Robert Whiting, author of the books “You Gotta Have Wa” and “The Meaning of Ichiro,” recently explained -- before the record was broken -- how the Japanese felt about Ichiro on the verge of the history books:
People in Japan ‘Enamored’ With Ichiro’s Feat
”Yes, feelings are high. NHK’s “Closeup Gendai”, the leading TV program on current affairs, aired a 30-minute documentary about the feat on Thursday night in Japan. The Baseball Magazine publishing company just published a full-length non-fiction book about the feat. There are no doubt other programs and publications on the way and when Ichiro breaks the record it will be front page news in all the sports dailies with headlines in red and black headlines of Kanji (Chinese characters) heralding the feat.
Japanese ask me all the time, “What do Americans think about this feat?” “Does it mean Ichiro will be inducted into the Hall of Fame?“ When I tell them that people across America admire the feat but are not exactly glued to the TV the way they were during the McGwire-Sosa home run race and that this feat does not automatically guarantee a HOF slot (after all, Roger Maris never made it in), there is disappointment. I tell them that if Ichiro had played in Keeler’s time he would have perhaps been considered the best player in the game. But I also cite various Best MLB Player studies--ESPN, Elias, Baseball Encyclopedia--in which Ichiro ranks only in the the 40’s, because of lack of power stats. This too is greeted with dismay. ...”
Basically, Ichiro will never have to buy a beer (a Asahi Super Dry perhaps?) ever, ever again. Ever.
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