The affect of Ichiro in US and Japan

All of these questions are answered in various threads in the News and Nichi-Bei forums. Please use these and the links to news stories in the threads as a basis to start your research.

From a Washingtonian point-of-view, he had a huge affect on us. For most of the die hard M's fans, Ichiro took over one of the class-act of baseball possition from Jay Buhner. Took on his old jersey number from Japan to here. The number of 51 was last worn by Randy Johnson for us. Then paying so much on what was then very little known, on a foreign player. But stepped up & produced in ways we hadn't seen for a lead off hitter. Coming over & winning a Gold Glove, Batting Title, Stolen base Title, Most hits Title, Rookie of the Year & then MVP on top of a great year for the team! Quiet but leading the way all at once.

- Why do Japanese baseball players come to the US[?]

The reason is simple. As every one of them said in their press conferences when signing, "to pursue my dread of playing with the best." Wouldn't it be nice if everyone in a given society strived to do their best, become the best, on a daily basis?

- [A]nd should Japanese baseball players come to the US[?]

Shouldn't they? If you were working harder than anyone else at your job and wanted a promotion, wouldn't you feel that you deserve it more than any of your peers? Would you be upset if any one held you back? Would you continue working hard at a job that didn't offer you a chance to raise your level?

I know that I like the work I do because I get new challenges to overcome periodicly. And am constantly learning new and better ways to make my programs more efficient. If I didn't feel that I was constantly improving myself, then I doubt that I would enjoy my job very much.

Many of the ball players who have gone on to the Majors have also stated that baseball in Japan wasn't fun any more. Robert Whiting, in "Wa," I think (or was it Cromartie in "Slugging"?), said that Japanese "work baseball" instead of play it. Many, like Sasaki, by pursuing their dreams to the Majors, are/were looking to regain the fun in the game that they had lost.