It seems as if golfer Michelle Wie is finally growing up.

To try to earn her 2009 LPGA Tour card, Wie has entered the first stage of tour qualifying next week at Mission Hills Country Club.

Score this as a first step in the direction Wie should have been following all along.

Time will tell whether this is a genuine epiphany or just another one of those phony self-discovery stunts that are so popular these days.

In any event, let’s just hope we don’t get any more of this:

After turning pro the week of her 16th birthday, Wie has stuck to a game plan that she said was always her design, even though her parents appeared to be behind the wheel far more often than she was. And along the way, Wie drove very far off track.

In her first full year as a pro, she held at least a share of the lead in three majors in 2006. Then after she injured her wrists, Wie’s fortunes changed, her game faltered, her missteps increased and her image started taking hits.

And the fact remains that Wie hasn’t won any kind of tournament since the U.S. Women’s Public Links Championship, when she was all of 13.

Almost from that moment, her peers and others have suggested that Wie learn how to win against female players, instead of constantly loading up her playing schedule against the male pros, experiences that gained her almost nothing except more notoriety. Most of that negative, by the way.

Good luck, Michelle.

Via The Marmot’s Hole

Japan has a new Prince of Tennis, by the name of Kei Nishikori, who is kicking butt in the U.S. open right now after his big win against David Ferrer over the weekend, making him the first Japanese tennis player to advance to the 4th round since 1937.

Born in in rural Shimane Prefecture in 1989, he took up a racket at the age of five and would hit balls against the side of his house for many hours, showing a remarkable aptitude for the sport.

He took the incredible step of leaving Japan behind, crossing over to the U.S. at the age of 13 to be trained at the IMG Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, which caused quite a lot of buzz at the time. As usual, Japanese who compete in the world stage and raise the image of Japan in the eyes of foreigners become overnight sensations in here, and suddenly his name is on everyone’s lips.

I certainly hope that Nishikori-kun can follow stars like Ichiro, Hideki Matsui and soccer player Hidetoshi Nakata in redefining the international image of Japan through sports.

Note: Nishikori finally was defeated and did not make it to the best 8.

The U.S. Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) has announced a new policy that will require its golfers to learn and speak English for face suspension of their membership.

“Why now? Athletes now have more responsibilities and we want to help their professional development,” deputy commissioner Libba Galloway told The Associated Press. “There are more fans, more media and more sponsors. We want to help our athletes as best we can succeed off the golf course as well as on it.”

Players were told by LPGA commissioner Carolyn Bivens that by the end of 2009, all players who have been on the tour for two years must pass an oral evaluation of their English skills or face a membership suspension. A written explanation of the policy was not given to players, according to the report.

Though the new rule applies to all players regardless of national origin, Korean players on the LPGA feel as if the new rule is aimed squarely at them.

“The LPGA could come out and say they only want 10 Koreans, but they’re not,” [said Angela Park, a Korean-American who was born in Brazil], according to Golfweek. “A lot of Korean players think they are being targeted, but it’s just because there are so many of them.”

Though I have been really critical of Michelle Wie in the past (here and here), I must admit that I ended feeling pretty sorry for the young girl after her most recent mishap on the golf course when she was disqualified from a golf tournament for signing her scorecard “too late.”

Wie said that after she finished her round on Friday, she left the tent where players sign their scorecards and was chased down by some of the volunteers working in the tent who pointed out she hadn’t signed.

Wie returned to the tent and signed the card.

“I thought it would be OK,” she said.

But Wie, according to Witters, had already walked outside the roped-off area around the tent. At that point, the mistake was final.

Witters said she and other tour officials didn’t learn about the error from volunteers until well after Wie teed off Saturday. They let her finish the round, then took her to the office where she and her caddy, Tim Vickers, were informed of the ruling.

Wie was in second place, only one shot back, when she was disqualified.

I used to be pretty amazed to see golfers in Japan imbibing beer, sake, shochu, and whiskey early in the morning before venturing out onto the golf course, but at least the tipplers were getting some exercise in the open air.

