Articles for Japanese Baseball

As Shohei Ohtani takes center stage, remembering baseball at Manzanar prison camp
2 months, 2 weeks ago

As Shohei Ohtani takes center stage, remembering baseball at Manzanar prison camp

LA Times  

As millions cheered Shohei Ohtani’s debut in the World Series at Dodger Stadium, a couple of dozen ballplayers of Japanese descent gathered last weekend on a dusty field 200 miles north. “Manzanar is a monument to failure,” said Dan Kwong, 69, who helped restore the field, organized the game and played first base for his team, the Li’l Tokio Giants. …

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Japanese slugger Rintaro Sasaki blazing his own baseball path in US via Stanford, MLB Draft League
6 months, 4 weeks ago

Japanese slugger Rintaro Sasaki blazing his own baseball path in US via Stanford, MLB Draft League

Associated Press  

STANFORD, Calif. — When balls start landing on the Stanford football team’s practice grass way beyond the wall in right-center field, everybody knows Japanese slugger Rintaro Sasaki must be taking batting practice at nearby Sunken Diamond. “He’s pulling toward the pool for sure.” Sasaki, who hit 140 high school home runs and then made waves by opting out of Japan’s …

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Who is Shohei Ohtani’s new interpreter with Dodgers? They call him ‘Will the Thrill’
9 months, 2 weeks ago

Who is Shohei Ohtani’s new interpreter with Dodgers? They call him ‘Will the Thrill’

LA Times  

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts wore a grim expression while talking to reporters in Seoul last week. The team had just fired interpreter Ippei Mizuhara, who had been accused by representatives of Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani of engaging in a “massive theft” of the Dodgers two-way player’s funds to allegedly pay off at least $4.5 million in debt to an illegal …

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‘He has changed my life completely.’ What it’s like covering Shohei Ohtani
1 year, 9 months ago

‘He has changed my life completely.’ What it’s like covering Shohei Ohtani

LA Times  

Naoyuki Yanagihara’s life mostly revolves around Shohei Ohtani. “I have to follow him almost every day, every year.” Ohtani is more popular to Japanese media and culture than Hideo Nomo, who spent nearly seven of his 12 MLB seasons with the Dodgers. “It’s very important for us to also take videos and take photos because he’s so handsome and he’s …

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Shohei Ohtani and Japan: It’s much more than just baseball
1 year, 10 months ago

Shohei Ohtani and Japan: It’s much more than just baseball

Associated Press  

TOKYO — He’d paid about $80 for his ticket. They paced, they camped out, and they discussed their hopes of seeing Ohtani pitch — and hit — against China in Japan’s opening game in the World Baseball Classic. “So each time where there is a Japanese `export’ that was hugely successful in MLB, the Japanese are enthralled.” The wait to …

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Shohei Ohtani and Japan: It's much more than just baseball
1 year, 10 months ago

Shohei Ohtani and Japan: It's much more than just baseball

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. They paced, they camped out, and they discussed their …

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Pitcher Roki Sasaki next ‘big thing’ from Japanese baseball
1 year, 10 months ago

Pitcher Roki Sasaki next ‘big thing’ from Japanese baseball

Associated Press  

TOKYO — In Japan they call pitcher Roki Sasaki the “Monster of the Reiwa Era,” which translates roughly into a “once-in-a-generation superstar.” In simple English, Sasaki is likely to be the next big thing out of Japan following Shohei Ohtani, who debuted five years ago with the Los Angeles Angels. He is something special,” San Diego Padres pitcher Yu Darvish …

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