Japanese Major League Baseball player Yoshida Masataka of the Boston Red Sox has met the descendants of an American who is believed to have introduced baseball to Japan more than 150 years ago.
Yoshida visited the birthplace of Horace Wilson near Portland in the eastern state of Maine on Sunday. The visit was partly arranged by an international exchange organization and the Japanese Consulate-General in Boston.
Wilson came to Japan in 1872 to teach English and taught the sport to his students. He has been inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.
Yoshida met Wilson's descendants who live in the house where he was born, and was shown photos and portraits. He was also given a tour of the family's snow-covered farm.
Yoshida said in an interview that he was glad to be able to learn some history by coming to Wilson's birthplace. He said it is good to know that sport can connect people around the world and it is passed on from generation to generation.
At an event, Yoshida talked about the differences between Japanese and American baseball with Ralph Bryant, who was a slugger with a Japanese professional team formerly known as the Kintetsu Buffaloes.
Yoshida drew loud applause from the many Red Sox fans in the audience. The event has inspired a project to erect a monument in Maine to honor Wilson.
Yoshida visited the birthplace of Horace Wilson near Portland in the eastern state of Maine on Sunday. The visit was partly arranged by an international exchange organization and the Japanese Consulate-General in Boston.
Wilson came to Japan in 1872 to teach English and taught the sport to his students. He has been inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.
Yoshida met Wilson's descendants who live in the house where he was born, and was shown photos and portraits. He was also given a tour of the family's snow-covered farm.
Yoshida said in an interview that he was glad to be able to learn some history by coming to Wilson's birthplace. He said it is good to know that sport can connect people around the world and it is passed on from generation to generation.
At an event, Yoshida talked about the differences between Japanese and American baseball with Ralph Bryant, who was a slugger with a Japanese professional team formerly known as the Kintetsu Buffaloes.
Yoshida drew loud applause from the many Red Sox fans in the audience. The event has inspired a project to erect a monument in Maine to honor Wilson.
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Summary
Japanese baseball player Yoshida Masataka of the Boston Red Sox met descendants of Horace Wilson, who is believed to have introduced baseball to Japan over 150 years ago. Wilson, an English teacher, taught the sport to his students in Japan and was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.
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ID: 128ba4d9-0bdc-445d-bd26-606b564abbe2
Category ID: nhk
URL: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20250203_09/
Date: Feb. 3, 2025
Created: 2025/02/04 07:00
Updated: 2025/12/08 06:33
Last Read: 2025/02/04 07:25