List of Major League Baseball players from Japan - wikipedia List of Major League Baseball players from Japan Ichiro Suzuki played in NPB before playing in MLB. A total of 58 Japanese - born players have played in at least one Major League Baseball ( MLB ) game. Of these players, six are currently on MLB rosters. The first instance of a Japanese - born player playing in MLB occurred in 1964, when the Nankai Hawks, a Nippon Professional Baseball ( NPB ) team, sent three exchange prospects to the United States to gain experience in MLB 's minor league system. One of the players, pitcher Masanori Murakami, was named the California League Rookie of the Year while playing for the Fresno Giants ( the San Francisco Giants ' Class - A team ). Giants executives were impressed with his talent and on September 1, 1964 Murakami was promoted, thus becoming the first Japanese player to play in MLB. After Murakami put up good pitching statistics as a reliever, Giants executives sought to exercise a clause in their contract with the Hawks that, they claimed, allowed them to buy up an exchange prospect 's contract. NPB officials objected, stating that they had no intention of selling Murakami 's contract to the Giants and telling them that Murakami was merely on loan for the 1964 season. After a two - month stalemate the Giants eventually agreed to send Murakami back to the Hawks after the 1965 season. This affair led to the 1967 United States -- Japanese Player Contract Agreement, also known as the `` Working Agreement '', between MLB and NPB, which was basically a hands - off policy. For thirty years Murakami was the only Japanese player to appear in an MLB game. Pitcher Hideo Nomo, with the help of agent Don Nomura, became the second Japanese - born player to play in MLB in 1995. Nomo, who was not yet eligible for free agency in Japan, was advised by Nomura that a `` voluntary retirement '' clause in the Working Agreement did not specify that a player wishing to play again after retiring must return to NPB. Nomo utilized this loophole to void his NPB contract with the Kintetsu Buffaloes and play in MLB. He announced his retirement from NPB in late 1994 and signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in February 1995. Nomo 's maneuver and Hideki Irabu 's later MLB contractual complications were contributing factors to a major revision of the Working Agreement in 1998 that created the current posting system. Since its inception 12 Japanese - born players have been signed through the system, however one of these players, Shinji Mori, did not play in a single MLB game due to an injury. NPB players who have nine or more years of playing service with NPB can become free agents and do not need to enter MLB through the posting system. The remaining Japanese - born players that have played in MLB have either signed as free agents or signed as amateur players. Mac Suzuki, Micheal Nakamura, Kazuhito Tadano, and Junichi Tazawa are the only Japanese players to have debuted in MLB without previously playing in NPB. Japanese - born players have had a range of success in MLB. Twelve players have been selected to participate in the All - Star Game ; Ichiro Suzuki has made the most appearances with ten. In addition to these selections, Ichiro has won several prestigious MLB awards including the American League ( AL ) Rookie of the Year Award and the AL Most Valuable Player ( MVP ) Award in 2001, the All - Star Game MVP Award in 2007 and multiple Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Awards. Ichiro also holds the MLB record for the recording the most hits in a single season. Hideo Nomo was the only Japanese - born pitcher to throw a no - hitter until Hisashi Iwakuma accomplished the feat on August 12, 2015. Nomo threw two in total ; the first came in 1996 and the last occurred in 2001. Eleven Japanese players have played in the World Series. Of these players, So Taguchi has won the most with two and Hideki Matsui is the only one to win the World Series MVP Award. Contents 1 Table key 2 Current players 3 Former players 4 Awards, records and notable accomplishments 4.1 Awards 4.2 Hitting 4.3 Baserunning 4.4 Pitching 5 All - Star Game selections 6 World Series appearances 7 Notes 8 References Table key Key to symbols in player table § Signed with a Major League Baseball team without first playing for a Nippon Professional Baseball team * Signed with a Major League