Baseball Diplomacy

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The United States and Japan have celebrated almost 150 years of diplomacy through baseball. Ever since the game was introduced to Japan by an American English teacher in Tokyo in 1872, the two countries have built camaraderie and goodwill through sportsmanship.

In this webinar, we highlight how the United States and Japan strengthened their relationship through baseball with a panel discussion between baseball legends and aficionados who have been at the forefront of baseball diplomacy between the two countries. The speakers discuss their experiences living and working in both cultures, sharing their observations, stories and anecdotes that have led to a better relationship between the two countries, while also comparing and contrasting American and Japanese culture through the playing, management and business of baseball.

The webinar starts with a short 5-minute work-in-progress trailer of the film, “Diamond Diplomacy,” and will transition to a discussion between the speakers, moderated by Ms. Yuriko Romer, Director of the film "Diamond Diplomacy," and Mr. Rob Fitts, award-winning author and baseball historian.

This webinar is co-hosted with the U.S.-Japan Council (USJC).

*To watch the video in full screen, please click on the image above, then click on the YouTube icon on the lower right-hand corner.
 

Recording Available

The recording can be viewed within this event page or on the official JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles YouTube channel.

Speakers

Duane Kurisu
Minority Owner of the San Francisco Giants; Chairman & CEO, aio Group

Matt Murton
Formally Hanshin Tigers and
Major League Baseball Player (retired)

Don Nomura
Sports (Baseball) Agent

Jim Small
Senior Vice President, International,
Major League Baseball

Robert Fitts
Author & Baseball Historian

Yuriko Gamo Romer
Director of Diamond Diplomacy,
Flying Carp Productions

Joshua Morey
President, The J. Morey Company, Inc.

Yuko Kaifu
President, JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles