Ichiro on Ichiro: Conversations with Narumi Komatsu

Ichiro on Ichiro: Conversations with Narumi Komatsu
Average customer rating:

Interesting for a die-hard Ichiro fan

More than just baseball; an excellent read!

Ichrio on Ichrio

A surprisingly personal and insightful book on Ichiro

Talks with a consumate master of the game.

Ichiro on Ichiro: Conversations with Narumi Komatsu
Narumi Komatsu
Manufacturer: Sasquatch Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1570614318

Book Description

Since Ichiro Suzuki joined the Mariners in 2001, he has awed America, earned the respect of his teammates, and won the heart of Seattle. But being notoriously private and media-elusive: baseball fans know very little about him. Ichiro on Ichiro gives readers a rare glimpse into the mind and soul of this amazing player. He recalls memories of his childhood and his relationship with his father in Japan; his baseball career and celebrity status in his home country; his feelings on arriving in America for spring training; adapting to American culture and receiving awards and adulation. Reclusive Ichiro trusted no other writer than Narumi Komatsu to conduct this Q & A interview. Readers are fortunate to be brought into this exceptional conversation and to share in Ichiro's closely held feelings on the sport, the Mariners, his wife, and the media.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting for a die-hard Ichiro fan.......2005-01-02

The book appears mostly a direct translation of Japanese version. Although I am in a previledged position of being able to understand both English and Japanese, I have not had access to the Japanese version. This seems irrelevant to most readers who would be reading this book, but my point is that at times it is apparent that the target audience is not *American* baseball or Ichiro fans. How you feel about reading about a person yet he is not necessarily communicating with you depends on the reader, I guess. Some readers may get bored about his Japanese league endeavor simply becaused the vantage point is that of an avid Japanese Ichiro fan. Yet, Ichiro would not have gone into technical discussions of hitting, for example, unless he was talking to a Japanese writer (otherwise the subtleties of what he really wants to say would be lost in translation; he even struggles to make it into words in his mother tongue anyways), so the fact that the interviewer was not an American who would have been writing for Americans may well made the book more interesting.

One thing that I wish to point out is that many Americans, after reading this book, are surprised how eloquent Ichiro actually is. Most atheletes are not really known for their eloquence, so there is nothing interesting there, but for Japanese ballplayers language barrier is often the reason why they appear even more quiet. They fear of getting misunderstood using little English. Even someone like Hideo Nomo, who has been described as a sourpuss, does actually talks substantially to the media, if you can understand Japanese.

If you wish to know Ichiro the baseball master in depth or wish to know a bit about the Japanese baseball, I highly recommend this book. For casual observers, the book might just be a curious read into the mind of baseball *geek* from a land where attention to subtleties is appreciated.

More than just baseball; an excellent read!.......2004-12-13

This book is a fascinating set of interviews between Ichiro Suzuki, one of the world's best baseball players, and reporter Narumi Komatsu. I'm a Seattle native and Mariner's fan who has always been fascinated with all things Japanese. Naturally I'd be drawn to this book yet you don't have to be like me to thoroughly enjoy it. You don't even have to be a Mariner's fan, or a baseball fan to appreciate this excellent work. I highly recommend it.

Ichiro is not only one of the game's great players but he's a classy, hard-working guy as well. It's nice to know that the guy who broke the major league single season hit record is a truly worthwhile human being rather than just another steroid freak. To illustrate his character, it states herein that he was surprised by how shabbily the American players treat their equipment. Rather than letting the staff clean his shoes and take care of his gloves, Ichiro prefers to do such tasks himself, demonstrating a greater respect for the game. I liked this book much better than David Shield's collection of media quotes and cryptic comments published in 'Baseball is Just Baseball'. In this tome, you really get to know Ichiro not only as a great player, but as a great person as well.