Baseball team via the posting system Inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame Current players Players from Japan that are currently on Major League Baseball rosters Player Position Debut Team ( s ) Status Notes Yu Darvish * April 9, 2012 Texas Rangers ( 2012 -- 2017 ) Los Angeles Dodgers ( 2017 ) Chicago Cubs ( 2018 -- ) 60 - day DL Masahiro Tanaka * April 4, 2014 New York Yankees ( 2014 -- ) Active Kenta Maeda * April 6, 2016 Los Angeles Dodgers ( 2016 -- ) Active Shohei Ohtani * P / DH March 29, 2018 Los Angeles Angels ( 2018 -- ) Active Yoshihisa Hirano March 29, 2018 Arizona Diamondbacks ( 2018 -- ) Active Kazuhisa Makita * March 30, 2018 San Diego Padres ( 2018 -- ) Active Former players Players from Japan that formerly appeared on Major League Baseball rosters Player Position MLB debut Final MLB game Former MLB Team ( s ) Current league / status Current team Notes Masanori Murakami September 1, 1964 October 1, 1965 San Francisco Giants ( 1964 -- 1965 ) Retired -- Hideo Nomo May 2, 1995 April 18, 2008 Los Angeles Dodgers ( 1995 -- 1998, 2002 -- 2004 ) New York Mets ( 1998 ) Milwaukee Brewers ( 1999 ) Detroit Tigers ( 2000 ) Boston Red Sox ( 2001 ) Tampa Bay Devil Rays ( 2005 ) Kansas City Royals ( 2008 ) Retired -- Mac Suzuki July 7, 1996 June 28, 2002 Seattle Mariners ( 1996, 1998 -- 1999 ) Kansas City Royals ( 1999 -- 2001, 2002 ) Colorado Rockies ( 2001 ) Milwaukee Brewers ( 2001 ) Retired -- Shigetoshi Hasegawa April 5, 1997 September 28, 2005 Anaheim Angels ( 1997 -- 2001 ) Seattle Mariners ( 2002 -- 2005 ) Retired -- Takashi Kashiwada May 1, 1997 September 18, 1997 New York Mets ( 1997 ) Retired -- Hideki Irabu July 10, 1997 July 12, 2002 New York Yankees ( 1997 -- 1999 ) Montreal Expos ( 2000 -- 2001 ) Texas Rangers ( 2002 ) Deceased ( July 24, 2011 ) -- Masato Yoshii April 5, 1998 September 11, 2002 New York Mets ( 1998 -- 1999 ) Colorado Rockies ( 2000 ) Montreal Expos ( 2001 -- 2002 ) Retired -- Masao Kida April 5, 1999 August 3, 2005 Detroit Tigers ( 1999 -- 2000 ) Los Angeles Dodgers ( 2003 -- 2004 ) Seattle Mariners ( 2004 -- 2005 ) Retired -- Tomokazu Ohka July 19, 1999 October 4, 2009 Boston Red Sox ( 1999 -- 2001 ) Montreal Expos / Washington Nationals ( 2001 -- 2005 ) Milwaukee Brewers ( 2005 -- 2006 ) Toronto Blue Jays ( 2007 ) Cleveland Indians ( 2009 ) Retired -- Kazuhiro Sasaki April 5, 2000 September 28, 2003 Seattle Mariners ( 2000 -- 2003 ) Retired -- Ichiro Suzuki * OF April 2, 2001 May 2, 2018 Seattle Mariners ( 2001 -- 2012 ) New York Yankees ( 2012 -- 2014 ) Miami Marlins ( 2015 -- 2017 ) Seattle Mariners ( 2018 ) Special Assistant to the Chairman Seattle Mariners Tsuyoshi Shinjo OF April 3, 2001 June 27, 2003 New York Mets ( 2001, 2003 ) San Francisco Giants ( 2002 ) Retired -- Takahito Nomura April 3, 2002 May 15, 2002 Milwaukee Brewers ( 2002 ) Retired -- Satoru Komiyama April 4, 2002 September 11, 2002 New York Mets ( 2002 ) Retired -- Kazuhisa Ishii * April 6, 2002 September 28, 2005 Los Angeles Dodgers ( 2002 -- 2004 ) New York Mets ( 2005 ) Retired -- So Taguchi OF June 10, 2002 October 4, 2009 St. Louis Cardinals ( 2002 -- 2007 ) Philadelphia Phillies ( 2008 ) Chicago Cubs ( 2009 ) Retired -- Hideki Matsui OF / DH March 31, 2003 July 22, 2012 New York Yankees ( 2003 -- 2009 ) Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim ( 2010 ) Oakland Athletics ( 2011 ) Tampa Bay Rays ( 2012 ) Retired -- Micheal Nakamura June 7, 2003 July 31, 2004 Minnesota Twins ( 2003 ) Toronto Blue Jays ( 2004 ) Retired -- Kazuo Matsui 2B / SS April 6, 2004 May 18, 2010 New York Mets ( 2004 -- 2006 ) Colorado Rockies ( 2006 -- 2007 ) Houston Astros ( 2008 -- 2010 ) NPB Seibu Lions ( Player - coach ) Akinori Otsuka * April 6, 2004 July 1, 2007 San Diego Padres ( 2004 -- 2005 ) Texas Rangers ( 2006 -- 2007 ) Retired -- Shingo Takatsu April 9, 2004 October 2, 2005 Chicago White Sox ( 2004 -- 2005 ) New York Mets ( 2005 ) Retired -- Kazuhito Tadano April 27, 2004 July 16, 2005 Cleveland Indians ( 2004 -- 2005 ) Retired -- Tadahito Iguchi 2B April 4, 2005 September 28, 2008 Chicago White Sox ( 2005 -- 2007 ) Philadelphia Phillies ( 2007, 2008 ) San Diego Padres ( 2008 ) Retired -- Keiichi Yabu April 9, 2005 September 27, 2008 Oakland Athletics ( 2005 ) San Francisco Giants ( 2008 ) Retired -- Norihiro Nakamura * 3B April 10, 2005 May 6, 2005 Los Angeles Dodgers ( 2005 ) Retired -- Kenji Johjima April 3, 2006 October 3, 2009 Seattle