Question from a reader:
I find it difficult to appreciate Shohei Ohtani, Yuzuru Hanyu, and Masaharu Fukuyama. Everyone around me loves them, so is it strange that I feel this way? I’m a middle-aged woman and I worry that my feelings are a bit twisted.
It’s important to share feelings
Hello! The other day, while chatting with friends, we suddenly got
into the topic of “Who are your favorite celebrities?” Honestly, I tend to have a clear divide between people I like and those I don’t. Especially when everyone gets excited about figures like Shohei Ohtani or Yuzuru Hanyu, but I find myself feeling a bit distant, it can create a sense of unease inside.
The influence of media is palpable
My friends have mentioned that the media often elevates certain people unnecessarily. For instance, when I was watching a game featuring Ohtani at a friend’s house, it felt like instead of focusing on his actual play, all I heard were comments from post-game interviews saying, “He’s an amazing player,” which kind of killed the excitement for me. While everyone was raving about it, I found myself thinking, “Hmm, not really.” I’m often surprised by the sheer number of fans Yuzuru Hanyu has. While I can appreciate his skill when I watch his performances, I sometimes struggle to connect emotionally, which can be frustrating. However, I’ve started to realize that having these feelings is actually quite human.
Maybe indifference is the best approach
Ultimately, it’s natural to have people we like and those we don’t, and there’s no need to force ourselves to like someone. I often just go along with the conversation and say, “Yeah, that’s right,” when someone brings up a topic. However, if I dwell on it too much, it can turn into stress, so perhaps being indifferent is the easiest path. For example, at an izakaya I frequent, when a friend played a song by Masaharu Fukuyama, I accidentally blurted out, “I don’t really like this song,” and the atmosphere suddenly got awkward for a moment. It can get a bit uncomfortable when you’re the only one who doesn’t share the same enthusiasm as everyone else.
I’d love to hear your experiences!
In the end, our tastes are all different, so it’s perfectly okay if I dislike something that someone else loves. Thinking this way can lift some weight off my shoulders. If you have similar experiences or stories about celebrities you don’t like, I would love for you to share them in the comments. Sharing our feelings might help lighten the mood for all of us!
