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“Mrs. Judo: Be Strong, Be Gentle, Be Beautiful” by Yuriko Gamo Romer
San Francisco-based Yuriko Gamo Romer is an extraordinarily talented documentary filmmaker – someone who knows how to combine storytelling and research into a beautifully-presented piece of art.
Released in 2012, “Mrs. Judo: Be Strong, Be Gentle, Be Beautiful,” is a biographical documentary about Keiko Fukuda, the first woman to attain the 10th degree black belt in judo. This film traveled to more than 25 film festivals internationally and was awarded the Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary at the International Festival of Sport Films in Moscow and was broadcast nationally on PBS.
Her current documentary project, “Diamond Diplomacy,” explores the relationship between the United States and Japan through a shared love of baseball. The film is currently in production. More information can be found at DiamondDiplomacy.com. Yuriko appeared on JapanBall’s “Chatter Up!” Zoom call in 2020 – check out our recap of that episode here.
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American Pastime
This dramatic historical fiction film, set in Utah’s infamous Topaz concentration camp for Japanese Americans during World War II, tells the story of a family’s internment and the role baseball played in the camps. Baseball not only provided a diversion and physical outlet – it also cultivated camaraderie amongst the interns and respect from the white American community.
American Pastime was inspired by the work of the Nisei Baseball Research Project and its founder, Kerry Yo Nakagawa. Kerry Yo was a special guest on JapanBall’s “Chatter Up!” in April 2021, and his episode was the most powerful in our series. You can watch the video on YouTube or read the recap here.
The link below is for streaming options on Amazon; to buy the DVD, click here.
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Ballparks of NPB 2023 Calendar
$35.00The 12 ballparks of Nippon Professional Baseball – have you visited them all yet!?
This 2023 calendar depicts each of the 12 NPB parks – one per month – in a way that only the brilliant artists of Ballpark Blueprints can. From the brand-new Es Con Field (opening March 30, 2023) all the way up in Hokkaido, to the five stadiums in the Tokyo region, and all the way down to Hiroshima and Fukuoka, each ballpark has its own unique architectural charm or flare, and it’s captured with each turn of the page!
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Carry-On Suitcase – Samsonite Spinner
My wife and I put two suitcases on our wedding registry, and I’m sure glad that I ended up with this one! It is pretty much as large as it can be to still pass for a carry-on, which is why I chose it. It rolls smoothly through the airport or train station and I’ve found that the dividers and straps inside come in handy too. The hard sidewalls make it ideal for collecting precious Japanese souvenirs!
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Diamonds in the Rough: Zeni and the Legacy of Japanese American Baseball
Using the life of Kenichi “Zeni” Zenimura, the godfather of Japanese American baseball, as the foundation, this 35-minute documentary captures the rich and overlooked history of Japanese American baseball. A must-watch for any baseball history buff who prides themselves on knowing the most influential characters in the game’s history, and for anyone with an interest in the Japanese experience in America. Noriyuki “Pat” Morita, famous for his role as Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid series, narrates this informative and enlightening film.
This documentary was inspired by the work of the Nisei Baseball Research Project and its founder, Kerry Yo Nakagawa. Kerry Yo was a special guest on JapanBall’s “Chatter Up!” in April 2021, and his episode was the most powerful in our series. You can watch the video on YouTube or read the recap here.
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Gentle Black Giants: A History of Negro Leaguers in Japan
Between 1927 and 1934, the Philadelphia Royal Giants of the U.S. Negro Leagues embarked on several goodwill tours across the Pacific. They were relegated to second-class citizenship at home, but abroad they were treated with tremendous respect. Unlike the well-known tours of major league stars who ridiculed their opponents through embarrassing defeats, the Royal Giants made the games competitive, dignified, and enjoyable for opposing players. This book makes the argument that the mutual respect – and spirited competition – between the Black and Japanese players played a significant role in the founding of professional baseball in Japan. For more, check out our book review.
Co-author Bill Staples, Jr. appeared on JapanBall’s “Chatter Up!” Zoom call in 2020 – check out our recap of that episode here. Kazuo Sayama, the other co-author, was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2021.
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Growing the Game: The Globalization of Major League Baseball
I picked up this book shortly after it came out in 2008. I was a senior in college, and looking to pursue a career in baseball. This book meticulously described to me how baseball was in the process of becoming a truly global game, and I wanted to be part of that movement. I immediately tried to figure out how I could combine my love of baseball with traveling the world. And hey, what do you know – here we are!