Mariners ( 2006 -- 2009 ) Retired -- Takashi Saito April 9, 2006 September 30, 2012 Los Angeles Dodgers ( 2006 -- 2008 ) Boston Red Sox ( 2009 ) Atlanta Braves ( 2010 ) Milwaukee Brewers ( 2011 ) Arizona Diamondbacks ( 2012 ) Retired -- Akinori Iwamura * 2B / 3B April 2, 2007 September 26, 2010 Tampa Bay Devil Rays / Rays ( 2007 -- 2009 ) Pittsburgh Pirates ( 2010 ) Oakland Athletics ( 2010 ) Retired -- Hideki Okajima April 2, 2007 June 13, 2013 Boston Red Sox ( 2007 -- 2011 ) Oakland Athletics ( 2013 ) Retired -- Daisuke Matsuzaka * April 5, 2007 September 25, 2014 Boston Red Sox ( 2007 -- 2012 ) New York Mets ( 2013 -- 2014 ) NPB Chunichi Dragons Kei Igawa * April 7, 2007 June 27, 2008 New York Yankees ( 2007 -- 2008 ) Free agent -- Masumi Kuwata June 10, 2007 August 13, 2007 Pittsburgh Pirates ( 2007 ) Retired -- Kosuke Fukudome OF March 31, 2008 June 3, 2012 Chicago Cubs ( 2008 -- 2011 ) Cleveland Indians ( 2011 ) Chicago White Sox ( 2012 ) NPB Hanshin Tigers Kazuo Fukumori March 31, 2008 April 24, 2008 Texas Rangers ( 2008 ) Retired -- Masahide Kobayashi April 2, 2008 May 7, 2009 Cleveland Indians ( 2008 -- 2009 ) Retired -- Hiroki Kuroda April 4, 2008 September 25, 2014 Los Angeles Dodgers ( 2008 -- 2011 ) New York Yankees ( 2012 -- 2014 ) Retired -- Yasuhiko Yabuta April 5, 2008 October 4, 2009 Kansas City Royals ( 2008 -- 2009 ) Retired -- Koji Uehara April 8, 2009 September 2, 2017 Baltimore Orioles ( 2009 -- 2011 ) Texas Rangers ( 2011 -- 2012 ) Boston Red Sox ( 2013 -- 2016 ) Chicago Cubs ( 2017 ) NPB Yomiuri Giants Kenshin Kawakami April 11, 2009 September 9, 2010 Atlanta Braves ( 2009 -- 2010 ) Retired -- Ken Takahashi May 2, 2009 September 25, 2009 New York Mets ( 2009 ) Retired -- Junichi Tazawa August 7, 2009 May 17, 2018 Boston Red Sox ( 2009 -- 2016 ) Miami Marlins ( 2017 -- 2018 ) MiLB Salt Lake Bees Hisanori Takahashi April 7, 2010 April 11, 2013 New York Mets ( 2010 ) Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim ( 2011 -- 2012 ) Pittsburgh Pirates ( 2012 ) Chicago Cubs ( 2013 ) Retired -- Ryota Igarashi April 8, 2010 August 12, 2012 New York Mets ( 2010 -- 2011 ) Toronto Blue Jays ( 2012 ) New York Yankees ( 2012 ) NPB SoftBank Hawks Tsuyoshi Nishioka * SS / 2B April 1, 2011 August 8, 2012 Minnesota Twins ( 2011 -- 2012 ) NPB Hanshin Tigers Yoshinori Tateyama May 24, 2011 September 26, 2012 Texas Rangers ( 2011 -- 2012 ) Retired -- Nori Aoki * OF April 6, 2012 October 1, 2017 Milwaukee Brewers ( 2012 -- 2013 ) Kansas City Royals ( 2014 ) San Francisco Giants ( 2015 ) Seattle Mariners ( 2016 ) Houston Astros ( 2017 ) Toronto Blue Jays ( 2017 ) New York Mets ( 2017 ) NPB Yakult Swallows Munenori Kawasaki SS / 2B April 7, 2012 October 2, 2016 Seattle Mariners ( 2012 ) Toronto Blue Jays ( 2013 -- 2015 ) Chicago Cubs ( 2016 ) Free agent -- Hisashi Iwakuma April 20, 2012 May 3, 2017 Seattle Mariners ( 2012 -- 2017 ) MiLB Tacoma Rainiers Kyuji Fujikawa April 1, 2013 May 15, 2015 Chicago Cubs ( 2013 -- 2014 ) Texas Rangers ( 2015 ) NPB Hanshin Tigers Kensuke Tanaka LF July 9, 2013 July 28, 2013 San Francisco Giants ( 2013 ) NPB Nippon - Ham Fighters Tsuyoshi Wada July 8, 2014 September 4, 2015 Chicago Cubs ( 2014 -- 2015 ) NPB SoftBank Hawks Toru Murata June 28, 2015 June 28, 2015 Cleveland Indians ( 2015 ) NPB Nippon - Ham Fighters Awards, Records and notable accomplishments Awards Most Valuable Player Award : Ichiro Suzuki, 2001 AL World Series MVP : Hideki Matsui, 2009 ALCS MVP : Koji Uehara, 2013 All - Star Game MVP : Ichiro Suzuki, 2007 Rookie of the Year : Hideo Nomo, 1995 NL ; Kazuhiro Sasaki, 2000 AL ; Ichiro Suzuki, 2001 AL Gold Glove Award : Ichiro Suzuki, 10 times, 2001 -- 2010 AL OF Silver Slugger Award : Ichiro Suzuki, 3 times, 2001, 2007, 2009 Player of the Month : Ichiro Suzuki, August 2004 AL ; Hideki Matsui, July 2007 AL Pitcher of the Month : Hideo Nomo, twice, June 1995 & September 1996 NL ; Hideki Irabu, twice, May 1998 & July 1999 AL ; Masahiro Tanaka, May 2014 AL Rookie of the Month : Ichiro Suzuki, 5 times, April, May, June, August, September 2001 AL ; Kazuhisa Ishii, April 2002 NL ; Hideki Matsui, June 2003 AL ; Hideki Okajima, April 2007 AL ; Yu Darvish, April 2012 AL ; Shohei Ohtani, April 2018 AL Player of the Week : Ichiro Suzuki, 5 times, August 2 -- 8, 2004 AL, May 29 - June 4, 2006 AL, September 20 -- 26, 2010 AL, September 17 -- 23, 2012 AL, August 1 -- 7, 2016 NL ; Hideki Matsui, 4 times, June 23 -- 29, 