Ryo Ishikawa Serves Snow Cones and Lifts Spirits

What could be better on a hot, humid day than a good old fashioned snow cone?

A snow cone prepared by Ryo Ishikawa perhaps.

Earlier this week in Japan's Miyage Prefecture... where many have been living in shelters since the disastrous earthquake and tsunami... the "Bashful Prince" and other JGTO players, served shaved ice topped with flavored syrup after entertaining the area's children with a session of  SNAG golf.  The Japanese golfers were in the disaster zone to show their support for those most affected by it.  Additionally Mr. Ishikawa will be donating all of his earnings this your to disaster relief... and he's currently on top of Japan's money list.

The following day Ryo was off to the much chillier climate: that of of Kent, UK to play in the Open Championship.

Ishikawa Incident Illustrates Cultural Dichotomy

Photo: AFP/File, Yoshikazu Tsuno

Ryo Ishikawa, one of our favorite golfers, recently had an issue with his driving. It didn't happen on the golf course, and it has nothing to do with distance, in fact, at the 2011 Masters the Japanese superstar was ranked fifth in driving distance.

What happened to Ryo, was the kind of thing that happens to many 19-year-olds: He got into trouble for an infraction that took place behind the wheel.



To many of us... in the US and other western nations... it probably seems rather benign: the golf champion, who'll turn 20 in September, was cited for driving (unknowingly, it turns out) without a valid licence.  It seems the international driving licence Ishikawa recently obtained in the US was not legal in Japan, because the law there says he would have needed to be abroad for at least three full months to make it valid. Apparently the infraction was discovered when Ryo was spotted driving a silver Audi he'd won, to a local tournament. Neither Ryo nor his Dad were aware of the legal nuance.

Now here's where the cultural dichotomy part comes in: this is a big story in Japan. A story that came with a very profuse public apology... from the golfer himself, his father and his sponsors.  Yes, Ryo Ishikawa is a bona fide superstar in Japan, but were this to have happened to a US star... even the biggest, most role model-ish star... it would hardly have made the news. And when it did, the story would likely be told with a sheepish smile and be all about how it was an innocent mistake... not his/her fault.  There most probably wouldn't be an apology because in our culture apologizing equals an admission of guilt or personal responsibility.  In Japan, on the other hand, an apology is seen more as a gesture of humbleness and concern for others, than as an admission of personal wrongdoing. Apologizing, and expressing a commitment to do better, are therefore seen as basic courtesy.  Ryo made no excuses for what had happened, stating at a Narita airport news conference yesterday, “It’s my own carelessness. I’m very sorry for causing a trouble to my sponsors and golf fans with my fault."  There wasn't the slightest inference that the rule was silly... or should be reviewed.  In fact, the repentant golfer finished by saying, "I will devote myself every day to being more self-aware than ever as a professional golfer. I am sorry,"

Seen from this side of the world the reaction seems, to say the least, curious, as we're far more used to seeing our stars... and politicians, and corporate chieftains... evading rather than apologizing. The fact is, here in the US sports agents, reputation management consultants and corporate attorneys would likely discourage even a hint of contrition in public statements.  In Japan, assuming one's personal responsibility, is still highly valued.  This may make life more difficult for superstars, but many feel it helped the nation's population cope with the recent natural disasters.
 
Part of what the world finds so enchanting about Ryo Ishikawa is his soft-spoken, unpretentious reserve, and as he gets ready to compete in the US Open next week we wish him the best. We'll certainly be pulling for him next week at Congressional Country Club.

Ryo Ishikawa Works Towards US Open This Weekend

ゴルフ・笑顔の石川 ~ The Ishikawa Golf Smile

Ryo Ishikawa, may have certainly has the number one most charming smile in golf, but he currently sits at 53 in the World Golf Rankings... which means he'll need a top finish this weekend to be exempt for the US Open at Congressional in June. 

He's playing in the Totoumi Hamamatsu Open this week at Grandee Hamanako Golf Club in Shizuoka, and will go into the second round four back, in a tie for 29th on a crowded leaderboard.