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Hanshin Tigers Adjustable Baseball Cap
I used to only wear game-style baseball hats, thinking that the floppy hats were “dad hats.” Well, now that has changed. I always bring a hat like this when traveling so that I can cram it in my luggage without worrying about it losing shape. I like this vintage-style Hanshin Tigers hat because of the classic Tiger graphic and the “rising sun” in the background, but more importantly, it says “Hanshin Tigers” on it, which is often a conversation-starter for curious American baseball fans!
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Hiroshima Toyo Carp Red “Dad Hat”
Hiroshima’s Mazda ZOOM ZOOM Stadium, home of the Carp, is a sea of red on game day. Make sure that you fit in with this travel-friendly cap!
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In Search of Millionaires (The Life of a Baseball Gypsy): The Bob Fontaine Jr. Story
Baseball legends like Tony Gwynn, Ozzie Smith, and Randy Johnson are some of the most extraordinary talents that the game has ever known. But before they were pros, there was no industry consensus on these players – none of them were drafted in the first round of the MLB draft. But Bob Fontaine, Jr. saw in them something that the other teams didn’t, and millions of fans can thank him for drafting their franchise icon.
For nearly five decades, Fontaine looked into the future. He traveled the world and beat the bushes to scout, sign, and develop baseball’s constantly-refreshing next generation of stars. He led a relentless search, logging countless days abroad and wearing his car’s odometer out in the U.S.
But this book doesn’t just tally the biggest hits of Fontaine’s illustrious scouting career. Anyone who’s ever talked to a scout knows that scouts can tell stories like Ozzie Smith fields a routine grounder: with ease and just the right amount of flare. And Fontaine can spin a yarn with the best of them.
In this book, you’ll read about the inspiring draft story of Jim Abbott (who was born with only one hand), around-the-world baseball adventures (Fontaine three players in Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union!), the early days of some of baseball’s biggest characters (Ozzie Guillen and John Kruk, for example), drafting the foundation of the 2002 World Series champion Anaheim Angels (Tim Salmon, Garrett Anderson, etc.), and scouting amateur players all over the world, including Yu Darvish in Japan (read an excerpt on scouting Darvish).
This book is a baseball lover’s dream. It has just the right amount of history and nostalgia mixed with humility and humor. Get a first-hand look at the life of a legendary baseball man who exemplifies the vital role that scouts – the unheralded soothsayers of the game – play.
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Koshien: Japan’s Field of Dreams by Ema Ryan Yamazaki
Filmmaker Ema Ryan Yamazaki describes Japan’s National High School Baseball Championship (more commonly known as “Koshien,” for the stadium it’s played in) as a combination of the Super Bowl (for the national popularity and significance of the title) and NCAA basketball’s “March Madness” (for its intense, single-elimination format). In this film, Yamazaki grants viewers an insider’s look into two teams’ journeys to Koshien.
But this is not just a film about baseball, for baseball fans – this is a dramatic tale of the fighting spirit, harmony, tradition, and discipline that are the bedrock of Japanese culture, and how they fit into modern society.
For more about this fascinating documentary, check out our review. Ema Ryan Yamazaki appeared on JapanBall’s “Chatter Up!” Zoom call in 2020 – check out our recap of that episode here. For an in-depth, first-person Koshien experience, check out this article by Tom McGuire.
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Mashi: The Unfulfilled Baseball Dreams of Masanori Murakami, the First Japanese Major Leaguer
Did you know that 30+ years before Hideo Nomo, the San Francisco Giants had a Japanese pitching sensation on their club? I don’t blame you if you don’t, because Masanori Murakami’s tale is not well-known. “Mashi” had an adventurous and courageous spirit to pair with a talented left arm, and his place in history is iron-clad: he was the first Japanese player in Major League Baseball.
Read our full review of the book. Author Rob Fitts appeared on JapanBall’s “Chatter Up!” Zoom call in 2020 – check out our recap of that episode here. Want to own a piece of baseball history? Purchase an autographed Masanori Murakami trading card here.
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Mr. Baseball
For most people, Mr. Baseball is their gateway into Japanese baseball, and we’re OK with that! The film does a good job showing the sometimes-bizarre and always-interesting life of a gaijin ballplayer in Japan. Plus, Tom Selleck!
(Click below for streaming options, and if you want to order the DVD or Blu-Ray, click here.)
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Noise Cancelling, Extra Bass Earbuds
These are essential for the long flight to Japan!
