|TThoughts| Power of Family,家族のパワー

The name Kameda probably does not ring a bell for most people outside of Japan or have no interest whatsoever in boxing. Myself, I am no fan of boxing or anything, either. But the name Kameda means something to me for what it represent in terms of family values. The kid's name is Koki Kameda, the oldest of 3 boys and 1 girl, born to Shiro Kameda and I don't know mom's name. All three boys are boxing champions (so I definitely do not recommend fooling around with little sister!) and they are trained by their father, who used to box a little bit in his days. However, since they have (had) no money, training consisted of self-designed programs using hand-crafted equipment. A real-life Rocky.

Recently Koki became world champion in his class. But this came with a lot of criticisms. First, it was an ambiguous call on behalf of the judges...apparently. I dunno. I ain't no boxing fanatic nor expert so I have no comments. Also, there are criticisms for his public image of being an arrogant little punk. But com'on, everyone knows that in reality he would jump into fire for his parents and his siblings if he had to. In every interview or other public appearances that I've seen, he talks only positively of his family, in particular, his father. In fact, he promised to put the world champion belt around his father's waist before his own. Furthermore, he announced that he will NOT wear any title belts unless it was the world champion belt AND that he'll do that before he turns 20, which may be perceived as arrogance by some. Kind'a like when Babe Ruth announces a home-run. But well, like Ruth, Koki delivered on all three promises. Unlike Ruth, Koki is only 19 years-old.

Here are the clips of when he won the title. I think that the little crying boy IS his real self. The boy thanking his parents for everything that he has accomplished IS his real self. The boy putting the belt around his father's waist IS his real self. As for the arrogant little punk? Well, give him a break. That's just a show.

Bravo. Congratulations to the whole family.


やりましたね、亀田興毅！ワールドチャンピオン！

俺はボクシングの専門家ではないので、判定勝利に関してはノーコメントですが、今までテレビなどで見て来た興毅と全亀田ファミリーのパワーに関しては、良い事しか言えない。そして、チャンピオン・ベルトを一番先にオヤジの腰にまいてあげたのにも感動したね。（横峰パパも嫌なエロオヤジのイメージを出しているかもしれないけど、サクラちゃんも亀田兄弟を見習って、オヤジに対する尊敬を口にする事が出来ると良いのに。やっぱりファミリーがいるからプロになれたんじゃないの？）

確かに亀田ファミリーは口が悪い。でも、これはボクシング界でのショーでもあり、戦いに勝つための策戦でもあるのでは。そもそも、エネルギー満タンの口悪いファイターを良い方向に導いてあげるのと、ひ弱な礼儀正しい詰まらん男を何とか喧嘩に勝たせるまで育てるのと、どっちの方が結果出ると思います？亀田パパは間違っていないでしょう。つうか、興毅もまだ１９歳じゃないですか。

それよりも、一つになった家族が全てをかけて、目指した目標にたどり着いたときの興毅の号泣。それこそが、マスクをとってくれた真の興毅じゃないですか。それを某漫画家は「安っぽいメロドラマを見せられた」と言うのはどうかと思うけど、まあそれなりの理由はあるのでしょう。

何れにしても、「ワールドチャンピオン・ベルト以外は腰にしない。十代でワールドチャンピオンになる。一番先にワールドチャンピオン・ベルトをオヤジの腰にまく。」など、有言ではあったが、確かに実行はされましたよね。本当に素晴らしいし、偉いと思う。大体さあ、口が悪いなど、形式上確かに謙虚さに欠けているように見えるかもしれないけど、本当にチャランポランだったら世界の王者の欠片にもなれないよ。謙虚さがあるからこそ、他の選手を本当に尊敬しているからこそ、見えないとこで凄まじい努力を重ねられて来れたに違いない。

まあその内、無言実行にもなるさ。多分引退してからだと思うけどね。

ってことで、興毅が勝った時のビデオでも観てください。


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