players who find it difficult to be successful and known in Japan. This way, they can get the right to participate in Olympics. Can’t they?

It’s not true. No one can get the right to participate in Olympic unless he/she lives in that country for a long time no matter how excellent the player is.
Actually, Neko Hiroshi also was not accepted by IOC, International Olympic Committee due to the reason I mentioned earlier. This was despite that he was elected as a Cambodian representative in the London Olympics. Four years later, he finally was able to join in Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Of course, he had to be elected by the Cambodian delegates again.

I see.
I was about to seek for the possibility of being a representative of some countries. But now I understand and I think I can’t do it.

Yeah. I have no idea what player you want to be.

Question 3

Answer and Explanation 3

Let’s talk more!

Let’s talk about it with your friend.
How is the situation in other countries?
Ask your teacher or a foreigner about it.

Example

1. What do you think about Hiroshi joining the Olympics and changing his country of citizenship.

2. Do you think his joke is funny? Why?

3. What sport and which country do you want if you have the opportunity to participate in the Olympics?

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