But now the latest thing in Tokyo seems to be golf bars, which let you enjoy bashing golf balls without all of the troublesome stuff like walking and going outside.

My swing is so bad I look like a caveman killing his lunch.
- Lee Trevino

Fellow JAPUNDIT contributor Brian Engel kindly alerted me to a great piece in The Washington Post about how golf has changed in Japan, thanks mostly to U.S. investment companies like Goldman Sachs, which manages hundreds of golf courses through a company named Accordia Golf.
Then. . .

A weekend round of golf was slow, boozy, expensive and strictly regimented, Asami said. The day began around 8 a.m. with breakfast at the club, followed by nine holes of golf (always with caddies), followed by a lunch with lots of wine, beer and sake, followed by nine more holes and coffee or tea to finish up before a long drive home.

The round cost between $350 and $400 for nonmembers, and it kept a golfer away from home and family for at least 12 hours. “That was how you played,” Asami said. “We did not know another way.”

Now. . .

To make the course attractive to a potentially huge market in nearby Tokyo, Aqualine has halved the cost of a game for nonmembers. It is now about $135 for 18 holes. At the same time, course maintenance has improved markedly, members say. The food has improved. Out on the fairways, Asami said, there has been an American-style revolution in etiquette.

Golfers no longer must hire caddies. They can drive carts onto fairways. They can start play early in the morning or late in the afternoon. They don’t have to stop play to have lunch. A time marshal scolds dawdlers.

Groundskeepers are cutting the fairway rough so it plays easier, according to Accordia’s management. Greens, too, are mowed in a way that slow putts and improves scores.

“Japanese golf has changed drastically,” said Shinobu Haruna, a well-known golf journalist and author. “The merits of being a club member have declined for sure, but nonmembers can play at reasonable prices almost everywhere.”

Up here in Tochigi Prefecture, we are surrounded by a very large selection of golf courses that we can play on weekdays for 5,000 yen or less. In fact, by the time you read this, Mr. Pink and I will be out on an Accordia course named Higashi Nasu Country Club enjoying a round of golf in what is predicted to be perfect pre-rainy season weather. . . Fore!

Former sumo champion Konishiki arrived back in Japan recently for the first time after undergoing gastric bypass surgery in February.

Since the operation Konishiki has shed 70 kilograms (144 pounds), from a high of 300 kilograms (660 pounds).

Though we would like to congratulate Konishiki on his weight loss and wish him the best in the future, we must admit that he still looks pretty hefty in the above “after” photo.

Sankei Sports via Tokyo Graph

NPR’s news show, Day to Day, has a story (audio, 4:30 min.) on a sumo tournament held in Los Angeles.  The coverage of the tournament covers old ground (very basic), but it was interesting that the tournament took place abroad, even if it was just an exhibition.

For the first time in 27 years, 40 top-ranked athletes traveled to Los Angeles for an exhibition tournament. Most people have seen sumo wrestlers only in photographs, but pictures of these barely-clothed behemoths can’t capture the live spectacle as the wrestlers gracefully lumber into the sumo ring, or dohyo.

Most of the wrestlers who competed at the Los Angeles Sports Arena were more than 6 feet [183 cm] tall and well over 300 pounds [136 kg]. And though they all take Japanese sumo names like Takamisakari or Wakanosato, many hail from places like Bulgaria, Estonia and Mongolia.

Tokyo’s bid to host the 2016 Olympics has gotten something of a boost as the city was named by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to the short list of cities being considered, along with Chicago, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro. Tokyo scored the highest in the overall technical evaluation, followed by Madrid, Chicago, and Rio.

The candidate cities must now compile an in-depth file of their Olympic project and submit themselves to a visit by the IOC’s Evaluation Commission. The election of the host city will take place on Oct. 2 2009 at the IOC Session in Copenhagen.

