By GEORGE YOSHINAGA
(Published Nov. 25, 2014)
Hooray! If you are reading this, it means my computer has returned to normal and it’s working again.
When I sat down this morning to begin writing my column, nothing happened when I turned it on, so I dialed Editor Gwen’s number to tell her I was going to miss today’s column. Her phone didn’t respond to my call, so I figured I couldn’t get in touch with her.
I’m not quite sure what’s going on with my computer, but when I called my son to ask him to come over and check it out, he said, “Hey, Dad, as I told you last week, get over to the computer store and get a new one.”
I decided to take his advice until all of a sudden, the keyboard on my computer began to work.
Yes, in spite of the computer working, I am seriously thinking of junking the computer so I won’t have to spend so much time telling the readers I’m having problems with the danged machine.
So let me continue with today’s chatter.
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Baseball season is still a few months ahead, but news on the sport is pouring out of Korea, which may soon replace Japan as the sport’s kingpin.
For one thing, baseball in Korea has become the No. 1 sport with their season a year-round event.
To begin with, the baseball park in Busan, South Korea, the home of the Lotte Giants, has thousands of Korean fans singing, chanting and catcalling themselves hoarse.
As one fan said, “When it comes to shouting whatever you like, never mind what other people think, there is no other thing than like a baseball park.”
While baseball may not be in season in other parts of the world, the Korean Series (their version of the World Series) is going full blast in November.
Professional baseball in Korea dates back to 1982, when the ceremonial first pitch was thrown by Korean President Chun Doo-hwan and the sport became the country’s top attraction.
Japan may soon be taking a backseat to Korea as the top baseball country in Asia.
A Korea vs. Japan “World Series” may be a competitor to the U.S. version.
We’ll see.
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Yes, I drive a Toyota, and the way my car is operating, I’ll probably be driving it for a lot more years. I guess one of the amusing things is that when I was living and working in Tokyo, back in the early ’60s, I drove a Ford.
I drive a Japanese car in the U.S. and drove an American car in Japan.
The people who worked at the Japanese company I was employed with used to kid me. “George-san, doushite America no kuruma unten shiteru no?” was what all of them used to tell me. Since I lived in Japan, they figured I should be driving a Japanese car.
Of course, Toyota continues to stay on top in the U.S. consumer report’s rating. Numbers released on Toyota showed its cars have been top-rated for eight years in a row and sales numbers show Toyota is on track to be the world’s top-selling auto company in 2014.
Mazda and Honda have joined Toyota in the top ten in U.S. sales, with Buick as the only U.S. car manufacturer in the top ten.
My friends from Japan always smiled when I picked them up at LAX in my Toyota.
They didn’t smile when I picked them up at Narita Airport in Tokyo with my Ford.
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Since I spent four days in the Little Company of Mary Hospital in Torrance, I was sent a survey on how I felt I was treated by the nursing staff while I was there.
A typical question: “During your hospital stay, how often did nurses treat you with courtesy and respect?” The choices were “never, sometimes, usually and always.”
In another bracket, the hospital environment was touched on. “During your hospital stay, how often were your room and bathroom kept clean?”
I wonder if I was provided the questionnaire because when I filled out my admission form, I listed my occupation as “journalist.”
I know that in the past when I was in a hospital, I was never asked about my occupation.
Oh well, just a thought.
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I wasn’t aware of it until a reader sent me a clipping on the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) that indicated there is a samurai exhibit there.
As one person stated, “The samurai exhibit was like a whole army charging towards you.”
The exhibit features more than 140 decorated objects, such as suits of armor, helmets and face guards for men and their horses. They all illustrate the humor and fantasy of Japanese art.
The Samurai Collection of Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Muelleis one of the most comprehensive private holdings of samurai armor in the world.
As a complement to the armor show LACMA is presenting “Art of the Samurai: Swords, Paintings, Prints and Textiles” through March 1, 2015.
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In case anyone is interested, “An Evening of Aloha” is being presented Saturday, Nov. 29, at Happa Restaurant, 1641 W. Redondo Beach Blvd. in Gardena, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Mark Kiyabu’s “Magic with Aloha” will entertain you with his Hawaiian flair, colorful humor, and unique “local” style of magic.
The Kolohes will take you on a musical journey to the golden years of Hawaii. This is the perfect blend of entertainment.
Donations will go towards St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
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Got a letter from a reader who asked me about my relocation experience.
He wrote: “Hi, Horse. I am writing to you because I met you once while we were in Heart Mountain. Yes, I was in the Wyoming camp as you were.
“The thing I am curious about is why you are never included in events associated with Heart Mountain.
“As I recall, you were on the staff of the camp newspaper, so it would seem that you’d be more involved in what went on in camp.
“It seems that most of the people who talk about their experiences in Heart Mountain didn’t have the experience you did as a journalist with The Sentinel.
“Perhaps you can give us your thoughts on this issue.”
Thanks for your letter, Bob. Yes, I was pretty active in camp, but I guess I was not recognized for what I did as a journalist.
A number of people who were on the Sentinel staff were never recognized in the post-camp era. I’m not sure why.
Asked some of those who write about Heart Mountain these days, “What are the names of those who worked on the camp newspaper?” and they couldn’t come up with the answer.
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Yes, I am taking the suggestion of a lot of readers of my column and am taking the bus to Vegas in early December. Of course, I am going to do a column or two on what it is like to ride a bus to Vegas.
This will include the cost of the bus ride, plus how much time was consumed on the trip.
Yeah, and I also hope to chat with other passengers (mainly JAs) to find out if they are frequent bus riders. I will also do a story on what it is like to be in Vegas without a car.
After all, when I drove in my car, I was able to move around Vegas to do things like cigar-shopping and dining at my favorite Japanese restaurant.
Can’t do those things without a car.
Oh well, maybe I can bum a ride from people who do drive to Vegas.
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Gee. I did fill more space today than I thought I would.
There were a couple of more issues I planned to touch on, but once I got this far without using them, I’ll be able to toss them in during my next “Mouth.”
Just hope Gwen will allocate enough space for me.
So until next time.
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George Yoshinaga writes from Gardena. Opinions expressed in this column are not necessarily those of The Rafu Shimpo.