Written by YURI KAGEYAMA and KOJI UEDA
Led by Japan’s prime minister, the country celebrated golfer Hideki Matsuyama’s victory in the Masters — the first Japanese player to win at Augusta National and pull on the famous green jacket.
“It was really wonderful,” Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said with his country struggling to pull off the postponed Tokyo Olympics in just over three months. “As the coronavirus drags on, his achievement moved our hearts and gave us courage.”
Masashi “Jumbo” Ozaki, who tied for eighth in the Masters in 1973, said he hoped more Japanese male golfers would be inspired by Matsuyama.
“This is a great achievement for the Japanese golf world,” he said in comments on Japanese media. “And it came about because of Mr. Matsuyama’s own ability to take up challenges, his courage and all the effort that went into that.”
Isao Aoki finished second to Jack Nicklaus in the 1980 U.S. Open, the previous best finish by a Japanese male golfer in a major.
Two Japanese women have won golf majors: Chako Higuchi at the 1977 LPGA Championship and Hinako Shibuno at the 2019 Women’s British Open.
Aoki recalled how Matsuyama won the low amateur title in the 2011 Masters just weeks after the earthquake, tsunami and the meltdown of three nuclear reactors devastated the northeastern Fukushima area of Japan.
About 18,000 people died in the disaster and the area is still struggling to recover.
“This time, your Masters win came at a time when many people were feeling down, with many activities restricted in Japan amid a coronavirus pandemic, and you gave hope to so many people,” Aoki said in comments carried online in Japanese in Golf Digest.
Aoki added: “This win, which was the first for a Japanese as well as an Asian, was a moment we were all waiting for, not just myself but all the Japanese golf fans and those involved in the golf world.”
Nicklaus was as equally effusive on social media.
“I’ve been blessed to spend a lot of time in Japan and I know they love the game of golf,” Nicklaus said. “They’re also very proud people and they’re even prouder today!
“I competed against the great Isao Aoki, and know how revered he was and is. Hideki will also now forever be a hero to his country. The day and moment belongs to Hideki Matsuyama . . . this is a great day for him, for Japan, and for the global game of golf!”
The U.S. Embassy in Japan sent its congratulations to Matsuyama as “the first Japanese golfer to win The Masters.”
Outside busy Shimbashi train station in central Tokyo, retired worker Takashi Atsumi called it a “tremendous result.”
“For him, I think it was a goal that was hard to reach despite his tremendous efforts over the past 10 years,” Atsumi said. “I think it’s absolutely fantastic that he was able to achieve the goal today. I think he set a great milestone for the next generation of Japanese people.”
Related Stories
‹

Chansky's Notebook: New Tiger TaleTiger Woods may indeed be a cat with nine lives. Not dishonesty, infidelity or irresponsibility can keep our most popular golfer from losing any of his enormous appeal… about 17 months after a car accident, in which he was speeding and driving recklessly, and was charged for neither. Despite saying his doctors told him they […]

Chansky's Notebook: Roars for RoryWhile his international fame continues to grow, Rory McIlroy’s dramatic Masters win over Justin Rose is still the talk of the sports world.

Morinaga Set to Expand Orange County Manufacturing Plant, Invest $136 Million in New FacilityAfter nearly ten years of successful operations in western Orange County, Morinaga will expand its facility for producing HI-CHEW candies.

Chansky's Notebook: 'Never One Like It'It's time for the U.S. Open — and it is also the 25th anniversary of Payne Stewart’s legendary win at Pinehurst.

North Carolina Welcomes a Historic Visitor in Japan’s Prime Minister KishidaWritten by MAKIYA SEMINERA Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida cemented economic links and cultural amity with North Carolina on Friday, following up time in Washington during his official U.S. visit by checking up on benchmark Japanese companies building in the ninth-most populous state and later planning to speak with students. In between, Kishida lunched at […]

Japan Prime Minister's Spouse Visits Chapel Hill High School Class During NC TourThe spouse of the Japanese Prime Minister visited Chapel Hill High School on Friday and spoke to students learning the Japanese language.

5 Big Promises Made at Annual UN Climate Talks and What Has Happened SinceWritten by GAURAV SAINI and SIBI ARASU When United Nations climate talks wrap up at some point this week in Dubai, big promises will likely be made about how the world is going to combat climate change, caused by the burning of fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal. Negotiators are debating how fast fossil […]

Biden Wants To Show He’s Focused on Asia-Pacific, While Dealing With Russia-Ukraine and Mideast WarsPresident Joe Biden is looking to use a summit of Asia-Pacific leaders to show world leaders the United States is focused on the region.

India Lands a Spacecraft Near the Moon’s South Pole, a First for the World as It Joins Elite ClubWritten by ASHOK SHARMA and KRUTIKA PATHI India on Wednesday made history as it became the first country in the world to land its spacecraft near the moon’s south pole, an uncharted territory that scientists believe could hold vital reserves of frozen water, and the fourth country to achieve a moon landing. A lander with […]

International Women’s Day Events Highlight Gaps in Gender EqualityWritten by CIARÁN GILES Millions of people around the world planned to demonstrate, attend conferences and enjoy artistic events Wednesday to mark International Women’s Day, an annual observance established to recognize women and to demand equality for half of the planet’s population. While activists in some nations noted advances, repression in countries such as Afghanistan […]
›
Comments on Chapelboro are moderated according to our Community Guidelines