Before the Tokyo Olympics table tennis women's team final, China's ** reporter conducted an exclusive interview with 33-year-old Ai Fukuhara. Although she was still smiling, her face seemed a little more tired compared to the one we were familiar with.
Ai Fukuhara said in the interview: "It is very important to me that the Chinese accept me no matter how I am. I may be speaking a little heavily, but without the support of the Chinese, I may not have survived to this day. ”
Regarding her remarks, the attitudes of Chinese and Japanese netizens were divided. Most Chinese netizens agreed with Ai Fukuhara's views, but some Japanese netizens expressed unacceptability with her remarks.
Although Chinese and Japanese netizens have different opinions on many aspects of Ai Fukuhara, the attitudes of Chinese and Japanese netizens are surprisingly consistent regarding her high income from commentating during the Tokyo Olympics.
According to reports, Ai Fukuhara's daily commentary income is as high as 1 million yen, and it does not include the cost of clothing, which is almost 6-10 times that of other commentators.
Chinese netizens are relieved by Ai Fukuhara's high income and are happy for her, because they think that it is Nippon TV's money and there is no need to worry. However, many Japanese netizens expressed dissatisfaction with Ai Fukuhara's high income and sarcastically said that she would prefer to cheer for the Chinese team.
Ai Fukuhara's life trajectory was shown in the controversy between Chinese and Japanese netizens over her marriage issues. Chinese people generally believe that her marriage to Jiang Hongjie should have ended a long time ago, while Japanese netizens believe that Jiang Hongjie is a victim of marriage.
Ai Fukuhara was in this embarrassing situation, but she once said to Chinese reporters: "I can only live today with the support of the Chinese." On the one hand, her words express her gratitude to the Chinese people, and on the other hand, they also reflect the difficulties she faces in Japan.
So, why did Ai Fukuhara get to this point? This needs to start with three key periods in her life**.
Japanese table tennis player Ai Fukuhara has been destined to be associated with China since she was born in 1988. Her hometown, Sendai City, is famous for Mr. Lu Xun, and I believe many Chinese know about it.
Ai Fukuhara chose the field of table tennis from a young age, and the year she was born, table tennis entered the Olympics for the first time, and China's Chen Jing won the women's singles title.
When Ai Fukuhara began to practice table tennis, Deng Yaping rose to prominence at the Barcelona Olympics and won two gold medals in one fell swoop, opening the era of "big devil" that has lasted for 30 years in Chinese women's table tennis.
Under the long-term rule of Chinese women's table tennis, Ai Fukuhara has undoubtedly become cannon fodder, but she is also more closely connected with China, because she is "the big demon king of flowing water, Ai Fukuhara who fights with iron".
Before Ai Fukuhara was challenged by the big demons, she had already become the center of attention in China. She has a cute appearance, a tough heart, and an excellent record, and it is difficult for such an inspirational and charming little girl not to be noticed in China.
If Ai Fukuhara had been a cute idol in China, she would not have been able to experience the survival and troubles that followed. Until one day, Tomori Koyama told Ai Fukuhara's mother: In China, there are thousands of high-level athletes like Ai.
Ai Fukuhara, a Japanese-born table tennis player, decided to go to China for more professional training at the age of 12. In Anshan, Liaoning Province, a city that has bred numerous world champions, Ai Fukuhara began her exotic career.
However, as a newcomer, she needs to adapt to the unfamiliar environment and humanity, and loneliness and unhappiness often plague her. What she didn't expect, however, was that it wouldn't be long before she would spark a craze on Chinese TV screens.
From one day, a cute little girl, speaking with a northeastern accent, appeared on the TV. Her cute face and fleshy face make people can't help but want to like her, and her two ** treasures are even more fascinating: high-level table tennis skills and the unique charm of Northeast dialect.
Ai Fukuhara, this porcelain doll from Japan, has won the love of a large number of Chinese fans with her talent and charm.
Ai Fukuhara, a sweet-looking little girl from Japan who speaks in Northeast Chinese, shines like a bright star in the Chinese table tennis world. Although Chinese female table tennis players are highly skilled, Ai Fukuhara's unique charm quickly won her the affection of the Chinese people, who affectionately called her "porcelain doll".