If your earbuds are Apple “flash” compatible or Bluetooth, then you’ll be stuck on the plane with those cheap airline earbuds that have no bass and sound like you’re watching a movie in the airplane’s hanger. In my carry-on bag, I always bring a pair of higher quality earbuds that I can plug into the on-board entertainment system. Plus, they double as earplugs when you want to sleep!
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Portable Phone/Tablet Charger
I love this little charger. It has been a lifesaver on long train rides and flights. It even charges your phone faster than a wall outlet does! Plus, it has two USB outlets, letting you charge two things at once; if you are travelling in pairs, you only need one.
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Remembering Japanese Baseball: An Oral History of the Game
Historian Rob Fitts has written 6+ books about Japanese baseball, but it all started with this one. Inspired by the relative lack of written information about historical baseball figures in Japan, especially in the English language, Rob relays the tales that make up the unique character of the Japanese game. This book is an important one, and I recommend it for anyone that wants to take that next step in getting to know some of NPB’s legendary players – or just loves a great baseball story, because it’s full of them!
Rob Fitts appeared on JapanBall’s “Chatter Up!” Zoom call in 2020 – check out our recap of that episode here.
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Sayonara Home Run!: The Art of the Japanese Baseball Card
Japanese art, from the beautiful woodprint waves of Hokusai to the modern anime films of Studio Ghibli, has long been globally revered. Any appreciator of art and baseball will see from this book why vintage Japanese baseball cards are among the most beautiful baseball collectibles in the world.
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Shohei Ohtani Face T-Shirt
$60.00Baseball hasn’t seen a player with such prowess at the plate and on the mound since Babe Ruth…and “The Babe” certainly couldn’t run as fast and smooth as “Sho Time” does! Ohtani was a high school phenom unlike any other in Japan, and absolutely lived up to the hype. In five breathtaking seasons playing for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, Ohtani accumulated enough awards for a lifetime, including:
- Japan Series champion (2016)
- 5× NPB All-Star (2013–2017)
- Pacific League MVP (2016)
- 2× Pacific League Pitcher Best Nine (2015–2016)
- Designated Hitter Best Nine (2016)
- Pacific League ERA leader (2015)
- Pacific League Battery Award, with Shota Ono (2015)
Then, in 2018, it was on to MLB’s Los Angeles Angels. Ohtani turned down the opportunity to reach free agency and earn a more lucrative contract to be able to test himself earlier against MLB hitters and pitchers. He knew that he was ready, and it showed, as he won the American League Rookie of the Year unanimously. Since then, he has battled injuries, but at only 26 years old (as of the start of the 2021 season), he has plenty of time to showcase his unique talents.
Ohtani had a unique, MVP-caliber start to 2021, and we look forward to seeing him dominate on the mound and at the plate for years to come!
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Shohei Ohtani Los Angeles Angels Bobblehead
$34.99A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the U.S.-Japan Council; LIMIT TWO PER ORDER
Baseball hasn’t seen a player with such prowess at the plate and on the mound since Babe Ruth…and “The Babe” certainly couldn’t run as fast and smooth as “Sho Time” does! Ohtani was a high school phenom unlike any other in Japan, and absolutely lived up to the hype. In five breathtaking seasons playing for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, Ohtani accumulated enough awards for a lifetime, including:
- Japan Series champion (2016)
- 5× NPB All-Star (2013–2017)
- Pacific League MVP (2016)
- 2× Pacific League Pitcher Best Nine (2015–2016)
- Designated Hitter Best Nine (2016)
- Pacific League ERA leader (2015)
- Pacific League Battery Award, with Shota Ono (2015)
Then, in 2018, it was on to MLB’s Los Angeles Angels. Ohtani turned down the opportunity to reach free agency and earn a more lucrative contract to be able to test himself earlier against MLB hitters and pitchers. He knew that he was ready, and it showed, as he won the American League Rookie of the Year unanimously.
Since then, after overcoming some injures, he has emerged into unquestionably the best player in baseball. One of baseball’s most dominant pitchers on the mound is also one of its most feared at the plate. Ohtani put it all together in 2021, winning the American League’s MVP award unanimously. At just 27 years old (as of the start of the 2022 season), Ohtani has the potential to become one of baseball’s all-time greats.
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Signed and Personalized by the Author: The Chrysanthemum and the Bat by Robert Whiting
$35.00Acclaimed author Robert Whiting is best known for his bestseller You Gotta Have Wa!, published in 1989. And he burst back onto the Japanese baseball scene with 2004’s The Meaning of Ichiro. But it all started with The Chrysanthemum and the Bat: The Game Japanese Play.
