“Stop pretending to be disabled”; Hirotada Ototake gives a “bold reply” to a malicious comment on X

From LASISA via Yahoo! Japan

November 3 2025

TOKYO – Author and sports writer Hirotada Ototake (age 49) drew attention online after posting a “bold reply” on X (formerly Twitter), where he responded self-deprecatingly to a critical comment about his congenital limb deficiency. His witty comeback received over 23,000 likes, earning widespread praise from users for his humor and composure.

The exchange that sparked discussion took place late on November 2, when Ototake replied to a post directed at him that read, “Stop pretending to be disabled.” Quoting the message, Ototake responded:

“I’m terribly sorry for pretending to be disabled when all I’m missing are both my arms and legs.”

By meeting hostility with humor and refusing to treat disability as taboo, his post drew attention quickly, reaching over 2.52 million views within half a day.

Ototake, best known for his memoir Gotai Fumanzoku (No One’s Perfect), has long been open about his disability and has used his platform to stimulate public discussion. This latest response exemplifies his characteristic style — confronting prejudice with wit while defusing tension through self-aware humor.

Reactions from users were largely positive, with comments such as “That comeback is unbeatable!” praising his sharp humor and mental strength. Others joked back in kind:

“Your comebacks are always razor-sharp, lol,”

“A perfect answer — I’m left completely disarmed!”

Another user wrote admiringly, “Ototake’s heart is barrier-free,” highlighting his emotional resilience.

Some took a more reflective tone: “Maybe it just means he looks so lively that people forget he’s disabled,” one person commented, while another cautioned, “Laughing doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt, or that he’s forgiven the insult.” The exchange thus sparked a broader, nuanced discussion about humor, prejudice, and empathy.

Ototake has a long history of using self-deprecating humor in public and on social media. When once asked online, “Do you have fingerprints?” he replied, “Nope! Perfect crime — I leave no footprints either,” which went viral at the time. During speculation about a possible political run, he joked about the then-party Tachiagare Nippon (“Stand Up Japan”) by saying, “I don’t have legs to stand up (＞_＜).” These wordplays — combining his disability with clever turns of phrase — have often been praised for their wit.

Every Halloween, he even incorporates his physique into creative costumes, portraying “short-statured characters,” playfully challenging stereotypes about disability.

Ototake’s self-deprecating humor reflects his consistent approach: using laughter to confront and dismantle social prejudice rather than hide from it. His latest “bold reply” once again demonstrates how that spirit continues to resonate widely.