You can learn a whole lot about Ichiro, his family, and his transition form Japanese baseball to the American system. You find out how he learned to bat so well and the game where his technique finally clicked into place (on 04/11/99). And, you can learn some practical real life wisdom from his struggle for perfection. An example quote: "Win the MVP and everybody says you're great," Ichiro says. "Everywhere you go people make a fuss over you... But once you get used to that and get carried away by it, you lose a sense of who you really are." Sage advice I think.

Lawrence Kane
Author of 'The Way of Kata' and 'Martial Arts Instruction'

Ichrio on Ichrio.......2004-11-19

This is an amazing book! Ichiro is extremely informative, and I have learned a lot about baseball, both Japanese and American. Ichrio seems to typically be fairly reserved, but this book let's you discover what he's like. At first I thought that a book that was basically just one big interview would be boring, but this is far from that! I highly recommend this book!

A surprisingly personal and insightful book on Ichiro .......2004-10-16

Ichiro recently broke the Major League Baseball record for most hits in one season, a record that had stood for 84 years. On the evening in Seattle when he had a chance to tie the record with a hit, or break it with two, he promptly hit safely his first two times up. His record number of 262 hits was nearly 50 hits better than the runner up in the American League this season.

This book gives a very personal glimpse into the mindset of the man who not only has set numerous Major League records, but is a national hero in his native Japan after winning seven consecutive batting titles there. The book is laid out entirely in Q&A format and covers his entire playing career, his childhood, little league, his move to America and his first three seasons playing for the Seattle Mariners. While most biographies tell a story, what is surprising about this book is how direct and honest he is. It is fascinating to read about the mental and physical preparation he puts into the game.

Recently a Sports Illustrated writer attempted to discount his hits record. This was a huge miss. Ichiro is the real deal, a major leaguer who respects the game in every way, plays his all for the fans, and earns every hit he gets. The hard facts are that for 84 years thousands of players have failed to break that record for a reason. An amazing athlete with gold glove fielding ability, an arm like Roberto Clemente, and the ability to turn a soft infield ground ball into two bases with a single and a stolen base.

This book is worth reading if you are at all a fan of the game. It is refreshing in an era of ego-maniacs and over paid prima donnas, that we have an athlete who takes his craft seriously, wants to work to earn every penny, and is humble in the process. If you are not a fan of his records, then this book will likely make a fan out of you for his professionalism, respect for the game and attitude. An unfortunate rarity in sports these days. A class act all the way.

Talks with a consumate master of the game........2004-10-08

The superlatives are well known: hits, fielding, 3.6 seconds to first base, stealing bases - everything. Less well known is the man behind the bat. From his life in Japan, his family, the big change from living in Japan to living in Seattle.

But above all this book is on baseball: how it is played in Japan, how it is different here; the relationships among the players, negeotiating salaries with the team; the consistent and unrelenting pressure from the press. Perhaps the best though is the serious analysis of the game that he gives every aspect of the game. Excellent, even if you're not a Mariners fan.

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Ichiro
The story of Ichiro's successful rookie season in 2001

At the Plate With ... Ichiro
Matt Christopher , and Glenn Stout
Manufacturer: Little, Brown Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0316136794

Book Description

or seventeen years Ichiro played the sport he loved in his home country of Japan. In 2000, he left Japan to join the Seattle Mariners. Would Ichiro be able to succeed in the world's most challenging baseball league? He did so time and again, leading his team to its best season ever in his rookie year and collecting several awards along the way. Fans on both sides of the Pacific Ocean are looking forward to his performance in the 2003 season.

