I came pretty close to missing to­day’s column.

Had a minor medical procedure done and after it was completed, the physician instructed me not to engage in any physical ac­tivities.

I asked him, “Does that include us­ing a computer to write?”

The question might have confused him somewhat because he didn’t know about my background and that I write a column for a newspaper.

When I explained to him what I was talking about he said it might be okay if I didn’t have to do too much thinking.

That line made me chuckle inside my head because a lot of readers might say, “Do you really think when you write your junk?”

At any rate, if I had miss today’s column, that would be only the second time I have not kept to my schedule of twice a week.

The last time was about 16 years ago when I spent a few days in the hospital.

Other than that, I’ve been hacking away without any breaks, which means I emailed in my column from places like Australia and England that kept my string going. Yeah, Tokyo too.

I’m starting on my 19th year with Rafu so maybe I should call publisher Mike Komai and say, “Hey, what about taking a couple weeks off?”

On the other hand, that might not be such a hot idea. He might respond, “Why don’t you take the rest of your life off.”

Oh well, let me get on with today’s scribbling without doing too much thinking as my doctor advised.

•••

A few years ago, when I was plan­ning a trip to Heart Mountain (I never made it), I noted in writing about the pending trip that if I had said during our interment in the camp that one day I would be driving there in a Japanese made car (Toyota), taking a few photos with a Japanese camera (Canon), using Japanese film (Fujii), and keeping time with a Japanese wristwatch (Seiko), ev­eryone would think I had lost my good senses because of begin locked up.

This thought struck me when I read an article the other day in which the writer compared the Japanese car Acura with America’s Cadillac.

He gave the edge to the Acura.

A Japanese car over a Cadillac? Almost as unthinkable as my preceding bit on relocation camp and Japanese products.

The Cadillac has always been the standard of prestige and luxury.

To even compare any auto in this category is really a sign of the changing of our world today.

What’s next? Coffee and mochi to replace coffee and donuts?

•••

It’s an oft-used gag.

That would be “How come clair­voyants can’t pick the winning lottery numbers?”

If a fortune teller can predict how a person’s life will turn out, he or she certainly should be able to predict what six numbers will be drawn in the lot­teries around the country.

This might be the reason that some states that banned fortune tellers are now lifting their ordinances.

I guess they must have concluded that fortune telling is more for enter­tainment than anything else.

It’s probably like the astrology pre­dictions printed in many newspapers in the U.S.

Those who may read the astrology under their “sign” will note that at the end of the feature, there is a disclaimer stating that the predictions are for “en­tertainment purposes only.”

I read the astrology column in the Times just to be reading it without put­ting much faith in what is “predicted” for my future.

Getting back to fortune tellers, most of the New England states will lift their ban on the practice.

•••

I was chatting with someone the other day who might be classified as an “old timer.”

Our chatter got around to baseball and the individual I was talking to wondered why baseball among Japa­nese Americans seems to be vanishing from the scene.

I haven’t been paying that much at­tention but now that he mentioned it, it does seem like JA interest in baseball has diminished.

There was a time when Nisei base­ball drew as much attention as basket­ball. Maybe even more.

Just reading some of the stuff that Fred Oshima of the Nichi Bei Times writes for the San Francisco publica­tion is indicative of what baseball meant to the JA community in the old days versus this era.

I’m curious why.

Baseball is one of the sports in which size is not the determining fac­tor, unlike basketball or football.

It would seem that if a JA wanted to seek a professional career in sport, baseball would be the route to take.

In Japan, baseball seems to have become their national pastime, even drawing more attention than their tra­ditional sport of sumo.

Just consider that there are 4,000 high school baseball teams vying each year for Japan’s national prep championship more popularly known in the country as the “Koshien Cham­pionships.”

Little wonder that there are more and more Japanese players now showing up on rosters in the Major Leagues.

There was a time when I felt that baseball is the sport which we might be seeing more and more Japanese American players, but this never hap­pened.

I think only three JAs have made the Big Leagues.

This list might have been four ex­cept for the fact that Wally Yonamine opted to play in the Japanese pro league after he quit pro football.

In the meanwhile, I guess I’ll have to cheer for Hiroki Kuroda and Takashi Saito.

Incidentally, Saito might make it back with the Dodgers before the sea­son ends next month.