The NPR sports show Only a Game has a 6 1/2-minute segment on Sumo.  It’s largely a primer on the sport but also focuses a lot on Asashoryu, the controversial, Mongolian, grand champion who is one of one of only two top-ranked yokozuna.  In brief, he seems to get himself into trouble such as breaking a car mirror after a match, playing soccer in Mongolia on a supposed-sore knee, and not appearing in the expected kimono.  The story also touches on other topics such as the controversial death of a 17-year old stable apprentice.

The New York Times recently ran an article on horse breeding in Japan.  I have to say, horse breeding and horse racing are not my thing, but if you’re into it, give the article a read.  It mostly focuses on a horse named Casino Drive who is related to many big-name horses and is living and training in Japan under racing manager Nobutaka Tada and chief executive Hidetoshi Tamamoto who bought the horse for almost $1,000,000 in 2006.

The news reports on the Japan leg of the Bejing Olympic torch (which some are calling the “flame of shame”) relay in Nagano made me wish I had been there with a camera.

Large numbers of Chinese “students” were on hand as were groups of free Tibeters, all of whom seemed to be carrying flags and placards. The Japanese right wing also showed up, ready to mix it up with just about anyone, especially the Chinese.

The whole thing reminded me of why I dislike nation-vs-nation sports of any kind so much.

I also had to wonder whether the Olympics might turn out to be a public relations disaster for China.

Any other thoughts on this?

Danica Patrick became the first woman to win an Indy Car race by winning the Japan 300 in Motegi. I’m not a huge motor sports fan myself, but it is certainly a historic first and worth noting. Here’s ESPN’s take on the event.

Patrick finished 5.8594 seconds ahead of pole-sitter Helio Castroneves on the 1.5-mile Twin Ring Motegi oval after leader Scott Dixon pitted with five laps left and Dan Wheldon and Tony Kanaan came in a lap later.

The 26-year-old Patrick won in her 50th career IndyCar start, taking the lead from Castroneves on the 198th lap in the 200-lap race.

A BBC article asks

The Chinese guards protecting the Olympic torch have been described as heavy-handed, aggressive and even thugs. Who are the men in blue tracksuits?

A Times article responds - “The Chinese torch guards are actually paramilitary police from a squad spun off from the army,” and goes on to say that they will not be allowed into Japan for the Nagano leg of the torch’s journey later this month.

The progress of the Olympic torch has been hampered along its way by fierce protests, particularly in London, Paris and San Francisco, but the Men in Blue (tracksuits) first caught the eye in London when the Metropolitan Police made complaints, saying that they had not been informed of the men’s true role, that they had no official purpose and often hindered the police’s attempts to keep order.

Then former Olympic champion long distance runner, Sebastian Coe (now Lord Coe), who leads organising committee for London’s 2012 Olympics, waded into the controversy, branding them “horrible thugs”.

Now, Shinya Izumi, the Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission in Tokyo, has cast doubt on whether they’ll be welcome in Japan.

“I do not personally accept the idea that they will run in Japan as they ran in other countries,” said Shinya Izumi, who was discussing arrangements for the Nagano leg of the torch relay later this month.

Mr Izumi, reflecting the revelation that the blue-tracksuited Chinese runners are in fact paramilitary-trained police, said that any security role they played – including pushing protesters off the road as they have done elsewhere – would be an infringement of Japan’s sovereignty.

The question of sovereignty has been a hot topic of debate in London with many asking who gave permission for the Chinese to police London’s streets if the Metropolitan Police didn’t even know who they were.

Top image © AFP

The New York Times has a quartet of articles related to Japan.

One article deals with a lawsuit regarding WWII forced suicides. I have not heard much about this issue before and it is quite interesting. The topic of revisionist history is a universal one. In this particular case an author wrote about these suicides and was sued for defamation but the lawsuit was just thrown out.

A Japanese court has rejected a defamation lawsuit against Kenzaburo Oe, the 1994 Nobel laureate in literature, agreeing with his depiction of deep involvement by the Japanese military in the mass suicides of civilians in Okinawa toward the end of World War II.