With a scorecard that featured six birdies and two bogies, the teenaged superstar's 68 reflected a "rough driver" and "the touch of exquisite putting" as my Japanese friend put it in an email she sent me this morning.

We'll keep you posted on the results throughout the weekend. As you can imagine we're hoping to see Ryo on the roster at Congressional in June... and I know we're not the only ones.

Source - www.jiji.com, Special Thanks to Noriko & Hiroshi ありがとう

JLPGA - Raising Funds & Facing Event Cancellations

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The LPGA took giving to a whole new level at the inaugural Founder's Cup this past weekend, with the entire $1 million purse going to charity.  Half the amount went to Girls Golf and the other half to player designated charities with quite a few players choosing Japan Relief charities for their shares. 

Meanwhile half a world away a group of JLPA players... their country facing an epic disaster and their tournaments canceled... got together and took action at Hakata station in Fukuoka, a historical city in southern Japan.  Eleven players gathered collection bins and lined up their golf bags at Station Square. There they spent spent hours on a rainy Saturday afternoon collecting donations for their countrymen whose lives have been so terribly turned around by the recent disasters. This endeavor was initiated by Yui Kawahara, a twenty two year old player who's know for her whimsical cowboy hats.  Her family home actually sustained some damage during the earthquake.  Other players who joined the fundraising were Ryuu Ritsuko, Rui Kitada, Baba Yukari, Yumiko Baba, Shinobu Moromizato, Saiki Miki, Iizima Akane, Koga Miho, Sato Nozomi and Arimura Tie.   And there to lend the lady golfers a hand were Kazumi Saitou and Nobuhiko Matsunaka players from the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks baseball team. 

The group collected 75,480,222 yen in just a couple of hours and a strong media presence at the station ensured that their message of giving would be heard.  Others in the Japanese golf industry donated generously as well, with companies like Bridgestone Group, and Yonex... as well as groups like the Japanese Golf Writer's Association and The Women's Professional Association... offering services, products and much needed funds.

Three consecutive JLPGA events have been canceled since the March 11 earthquake.  Most recently it was announced that The Yamaha Ladies Open, scheduled for April 1-3, would not take place.  The extent of the disaster makes that understandable but I'm guessing it's frustrating for the players.

Ai Miyazato, who'll be playing in the US this week at the Kia Classic wrote a touching story for Golf.com. today, in it the player... who has held the No. 1 spot in the world several time during the past year...  spoke of wanting to play now, and to the best of her abilities, because athletes can provide hope and courage.  In addition, she'll be fund raising through a website she's set up with Momoko Ueda and Mika Miyazato who are also playing on the LPGA Tour.  Their slogan is Makeruna Nippon which means,  Never give up, Japan. The site can be found at  justgiving.com/MakerunaNippon.

Photos: via GDO Japan
Sources: 
GDO Japan
GOLF.com - The tragedy in Japan has inspired me to play better and help others

Japanese Fans Take Comfort in Ryo's Message Home

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Several days ago Ryo Ishikawa posted a message on his blog for the people of Japan.  One of my Japanese friends, Noriko Imano, told me about it and supplied her translation.

Even though I'm in the US, I can feel that people in Japan keep calm and cooperate closely. 
I'm very proud of this as a Japanese, from the bottom of my heart. 
At the same time, I've been thinking what I can do as a professional golfer. 
I'm far from Japan now, but I'd like to send words to encourage people in Japan who are fighting fears. 
When you wish very strong, it surely comes true. 
If everyone tries his best for what he/she has to do, good things will happen finally. 
I really believe so.
This is the time when Japan and the world should be tied closely.

For Noriko... and for the other Japanese people I've spoken with...  this message was both comforting and inspiring.  It resonated with both young and old... in cities and in the countryside.

Over the past several days, the international press has collectively marveled at the Japanese sense of community and connectedness.  Many have noted the absence of disorder, looting and lawlessness because in most of the rest of the world the reaction to disaster has looked quite different.

