Japanese teams
1964. Pitcher Masanori Murakami of the San Francisco Giants was the first player from Japan to play in MLB. His first game with the Giants was September 1, 1964.
Baseball was introduced to Japan in 1873 and was played mainly by athletic clubs and pickup teams. The first professional league, called 'Nippon Professional Baseball', began play in 1920 with two teams. THAN THEY REALISED IT WAS BAD
The word "Nihon" translated to English means Japan. When the Japanese people refer to their land, they say Nihon or Nippon (日本)Similarly, they don't call themselves Japanese, they say they are Nihonjin 日本人meaning 'Japan person'= Japanese---"Nihon" is Japanese for the word "Japan". In Japanese, one doesn't say "Japan", they say "Nihon".Nihon ni itta. (I went to Japan.)It's not, "Japan ni itta"
A Japanese is a native citizen of Japan.
Kevin Youkalis a professianal baseball player is playing in Japan.
Kamenashi Kazuya is known for being a Japanese baseball player. He has played Japanese baseball and participated in games between US and Japanese teams. He also hosts a TV show in Japan.
Japanese teams
ask someone japanese! :)
it contained elements that were already part of japanese culture
Yes, and major leagues as well, Japan is a baseball-playing country.
The first Cardinals player of full Japanese ancestry was So Taguchi, born in Nishinomiya, Hyogo, Japan whose first season with the Cardinals was 2002. The first Cardinals player that was born in Japan was second baseman Bobby Fenwick who played 5 games with the team in 1973. Fenwick was born in Okinawa and his father was American.
Sadaharu Oh
Japanese art is inherently Japanese.
Yes. The baseball is almost standard in size the world over. The playing field isn't so standard. I believe the Japanese pitcher's mound is shorter and closer to home plate. Actually the baseball sizes are slightly different in Japan and USA professional baseball. I played baseball there and in the states and was informed that Japanese baseballs are slightly lighter, but almost not noticable.
Hideo Nomo
Japanese is the nationality.