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Phrase: Fall from grace
As Bon Scott, the former lead singer of AC/DC, once sang, “It’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock ‘N’ roll.”
In Japan, the fall from grace is swift and brutal if you get to the top and do something wrong.
In most other Western countries, if you are famous and get caught with drugs, drunk driving or tax evasion, it could help your career.
When a person falls from grace, they lose their position of power or honour.
Any publicity is good publicity, as the adage goes.
That, however, doesn’t work in Japan.
When a person falls from grace, they lose their position of power or honour.
They can fall out of favour and no longer be idolized.
My first example for today is going to be Kazuhiro Kiyohara.
I’ll follow the English order of the first and last names because this is English, and that’s how it is.
If Taro Kono wants to contact me, he can do so here.
Anyways, Kiyohara was arrested for doing drugs.
He had a storied baseball career from high school until he retired.
However, illegal drugs are highly unlawful in Japan.
There is little to no forgiveness for heroes who cross that line.
Kiyohara’s fall from grace was swift and lasting.
It’s as if he has almost been erased from society.
Although he was often mentioned for his accomplishments, his name is now seldom heard since his fall from grace.
He may have started off on the right foot, but he sure didn’t finish off on it.
The second example I’ll bring up today is Carlos Ghosn and Nissan.
Carlos Ghosn was arrested about six months ago for alleged wrongdoings.
He has subsequently been removed from all posts at Nissan even though his guilt has not yet been proven in court.
Nissan itself, however, has not gotten away undamaged.
Their cars are now outdated, profits are falling, and they may merge in the future with Renault.
Nissan has also fallen from grace.
Flesch-Kincaid Readability Test
This post is understandable by someone with at least a 7th-grade education (age 12).
On the Flesch-Kincaid reading-ease test, this post scores 74.
The easier a passage is to read, the higher the score on a scale of 0 – 100.