At least the local club is looking a little better the last few days.

I was almost ready to nickname them the Los Angeles Nattos because, you guessed it, they stunk.

What are the chances of winning their division and going to the play­offs?

About as much chance as I have winning the California lottery.

•••

A while back I wrote that a noodle restaurant which was opened in Gar­dena was owned by former New York Yankee pitcher, Hideki Irabu.

It was located on Western Avenue near Gardena Boulevard.

Well, the place has closed presum­ably because of the lack of business.

Location might have been the reason for the poor patronage.

I’m sure the place depended on “Japanese customers” but it was lo­cated outside of where most JAs shop or dine.

Well, maybe closing his noodle shop is the least of Irabu’s problems.

He was arrested in Osaka recently for assaulting a restaurant manager.

According to the story, Irabu at­tacked the manager after he had con­sumed around 20 jugs of beer.

If memory serves me correctly, Ira­bu was the player who was called a “fat toad” by the owner of the Yankees.

I guess if he can consume 20 jugs of beer, he fits that nickname quite well.

•••

What kind of headline can you give this story?

Curlin, generally regarded as the top thoroughbred race horse in the U.S. will run in the Japan Cup in Tokyo on Dec. 7.

When we read or hear the date Dec. 7, you know what comes to mind im­mediately?

So, now we will have a top U.S. race horse trying to win the Japan Cup on that infamous date.

Sports writers might have a field day with this story.

Wouldn’t it be nice if jockey Corey Nakatani gets to ride Curlin in Japan?

•••

In reference to the furor being cre­ated by the LPGA to enforce a new rule requiring golfers to speak English if they want to be licensed to play on the ladies golf circuit in the U.S.

Most argue that it’s “un-American” to place such a restriction on the lady golfers.

Even the JACL has gotten into the act according to the story in a recent Rafu edition.

One writer pointed out that if the LPGA forces participants to speak English, will other countries such as Japan and Korea, which hosts LPGA tournaments, demand that the par­ticipants speak Japanese (when play­ing in Japan) or Korean (if they play in Korea)?

Others say that the move is intended to keep the number of foreign players from dominating women’s golf.

At the present time, there are 45 Koreans on the LPGA circuit and they are becoming a dominating force.

It will be interesting to see how this turns out. The new rules will be enforced in the coming 2009 season.

By the way, how do you say “fore” in Japanese? Folks familiar with golf know that “fore” is what is called out when a golfer hits an errant ball that might fly into a crowd. “Fore” warns people that a golf ball has been mis-hit and is heading in their direction.

The Japanese players use the Eng­lish words for various aspects of golf, although it is pronounced in what they call “Japlish.”

That would be “doo-rai-bah” for their driver club, or “putta” for a put­ter.

I’m not sure what the Japanese equivalent for “fore” might be. Maybe just a loud “abu nai.”

Oh well, let the lady golfers figure out the future of their new edict.

Push the one button if you agree with the LPGA’s rule on English-only rule is acceptable.

•••

I won’t mention his name but when I was told he was now a resident of the Keiro Nursing Home in Lincoln Heights, I drove over to visit him.

Although I’ve been to the Keiro Homes in Boyle Heights a lot of times, this was my first trip to the nursing facility.

My friend was in bed but in a very cheerful mood, so I guess I was im­pressed with the care he was receiving at the facility.

I took him a small box of sushi al­though I didn’t know what the facility’s rule might be on bringing food to a patient in the Nursing Home.

The over-all atmosphere at the facil­ity seemed refreshing.
Was able to see a lot of the elderly residents participating in the game room and they all seemed to be enjoy­ing themselves.

And I guess I can say that for one day I didn’t feel that old.

•••

Because of my medical appoint­ment, I will be missing the annual basketball tournament in Vegas for the first time in a few years.

I enjoy going to the tournament because staying in the casino isn’t the only activity available.

No, this doesn’t mean that I don’t enjoy the time spent in the casino. But it’s nice to take a short break now and then.

If all goes well, I am planning on getting up to The Cal next week.

You’ll all know if you read a column starting with the dateline “Las Vegas” in the heading.

As mentioned here several times, this is the longest stretch that I’ve been absent from Vegas.

