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)

Horikiri,Edward Toru

Longing to be an imperial soldier as a youth (Japanese)

(b. 1929) Kibei Nisei

Kohrogi,Acey

Welcoming Nomo

Former Director of Asian Operations for Los Angeles Dodgers

Kohrogi,Acey

Nomo's impact on later Japanese players

Former Director of Asian Operations for Los Angeles Dodgers

Kohrogi,Acey

Nomo's personality

Former Director of Asian Operations for Los Angeles Dodgers

Kohrogi,Acey

Nomo attendance boost

Former Director of Asian Operations for Los Angeles Dodgers

Kohrogi,Acey

Dodgers relationship with Japan

Former Director of Asian Operations for Los Angeles Dodgers

Kohrogi,Acey

Walter O’Malley’s philosophy

Former Director of Asian Operations for Los Angeles Dodgers

Schneider,Jean Hamako

Why I’m glad I immigrated to America (Japanese)

(b. 1925) War bride

Uesugi,Takeo

Returning to Japan after studying in New York

(1940-2016) Issei Landscape Architect

Uesugi,Takeo

Decision to remain in the US and become an American citizen

(1940-2016) Issei Landscape Architect

Hirano,Paulo Issamu

Moved to Japan as my dekasegi father called on me (Japanese)

(b. 1979) Sansei Nikkei Brazilian who lives in Oizumi-machi in Gunma prefecture. He runs his own design studio.

Hirano,Paulo Issamu

The difference between Nikkei community in Oizumi and Brazil (Japanese)

(b. 1979) Sansei Nikkei Brazilian who lives in Oizumi-machi in Gunma prefecture. He runs his own design studio.

Hirano,Paulo Issamu

Oizumi-machi is my hometown (Japanese)

(b. 1979) Sansei Nikkei Brazilian who lives in Oizumi-machi in Gunma prefecture. He runs his own design studio.

Shikota,Antonio Shinkiti

The reason why he immigrated to Japan (Portuguese)

(b. 1962) Japanese Brazilian owner of a Brazilian products store in Japan.

Shikota,Antonio Shinkiti

Advantages of living in Japan (Portuguese)

(b. 1962) Japanese Brazilian owner of a Brazilian products store in Japan.