OKAZU by Gary Hongo
SLO BUDDHIST TEMPLE
6996 Ontario Rd.
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
Ph. 805 595-2625
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
Ph. 805 595-2625
In the sports world, April is a key month because
March Madness (collegiate basketball) finals will crown
a national champion, NBA basketball is in its home
stretch, the Masters Golf Championship will bestow the green jacket to its winner and of course, professional baseball starts its long and grueling season.
March Madness (collegiate basketball) finals will crown
a national champion, NBA basketball is in its home
stretch, the Masters Golf Championship will bestow the green jacket to its winner and of course, professional baseball starts its long and grueling season.
Play Ball!
Professional baseball in the United States gets underway with the start of regular season games. We all know that baseball is America’s favorite pastime and many of us have played the game whether it was in organized leagues or pick-up games in an empty lot or open space. Many do not realize that at one time, baseball was the most popular team sport (maybe still so today) in Japan, having been introduced there by a school teacher named Horace Wilson in 1872. Baseball was a means for the Japanese to become more “Westernized” after opening its doors to foreigners and the Shimbashi Athletic Club became Japan’s first baseball club.
As Japanese workers immigrated west to find a more prosperous life, they brought with them the game of baseball. In Hawaii, they played in the pineapple and sugarcane plantations and soon the first Japanese American (JA) baseball team was formed – the Excelsiors. On the mainland United States the first JA team was the Fuji Athletic Club in San Francisco, founded by Chiura Obata. First generation immigrants (Issei) soon formed teams in Colorado, Washington, Wyoming and throughout California, playing in leagues of their own since racial barriers prohibited them from competing in established leagues. On a Sunday afternoon it was common to see large crowds watching games played by popular teams in their
communities.
As the game’s popularity spread throughout JA communities, great teams made up largely of second generation (Nisei) Japanese Americans began playing against professional teams in the Pacific Coast League and the Negro League. Soon the concept of “All Star” teams evolved highlighted by players teaming with and against the likes of Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio and Sachel Page to play exhibition games in California cities. These teams also travelled to Japan and other Far Eastern countries to play goodwill games against their university teams. It is interesting to note that Setsuo Aratani’s produce company team, the Guadalupe Packers, also crossed the Pacific to play games in Japan. Whether it was
in the United States or abroad, what characterized these Nisei ballplayers were their superb fielding abilities, speedy and skillful base running and their love of the game. At Cal Poly, Kazuo and Seirin Ikeda, brothers from Arroyo Grande played for the team – Kaz at catcher and Seirin at shortstop. By the start of World War II there were over 50 Nisei teams in California alone. Players that stood out were Kenichi Zenimura, Shig Tokumoto, Harry Shirachi and Johnny Nakagawa.
The internment of all Japanese Americans during the war didn’t stop “the game” from continuing to be played behind
barbed wires. Baseball diamonds were sculpted from the desert soil, bleachers constructed, backstops erected and many teams formed. At the Gila River camp, Kenichi Zenimura started a 32 team league. Women also formed their own teams. Games were played against the U.S. Army guards and some teams were even invited to play against outside community teams. Baseball was a universal sport that was played regardless of race, country or background. During the American occupation of Japan after the war, baseball was played by both American and Japanese and was a means of healing the country from the effects of the war.
Today, Americans of Japanese descent are playing professional baseball in the Major Leagues and players from Japan are being offered contracts to play here too. Conversely, American players are continuing their professional baseball careers by playing in Japan. America’s favorite pastime has become Japan’s too.
Professional baseball in the United States gets underway with the start of regular season games. We all know that baseball is America’s favorite pastime and many of us have played the game whether it was in organized leagues or pick-up games in an empty lot or open space. Many do not realize that at one time, baseball was the most popular team sport (maybe still so today) in Japan, having been introduced there by a school teacher named Horace Wilson in 1872. Baseball was a means for the Japanese to become more “Westernized” after opening its doors to foreigners and the Shimbashi Athletic Club became Japan’s first baseball club.
As Japanese workers immigrated west to find a more prosperous life, they brought with them the game of baseball. In Hawaii, they played in the pineapple and sugarcane plantations and soon the first Japanese American (JA) baseball team was formed – the Excelsiors. On the mainland United States the first JA team was the Fuji Athletic Club in San Francisco, founded by Chiura Obata. First generation immigrants (Issei) soon formed teams in Colorado, Washington, Wyoming and throughout California, playing in leagues of their own since racial barriers prohibited them from competing in established leagues. On a Sunday afternoon it was common to see large crowds watching games played by popular teams in their
communities.
