Cameron Iwasa never thought he would be playing professional soccer. The Sacramento Republic FC forward thought he would simply play the sport at the University of California, Irvine while pursuing his degree in business economics, which he plans to obtain this summer. But upon seeing some of his college teammates getting a chance to play […]
FAST PITCH: Five more to watch
September 26, 2019 by Leave a Comment
Here are five more athletes of Asian descent to watch. Ashima Shiraishi, rock climber, USAAlready one of the premier rock climbers in the world at just 18, Shiraishi has been a competitive climber since she was just seven years old. Known for her bouldering and lead climbing abilities, she is perhaps most famous for her […]
Multiracial athletes of Japanese descent and their ascent
May 23, 2019 by Leave a Comment
March 21, 2019, Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. In the bottom of the eighth, Ichiro Suzuki trotted off the baseball diamond for the last time, waving to an unusually emotional Japanese crowd. Soon after, fellow Seattle Mariners Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. remarked that, during his career, Ichiro was able to “cross barriers.†When […]
The history and legacy of ‘ragtag’ plantation kids who became national champion swimmers
January 1, 2016 by Leave a Comment
THE THREE-YEAR SWIM CLUB: THE UNTOLD STORY OF MAUI’S SUGAR DITCH KIDS AND THEIR QUEST FOR OLYMPIC GLORY By Julie Checkoway (New York: Grand Central Publishing, 2015, 432 pp., $27, hardcover) My favorite Southern California bookstore is in Santa Barbara. Although located in a commonplace strip mall on the outskirts of this picturesque, Spanish-themed resort […]
Tokyo wins bid to host 2020 Summer Olympics
September 19, 2013 by Leave a Comment
BUENOS AIRES — Tokyo was chosen as the “safe pair of hands†to host the 2020 Summer Olympics on Sept. 14, beating Istanbul and Madrid at the International Olympic Committee’s general session in Buenos Aires. The Japanese capital will be the first Asian city to host the Olympics twice, having also hosted the 1964 Games. […]
FULL COUNT: Godzilla retires as Spring Training nears
January 10, 2013 by Leave a Comment
As expected, former Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui officially retired on Jan. 3. The Houston Astros had been interested in 38-year-old, but injuries forced him from playing in the World Baseball Classic and ultimately out of baseball. Matsui enjoyed success throughout his two decades in Japan and the majors, winning championships in both leagues. He was […]
THE GREAT UNKNOWN AND THE UNKNOWN GREAT: How labor and civil rights groups overturned exclusion of minorities in bowling
December 6, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Professional sports have served as one of the most visible areas of society for promotion of civil rights. Surely the most famous example of this is Jackie Robinson, who broke professional baseball’s “unwritten law†of racial segregation when he took the field for the National League’s Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Not only did Robinson’s on-the-field […]
Author shows politics, intrigue of Ruth’s 1934 tour
May 18, 2012 by Leave a Comment
NEW YORK — When Babe Ruth barnstormed across Japan in November 1934 with a team of American All-Stars, he was welcomed not only as a baseball hero, but also as a broker of friendship between two nations drifting toward war. The 18-game exhibition tour, hailed by politicians on both sides as a chance to promote goodwill, […]
Daly City bowling alley closes, displaces Nikkei bowlers
May 4, 2012 by Leave a Comment
For more than 50 years, Serra Bowl in Daly City, Calif. has been entertaining bowlers and families alike with its welcome, competitive atmosphere and its dedication and commitment to the surrounding community. Among the 35 different bowling leagues that have taken root at the bowling center, the 72-member Nikkei league made Serra Bowl its home […]
Website aims to document Nikkei baseball players
March 2, 2012 by Leave a Comment
The Nisei Baseball Research Project, a nonprofit organization founded to preserve and celebrate the history of Japanese American baseball, announced the launch of an online registry created to document all players of the often overlooked Japanese American baseball leagues of the past. Family members, friends and baseball fans are encouraged to visit www.NiseiBaseball.com and share […]
More info visit: Digital.Nichibei.org
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