About JapaneseBaseball.com

About JapaneseBaseball.com

JapaneseBaseball.com is a site dedicated to discussion of Professional baseball (Pro Yakyu) in Japan. The forum is the place to go to read and participate in discussions ranging from current news to records and milestones. I'm always happy to answer questions you have, and if I can't, then there is most likely someone who reads the forum who can. There is even a forum for discussing those players who have gone (or will go) to the Major Leagues from Japan.

This site is an extension (the evolution) of the home page I started in 1995 entitled Japan Pro Yakyu this Week. It was started with the intent of "setting the record straight" after Keven Mitchell left the Hawks without a word and some crying story about how he was mistreated appeared on ESPN's web site. The author of said story obviously knew absolutely nothing about Japanese baseball, and I felt compelled to try to help educate people about it.

That was the same year that Nomo-mania swept the Major Leagues and Bobby Valentine managed the Chiba Lotte Marines. Both of these helped bring the eyes of the world to Japan - but time and again, the English press disappointed me with their total lack of understanding of the Japanese game. Six years later, Ichiro set off another huge wave of interest in Japan, and the reporting on that side of the Pacific still leaves a lot to be desired as misinformation and myths about Japanese baseball continue to spread like wildfire.

While the forum I've used to discuss Pro Yakyu over the years has changed quite a bit, the goals remain the same, to help create a better understading of this great game - baseball.

It is my sincere hope that you not only learn something here about the game as viewed from this side of the Pacific, but also become an active participant in the discussions.

Michael Westbay
(aka westbaystars)
Writer/System Administrator
JapaneseBaseball.com