Customer Reviews:

Ichiro.......2006-12-19

It is about Ichiro going to the M.L.B. and about his life as a kid, and about how the Mariners got him. It's also about him being the second player in history to win the M.V.P and the rookie the of the year in the same season. Matt Christopher is the author.
The book's name is "At the Plate with Ichiro".
My favorite part is in the book is the 2001 All-Star game when Ichiro led off and got a single in Seattle. The story takes place in Japan
and the U.S.A.
People who like baseball would like this book. The book started good. And it told us about how he was the most exciting player in Japan. I liked the book because it is about baseball. And because it is about him going to the U.S.A. I was a fun book to read.
by Jackson

The story of Ichiro's successful rookie season in 2001.......2005-05-03

Although "At the Plate with...Ichiro" ends with the Seattle Mariner's rookie season in 2001 it is still worth reading. That is because the point of Matt Christopher's book is how a player everybody said was too short, too skinny, and too weak to make it in professional baseball in the United States ended up winning both the American League Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards. Even though Ichiro continues to be a star, last year breaking George Sisler's record for most hits in a single season, the key lesson here is how he succeeded as the first Japanese-born position player in Major League Baseball.

In the first chapter Christopher sets up the context for Ichiro's accomplishments by looking at "The American Pastime in Japan." To understand what Ichiro did young readers have to know about the history of the game in Japan and Masanori Murakami, who became the first Japanese player to play professional baseball in the United States when he pitched for the San Francisco Giants in 1964-65 (I have his rookie card). But Christopher also talks about the cultural differences in how the game is played on each side of the Pacific. By the time you get to the big splash by Hideo Nomo in 1994, the struggles of Hideki Irabu, and the relative success of Kazuhiro Sasaki, you can appreciate the odds that Ichiro was facing.

It is only then that Christopher tells the story of how Ichiro was first introduced at the age of three to the game of baseball by his father and went on to become not only the greatest baseball player in Japan (lifetime batting average of .353), but also the most popular figure in the country. Christopher devotes less attention to Ichiro's actual accomplishments on the field in winning seven consecutive batting titles and three MVP awards and spends more time setting up Ichiro's decision to play in the United States. Consequently, young readers will understand why the Mariners were the only team to bid for his services and why Ichiro was ecstatic to be playing for a team on the West Coast.

Six of the book's ten chapters are devoted to the 2001 season, and I was happy to see that Christopher had the story of how Ichiro was driving Seattle manager Lou Piniella (now with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays) crazy in spring training by just hitting balls to the left side of the infield. Of course there was a method to Ichiro's madness and the story sets up the success to come. I also appreciated how Christopher would talk about Ichiro's first bunt in the Major Leagues in detail, stressing both the strategy behind and the execution of the play. One thing young baseball players will get from reading this biography is how hard work and intelligence are just as crucial as natural ability in playing the game.

The rest of the book covers that 2001 season, when Ichiro got off to a hot start, made the All-Star team, and set some records. Again, Christopher tells specific stories with key details and does not just rely on listing statistics. There are eight pages of black & white photographs of Ichiro with Seattle along with a couple of pages of statistics and records in the middle of the book. Christopher has written enough sports fiction for young readers to know how to work in lessons along with the biography in this informative and insightful book. Other baseball players that Christopher has written about in a similar fashion include Ken Griffey Jr., Derek Jeter, Randy Johnson, Greg Maddux, Alex Rodriguez, and Curt Schilling (Position players are "At the Plate" and pitcher are "On the Mound").

The Meaning of Ichiro: The New Wave from Japan and the Transformation of Our National Pastime
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Japanese Baseball 3.0 via Robert Whiting

Gung Ho Baseball

A timely sequel to a classic

The Japanese effect on Major League Baseball

A great primer on japanese baseball and its superstars

The Meaning of Ichiro: The New Wave from Japan and the Transformation of Our National Pastime
Robert Whiting
Manufacturer: Warner Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0446531928