On September 11, 2001 I was working for the US branch of a French fine art publishing company. We had dozens of clients in downtown Manhattan, some just blocks from where the World Trade Center stood. I called each one of them in the dark days that followed the collapse of the twin towers and, one after another, they told me that their main concern in the wake of the of the attacks, was looting.   Some resisted leaving their shops despite the chalky dust that that lined the streets and hung in the air and acrid smoke from the still-burning rubble.  By the time I made my way down to see these clients several days later, the dusty streets had been cordoned off and the National Guard had been brought in to provide security.  I passed through check points to get to the small galleries and shops and visit with the beleaguered shopkeepers.  Ultimately, there were few reports of lawlessness the aftermath of 9/11... and many stories of courage and kindness... but the fear of looting was very real, and many of the natural disasters that occurred in the decade that followed 9/11... in widely disparate countries...  produced reports of looting and price gauging. 

Japanese culture, and the way the Japanese people are handling this monumental disaster... their  civility, equanimity and respect for order... has become a huge part of the story these last days and the calm cooperation that Ryo referenced with pride in his message home, has captured the attention of the world. 
  
Earlier today I received a message from Noriko that linked me to an article in Golf Digest Online, Japan. It featured the above photo from yesterday's Pro-Am at the Transitions Championship . 

"Here is Ryo at Pro-Am in Ryo's color. According to the article of Golfdigest, during Pro-Am, Ryo's driver shots were not very good, so, he practiced driver at the practice range till 7pm. He was the last person who left the range."

Editor's Note: If you read this blog regularly, you probably know I've been Ryo fan for years.  In fact I first wrote about him almost four years ago as he prepared to compete at Junior World and I've written him dozens of times since. It's been awesome to see him do so well.  Ai Miyazato, Mika Miyazato, Makoto Takemura and Ryo's sister Yoko among them.  I love Japanese golf fashion and accessories too and had been planning to get over there this summer.  That may have to be put off for a bit  but in the meantime I'm working on a couple of  great ideas for supporting Japan and the Japanese people. I'll keep you posted.

Ryo Ishikawa Shows Amazing Strength at Doral

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Here at Golf Girl's Diary our Ryo Ishikawa obsession is well known.

Normally our stories are light-hearted; we write about Ryo's whimsical outfits or his delightfully quirky commercials. He even made a certain Sexiest Men in Golf list recently.

The combination of his stellar on-course accomplishments and his superlative star quality make Ryo Ishikawa a uniquely entertaining professional golfer.

Today however, the eyes of the golf media are collectively focused on Ryo Ishikawa as news of devastating natural disasters in Japan makes its way to our shores and to the fairways of TPC Blue Monster at Doral.

In Miami at the WGC Cadillac Championship... amazingly... the one they call "Hanikami Ōji" heard the devastating news this morning, checked on the safety of his loved ones,  then finished his first round at 7-under 65, in second place.

Ryo has a tough weekend ahead of him as he battles the Blue Monster and deals with the unfolding news of the tragedy in his homeland,  but no matter how the tournament turns out, his strength will surely be an inspiration to his fellow golfers and to golf fans everywhere.

Photo: by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images North America

Japan Women's Open - Mika Miyazato Breaks Through

She's the "other" Miyazato. Less famous... for the time-being... than current World Number 1.

Mika Miyazato grabbed her first professional title yesterday, by winning the prestigious Japan Women's Open by six strokes.

This maiden maiden victory on the JLPGA must certainly have been sweet for Mikan, considering what happened a year ago.  At the same 2009 event Miyazato entered the final round with a four-shot lead... just as she did yesterday, but late in the round the proverbial "wheels fell off", ultimately resulting in a disappointing T6 finish.

This year however the girl from Okinawa wasn't about to let history repeat itself... or at least that's how it seemed when she fired three consecutive birdies in the middle of the back nine... effectively removing all doubt that this was her year.

It was an impressive win, brought to my attention by The Constructivist whose blog, Mostly Harmless, has long been my top independent source of up-to-the-minute information on women's professional golf... and is without a doubt the definitive English language blog covering the Asian women's golf tours.

In the wake of 2010 The Ryder Cup... which reinforced the idea of golf as an increasingly global game... it's great to know there are excellent sources for news and information on golf in places that are now producing some of the world's best players.

And in the interest of fun, flirty and fashionable, check out this awesome mash-up of the past weekend's action at the Japan Women's Open.