There is something epic in this era of "been there, done that" anomie about the Ironman and the thousands of extraordinary athletes who go out there and test their stamina and willpower to the utmost.
Sure, at the front are the pros, heralded by sponsors, organizers, and specialist magazine editors, but still largely unknown in the world of global megasports. No one in triathlon like Red Sox Superstar Dice-K Matzuzaka certainly - who by the way, like Ichiro and Matsui, is an astonishing athlete who like his senpai has done as much as anyone over the past 60-odd years to narrow the great divide of mutual misunderstanding between America and Japan. (For more on which I highly recommend the books of talented author and sportswriter Bob Whiting (see interview in Metropolis here.)
But I digress as usual.
Next Sunday, Sumie and her coach and mentor, Nakano Shoji (aka Tencho, or Store Master) are going for the guts and glory at the Arizona Ironman. Run, Bike, Swim. It is all being held at Tempe on the outskirts of Phoenix, and the event will be more or less available in real time over the www.ironman.com website.
But by the same token, just for one more "Oh, Peter, gag me with that politics stuff - no more of that guff, please spare us and tell us more about riding bikes in Japan, OK?" installment in my Tokyo election race saga (Today, btw, is Easter Sunday in certain Euro-centric countries around the world and election day here in Tokyo and other prefectures.
My point here is this. I am starting to warm to this guy.
Irony Man
Honestly, Shintaro Ishihara has served two nearly flawless terms and has rid the city of smog and has put it back on track to prosperity and a dynamic eruption of new and bold "only in Tokyo" architectural excess. More subways too, and some needed highway extensions. What can you say?
Still to come. Tokyo Olympic bid for 2016 (chances SLIM to be generous), Odaiba or Miyakejima Casino (chances equally slim) and other promises.
The man gets things done. My hat is doffed out of genuine respect. He is a literary man who sometimes misinterprets Dickens but again, he is a cultured man of taste and, let me emphasize AND a sailor too. (For more on sailing in Japanese waters, see my other site here.)
Here are his election promises from his manifesto. They are roadmaps - like the ones for the Phoenix Ironman swim, bike and run courses. Take a look and refer back to this site in April 2010 when the next election comes around for Governor of this Sprawling Megaton-opolis.
Cheers. Rant over and done with. Let's really cheer for the Arizona Ironmen and Ironchicks who are going to be out there next weekend.