Book Description

In this extraordinary work, bestselling author Bob Whiting examines how Japanese baseball players are impacting and re-inventing America's major leagues. Matsui....Nomo....Sasaki....Ichiro.... the so-called American 'National Pastime' has developed a decidedly Japanese flair. Indeed, in this year'sAll-Star game, two of the starting American League outfielders were from Japan. And for the third straight year, Ichiro-the fleet-footed Seattle Mariner-received more votes for the All-Star game than any other player in the game today. Some 15 years ago, in the bestseller You Gotta Have Wa, Robert Whiting examined how former American major league ballplayers tried to cope with a different culture while playing pro ball in Japan. Now, in THEMEANINGOFICHIRO, Whiting reverses his field and reveals how select Japanese stars have come across the Pacific to play in the big leagues. Not only have these Japanese imports had to deal with the American way of life, but they have individually changed the game in a dramatic fashion. Much more than a baseball book, The Meaning of Ichiro presents the merging of two very distinct cultures-and reveals how this traditional game has become a metaphor for the globalization of two different societies.

Customer Reviews:

Japanese Baseball 3.0 via Robert Whiting.......2006-01-04

Robert Whiting's third book on Japanese baseball, The Meaning of Ichiro: The New Wave From Japan & the Transformation of Our National Pastime (2004), deftly chronicles the flight of elite Japanese baseball players to the Major Leagues over the past 15 years (although the first Nipponjin to play for a major league franchise was actually Masanori Murakami in SF in 1964. (detailed in Chapter 4). As the title suggests, Whiting's early portions of the book focus on the Zen-like education of Ichiro under the tutelage of his father and practicing Buddhist, Nobuyuki. His father ran a family-owned electrical parts factory but at 3:30 everyday, Nobuyuki excused himself from work and took his son to the neighborhood field to play ball. After some jogging and light game of catch, the nine-year old Ichiro would throw 50 pitches, take 200 swings at pitched balls, and field 50 balls each both as an infielder and outfielder. Dinner and homework began at 7pm and when completed, father and son would head out to the nearby batting center where the boy would take 250-300 swings emulating his favorite batter stars from the Japanese pro leagues. Returning home usually after 11pm, Ichiro's father would dutifully massage his son's feet for as dad said, "If the feet are healthy, you are healthy." It is little vignettes like this that give you a better understanding of why the disciplined Samurai-like Ichiro (who weighed a mere 175 lbs when signed by Seattle!) was able to break the single-season hit record this year with 262 hits (in 162 games) held for over 84 years.

Still, the exploits of Ichiro may not have happened if not for what many Japanese at the time saw as the wagamama (selfish) attitude of Hideo Nomo in 1995. Whiting points out that an odd clause in the contract between Japanese and Major League baseball as well as strict owner rules regarding player rights limited the ability of Japanese players to move from team to team within Japan and virtually prevented players from jumping ship to the major leagues as well. All that changed when Nomo, the son of working-class parents from Osaka, pushed to fulfill his dream of playing in the American major leagues--even if it went against all of the Japanese mores of the time. He (along with a Japanese-American lawyer) found a loophole in the league's rules and "voluntarily retired"-Nomo could not play for another team in Japan but was eligible to play in America. The Los Angeles Dodgers scooped him up for a mere $2 million dollars and he went 13-6 with 236 strikeouts that first year in the majors. All his pitching starts games were shown on jumbotrons to huge crowds all around Tokyo-even at the wee hours of three or four in the morning. Nomo, quite literally, become an overnight sensation on both sides of the Pacific and the rest is history; the gates had opened and other ballplayers would follow.

Still, the Japanese owners tried to close the loophole but were sued by Major League Baseball. The eventual compromise led to the current posting system in place today. Players in Japan become eligible for free agency after ten years of service in Japan. Over 20 players have followed the path of Nomo since he first landed in the US. Some like Ichiro and Hideki "Godzilla" Matsui have become superstars. Others like former Yankee Hideki Irabu (once called a fat toad by owner George Steinbrenner) and the Mets Tsuyoshi Shinjo had short stretches of success in the US but eventually fizzled out and returned to play ball again in Japan--both are still in uniform today. Finally, the jury is still out on the likes the Mets Kazuo Matsui (no relation to Godzilla Matsui) as to whether or not he can measure up to the numbers he posted in Japan as an All-Star for the Seibu Lions.