As the game’s popularity spread throughout JA communities, great teams made up largely of second generation (Nisei) Japanese Americans began playing against professional teams in the Pacific Coast League and the Negro League. Soon the concept of “All Star” teams evolved highlighted by players teaming with and against the likes of Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio and Sachel Page to play exhibition games in California cities. These teams also travelled to Japan and other Far Eastern countries to play goodwill games against their university teams. It is interesting to note that Setsuo Aratani’s produce company team, the Guadalupe Packers, also crossed the Pacific to play games in Japan. Whether it was
in the United States or abroad, what characterized these Nisei ballplayers were their superb fielding abilities, speedy and skillful base running and their love of the game. At Cal Poly, Kazuo and Seirin Ikeda, brothers from Arroyo Grande played for the team – Kaz at catcher and Seirin at shortstop. By the start of World War II there were over 50 Nisei teams in California alone. Players that stood out were Kenichi Zenimura, Shig Tokumoto, Harry Shirachi and Johnny Nakagawa.
The internment of all Japanese Americans during the war didn’t stop “the game” from continuing to be played behind
barbed wires. Baseball diamonds were sculpted from the desert soil, bleachers constructed, backstops erected and many teams formed. At the Gila River camp, Kenichi Zenimura started a 32 team league. Women also formed their own teams. Games were played against the U.S. Army guards and some teams were even invited to play against outside community teams. Baseball was a universal sport that was played regardless of race, country or background. During the American occupation of Japan after the war, baseball was played by both American and Japanese and was a means of healing the country from the effects of the war.
Today, Americans of Japanese descent are playing professional baseball in the Major Leagues and players from Japan are being offered contracts to play here too. Conversely, American players are continuing their professional baseball careers by playing in Japan. America’s favorite pastime has become Japan’s too.
Sports Without Borders
Recently, I watched a judo tournament held in Reno, Nevada which had participants from all over the United States. They were youths of all sizes ranging in age from 8 to 17 and included many female judokas (judo practitioner). What was once a martial art started in Japan by Jigoro Kano in 1882 is a sport now enjoyed by many in countries all over the world – a truly international sport. One night I watched on the NHK television channel the Grand Sumo Tournament held in Tokyo, Japan. A sport practiced professionally only in Japan, sumo has drawn the attention of hopefuls not only from Hawaii but also Europe and South America. It’s interesting to see wrestlers with Japanese names but not being from that country. Due to its rising popularity, amateur sumo tournaments are now being held in big cities such as Los Angeles. Like judo, this sport is going international.
Recently, I watched a judo tournament held in Reno, Nevada which had participants from all over the United States. They were youths of all sizes ranging in age from 8 to 17 and included many female judokas (judo practitioner). What was once a martial art started in Japan by Jigoro Kano in 1882 is a sport now enjoyed by many in countries all over the world – a truly international sport. One night I watched on the NHK television channel the Grand Sumo Tournament held in Tokyo, Japan. A sport practiced professionally only in Japan, sumo has drawn the attention of hopefuls not only from Hawaii but also Europe and South America. It’s interesting to see wrestlers with Japanese names but not being from that country. Due to its rising popularity, amateur sumo tournaments are now being held in big cities such as Los Angeles. Like judo, this sport is going international.
Buddha and Golf
I recently read a book titled “The Buddha Plays 18” which relates the Buddha’s teachings to the game of golf. As a fictitious
Buddha plays a round of golf, the teachings becomes evident when applied to a golfer. For instance, when the Buddha is faced with a situation where a risky shot may reward him with a lower score but chance of success is slim, the evil passion of “greed” comes into play and tempts him to “go for it.” However, by executing a safer route, the Buddha avoids the suffering that comes from a failed risky shot even though it results in a slightly higher score. Another example occurs when after making a bad shot, the Buddha does not get angry nor blame the course or his equipment but instead, accepts the truth that it’s his failure to execute that caused it. How true it is that in sports or in our daily lives we all can do better by following Buddha’s teachings.
I recently read a book titled “The Buddha Plays 18” which relates the Buddha’s teachings to the game of golf. As a fictitious
Buddha plays a round of golf, the teachings becomes evident when applied to a golfer. For instance, when the Buddha is faced with a situation where a risky shot may reward him with a lower score but chance of success is slim, the evil passion of “greed” comes into play and tempts him to “go for it.” However, by executing a safer route, the Buddha avoids the suffering that comes from a failed risky shot even though it results in a slightly higher score. Another example occurs when after making a bad shot, the Buddha does not get angry nor blame the course or his equipment but instead, accepts the truth that it’s his failure to execute that caused it. How true it is that in sports or in our daily lives we all can do better by following Buddha’s teachings.