Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 12121 Location: It was fun while it lasted. Country:
Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2010 7:46 am Post subject:
We don't have a golf thread (which is probably a good thing) but this kid Ishikawa is the real deal:
Japan's Ishikawa impressive in US Open debut
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP)—If Ryo Ishikawa needed any reassurance about his emerging golf game, he got it from none other than eight-time major winner Tom Watson.
Paired with Watson in the second round Friday, the two stood in the scorer�fs trailer after coming off the 18th green at Pebble Beach and shared some friendly words. Watson reached out for a handshake and wished the 18-year-old Japanese star well.
�gTom said to me that I will have a good future,�h Ishikawa said.
The stylish Ishikawa, with bright-colored clothes, a consistent putter and youthful acne on his cheery face, is right in the hunt in his U.S. Open debut. Ishikawa followed his 1-under opening-round Thursday by shooting an even-par 71 Friday for an impressive two-day score of 141. He�fs in a four-way tie for second heading into Saturday.
Now, Ishikawa wants to ride that momentum right into a strong weekend. He has adjusted his shots for a tough course along the Pacific Coast he insists is nothing like the oceanside links he plays back home.
Ishikawa sported all pink Thursday—a pink zip-up sweater, pink slacks and pink shoes. On Friday, he toned it down a tad with a cherry-red zip-up sweater and off-white pants.
He is making the right kind of splash at Pebble, where even some of the best golfers in this bunch are splashing balls into the ocean or hitting off cliffs into the rocks or beach below. Davis Love III did it on the 18th tee Friday, playing in the group in front of Ishikawa.
Ishikawa birdied the par-3, 208-yard 17th that has been creating all kinds of problems for others in the field so far.
�gI like it. I like 17,�h Ishikawa said with a smile speaking perfect English, though he did receive help from interpreter Jumpei Kaneko for other responses. �gI hit a 4-iron today and I couldn�ft see where the ball landed after the first bounce. It was just a lucky bounce. The putting was very straight. Straight, right in, so yesterday and today I was very lucky.�h
There�fs a little more to his game than just luck.
Ishikawa turned pro in 2007 and has won seven titles on the Japan Tour. At The Crowns event last month in Togo, Japan, he shot a 12-under 58 for the lowest score ever on a major tour.
He made 12 birdies in a bogey-free round on the 6,545-yard Nagoya Golf Club course. Ishikawa surprised even himself with that one.
Now, everybody else is catching on to this kid�fs potential. A newcomer no more.
�gRyo played fantastically,�h said Rory McIlroy, also in Ishikawa�fs Friday threesome. �gHe made a lot of putts. If he can keep his short game the way it is, I can definitely see him competing this weekend.�h
With a media contingent at the Open not unlike the large groups covering big-name major leaguers such as Daisuke Matsuzaka or Hideki Matsui, Ishikawa exhibits the poise of someone well beyond his years.
Does he feel pressure on his sport�fs big stage?
His motto is more about pushing himself to be the best he can be, rather than creating huge expectations this early in his career—or letting outside distractions derail his goals.
�gI don�ft know if it�fs the right word, but my feeling is go for it,�h Ishikawa said. �gSo, challenging is something to me, and especially in the tournaments outside Japan, it doesn�ft mean anything if I don�ft challenge things.�h
After struggling with his short game during the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am here in February, Ishikawa went back to Japan and vowed to be better on Pebble�fs unforgiving greens when he returned.
�gAnd this week I�fm doing great on putting,�h he said.
Before he departed Friday, Ishikawa quickly signed a ball and handed it to Watson�fs son and caddie, Michael.
�gI really appreciate it,�h Michael Watson said, reaching out his hand. �gKeep up the good play.�h
It�fs hard not to like Ishikawa. He�fs fresh, real.
Morito Matsuda and his wife, Hisae, are visiting Northern California from Tokyo. Their son lives in San Francisco, so they paired a visit to the Bay Area with watching a day of golf.
The couple were thrilled to get to see Ishikawa�fs success on 17.
�gHe�fs a good boy, only 18,�h Morito Matsuda said. �gWe�fre very excited. We got up at 3:30 a.m. to get here from San Francisco so we could see him practice — and he was on the driving range right next to Tiger Woods.�h
Ishikawa said he hears and appreciates all the Japanese fans in the gallery and their cheers of �ggambatte!�h—which translates to �gGo for it!�h or �gTry your best!�h
�gHe�fs extraordinary,�h Ernie Els said. �gHe played in the Presidents Cup last year, and I really got to know him well there. He�fs a great kid. It�fs amazing that he�fs only 18. He already shot 58 this year. Just think about it, shooting 58 in the Tour over there in Japan at 18, it�fs phenomenal. He�fs a really good player, great kid. There�fs a lot of youngsters coming through. I think what Tiger has done, a lot of these kids want to do what he�fs done, so they come out early and they�fre aggressive and they�fre confident.�h
Ishikawa�fs plan: keep it up for another two days.
�gI hope I can play more aggressive tomorrow and the next two days,�h he said. �gI hope I can focus on my golf, just on my golf.�h
Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 46182 Location: Los Skandolous, California Country:
Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 1:04 am Post subject:
Hilarious!
Hayao Miyazaki Compares iPad Use To Masturbation
Hayao Miyazaki Compares iPad Use To Masturbation Hayao Miyazaki is the greatest animator alive. And he does not like the iPad.
