“KAWAAIIII!!!”… or Japan Loves Cute… part 2

As discussed yesterday, Japan loves cute. When walking outside with my baby boy, the most oft thing I hear is “KAWAAIIII!!!” (‘kawaii’ = cute)… and that’s an exclamation that’s oh-so-often used in Japan…

A small furry animal – “KAWAAIIII!!!”

Anything small – “KAWAAIIII!!!”

Animated characters – “KAWAAIIII!!!”

Anything related to Disney – “KAWAAIIII!!!”

Riyo Mori – … … … “KAWAAIIII!!!”

If you’re a female, you have to say it with in a very, very high-pitched voice, attempting to sound like an anime character yourself (and thus, “KAWAAIIII!!!”). If you’re a male, you don’t say it…

And so, with a ball-peen-hammer-to-the-knees segue, let’s look at the second part of ‘Japan Loves Cute…’ and it’s subject matter, Ryo Ishikawa.

Last month, teen phenom Ryo Ishikawa won the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup, becoming the youngest ever player to win a Japanese Pro Tour event, and the first amateur to win in more than 25 years. His first tour appearance, Ishikawa, 15 years old, shot a 6 under 66 to win by one stroke. His baby-face & bashful demeanor earned him the sobriquet “The Shy Prince”.

He followed this up with an 8th place in the prestigious Kanto Amateur Championships, and that will grant him an invitation to the Japan National Amateur Championships to be held in early July at the Aichi Country Club.

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Video of Ishikawa & Saito…

During the Kanto event, the Shy Prince gathered in excess of 3000 fans (many of whom were young girls!) who followed him dutifully around the links. Such is the first-year-high school student’s popularity, that the Japanese TV station TBS tried to get one of his playing partners to wear a hidden microphone… which was eventually foiled by the officials.

Yuki Saito and Ryo Ishikawa… two of the most popular sports icons in Japan today. Both with very unfortunate nicknames. But as I said, Japan loves ‘cute’…

I’ll keep you posted with updates on the Handkerchief Prince, and the Shy Prince!

Japan Loves Cute…

Japan really has a predilection for things ‘cutesy’. They do it pretty well too… Japanese anime is right at the forefront of animation. Riyo Mori is the current Miss Universe (and daaaaamn is she cute!), Kurara Chibana was runner-up last year (same). Banks use animation characters as their logos (some of the bigger ones actually have tie-ins with Disney, or Warner Bros.)… cuteness abounds in Japan, and the Japanese love ‘cute’.

Miss Universe, Riyo Mori…

And two of the latest to be added to this are both darlings of the house-wife set…

Firstly, the “Handkerchief Prince”, Yukio Saito. A right-handed pitcher of unremarkable stature, Saito first blasted on to the scene with a thrilling win in the High School Championships last year at Koshien Stadium (think NCAA March Madness in terms of hype), pitching for the prestigious Waseda Jitsugyo High School – leading them to a 4-1 win of the title game over Komadai High School.

Saito pitched 4 consecutive days, and was still hitting mid-90s on day 4. He had pitched 5 complete games in 14 days, and been used in relief many times in between. He had drawn as much attention for his use of a blue handkerchief to mop his sweaty brow as for his ability. Verily, Saito was dubbed ‘The Handkerchief Prince’… and he set the hearts aflutter of both housewives & schoolgirls alike.

The Handkerchief Prince went on to the prestigious Waseda University, and last Sunday (June 18th) lead the University to the first All-Japan Intercollegiate Championship in 33 years. He won 2 games in the tournament, and was given the MVP. He is the first freshman to be given the MVP award in the history of the tournament (56 years).

Despite only being of slight stature (5’9″, 154 pounds), Saito at nearly 19 has a fastball measured in the mid-90s, and an impressive array of off-speed pitches. Saito next heads to the US to represent Japan in the US/Japan University Games. This certainly is a ‘Prince’ that bears watching…

Tomorrow, part two of ‘Japan Loves Cute…’ (The Shy Prince – Ryo Ishikawa)

Top Sports Stories in Japan… (June 18)

Today’s sports headlines in Japanese newspapers…

• Uehara not happy to be a closer… [Daily Yomiuri]
• Warren Cromartie gets a hit with Pro-Wrestling… [Mainichi News]
• Matsusaka fans 8… [Japan Times]
• NPB roundup… [Japan Times]

Marines manager, Bobby Cox with Miss Universe Riyo Mori.