Traditionally, ghosts in Japan do not have feet, something Manami Hino might have considered when ordering a design for her bobsled.
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Japanese bobsledders get help from the spirit world
- February 25, 2010 1:25 AM |
- By Erin Valois
Story provided by
Traditionally, ghosts in Japan do not have feet, something Manami Hino might have considered when ordering a design for her bobsled.
On its glossy black surface, recalling a traditional lacqeur finish, is a woman wearing a red kimono, her face made up geisha style, and with a disturbing lack of feet or footwear. The whole thing is peppered with sakura, cherry blossom.
At NBC, MacKenzie Wilson raved about the design in a piece about the sleds' iconography -- shamrock for Ireland, maple leaf for Canada, etc.
"But when it comes to Manami Hino's bobsled, its stunning designs reflecting rich cultural image of her native Japan definitely wins gold -- hands down.
The sled features pink cherry blossoms painted all over, while an illustrious depiction of Mount Fuji is also included. But its most gorgeous feature is the Japanese woman in a kimono emblazoned on the front.
'We wanted to display the spirit of Japan,' 30-year-old Hino told Reuters. 'For me it's a very special design and I hope that it will give us luck.' "
Notice that word spirit, a.k.a, ghost.
Araminta Wordsworth, National Post
Photo: The Japan-1 women's bobsleigh piloted by Minami Hino (front). OLIVER LANG/AFP/Getty Images
About the Author
- Bruce Arthur Bruce Arthur is the National Post's national sports columnist. A Vancouver native, he has been with the Post since 2001, and a columnist since 2005. He is covering his second Olympics, after the 2008 Games in Beijing. He expects these Games to be slightly less propagandistic, and for China to win slightly fewer medals.
- Joe O'Connor Joe O'Connor is a roving sports feature writer with an open-ended beat. He joined the National Post in 2002, and has spent the past seven years bouncing from sport to sport, offering fresh perspectives and delivering unique stories wherever he goes. Whether it has been getting Don Cherry to open up about his love life; George Chuvalo to talk about heartbreaking loss; or racing down the side of a mountain with former Crazy Canuck, Dave Irwin, the veteran Postie chases a story wherever it leads. Before joining the newspaper he was a two-time silver medalist at the National Magazine Awards. Vancouver will be his first Olympics.
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