I still miss Japanese baseball but thanks to the Internet, I can follow the exploits of my teams via The Japan Times online or even listen to streaming broadcasts of the games via real audio via links on the teams' Web Sites (The Japanese broadcast is pretty basic, i.e. ballru for ball, striku for strike, hitto for hit, etc.). Even better, as Whiting's book happily points out, I know that more Japanese sluggers like catcher the Fukuoka Hawks' Kenji Jojima are sure to be on their way or that Seibu Lion's fireballer Daisuke Matsuzaka will be on the hill at a major league venue real soon. The "New Wave," as dubbed by Whiting, is here to stay and our national pastime will forever be transformed....I'll sake to that!

Gung Ho Baseball.......2005-08-28

The best part of The Samurai Way of Baseball is the first two chapters, which follow Ichiro Suzuki's childhood and career. His father devoted his whole life to molding Ichiro into a model baseball player. Ichiro, though an excellent student, passed up college for baseball. He had a good career in Japan, then went on to a tremendous start in American baseball as a member of the Seattle Mariners. The story of a father and son so devoted to baseball and so successful is a compelling one.

So what is the Samurai Way of Baseball? As Whiting settles into a broader look at Japanese baseball and its relationship with American baseball, it emerges that while the two baseballs have much in common, a big difference is in the cultural attitudes of Japan and America. In Japan, the individual works for the good of the larger group -- the family, the school, the company, the country, the baseball team. In America, the individual is self-reliant and takes himself as far as he can go, breaking records and setting new standards. Of course, both of these attributes make baseball what it is.

Whiting goes into the history of baseball in Japan and the participation of Americans in Japanese baseball. American players, managers, even a few umpires, have had limited success in Japan, mostly because of cultural differences, but also because of racism in Japan. Whiting's explanation of the meaning of the word "gaijin" and how it is used is very revealing.

The relatively recent entrance of Japanese players to America has been more successful. Whiting looks at the Japanese and American careers of several Japanese players. So far, there are no coaches or managers who have made the transition from Japan to America.

(The title of the book was changed with the release of the paperback edition, from The Meaning of Ichiro to The Samurai Way of Baseball. This was probably an attempt to attract buyers of business/management books in addition to readers of sports/popular culture books. I wonder if it worked.)

The Samurai Way of Baseball is mostly about baseball, but it's also about Japanese culture and attitudes. Japan, like many countries, is adopting a lot of American ways. Soon, they may be beating us at our own game.

A timely sequel to a classic.......2004-10-11

In this book, Whiting revisits the experience of Japanese baseball, only this time through the eyes of Japanese players playing in the US. The biographies are well-written and focused as Whiting chooses to elaborate only on the most interesting or most pivotal points of each player's experience. But perhaps most impressive is Whiting's balanced understanding of race, racism, and nationalism on both the Japanese and American sides of the Pacific. Whiting doesn't pull any punches when addressing these issues but then again he doesn't hit harder than is warranted.

I particularly liked this book because it covers the period of time during which I've been a resident of Japan (96 to present). While the earlier title "You Gotta Have Wa" was an excellent read, it felt a bit dated to me as it descibes an earlier period I never experienced firsthand. Japan has changed a bit since the bubble days and in this book Whiting manages to concisely convey many of those changes through several viewpoints. I highly recommend it even if you've already read "Wa."