The defamation lawsuit, filed in 2005, was seized upon by right-wing scholars and politicians in Japan who want to delete references to the military’s coercion of civilians in the mass suicides from the country’s high school history textbooks. Last April, during the administration of Shinzo Abe, the prime minister at the time, the Ministry of Education announced that references to the military’s role would be deleted from textbooks.

The Washington Post recently had an excellent recap on the ongoing investigation into the death of Takashi Saito, a 17-year-old wrestler who was literally tortured to death by his stablemaster and mates.

His death, which police initially ruled to be the result of “heart disease,” led to the arrest last month of his former sumo stable master, who has since told police he beat Saito because the boy had a “vague attitude” about his career in sumo.

Three wrestlers have also been arrested in connection with the beating. But it took until Thursday — more than eight months after Saito’s death and a month after the wrestlers were indicted — for the powerful Japan Sumo Association to take action against them. The JSA decided that it would ban the three from competing in sumo tournaments and said that, if they were found guilty, it would expel them from the profession.

A few months ago I was at a social event where some well-known gaijin sumo expert was going on and on about how the case needed to be left to the Sumo Association to deal with in their own, centuries-old way.

Thanks much to Brian Engel for letting us know about this story.

In case you were losing sleep wondering about it, a study conducted at University of Glasgow has come to the conclusion that the color of a judoka’s gi (uniform) does not affect the outcome of the match. Apparently, there were studies out there that claimed blue uniforms provided some sort of edge over white ones.

An examination of 501 gold-medal finals in international competitions between 1996 and 2005 showed that the color of the uniform worn by the winner was split evenly between blue and white, the study found.
“We focused on judo but the finding may have wider implications for sports in general,” said Peter Dijkstra, a behavioral biologist at the University of Glasgow, who led the study. “We show there is no color association for a winning bias.”

Past studies claimed that blue make the wearer appear more intimidating or white made the moves of the wearer more visible, giving an advantage to the more colorful competitor.

According to the new Glasgow study, previous studies did not take into account that it was often the more skilled judoka who preferred blue.

The British Olympic Association (BOA) reportedly is forcing the nation’s athletes to sign contracts that effectively ban them from speaking out against human rights abuses in China.

The controversial clause has been inserted into athletes’ contracts for the first time and forbids them from making any political comment about countries staging the Olympic Games.

The ban goes into effect from the moment a competitor signs up with the team, and those who refuse to sign will not be allowed to travel to Beijing. Violators will be sent home immediately.

The clause, in section 4 of the contract, simply states: “[Athletes] are not to comment on any politically sensitive issues.”

It then refers competitors to Section 51 of the International Olympic Committee charter, which “provides for no kind of demonstration, or political, religious or racial propaganda in the Olympic sites, venues or other areas”.

What about other countries? The United States, Canada, Finland, and Australia all have announced their athletes will be free to speak about any issue concerning China. Only New Zealand and Belgium have banned athletes from giving political opinions.

He made his only previous appearance in the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 1964 at the age of 22. You might expect 66-year-old Hiroshi Hoketsu to be looking forward to spectating at this year’s games, but remarkably, after a 44-year absence, he stands to make a record-breaking comeback when Japan officially announces its Olympic team next week.

Azusa Kitano of the Japan Equestrian Federation said of Hoketsu -

He will be in the team dressage. He hasn’t been at an Olympics since 1964, which was 44 years ago, but he has continued riding all this time. He’s up at 5 am every day. He’s what horse riding is all about. I want to congratulate him with all my heart.

Mr Hoketsu, who will almost certainly garner an enormous amount of media attention (he was all over the breakfast shows today), would not however be the oldest ever Olympic competitor. That record belongs to Sweden’s Oscar Swahn, who took part in the 1920 Antwerp Games aged 72.

Photo: Japan Equestrian Federation