We are working with Mr. Whiting to make this book available to you with a personalized messaged in your name (or whatever name you request) and signature from the author!
Whiting moved to Japan in 1962 and found that whenever he talked to his friends back in the U.S., they always wanted to hear more of his stories of Japanese baseball. Nothing about the country’s fascinating history of rulers, the rapid transformation of Tokyo, or the perfect balance between Buddhism and Shinto – just baseball. But Whiting found that baseball was actually the perfect vehicle to talk about Japan’s unique national character.
Motivated by a $500 bet that he wouldn’t write a book within a year (as explained to JapanBall’s “Chatter Up” audience in August 2021), Whiting compiled his observations of Japan’s culture- exemplified through baseball – into this wonderful book that TIME named its 1977 sports book of the year.
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The Chrysanthemum and the Bat by Robert Whiting (Personalized Signature fom the Author)
Acclaimed author Robert Whiting is best known for his bestseller You Gotta Have Wa!, published in 1989. And he burst back onto the Japanese baseball scene with 2004’s The Meaning of Ichiro. But it all started with The Chrysanthemum and the Bat: The Game Japanese Play.
We are working with Mr. Whiting to make this book available to you with a personalized messaged in your name (or whatever name you request) and signature from the author!
Whiting moved to Japan in 1962 and found that whenever he talked to his friends back in the U.S., they always wanted to hear more of his stories of Japanese baseball. Nothing about the country’s fascinating history of rulers, the rapid transformation of Tokyo, or the perfect balance between Buddhism and Shinto – just baseball. But Whiting found that baseball was actually the perfect vehicle to talk about Japan’s unique national character.
Motivated by a $500 bet that he wouldn’t write a book within a year (as explained to JapanBall’s “Chatter Up” audience in August 2021), Whiting compiled his observations of Japan’s culture- exemplified through baseball – into this wonderful book that TIME named its 1977 sports book of the year.
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The Meaning of Ichiro: The New Wave from Japan and the Transformation of Our National Pastime
I’m sure that many fans felt that Robert Whiting just had to write this book, and I’m sure glad that he did! In this unofficial sequel to You Gotta Have Wa, Whiting flips the script tells the fascinating stories of the trailblazing players that were part of the wave of Japanese players coming to MLB that started with Hideo Nomo in 1995. Whiting puts Nomo, Ichiro Suzuki, Hideki Irabu, Alfonso Soriano, and Hideki Matsui under the microscope, exploring each of their unique backgrounds and personalities and how they contributed to creating the star player you see on TV and in MLB stadiums.
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Through a Diamond: 100 Years of Japanese American Baseball
The history of Japanese American baseball is nearly as long as the history of the game itself. This book chronicles the many iterations of Japanese American baseball, starting at the turn of the century, when Japanese immigrants used baseball as a way to garner respect from – and feel a sense of inclusion with – their white American counterparts. Baseball became a community staple in America’s Japanese communities and then became a vehicle for survival in the Japanese American concentration camps of WWII.
Author Kerry Yo Nakagawa is the founder of the Nisei Baseball Research Project, which seeks to preserve the history of Japanese American baseball and educate about the Japanese American concentration camps during World War II. Kerry Yo was a special guest on JapanBall’s “Chatter Up!” in April 2021, and his episode was the most powerful in our series. You can watch the video on YouTube or read the recap here.
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Tokyo Junkie: 60 Years of Bright Lights and Back Alleys . . . and Baseball
40+ years after The Chrysanthemum and the Bat, which TIME Magazine named the best sports book of the year in 1977, and 30+ years after You Gotta Have Wa, an absolute must-read for any baseball fan, Robert Whiting is at it again. The original English-language written voice of Japanese baseball now has a lifetime’s worth of perspective, wisdom, and observations from straddling the American and Japanese cultures, and this book encapsulates it all.
Read our review of the book here.
As Whiting puts describes it in the book’s prologue, the “story is part Alice in Wonderland, part Bright Lights, Big City, and part Forrest Gump, among other things. It is a coming-of-age tale as well as an account of a decades-long journey into the heart of a city undergoing one of the most remarkable and sustained metamorphoses ever seen.”
Arriving in Tokyo in 1962, Whiting entered a metropolis that was on the cusp of bursting onto the world stage, most visibly via the 1964 Olympics. Since then, the city has flourished and grown almost exponentially in so many ways, but not without its share of dark secrets and growing pains.
Whiting’s unique perspective as a curious, thoroughly-adapted foreigner who also happens to be a critical observer and world-class writer makes him the perfect person to document the city’s modern history.