The Japanese effect on Major League Baseball.......2004-09-07

Robert Whiting has written several books about Japanese baseball, including "You Gotta Have Wa" and "The Chrysanthemum and the Bat." His latest effort, "The Meaning of Ichiro..." is a good bookend for the other two, in that here he details Japanese players finding their way to the U.S. Major Leagues. The title is a bit misleading, because the book is not strictly about Ichiro, but also deals with success stories such as Hideo Nomo, Hideki Matsui, Kazuo Matsui and the challenges to a player like Hideki Irabu.
Whiting includes a lot of interesting history, some of it rehashed from earlier volumes, but necessary here if one is to read this as a stand alone piece. He details the birth of baseball in Japan, how it became Japanized with the intense training, and some early experiences in cross-cultural play with teams from the United States. There is also some philosophy, for it is important to understand the Japanese culture and mindset, as well as the almost martial training that players endure in Japan. All very fascinating stuff.
The bulk of the book focuses on those players since 1995 who have made their way across the Pacific to play for teams in North America. The stories about Ichiro, Nomo and Hideki Matsui are near-mythical, and one has to wonder how much truth was embellished by their families and coaches. But aren't the stories of players of this caliber always near-mythical?
While the prose reads well, and Whiting is very knowledgeable about the Japanese game, I found numerous factual errors. Ichiro was born in 1973, but the book had him entering junior high school in 1975! Now that's precocious. Probably a typo, but in a baseball book, errors with dates and stats are killers. Another error had the Yankees winning the 1995 World Series, when they were ousted in the Division Series by the Seattle Mariners. Yeah, it's nit-picky, but it does make one wonder about the other stats and whether the fact-checkers and editors did their jobs well or not.
The other knock that I have is that Whiting made some references about Seattle that sounded like he has never even been to the city, or that his information is terribly dated. Watch those adjectives. He referred to "rain-soaked Safeco Field" possibly without knowing that it has a retractable roof, and that during the summer, Seattle is one of the drier places to be in the U.S. and way more so than in rainy, muggy Japan. Check out Art Thiel's "Out of Left Field" for the story of baseball in Seattle.
Still, it's a great read and provides many insights in how the Japanese players perceive the North American game. The biggest thing to take away is that players in MLB should bone up on their fundamentals, kind of like the NBA players need to brush up against their international competition. The world is catching up...

A great primer on japanese baseball and its superstars.......2004-09-06

Baseball fans with an interest in the new breed of Japanese baseball player making an impact in the U.S. Major Leagues will find Robert Whiting's book a welcome and timely introduction to the likes of Ichiro, the Matsuis, Nomo, etc. While the title may be somewhat misleading, as one would think the bulk of the book would be a biography of sorts on Ichiro, what readers are given instead is a highly readable, in-depth look at the origins of baseball in Japan and comparisons of the major differences between the US and Japanese game (practice, coaching, tactics, game philosophy, business models) that would ultimately lead to the production of players able to thrive under the brighter lights of the MLB. Ultimately though the most entertaining portions of the book are the beginning and ending chapters that serve as mini biographies and a study of remarkable contrasts on the Mariner's Ichiro Suzuki and the Yankee's Hideki Matsui.

"Baseball Is Just Baseball": The Understated Ichiro: An Unauthorized Collection Compiled by David Shields

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He's Just Here for Baseball
Great stocking stuffer
120 pages of Ichiro saying nothing through a translator.
Tao, Schmao
Another Hit

"Baseball Is Just Baseball": The Understated Ichiro: An Unauthorized Collection Compiled by David Shields

Manufacturer: TNI Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

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The Meaning of Ichiro: The New Wave from Japan and the Transformation of Our National Pastime

ASIN: 0967870313

Amazon.com

Anyone with even a passing interest in baseball can't help but look on in amazement at the 2001 Seattle Mariners. After losing heavy hitters Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez in back-to-back seasons, the Mariners have gone on to play "a new ... beautiful brand of team baseball." Mariners' rookie right fielder Ichiro Suzuki--who "like Madonna or Cher or Pelé, went only by his first name," as author David Shields writes in the introduction to his compilation Baseball Is Just Baseball: The Understated Ichiro--is the first Japanese position player to play in the majors.

