Credits
Wayne
Graczyk
Wayne
has lived in Japan for more than 35 years and is contributor to this site. Sports
Editor of the widely read Tokyo Weekender for 27 years, he now has a popular
baseball column in The Japan Times.
Wayne
covers Japan for Baseball America and for years was a TV broadcaster for the
Tokyo Giants, continuing to cover the ballclub as a reporter. He is also
the author of the Japan Pro Baseball Fan Handbook and
Media Guide and a scout for the Boston Red Sox.
Goro
Kamata
The
heavy lifting with web intricacies comes from Goro. He’s terrific
about knowing his way around the web. And when I got in a jam, like accidentally
erasing the news feed pages, he has them back up in no time.
Marty
Kuehnert
While
at Stanford Marty did a study tour to Japan and ended up staying. He's widely
known in Japan for his sometimes caustic commentary as a sports broadcaster,
book author, and newspaper columnist.
He's
also a college professor and has recurring roles in a wildly successful Japanese
soap opera. He often visits with our group and offers his insights on Japan and
its baseball.
In
November, 2004 Marty was named the general manager of the Rakuten Golden Eagles,
the first ever American general manager of a team in Japan.
http://www.ismac.co.jp/english/index.html
Dan
Latham
Dan
has been an enthusiastic supporter of introducing people to the joys of Japan
and Japanese baseball. Dan was a sportswriter for The Japan Times, in addition
to providing some scouting services for the Atlanta Braves.
Over
the years Dan has built a wonderful web site. Other activities, a growing family
for one, are taking more of Dan's time and he is graciously allowing some of his
work to migrate here.
Mayumi
Smith
Mayumi
is an integral part of every trip. She is our cultural attaché and gives our
guests deeper insights into Japanese culture and ways. She's also a lot of fun
to have along!
Mayumi
is the director of the Nippon Business Institute and Japanese Cultural Center in
at Everett Community College in Washington State and is a master at facilitating
a wide array of interactions between the United States and Japan on both a
personal and business level.
http://www.everettcc.edu/programs/socsci/nbi/
In
April, 2004 she was recognized for her efforts by being named as one of the very
few individual recipients of the Japan Foreign Minister's Commendation in
Commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the US -Japan Relationship.
Mayumi finds baseball to be a
common bond between the two countries and puts that belief to work during our
trip.