It is true that Ai Fukuhara has many cuteness, but the Northeast dialect is undoubtedly the most distinctive label in the hearts of her Chinese people. After Ai Fukuhara retired, Kasumi Ishikawa also attracted a large number of Chinese fans because of her equally fluent Mandarin.
A similar situation has been seen with Danish badminton star Viktor Axelsen, who has won a large following in China for his ability to recite the famous passage from Mencius, "Heaven will descend to the great task of the people".
Fluent in Northeast dialect, Ai Fukuhara quickly became popular in China and became "one of the favorite Japanese" in the minds of many people. Not only that, but she also served as an ambassador for cultural exchanges between China and Japan, and even served as the flag bearer of the Japanese delegation at the 2008 Olympic Games.
However, all happiness pales in the face of abnormality. Ai Fukuhara, the bridge connecting China and Japan, suddenly finds herself caught in the cracks.
This abnormal event that brought her into a predicament was the failure of her marriage to Jiang Hongjie.
3. Ai Fukuhara and Jiang Hongjie's transnational romance is surprising, and netizens have speculated why they didn't choose Chinese table tennis players, or even Japan's Kei Nishikori, but chose Jiang Hongjie, who is unknown in Taiwan's table tennis world.
As a result, various jokes began to circulate, among which the Northeast dialect became the main laughing point. However, there is an important problem hidden behind these jokes, and that is the difference in cultural and social environments.
Ai Fukuhara is famous, especially in Japan and Chinese mainland, but on the small island of Taiwan, her fame seems to be on full display. Of course, this is not to say that Ai Fukuhara is not popular in Taiwan, it's just that due to her own career choices and team considerations, she can't devote herself fully to family life.
According to reports, Jiang Hongjie's family regards Ai Fukuhara as a "cash cow", so even if she chooses to return to the family, she needs to come out to work often, especially when participating in variety shows and TV shows, she also needs to promote Jiang Hongjie in the show.
Although Ai Fukuhara is not as famous in Taiwan as in other countries and regions, her influence cannot be ignored. Whether in the world of sports or the entertainment industry, her presence is a valuable resource.
What is amazing is that Ai Fukuhara can guide Jiang Hongjie even in the professional field of table tennis. If all goes well, this is undoubtedly a precious little happiness between a couple.
However, what if things don't go as planned? It is easy to have the impression that the couple is strong and the man is relatively weak. Although their outward performance, as well as the birth of two adorable babies, seemed to dispel people's doubts, later facts revealed that it may have been from the beginning, Ai Fukuhara did not make the right choice.
Marriage is not just about two people, but also about their respective families and social environments. In fact, at this point, Ai Fukuhara doesn't seem to have thought it through. Back to the original topic, if Ai Fukuhara was not so well-known, if she was just an ordinary Japanese table tennis player, maybe her marriage with Jiang Hongjie would not have ended in failure.
Regarding the breakdown of Ai Fukuhara and Jiang Hongjie's marriage, Japanese netizens generally criticized it, while Chinese netizens generally had a tolerant attitude, which put Ai Fukuhara in an embarrassing situation.
She had to live and work in Japan, and the social atmosphere and ** environment did not allow her to fully express her ideas. However, Ai Fukuhara is deeply grateful for the love and tolerance of the Chinese people, without which her situation may be worse, and may even affect her high popularity and career in China.
It was the support from China that gave her the greatest courage. Therefore, in the face of Chinese reporters, Ai Fukuhara said: "Without the support of the Chinese, I would not be alive today." ”
Ai Fukuhara once recalled the difficulties when she first arrived in China at the age of 12, and the Japanese style of beating around the bush made her uncomfortable with the bold atmosphere and straightforwardness of the Tohoku people, and the jokes of her teammates often made her distressed and even secretly crying.
However, as time passed, Ai Fukuhara gradually adapted to life in the Northeast, learned the Northeast dialect, and even possessed the character of the Northeasterners, and the gap that once troubled her was gone.
In the next 20 years, whether Ai Fukuhara, as a mother, can still successfully get out of this predicament and change back to the laughing Ai-chan we are familiar with, let's pray for good luck for this optimistic girl!