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Yoshizumi Ishihara Says His Father Told Him to Shorten His Wedding Speech

a man sitting at a table with a painting in front of him
Photo by Il Vagabiondo on Unsplash

Japanese TV personality Yoshizumi Ishihara has revealed a story about his own wedding. Before the ceremony, his father gave him an unusual instruction.

His father was Shintaro Ishihara, a famous novelist and politician who once served as governor of Tokyo. He was known for having strong opinions.

According to Yoshizumi, his father said he was tired of weddings and found them boring. Because of this, he told his son to shorten the wedding reception.

Yoshizumi shared this anecdote during a television appearance. He described the order as unusual because most fathers do not ask their children to make weddings shorter.

Former professional baseball player Kazufumi Nagashima, who was also on the show, reacted to the story. He commented, 'That's just like Shintaro,' showing that he was not surprised by the request.

Nagashima had a personal connection to the Ishihara family and knew Shintaro's personality well. His reaction suggested that this kind of blunt comment was typical of him.

Shintaro Ishihara passed away, but he remains a well-known figure in Japan because of his long political career and his writing.

Yoshizumi often appears on television and sometimes shares memories of his father, giving audiences a glimpse into their family life.

The story about the wedding instruction gives fans a small but interesting look at Shintaro Ishihara's direct and honest personality, even in family matters.

Vocabulary7 words

instruction
an order telling someone what to do
novelist
a person who writes books
tired of
bored with something
reception
a party held after a wedding
anecdote
a short, interesting story about something real
connection
a relationship between people
personality
the way a person usually acts or feels

Quiz

1. What did Shintaro Ishihara ask his son to do before the wedding?
2. Why did Shintaro give this instruction?
3. True or False: Kazufumi Nagashima was surprised by Shintaro's comment.

Fill-in-the-blank listening

Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.

Japanese TV personality Yoshizumi Ishihara has revealed a story about his own _____. Before the ceremony, his father gave him an unusual _____.

His father was Shintaro Ishihara, a famous _____ and politician who once served as governor of Tokyo.

According to Yoshizumi, his father said he was _____ weddings and found them boring.

Because of this, he told his son to shorten the wedding _____.

Yoshizumi shared this _____ during a television appearance.

Former professional baseball player Kazufumi Nagashima reacted to the story, saying, 'That's just like _____.'

Nagashima had a personal _____ to the Ishihara family and knew Shintaro's _____ well.

The story gives fans a small but interesting look at Shintaro Ishihara's direct and honest _____, even in family matters.

Discussion questions

  1. Do you think it is common for parents to give unusual instructions before a wedding?
  2. Why do you think Shintaro Ishihara found weddings boring?
  3. How do you feel about sharing personal family stories on television?
  4. What does this story tell you about Shintaro Ishihara's personality?

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