Noted for Studio Ghibli classics like My Neighbor Totoro, Miyazaki has stated that he rarely watches TV, does not own a computer or a fax and doesn't even own a DVD player. Instead of e-mail, he writes letters. He also makes wonderful films.
In an interview in the July issue of "Neppuu", the Studio Ghibli published pamphlet, the famed animator does not pull any punches when discussing the iPad, or what he calls the "game machine-type thing" that people are "stroking with strange gestures".
"For me, there is no feeling of admiration or no excitement whatsoever," Miyazaki said about the iPad. "It's disgusting. On trains, the number of those people doing that strange masturbation-like gesture is multiplying."
Miyazaki also noted that he also got "fed up" when everyone on the trains started reading manga and then later when everyone began using cell phones on the trains to presumably send text messages.
He might seem like an eccentric technophobe, but he is coming from an "All I need are pencil and paper" point-of-view. That might all he needs. He's Hayao Miyazaki! And with those simple tools, he can create brilliance. But not everyone is talented as Miyazaki.
Studio Ghibli, his animation company, is currently working on a Nintendo DS and PS3 game called "Ni no Kuni". Miyazaki is not directly involved with these projects.
Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 46182 Location: Los Skandolous, California Country:
Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 1:54 am Post subject:
bmwracer wrote:
^ LOL.
It also rumored that Miyazaki craps in a dirt hole, eschewing the modern technology of the TOTO toilet. As a result his rear end is known as Grumblebum.
It also rumored that Miyazaki craps in a dirt hole, eschewing the modern technology of the TOTO toilet. As a result his rear end is known as Grumblebum.
Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 12121 Location: It was fun while it lasted. Country:
Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 10:59 pm Post subject:
Japan PM's wife criticizes him in new book
By SHINO YUASA, Associated Press Writer Shino Yuasa, Associated Press Writer – Fri Jul 23, 7:50 am ET
TOKYO – In a new book, the wife of Japan's Prime Minister Naoto Kan questions whether he is fit for the nation's top job and suggests his tenure might be short-lived.
In "You are Prime Minister, So What Will Change in Japan?" which was released this week, first lady Nobuko Kan lists a host of her husband's shortcomings, from his failure to do any housework to his hot temper.
But it also depicts the premier, who took the job in June, as a caring father of two sons. And when he speaks spontaneously, he can be inspiring, she says. But not when he reads his speeches.
Kan, 63, has often called his wife "the opposition at home." Asked by reporters about the book, Kan said he was too scared to read it.
The book comes as Kan struggles to revive sagging public support after his ruling party suffered a heavy defeat in upper house elections two weeks ago. That result heightened speculation he could join the conveyor belt of recent Japanese prime ministers who have tried to revive the country's flagging economy, and been ditched in short order.
The book chronicles highlights and lowlights in the couple's 40-year marriage, and the criticism appears to be made in the playful manner in which some middle-aged Japanese couples will chide or even put down each another in public. That's partly because Japanese culture encourages a deprecating humility about members of one's family or ones belongings, while praising one's neighbors.
But it is virtually unprecedented for a Japanese first lady to speak so bluntly.
Nobuko says her husband became prime minister "by chance" and that it felt "unreal" he had the position.
"I cannot help feeling a sense of wrongness" about Kan being prime minister, she said. "Since I've known him so well, I ask myself whether this person is right for prime minister."
She even suggests that Kan's tenure as leader might be short-lived: When the first couple moved into the prime minister's residence, Nobuko only brought summer clothes.
"Depending on the outcome of September's party election, we may have to quickly pack up and leave," she said.
Kan is Japan's sixth prime minister in four years. His ruling party — the Democratic Party of Japan — will hold a leadership election in September. As the party controls a majority of the more powerful lower house of parliament, the new party chief will almost certainly become Japan's next prime minister.
Nobuko's comments stand in stark contrast with those of the previous first lady, Miyuki Hatoyama, who lavishly praised her husband, former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama — who also was unusually complimentary about his wife in public.
Publisher Gentosha Inc. said Friday the book was selling fast. It has so far printed 60,000 copies.
"the opposition at home" I think all husbands and wives feel that way about each other sometimes.
Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 46182 Location: Los Skandolous, California Country:
Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 8:53 am Post subject:
Steve Jobs in Kansai Airport Bust-Up
The new edition of SPA! magazine reports that Steve Jobs became furious with his treatment at the hands of Kansai Airport security. The magazine says he arrived quietly for a family vacation in Kyoto. When he was leaving, security held him up after discovering shuriken (ninja throwing stars) in his luggage which they wanted to confiscate. Jobs allegedly said "I'm hardly planning to hijack my own private jet. What a country. I'm not coming again". Unlike many major international destinations, Japanese airports have limited facilities for private jets and don't follow procedures which have become standard for VIPs elsewhere. Jobs was likely expecting a light touch in security and grew frustrated at the delays.
Joined: 26 Mar 2007 Posts: 2061 Location: Melbourne Country:
Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 10:41 am Post subject:
gaijinmark wrote:
In "You are Prime Minister, So What Will Change in Japan?" which was released this week, first lady Nobuko Kan lists a host of her husband's shortcomings, from his failure to do any housework to his hot temper.
But it also depicts the premier, who took the job in June, as a caring father of two sons. And when he speaks spontaneously, he can be inspiring, she says. But not when he reads his speeches.
Kan, 63, has often called his wife "the opposition at home." Asked by reporters about the book, Kan said he was too scared to read it.
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