Moreover, both Nobu and Dai receive special treatments at their university. They built a rink for them. Japanese universities are seriously understaffed and the country is full of working poor PhDs. Instead of investing in the betterment of education and research for the larger population of the students and faculty members, however, this university chose to build a rink. Nobu and Dai belong to the School of Letters, not to the School of Sports. Although both Daisuke and Nobu spend a considerable amount of time abroad, Dai managed to graduate in just four years. These are possible only because the university is so incredibly supportive and makes special cases for them.
When I needed to be physically absent from three classes of a course at my grad school due to my family sickness back home, the prof asked me to drop the course. Although I was catching up reasonably well and did all the reading and written assignments, she simply wanted the students to attend all of the classes. Period. Did I think it unfair that the professor did not make a special case for me? Never. Professors have all the rights and responsibilities to set the standards. For whatever reasons you fail to fulfill the responsibility to live up to the requirements, I believe that you have to accept the consequences.
But somehow these skaters are exempted from such a regular responsibility as a student. Daisuke now goes to “grad school” where he is allowed to focus on getting OGM instead of fully focusing on course work and the Master’s thesis. Whatever commitment he could make, it's still a Master of Arts that he will be offered to receive. Although Nobu seems to be taking the leave of absense, I suppose that this option is open to Nobu in future if he chooses to do so. I must say that all of these are just incredibly special treatments. I don’t think that Nobu is a kind of person who could not appreciate these incredible support resources available to him.
