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    • About Us
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    • Follow Us on Social Media!
    • Join Our Email List
    • Resources
    • Testimonies/PR
  • Donate
  • Become a Friend of the GVJCI
  • Events/Programs
    • GVJCI >
      • GVJCI Upcoming Events
      • 2022 Art Show
      • Bento Program
      • GVJCI Scholarship
      • Matsuri Bento-To-Go Fundraiser
      • TANOSHII Fun Camp >
        • Camper Registration
        • Counselor Registration
        • Testimonials
        • Camp Supporters
        • Activities
        • FAQ
      • Restaurant Fundraiser
      • Virtual Matsuri >
        • VM Main Page
        • VM Content Schedule
        • 2021 VM Art Gallery
        • Entertainment
        • Food
        • Martial Arts
        • Matsuri Memories
      • Seniors >
        • TNK Classes
        • Smartphone/Tablet Class
        • Food Distribution >
          • Greeting Card Program
        • Tomo Cafe | 友カフェ
      • Recurring Events >
        • Day Of Remembrance >
          • DOR 2022 >
            • Big Band Music in Camp
            • Camp Comedy Performances
            • Japanese Cultural & Performing Arts
            • Fine Art >
              • Amache & Heart Mountain
              • Arts & Crafts
              • Henry Fukuhara
              • George Hoshida
              • Minidoka
              • Rohwer
              • Tanforan-Topaz Art School
          • DOR 2021 >
            • CSUDH Japanese American Digitization Project
            • Densho Campu Podcast
            • Lane Ryo Hirabayashi Tribute
            • South Bay JACL Oral Histories Collection
        • Meditation & More Class
        • Virtual Matsuri >
          • Art Gallery
          • Entertainment
          • Food
          • Martial Arts
          • Scholarship Recipients
      • Past Events >
        • 2021 GVJCI Online Art Show Home Page >
          • Artists A-J
          • Artists K-M
          • Artists N-O
          • Artists P-Z
        • The Bridge: GVJCI Heritage Center >
          • Book Club
        • KonMari Method Workshops | こんまり®︎メソッドワークショップ
        • Oshogatsu
        • Oysters, Bites & Biiru
        • TABE-DORAIBU >
          • TABE-DORAIBU
          • Map & Partner Bios
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          • FOOD PICTURES
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      • Japanese Language School >
        • JLS Graduates
    • Member Organizations >
      • Arts/Music/Dance >
        • Bando Hidesomi
        • Hawaiian Music Class
        • LA Men's Glee Club
        • Meito Calligraphy
        • Taiko
      • Health and Wellness
      • Martial Arts >
        • Gardena JCI Kendo
        • Gardena Judo Club
        • Gardena Kendo
        • Gardena Naginata
        • Kyudo Renmei
      • Service >
        • Evening Optimist Club of Gardena
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        • South Bay Youth Basketball
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        • Boy Scout Troop 719
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    • Become a Bento Buddy!
    • Giving Tuesday 11.30.21
    • Donate Your Car!
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    • Purchase a 2023 Calendar Ad
  • Facility Reservations
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    • Blog Terms of Use
    • Want to write for us?

GVJCI Blog
ガーデナ平原日本文化会館ブログ

Baseball & Japan

4/30/2019

0 Comments

 
​
Shohei Ohtani, one of Major League Baseball’s exciting new players, has created buzz all around the league with his play on the field so far. A humble Japanese baseball player who has caused a fan frenzy among the Japanese American community here in the states. Many Japanese Americans are filled with pride watching Ohtani succeed as a pitcher and designated hitter for the Los Angeles Angels. If he continues at a high level, Ohtani could have a greater impact on how Japanese baseball, and in some ways Japan itself, is perceived than even pitcher Hideo Nomo did during his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the mid-90s.

People can’t stop talking about him. Ohtani is not the first Japanese baseball player to come to the states and cause buzz with their on the field play. Nomo, Ichiro (Suzuki), (Hideki) Matsui all got a lot of attention. (Daisuke) Matsuzaka too. But, Ohtani may be the most hyped and talked about Japanese player of them all. As far as respect as a player, the respect that Americans will give to a Japanese player, it certainly looks like Ohtani will be the most respected when all is said and done.

Ichiro has over 3,000 hits and combined hit record if you count Japan, but he’s good at hitting ground balls to second base and running them out. This is something different. This is an entirely new category. What else can you say but Babe Ruth?
Baseball may be the American pastime, but Japan has taken it and shaped it in its own image. When NPB was viewed from afar as little more than a minor league, Nomo, Ichiro and the rest proved that was a myth.

This is the same with Ohtani, who was met in Spring Training with doubters who said his high level of play in the NPB couldn’t translate to the MLB. But those doubters were quickly silenced once the season started. Born, bred and molded in Japan, Ohtani has the potential to change the way Japanese ballplayers are regarded in terms of their own skill and the skill of the players they compete against before heading to MLB.

​Ohtani’s success represents something bigger than just the game of baseball. He is playing for the respect of Japan.

​
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Our mission is to create a space to engage, share, and embrace the Nikkei experience and culture.

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