Ruy Ramos is a Brazilian-born naturalized Japanese citizen who lead a successful career as a Japanese Professional Football League [abbr. J-League] player from 1977 to 1998. He is also a well known Tarento, appearing in commercials and on variety shows, due partly to his fame from the sports world and partly to his capable command of the Japanese language.
His most recent venture was coaching the Japanese National Beach Soccer team during its qualifier matches late last month. A recent article on news site ZakZak explained how the team fared in the competition as well as expanding on Ramos as a coach. One particular quote in which he passionately declared that he would fight for Japan should war break out, was posted out of context on 2ch. The netouyo reacted in resounding favor.
When put in context with the rest of the article, it is not clear if Ramos [55] is using ‘war’ as a euphemism for soccer or if he is indeed talking about physically fighting. Some commenters regarded it as pandering to the right wing, while others embraced his zeal as a model example of an immigrant to Japan.
From ZakZak:
Ramos’ Ongoing Beach Soccer Coaching Tips. What He Really Thinks…
The Japanese Beach Soccer World Cup team returned home after taking the runner-up place in the preliminaries on January 27.
Japan has been taking part in the Beach Soccer World Cup since 2005, with Ruy Ramos coaching the most recent four teams. On January 25, Japan squared off with the Iranian team, going into a a 6-6 tie. Japan went on to lose the match by a near margin in a penalty shootout [4-5], but Ramos was proud of his team going all out in the preliminaries, saying ‘You did well. I have to commend you all. You were samurai‘.
The truth is, Ramos and the Japanese Football Association [JFA] always associate the preliminary rounds with the finals. On the subject of the World Cup, which this year will be held in Tahiti in September, he said ‘I don’t know if I will be the coach at a World Cup. What am I going to do now? I’m going to drink at a bar and live it up!’. The JFA has stated that they are committed with proceeding with Ramos, however his true aim is to be coach of a standard football team.
The Japanese Beach Soccer Team, with coach Ramos.
Japan has been a regular player in the Beach Cup for a while, but they have been placing in the top 8 since Ramos took control in 2009. Because he stated that ‘even at the Asian levels, there is a lot of intensity’, one could say his key point is getting support from the JFA.
‘If war broke out in Japan, I’d fight. I’m Japanese, after all. Even though I’ve only been Japanese for a short time, I’m still Japanese,’ he said with boundless passion. Even today, as the team arrived back in Japan, he was the only one wearing the Japanese flag jersey. There isn’t a person affiliated with soccer alive at the moment with a stronger will to represent Japan. When the Beach World Cup finishes this year, Coach Ramos will go back to ‘kicking up new job opportunities’.
Comments from 2ch:
名無しさん＠１３周年:
He’s so cool w
名無しさん＠１３周年:
If you’re a friend, of course you will~
[Note: This is a parody of Ramos’ catchphrase when appearing in commercials. ‘If you’re a Japanese, eat ochazuke‘]
名無しさん＠１３周年:
Ramos is a netouyo.
名無しさん＠１３周年:
He said it twice because it’s an important thing.
名無しさん＠１３周年:
What a true warrior.
名無しさん＠１３周年:
By that logic I must not be Japanese! I have Japanese nationality because it’s convenient! There are Chinese people that make big public declarations like that…
名無しさん＠１３周年:
Koreans ought to take a page from Ramos’ book.
名無しさん＠１３周年:(Responding to above)
Nah, instead of taking after him they should just go home.
名無しさん＠１３周年:
The prime example of a naturalized Japanese. Completely different from Tokutei Asians.
名無しさん＠１３周年:
I’m smitten with Ramos’ manliness.
He can go ahead and fight on the front line!
名無しさん＠１３周年:
If he were really Japanese he would absolutely not believe that a war was starting w
Ramos still has his Brazilian mindset, I suppose.
名無しさん＠１３周年:
Japanese who have moved to America have also gone on to fight in wars for them. You have to do things like that when moving to a country.
名無しさん＠１３周年:
That’s a lot different from the netouyo who run away when push comes to shove www
名無しさん＠１３周年：
You guys gotta buy J-League curry!!
[Note: A product he has often been the spokesperson for]
名無しさん＠１３周年：
Thanks Ramos! But, Japan is not going to war. You can have peace of mind and continue passing on dreams to the children.
名無しさん＠１３周年：
I’m gonna eat J-League curry and become a great soldier, too!
名無しさん＠１３周年：
Well then, I’m going to fight so I can protect Ramos.
名無しさん＠１３周年：
I’m Japanese, but if war broke out I’d run away and watch what happens to the country from afar.
I’d also tell the kids to not participate and just run away, should war occur.
名無しさん＠１３周年：(Responding to above)
Where would you run to?
名無しさん＠１３周年：
If you say this kinda stuff in Japan, even though it’s completely understood as true, it would be branded as narrow-minded conservative nationalism.
