Nom de famille : Asahi de Vancouver
Election: February 24, 2003
Induction: le 28 juin 2003
Years Played: 1914 à 1941
Fondé en 1914, le club Asahi de Vancouver préconisait un style de baseball intelligent : vol de buts à répétition, amorti-sacrifices précis. Disputant leurs matchs locaux au terrain de la rue Powell, l’équipe était source de fierté pour tous les Canadiens d’origine japonaise. Le recrutement ne se faisait pas uniquement à Vancouver mais s’étendait partout dans la vallée Fraser. Porter l’uniforme Asahi devenait un rêve pour tous les jeunes garçons japonais.
Au cours des années 20 et 30, les succès de l’équipe ont aidé les japonais à créer des ponts entre leurs communautés et celles des Canadiens. Menée par les joueurs légendaires Junji Ito, Roy Yamamura et Tom Matoba, l’équipe a gagné le championnat de la Ligue Terminal en 1926. Dans les années 30, la formation faisait partie de la prestigieux Ligue senior et attirait les foules sur la côte ouest.
Beginning in 1937, the Asahi won the Pacific Northwest Championship five years in a row. However, 1941 would be the last carefree summer the boys would play as a team. Early in 1942, following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the Canadian government interned all people of Japanese descent, confiscating their property, and uprooting their lives. As a team, the Asahi never played together again. Yet, when these men, along with thousands of Japanese Canadians, were removed to prison camps, they took with them the spirit of baseball. Little by little, bats and balls appeared and these former Asahi players assembled baseball teams. Soon these men were playing against their RCMP prison guards, then with local townspeople – many of who had never seen a Japanese person before and were surprised to discover they spoke perfect English. Baseball, the ultimate symbol of North American culture, was a common bond. It helped dispel suspicions and fears and led to lasting friendships that exist today.
Players names: Tameo Aoki, K. Endo, Frank Ejima, Kinzaburo Fukunaga, Jim Fukui, Joe Fukui, Ted Furumoto, Jack Hayami, Bob Higuchi, George Hinaga, Yo Horli, George Iga, Tokuichi Inouye, Junji Ito, Koichi “Kaye” Kaminishi, Barry Kasahara, George Kato, Eddie Kitagawa, Mickey Kitagawa, Ken Kitamura, Motojl Kodama, Abe Koranaga, Roche Korenaga, Ken Kutsukake, Ray Kutsukake, Mickey Maikawa, Mike Maruno, Mousie Masuda, Tom Matoba, Sota Matsumiya, Muneo Miike, Koei Mitsui, Matsujiro Miyasaki, Tom Miyata, Harry Miyasaki, Yoshio Miyasaki, Ed Nakamura, Frank Nakamura, Satosh Nakamura, Ken Nakanishi, Joe Nimi, Toragoro Nimi, Roy Nishidera, Naggie Nishihara, Yo Nishizaki, Ken Noda, Dr. Seltaro Nomura, B. Oda, Yoah Oka, Toshiro Omoto, Tommy Sawayame, Mickey Sato, Jubo Sekine, Ken Shimada, Frank Shiraishi, George Shishido, Kaz Suga, Kiyoshi Suga, Ty Suga, Ken Suzuki, Charlie Tanaka, George Tanaka, Herbie Tanaka, Chuck Tarada, Mickey Terakita, Yuji Uchiyama, Yuki Uno, Roy Yamamura, Ken Yamamura, Reggie Tasui, Ross Yonamoto, George Yoshinaka, Harry Yoshioka, Otto Yanagisawa