2003, May 24 -- 30, 2004, June 14 -- 20, 2005, July 18 -- 24, 2011 AL ; Hisashi Iwakuma, August 10 -- 16, 2015 AL ; Shohei Ohtani, April 2 - 8, 2018 AL MLB Players Association Outstanding Player of the Year Award : Ichiro Suzuki, 2004 AL MLB Players Association Outstanding Rookie of the Year Award : Ichiro Suzuki, 2001 AL Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award : Ichiro Suzuki, 2001 AL Sporting News Rookie Pitcher of the Year Award : Hideo Nomo, 1995 NL, Kazuhiro Sasaki, 2000 AL MLB.com Defensive Player of the Year Award : Ichiro Suzuki, 2005 MLB.com Setup Man of the Year Award : Hideki Okajima, 2007 Hitting Most hits in a single season : Ichiro Suzuki, 262 ( 2004 ) MLB Record Most career Interleague hits : Ichiro Suzuki, 367 MLB Record Most consecutive seasons of 200 or more hits : Ichiro Suzuki, 10 ( 2001 -- 2010 ) MLB Record Most seasons with 200 or more hits : Ichiro Suzuki, 10 ( 2001 -- 2010 ) MLB Record ( tie ) Most games with five or more hits in a season : Ichiro Suzuki, 4 ( 2004 ) MLB Record ( tie ) Most pinch - hit plate appearances in a season : Ichiro Suzuki, 109 ( 2017 ) MLB Record Most pinch - hit at - bats in a season : Ichiro Suzuki, 100 ( 2017 ) MLB Record Batting titles : Ichiro Suzuki, 2001 (. 350 Avg ) and 2004 (. 372 Avg ) Only Inside - the - park home run in All - Star game history : Ichiro Suzuki, July 10, 2007, AT&T Park, hitting leadoff for the American League Only MLB player to hit a home run in his first plate appearance of his first three seasons : Kazuo Matsui, 2004 ( First pitch ), 2005, 2006 ( Inside - the - park home run ) First Japanese player to play in the World Series : Tsuyoshi Shinjo, October 19, 2002, Giants vs. Angels, Edison Field, hitting 9th in the lineup as the Designated hitter First Japanese player to hit a home run : Hideo Nomo, April 28, 1998, Dodgers vs. Brewers, Dodger Stadium First Japanese player to hit a grand slam : Tsuyoshi Shinjo, May 17, 2002, Giants vs. Marlins, AT&T Park First Japanese player to hit a walk - off home run : Hideki Matsui, July 17, 2003, Yankees vs. Indians, Yankee Stadium First Japanese player to hit a home run in the postseason : Hideki Matsui, October 4, 2003, Yankees vs. Twins, Metrodome First Japanese player to hit a home run in the World Series : Hideki Matsui, October 19, 2003, Yankees vs. Marlins, Yankee Stadium First Japanese player to hit cleanup in the lineup : Tsuyoshi Shinjo, August 3, 2001, Mets vs. Diamondbacks, Bank One Ballpark 3,000 hit club : Ichiro Suzuki ; entered August 7, 2016 Baserunning Stolen base champion : Ichiro Suzuki, 2001 AL ( 56 Stolen Bases ) Most consecutive stolen bases : Ichiro Suzuki, April 29, 2006 -- May 16, 2007 ( 45 ) AL Record Pitching No - hitters Hideo Nomo : September 17, 1996 at Coors Field in Denver. Pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Colorado Rockies. Still the only no - hitter at Coors Field, which opened in 1995. Highest paid attendance ( 50,066 ) among all the no - hitters in currently used ballparks. Hideo Nomo : April 4, 2001 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore. Pitching for the Boston Red Sox against the Baltimore Orioles. Still the only no - hitter at Oriole Park, which opened in 1992. Earliest no - hitter in a season among all the no - hitters in currently used ballparks. Nomo is one of only five players that have ever pitched at least one no - hitter game in both the National League and American League in Major League Baseball history. Hisashi Iwakuma : August 12, 2015 at Safeco Field in Seattle. Pitching for the Seattle Mariners against the Baltimore Orioles. It was the fourth no - hitter at Safeco Field, behind Philip Humber, Kevin Millwood, and Félix Hernández. Strikeout champion : Hideo Nomo, 1995 NL ( 236 Strikeouts ) & 2001 AL ( 220 Strikeouts ) ; Yu Darvish, 2013 AL ( 277 Strikeouts, led both leagues ) Fastest to reach 1000 career strikeouts in MLB history : Yu Darvish, September 8, 2017 ( 812 innings ) Fastest to reach 500 career strikeouts in MLB history : Yu Darvish, April 6, 2014 ( 401 2 / 3 innings ) Most consecutive quality starts from debut : Masahiro Tanaka ( 16 ) MLB Record ( tie ) Lowest single - season WHIP in MLB history ( at least 50 innings ) : Koji Uehara, 2013 ( 0.565 ) Most saves in the postseason : Koji Uehara, 2013 ( 7 saves ) MLB Record ( tie ) Strikeouts in a single inning : Kazuhiro Sasaki, April 4, 2003 ( 4 strikeouts in the 9th Inning ) MLB Record ( tie ) All - Star Game selections Players from Japan that have been selected to participate in a Major League Baseball All - Star Game Player League Selections Year ( s ) Notes Ichiro Suzuki AL 10 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 Inside - the - park home run, All - Star Game MVP ( 2007 ) Yu Darvish AL 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017 Selected as the winner of the Final Vote but did not play ( 2012 ) Selected but did not play ( 2013 ) Selected but did not play ( 2017 ) Kazuhiro Sasaki AL 2001, 2002 Closed and recorded a save ( 2001 ) Hideki Matsui AL 2003, 2004 Selected as the winner of the Final Vote ( 2004 ) Hideo Nomo NL 1995 Starting pitcher Shigetoshi Hasegawa AL 2003 Hideki Okajima AL 2007 Selected as the winner of the Final Vote, but did not play Takashi Saito NL 2007 Kosuke Fukudome NL 2008 Hisashi Iwakuma AL 2013 Selected but did not play Masahiro Tanaka AL 2014 Selected but did not play due to being on the disabled list Koji Uehara AL 2014 Selected in place of the injured Masahiro Tanaka Bold indicates the player was selected to the starting roster World Series appearances Players from Japan that have been a part of a Major League Baseball World Series Player World Series championships World Series appearances Year ( s ) Notes So Taguchi 2004 Cardinals 2006 Cardinals 2008 Phillies Did not play in the 2008 World Series, despite being on the Phillies ' active roster Hideki Matsui 2003 Yankees 2009 Yankees World Series MVP ( 2009 ) Tadahito Iguchi 2005 White Sox First Japanese player to win a World Series Hideki Okajima 2007 Red Sox First Japanese pitcher to appear in a World Series. With Matsuzaka, first Japanese pitcher to win the World Series. The 2007 World Series was the first in which Japanese - born players appeared for both teams. Daisuke Matsuzaka 2007 Red Sox First Japanese pitcher to both start and win a World Series game and first Japanese pitcher to win an MLB playoff game during the 2007 postseason. With Okajima, first Japanese pitcher to win the World Series. The 2007 World Series was the first in which Japanese - born players appeared for both teams. Junichi Tazawa 2013 Red Sox Koji Uehara 2013 Red Sox Tsuyoshi Shinjo 0 2002 Giants First Japanese player to play in a World Series game Kazuo Matsui 0 2007 Rockies The 2007 World Series was the first in which Japanese - born players appeared for both teams. Akinori Iwamura 0 2008 Rays Nori Aoki 0 2014 Royals Kenta Maeda 0 2017 Dodgers Yu Darvish 0 2017 Dodgers Bold indicates that the team won the World Series that year Notes General `` Players by birthplace : Japan Baseball Stats and Info ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 9, 2014. Inline citations Jump up ^ This list does not include players that were born in Japan to American parents or players with Japanese ancestry who grew up in the United States ( such as Dave Roberts ). Jump up ^ `` Players by birthplace : Japan Baseball Stats and Info ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 9, 2014. Jump up ^ Kleinberg, Alexander ( December 24, 2001 ). `` Where have you gone, Masanori Murakami ? ''. Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on August 18, 2002. Retrieved November 13, 2008. Jump up ^ Whiting 2004, pp. 75 -- 80 Jump up ^ Singer, Tom ( November 14, 2006 ). `` Matsuzaka posting system 's latest gem ''. Major League Baseball. Retrieved August 24, 2008. Jump up ^ Whiting 2004, pp. 102 -- 112 Jump up ^ Price, S.L. ( July 8, 2002 ). `` The Ichiro Paradox ''. Time. Retrieved April 9, 2008. Jump up ^ `` NPB, players to revise free - agency system ''. The Japan Times. Kyodo News. June 26, 2008. Retrieved September 6, 2009. Jump up ^ Allen, Jim ( September 12, 2008 ). `` Amateur Tazawa bypassing Japan leagues for MLB ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved November 25, 2008. Jump up ^ Schwarz, Alan ( November 19, 2008 ). `` Japanese Are Irked by U.S. Interest in Pitcher ''. The New York Times. Retrieved November 25, 2008. Jump up ^ Browne, Ian ( December 4, 2008 ). `` Tazawa officially in fold for Red Sox ''. Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on December 7, 2008. Retrieved March 19, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Micheal Nakamura ''. Australian Baseball League. Retrieved June 22, 2015. ^ Jump up to : `` Yu Darvish Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 18, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Yu Darvish Stats, Video Highlights, Photos, Bio ''. MLB.com. Retrieved July 9, 2014. ^ Jump up to : `` Masahiro Tanaka Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 9, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Masahiro Tanaka Stats, Video Highlights, Photos, Bio ''. MLB.com. Retrieved July 9, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Maeda, Dodgers hope for extended success ''. MLB.com. Retrieved January 8, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Shohei Ohtani batting eighth, DHing in opener ''. MLB.com. Retrieved March 29, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Yoshihisa Hirano, D - backs reach two - year deal ''. MLB.com. Retrieved December 25, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Padres sign Japanese right - hander Makita ''. MLB.com. Retrieved January 8, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Masanori Murakami Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. ^ Jump up to : `` Hideo Nomo Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Mac Suzuki Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. ^ Jump up to : `` Shigetoshi Hasegawa Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Takashi Kashiwada Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Hideki Irabu Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Masato Yoshii Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Masao Kida Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Tomo Ohka Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. Jump up ^ `` 選手 紹介 -- 投手 '' ( Player Profiles -- Pitchers ). Toyama Thunderbirds. Retrieved June 22, 2015. ^ Jump up to : `` Kazuhiro Sasaki Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. ^ Jump up to : `` Ichiro Suzuki Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Ichiro Suzuki Stats, Video Highlights, Photos, Bio ''. MLB.com. Retrieved July 9, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Tsuyoshi Shinjo Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Takahito Nomura Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Satoru Komiyama Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Kazuhisa Ishii Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. Jump up ^ `` So Taguchi Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. ^ Jump up to : `` Hideki Matsui Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Micheal Nakamura Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Kazuo Matsui Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Kazuo Matsui Japanese League Statistics & History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Akinori Otsuka Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Shingo Takatsu Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Kazuhito Tadano Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. Jump up ^ `` 石川 ミリオン スターズ 選手 一覧 '' ( Ishikawa Million Stars Player List ). Route Inn BCL. Retrieved June 22, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Tadahito Iguchi Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Tadahito Iguchi Japanese League Statistics & History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Keiichi Yabu Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Norihiro Nakamura Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Norihiro Nakamura Japanese League Statistics & History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Kenji Johjima Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. ^ Jump up to : `` Takashi Saito Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Takashi Saito Japanese League Statistics & History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Akinori Iwamura Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. Jump up ^ `` 選手 情報 '' ( Player Info ). Fukushima Hopes. Retrieved June 22, 2015. ^ Jump up to : `` Hideki Okajima Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Daisuke Matsuzaka Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Daisuke Matsuzaka Stats, Video Highlights, Photos, Bio ''. MLB.com. Retrieved July 9, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Kei Igawa Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Igawa, Kei ''. Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved December 21, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Masumi Kuwata Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. ^ Jump up to : `` Kosuke Fukudome Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Kazuo Fukumori Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Masahide Kobayashi Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Hiroki Kuroda Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Hiroki Kuroda Stats, Video Highlights, Photos, Bio ''. MLB.com. Retrieved July 9, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Yasuhiko Yabuta Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. ^ Jump up to : `` Koji Uehara Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Koji Uehara Stats, Video Highlights, Photos, Bio ''. MLB.com. Retrieved July 9, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Kenshin Kawakami Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Kawakami, Kenshin ''. Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved December 21, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Ken Takahashi Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Junichi Tazawa Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Junichi Tazawa Stats, Video Highlights, Photos, Bio ''. MLB.com. Retrieved July 9, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Hisanori Takahashi Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 21, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Ryota Igarashi Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 21, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Tsuyoshi Nishioka Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 21, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Tsuyoshi Nishioka Japanese League Statistics & History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Yoshinori Tateyama Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 21, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Nori Aoki Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 18, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Nori Aoki Stats, Video Highlights, Photos, Bio ''. MLB.com. Retrieved July 9, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Munenori Kawasaki Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 14, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Munenori Kawasaki Stats, Video Highlights, Photos, Bio ''. MLB.com. Retrieved July 9, 2014. ^ Jump up to : `` Hisashi Iwakuma Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 18, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Hisashi Iwakuma Stats, Video Highlights, Photos, Bio ''. MLB.com. Retrieved July 9, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Kyuji Fujikawa Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 24, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Kensuke Tanaka Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 4, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Kensuke Tanaka Japanese League Statistics & History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Tsuyoshi Wada Statistics and History ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 9, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Tsuyoshi Wada Stats, Video Highlights, Photos, Bio ''. MLB.com. Retrieved July 9, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Cleveland Indians spring surprise starter on Baltimore Orioles -- - RHP Toru Murata ''. Cleveland.com. Cleveland.com. Retrieved June 28, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Most Valuable Player MVP Awards & Cy Young Awards Winners ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2015. ^ Jump up to : `` MLB Postseason World Series MVP Awards & All - Star Game MVP Award Winners ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Rookie of the Year Awards, Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman, & Rolaids Relief Award Winners ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2015. Jump up ^ `` MLB American League Gold Glove Award Winners ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2015. Jump up ^ `` MLB Silver Slugger Award Winners -- American League ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2015. Jump up ^ `` MLB Major League Baseball Players of the Month ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2015. Jump up ^ `` MLB Major League Baseball Pitchers of the Month ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2015. Jump up ^ `` MLB Major League Baseball Rookies of the Month ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2015. Jump up ^ `` MLB Major League Baseball Players of the Week ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Single - Season Hits ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Yearly League Batting average ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Yearly League Stolen Bases ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Stolen Bases Records ''. Baseball-Almanac.com. Baseball Almanac. Retrieved August 16, 2015. Jump up ^ `` All - time and Single - Season Postseason Pitching Leaders ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 16, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Four Strikeouts in One Inning ''. Baseball-Almanac.com. Baseball Almanac. Retrieved August 16, 2015. ^ Jump up to : `` Jul 10, 2007, AL All - Stars at NL All - Stars Play by Play and Box Score ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Jul 10, 2012, NL All - Stars at AL All - Stars Box Score and Play by Play ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2014. Jump up ^ Newman, Mark ( July 5, 2012 ). `` Darvish and Freese win, going to All - Star Game ''. MLB.com. Retrieved July 14, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Jul 16, 2013, AL All - Stars at NL All - Stars Play by Play and Box Score ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Jul 10, 2001, NL All - Stars at AL All - Stars Play by Play and Box Score ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2014. Jump up ^ Newman, Mark ( July 7, 2004 ). `` Matsui, Abreu win Final Vote ''. MLB.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2008. Retrieved July 14, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Jul 11, 1995, NL All - Stars at AL All - Stars Play by Play and Box Score ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Okajima edges Bonderman, Halladay, others for All - Star spot ''. ESPN.com. Associated Press. July 6, 2007. Retrieved July 14, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Jul 16, 2013, AL All - Stars at NL All - Stars Play by Play and Box Score ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2014. Jump up ^ `` 2004 World Series ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 15, 2015. Jump up ^ `` 2006 World Series ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 15, 2015. Jump up ^ `` World Series Rosters ''. ESPN. Associated Press. Retrieved August 16, 2015. Jump up ^ `` 2003 World Series ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 15, 2015. Jump up ^ `` 2009 World Series ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 15, 2015. Jump up ^ `` 2005 World Series ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 15, 2015. ^ Jump up to : `` 2007 World Series ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 15, 2015. ^ Jump up to : `` 2013 World Series ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 15, 2015. Jump up ^ `` 2002 World Series ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 15, 2015. Jump up ^ `` 2008 World Series ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 15, 2015. Jump up ^ `` 2014 World Series ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 15, 2015. Jump up ^ `` 2014 World Series ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 27, 2017. Jump up ^ `` 2014 World Series ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 27, 2017. References Rains, Rob. Baseball Samurais : Ichiro Suzuki and the Asian Invasion. New York : St. Martin 's Paperbacks, 2001. ISBN 0 - 312 - 98257 - 7. Whiting, Robert ( April 2004 ). The Meaning of Ichiro : The New Wave from Japan and the Transformation of Our National Pastime. Warner Books. ISBN 0 - 446 - 53192 - 8. Major League Baseball players by national origin Australia Bahamas Brazil Canada China Colombia Cuba Dominican Republic Jamaica Japan South Korea Mexico Netherlands Antilles Nicaragua Panama Puerto Rico Taiwan Venezuela Virgin Islands Current players by nationality European players First player from each country Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Major_League_Baseball_players_from_Japan&oldid=854941399 '' Categories : Lists of Major League Baseball players by national origin Lists of Japanese sportspeople Major League Baseball players from Japan Hidden categories : Articles with hCards Talk Contents About Wikipedia 日本 語 Edit links This page was last edited on 14 August 2018, at 20 : 46 ( UTC ). Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. 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Question: japanese baseball players in mlb hall of fame
Answer: Hideo Nomo