In fact, I am reminded of this when I run into “Vegas regulars” and they tell me, “Hey, I don’t see you at the Cal these days.”

Well, to these folks, I can say, “Keep my seat in front of the slot machines warm,” because I’ll be there.

With the price of gas dropping about 50 cents since my last visit, it will help ease some of the expenses of driving up to Vegas.

Hopefully, the gas prices have dropped there.

Usually gas is always lower in Vegas but since the recent upsurge in price, the cost was about the same there as in the L.A. area.

I’m probably looking at about 80 bucks for the roundtrip from Gardena to Vegas and back. If I had gone two weeks ago, I would probably be looking at something close to a 100 bucks.

Nope, taking a bus was never an option for me.

One reason is that I do a little run­ning around where I need a car for transportation.

Like going to the Indian cigar store on the outskirts of Downtown Vegas to pick up my supply of stogies.

And, when my relatives from Maui are in Vegas at the same time (as they will be next week) I take them shop­ping at the Manufacturer’s Outlet Center as well as visiting one or two of the Strip hotels.

I’m not a Strip fan, but my Maui relatives just like to look around.

Also, if I take the bus, my arrival and departure dates are pretty restrictive.

When I drive, if Lady Luck is treat­ing me harshly, I can always check out early and come home.

Or if I’m on a hot streak, I can al­ways extend my stay for an extra day.

So, if my next Tuesday column doesn’t have a Vegas dateline, you’ll know it was the latter situation.

•••

Well, it certainly looks like the an­cient sport of sumo has really “gone to pots.”

Two more sumo wrestlers were charged with using marijuana when Russian sumotoris Roho and Hakuro­zan were tested positive for using pot.

Last week Wakanoho, another foreign sumo wrestler was arrested on marijuana charges and became the first sumo participant to be dismissed from the sport.

When reading about these three I am pleased that when the foreign par­ticipants in sumo were from Hawaii, they maintained the high standard of the ancient Japanese sport.

Now, three foreigners have brought shame to the sport which has been declining in interest among Japanese fans.

Perhaps the latest incidents, in­volving gaijin participants will force the sumo association to restricting foreigners wanting to become sumo wrestlers.

There was a time when sumo was strictly a “Japanese only” sport.

I’m not sure how accurate the fol­lowing is but it was alleged that when Rikidozan (who gained fame as a pro wrestler) quit sumo because he could never become a yokozuna or grand champion because he was of Korean ancestry.

This assertion was never verified but it was often mentioned by people.

Let me wind up with another letter referring to the Manzanar pilgrimage. It comes from a reader, M. Naka, who wrote:

“This is in regards to the article of Aug. 19 from Shirli Okabe. I am so glad to hear that there is someone else out there who knows the truth about the pilgrimages to Manzanar. I had also informed the Manzanar Committee about this subject to no avail.

“As evidence by the ‘not too clear photos,’ I am enclosing to you, this pilgrimage was organized by Rev. Nagatomi in August 1946. The back­side of the man in the photo is Rev. Nagatomi.

“I think you can date these photos by the looks of the bus and the vintage of the car shown. In one of the photos there is a ‘for sale’ sign on the barracks. The sign under the ‘for sale’ sign is the original sign of the Manzanar Reloca­tion Center.

“So you see, Sue Embry was not, I repeat, not, the first person to organize pilgrimages to Manzanar. Let’s give credit where credit is due.”

Thanks, M. Naka. Perhaps there are some out there in readerland who might want to respond to your letter.

Oh yes, let me add another closer for today.

When I announced that I might put together another “Wartime Residents of Santa Anita Reunion” at the Arca­dia track, about two dozen responses came in immediately, but after that it stopped. So unless I get more, I will announce whether I will pursue this project in about two weeks.

This would be the 66th anniversary of our stay in Santa Anita when it was converted into an Assembly Center.

I dropped the project about three years ago when the head count dropped off too much.

I guess the passing of time has taken its toll on those who spent the first days of the evacuation at Santa Anita before we were all shipped off to various Re­location Centers.

Well, we’ll know if we get together again by the middle of this month when I’ll take another head count.

_________________________________________

George Yoshinaga writes from Gardena and can be reached via e-mail at horsesmouth2000@hotmail.com. Opinions expressed in this column are not necessarily those of The Rafu Shimpo.