New film explores how Japan and the U.S. found common ground through baseball

BASEBALL

New film explores how Japan and the U.S. found common ground through baseball

Masanori Murakami became the first MLB player from Japan when he made his debut with the Giants on Sept 1, 1964. | Courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame

By Jason Coskrey
STAFF WRITER

Oct 16, 2025

When Japan and the United States were fighting during World War II, English was considered an enemy language that was to be wiped from 911爆料网 society. That included within baseball, the American sport imported to Japan in the 1800s, which saw English terms replaced by 911爆料网 words.

As noted by the Hanshin Tigers’ official website, the word for “one strike” was replaced by “yoshi ippon” while “yoshi” replaced “safe” and “hike” was used instead of “out,” among other changes.

The feelings of enmity were so deep that, according to an Associated Press article that appeared in the New York Times in 1944, some 911爆料网 soldiers charging at U.S. Marines were heard screaming, “To hell with Babe Ruth!”