Comments on: Insult and injury in Ueno Park

By: Pavle Radonić

Pavle Radonić — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 23:56:03 +0000

In reply to Mary Caryl Lozano. A wonderful writer and wonderful man, unconventional both. Read him to see.

By: Mary Caryl Lozano

Mary Caryl Lozano — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 23:52:25 +0000

This was an interesting read!! It made me visit Hideno Asano’s website and read some of his works. I have even read about other’s eventful experiences with the writer at Ueno park. Hideno Asano is certainly a talented writer with a wide range of works about different topics. Without a doubt, his writing has encouraged many English learners, just as how he encouraged me to revisit and reminisce about my previous writings

By: Carlos John Manapat

Carlos John Manapat — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 17:07:42 +0000

Amazing work you got here. The message of the encounter with the artist in Ueno Park is what it taught me about the significance of interracial relationships in intercultural communication. While I was impressed by the views of the said artist, I believe that the intersection of linguistic and racial ideologies will resonate well with the impact of the English language on Japanese society.

By: Jose Daniel Cabrera

Jose Daniel Cabrera — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 18:20:10 +0000

Thank you for this sharing, Kimie! I understand that the harsh comments from the man were just a marketing ploy for his works, but other natives might have the same sentiments and do the same acts just for the sake of it. Disregarding the issue of if subscribing to and idolizing western culture is harmful to the Japanese culture, tourists and people in general shouldn’t receive such comments about their lives and relationships.

By: Maybelle Go

Maybelle Go — Sun, 27 Nov 2022 15:38:37 +0000

Though I personally do not agree with using insults to catch attention, as it could lead to a fight, it is smart to use English if his goal was to promote his art and haiku. There is also a sort of irony to the fact that he seems like someone who might be nationalistic due to how he describes western influences as evil and him mentioning how Japan should not have opened its doors in the 19th century, yet he is someone who speaks good English, which I would consider a western influence. Additionally, he is also encouraging English learners on his website to learn their second language well. The situation is kind of ironic, yet at the same time, we can see how much power language holds. Because it is currently the most widely spoken language in the world and many non-native English-speaking countries want to learn it, even someone who dislikes western influences would learn their language because it opens up more opportunities to be noticed.

By: Edwin Tatel III

Edwin Tatel III — Sun, 27 Nov 2022 14:26:48 +0000

What a fascinating conversation! I was reading an article regarding conflict talk and I remembered a statement that reads “the end of a disagreement does not necessarily resolve the conflict.” You effectively transformed the discussion into a non-conflictual conversation by asking Hideo Asano about his English speaking skills. Thank you for sharing this experience.

By: Francis Gozon

Francis Gozon — Sun, 27 Nov 2022 11:37:10 +0000

Thank you for sharing your experience, it is quite an interesting turn of events. I was quite surprised at the beginning, but it turned out intriguing in the end. It is pleasant to know a well-known artist, writer, and blogger inspiring his country to learn English. I also find it quite unfortunate that Hideo Asano has to get the attention of people by using insults.

By: WufanGohan

WufanGohan — Mon, 05 May 2014 04:16:38 +0000

I’m not Japanese or any nationalist-extremist thanks, but I agree that Japan like China should have been left alone by the West. Japanese men are nowadays no longer very considered by Japanese women for marriage as more and more of them romantically prefer the exoticism of Western men and even the reliability of Chinese men.

By: Ingrid Piller

Ingrid Piller — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 23:42:19 +0000

In reply to Hikaru Genji. Thank you for your comment, Hikaru! The team at Language-on-the-Move devote a lot of loving care to this site and we keep an eye out for inappropriate comments in the same way that you might keep an eye out for guests behaving inappropriately at a party. I'm sure you'd guide any such person gently but firmly off the premises and that's what we do by not allowing comments that we consider inappropriate. Having said that, we're delighted that you've come to visit and decided to engage!

By: Hikaru Genji

Hikaru Genji — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 22:53:53 +0000

Waiting for Moderation!! Oh~ Aren’t we the well trained journalist~

Let it be pure and post it as it is~.

By: Robby

Robby — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 22:36:25 +0000

When I started reading the article I would have never thought how it will turn out – that was really unexpected. And also had your husband just beat him up youd never found out who the man was!

Personally I think that the contradiction his passion for English and his initial attitude towards you as you walked by suggests of a psychological conflict. For a man of his age probably the pace of multicultural worlds development is simply too fast and he cant get to grips with it.

However, being an intellectual as he seems to be he should know better than to insult passers-by…

By: Hongyan

Hongyan — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:43:48 +0000

Amazing to see a potential confrontation and fight turned out to be a friendly conversation between an amazing guy (it reminded me not to judge people only by their appearance) and a thoughtful academic! Thanks, Kimie!

By: Kimie Takahashi 高橋君江

Kimie Takahashi 高橋君江 — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 23:22:52 +0000

In reply to Shoko. ありがとう、しょうこちゃん！「カリズママン」って漫画読んだ？

By: Kimie Takahashi 高橋君江

Kimie Takahashi 高橋君江 — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 23:18:48 +0000

In reply to yamato. Thank you, Yamato! It means a lot coming from you!

By: Xiaoxiao Chen

Xiaoxiao Chen — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 12:34:00 +0000

What a dramatic experience! Thanks, Kimie, for sharing this in a thought-provoking way. Great to get to know such an interesting Japanese man and his website.

By: emi

emi — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 10:39:51 +0000

what a beautiful encounter you had! I like what he said about Haiku.. that obscurity makes you think. thank you kimie! your openness is a gift!