Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1416/

How the Dodgers internationalized MLB (Japanese)

(Japanese) Like this special exhibit points out, the Dodgers is a team with a long history, but, at the same time, one that is always taking on new challenges. Jackie Robinson was the first African American player, Fernando Valenzuela was the first Mexican player, Nomo was the first Japanese pitcher for the Dodgers, and Park was the first Korean. This is a team that really values "firsts". Right now, the number of MLB viewers in Japan has risen incredibly. However, things were not so international before. I believe it was the Dodgers that made MLB the international phenomenon it is today.


baseball Hideo Nomo Japan Japanese American National Museum (organization) United States

Date: December 20, 2013

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Mark Langill

Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum

Interviewee Bio

Margaret Narumi, Producer at NHK Cosmomedia America, Inc., in Santa Monica, California, for two decades has produced broadcasts to Japan of Major League Baseball in the United States, featuring Japanese players such as Hideo Nomo, Hideki Matsui and Yu Darvish. Her interview for Discover Nikkei was conducted in both English and Japanese as part of a documentary on Hideo Nomo for the Japanese American National Museum exhibit, Dodgers—Brotherhood of the Game. (September 2014)

Yamano,Jane Aiko

Having patience in Japan, being both

(b.1964) California-born business woman in Japan. A successor of her late grandmother, who started a beauty business in Japan.

Yamano,Jane Aiko

Preserving traditional Japanese culture

(b.1964) California-born business woman in Japan. A successor of her late grandmother, who started a beauty business in Japan.

Yokoyama,Wayne Shigeto

Working at the magazine

(b.1948) Nikkei from Southern California living in Japan.

Yonamine,Wally Kaname

The privations of living in post-war Japan, 1952

(b.1925) Nisei of Okinawan descent. Had a 38-year career in Japan as a baseball player, coach, scout, and manager.

Yamada,Luis

Proud to be a Japanese desecendant (Spanish)

(b. 1929) Nisei Argentinean

Suto,Henry

School life in Japan (Japanese)

(1928 - 2008) Drafted into both the Japanese Imperial Army and the U.S. Army.

Suto,Henry

Identity (Japanese)

(1928 - 2008) Drafted into both the Japanese Imperial Army and the U.S. Army.

Amano,Miyoko

Yoshitaro Amano’s Business in Japan (Japanese)

(b. 1929) President of Amano Museum

Seki,Toshihiko

The Road to Success As a Sushi Chef (Japanese)

(n. 1962) Sushi Chef

Seki,Toshihiko

Making Sushi and Enjoying Life (Japanese)

(n. 1962) Sushi Chef

Seki,Toshihiko

Raising a Golden Egg (Japanese)

(n. 1962) Sushi Chef

Taoka,Isao

Views on Japanese Youth (Japanese)

(b. 1943) Paraguayan Ambassador to Japan

Ashimine Oshiro,Masakatsu Jaime

The Image of Japan: Expectations versus Reality (Spanish)

(1958-2014) Former Bolivian Ambassador to Japan

Onchi,Toshiko Elena

The importance of knowing the Japanese language (Spanish)

Japanese Peruvian in Japan

Horikiri,Edward Toru

My image of America as a child (Japanese)

(b. 1929) Kibei Nisei