The latest anime sensation, "Medalist" (メダリスト), has been making waves this season with its rare figure skating theme. The show has garnered immense praise from viewers, even earning a glowing recommendation from none other than legendary skater Yuzuru Hanyu himself.
But recently on Japanese X (formerly Twitter), the buzz around the show's incredibly popular and much-discussed coach, Tsukasa Akeuraji, isn't about his skating prowess or cool demeanor. Instead, fans are hailing him as a "perfect modern ideal teacher" and an "educator with exceptionally high standards." This discussion has captured the attention of many netizens.
The conversation kicked off with a post from a user who pointed out:
"Coach Tsukasa's teaching methods are truly moving. He always starts with encouragement, and regardless of gender, he addresses every child with the honorific 'san.' If a child is injured and needs to be carried, he always ensures there's clothing between them to avoid direct contact. When physical contact is absolutely necessary, he always asks for consent beforehand. Even if a child speaks rudely to him, he never directly lashes out or shows anger in front of them."
Seriously, he's the ideal modern teacher!
This perspective resonated with many users. Just the fact that he uses "san" instead of "chan" when addressing children speaks volumes about his respect for others. He completely rejects the attitude of "it's okay to look down on someone because they're a child (or younger)," which is truly commendable.
Coach Tsukasa, in particular, maintains the perfect distance with children. He neither belittles them nor tries to control or possess them. Instead, he respects them as independent individuals. His attitude isn't "I'm an adult, so you must listen to me," but rather, "you were just born a bit later." At the same time, he offers appropriate respect and guidance based on his own experience, truly embodying the high moral standards of an educator.
Some netizens also noted that one of the reasons Tsukasa Akeuraji is so beloved by many female readers is precisely because he doesn't pull off those cringey, intimate moves like sudden princess carries or head pats, which are often seen in some female-oriented works despite not being a boyfriend or fiancé. He's truly a character fit for the Reiwa era!
Another user pointed out that while Tsukasa may seem perfect, he's actually full of negative energy internally, still clinging to his dream of being a skater at 26 and living a life that's far from what's expected of an adult male. This makes the character feel even more realistic.
Some viewers who initially had reservations about the show even admitted: "I wondered why this show featured a female protagonist with a male coach? But after watching, my opinion completely changed, and I was deeply drawn in."
While Tsukasa is a fictional character, representing what many consider a perfect teacher, some users also highlighted that the students and parents are equally crucial. For instance, Inori and her parents are very understanding, which allows for such a harmonious relationship to flourish.
In more chaotic environments, if Coach Tsukasa were to use this approach, he might be seen as a pushover by students, and the teacher-student relationship could quickly spiral out of control.
Of course, this also shows that the "Medalist" anime has indeed garnered widespread attention in Japan, especially with its storyline resonating deeply with many parents and teachers. Such a strong response has undoubtedly brought this work to a much wider audience.
via： togetter