Pre-War Baseball in Japan

The Baseball Game is one of the most popular sports in both countries, America and Japan.

Until 1934, Japanese had no professional baseball even at schools it was very popular
from the begining of the century.
Matutaro Shoriki who was the owner of one of three majour newspapers, made a team
"All Japan" and he invited the majour league selected members as "All Americans"
including Babe Ruth.
Babe Ruth was of course very popular player in Japan.

In 1934, they played several games all around the contry.
This is the start of Japanse professinal baseball. Shoriki named his team "Kyojin" that means Giants in Japanese.

In 1935, "Kyojin" went to the United States and played some exhibition games with major league teams.
Sawamura was one of the pitchers and it is said that an American scout approached him during his stay in the U.S.
Sawamura took Babe Ruth a strikeout in Japan.
He died in 1944 during the war. He boat was sunk by a U.S. submarine.

When the war started many professional players were mustered.
Sugiura was also a pitcher. He spent in China during the war.
After the war he said, even he had a long blank of playing, he was suprised himself that he could throw effective balls.
He tought about the background and found that he was selected for the company's hand grenade thrower and be trained. But he never joined the actual battle.
Many players did not come back.

After the war the baseball became most popular sports and an entertainment in Japan.
There have been many managers and players from the U.S. and Latin America came to Japan.
And about ten Japanese major league players are there.

Who is the first player from Japan be in "National Baseball of Hall of Fame"?

see, http://www.japaneseweapons.com