There's an exhilarating fascination surrounding the young, sphinxlike All-Star and the global audience that tunes in to watch him snag home-runs-in-the-making from the sky. A fixture of baseball highlight reels, he's the first rookie ever to draw the most overall votes for the 2001 All-Star Game (held at Seattle's Safeco Field). Ichiromania even inspired fans to camp out overnight for a chance to claim a bobblehead doll cast in his likeness. Ichiro is much more than Japan's version of Michael Jordan--he's a cultural phenomenon (it's reported that Ichiro's the most recognizable person in Japan, with the emperor running a distant second).

Author David Shields is no stranger to the Seattle sports scene. He chronicled the 1994-95 season of the Seattle SuperSonics in his critically acclaimed book Black Planet: Facing Race During an NBA Season. Shields, too, was swept up by Ichiro's "smart, subtle play" and humble persona, and compiled this collection of Ichiro quotations. The slim volume is packed with elegant wisdom, unexpected observations, and a refreshing sense of optimism from No. 51. Shields wonders, "Was I trying to impart philosophic significance to simple athletic excellence? Maybe the words acquired a lyrical glamour as they got translated from Japanese to English?"

When Ichiro was asked to analyze a particularly acrobatic catch, he replies: "It was a fly ball; I caught it."

On why he hasn't gotten into any arguments with major league umpires: "So far nothing has bothered me."

Individually, Ichiro's "haunting aphorisms" possess the beautiful complexity of Zen koans; together they read like The Tao of Ichiro. --Brad Thomas Parsons

Book Description

Ichiro Suzuki, the rookie All-Star right fielder for the Seattle Mariners has the sports world transfixed. Author David Shields was at first entranced by Ichiro's smart, subtle play--just what the Mariners and Seattle needed. Then he was entranced by what Ichiro said--his smart, subtle words. The result is Baseball Is Just Baseball: The Understated Ichiro, a 120-page quote book of Ichiro in his own words. This selection of quotations takes the reader from Ichiro's decision to play for the Mariners to spring training to the regular season and up to the All-Star Break. It's a fan's book, a wisdom book, life-lessons for kids, for baseball fans, and for wisdom-seekers alike.

Shields says that "Ichiro seems to me to 'get' life, to be in the groove, be in the moment, to have the secret. He mixes Zen distance with Zen focus. According to the Chinese aphorism, 'A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step'; Ichiro is very good at focusing on each step."

Experience reality rather than your expectation of reality. Believe in yourself. Don't take yourself seriously but find an activity to be passionate about and take that activity very seriously. Don't buy the hype. Dissolve hate into love. Care more about the process than the product. Find joy in the seeking itself. Such are some of the simple but profound, powerful ideas embodied in this prize of a little book--a document of not only a popular athlete but an impressive human being. In just the first half of his rookie year in the majors, Ichiro has fully captured the imagination of fans in Seattle, Japan, and everywhere. We've certainly not seen the end of his great run; as Ichiro himself said: "I'm planning to turn on the power after the All-Star break."

Customer Reviews:

He's Just Here for Baseball.......2002-07-11

This book, especially for Mariner fans, was a nice look at one of Seattle's most loved baseball players. The book holds a nice variety of quotes from various newspapers from the East coast to Japan. By reading this amusing and highly enjoyable book, the reader is able to learn a number of different things about Ichiro, such as his success in Japan to his struggles (not many, but some) in spring training. A nice touch to these quotes is that each time Ichiro speaks, his words are put in italics. This book portrays Ichiro as who he is: a man here to play baseball.

Great stocking stuffer.......2001-11-22

What a terrific way to find out about the inscrutable superstar! His batting average is matched by his efficiency with language. Even my 3-year old son enjoys the short quips in this book.

120 pages of Ichiro saying nothing through a translator........2001-10-26

This book is called "The Understated Ichiro" but I think the author mistook "understated" for "having nothing to state".

The book is a collection of Ichiro quotes from interviews with people other than the author. Each quote is framed dramatically on a single page with the thoughts of Ichiro Suzuki highlighted for effect.

Just a few of the pearls of wisdom contained in this book:

Asked how he thought he'd be affected by the grind of the major-league season, which is 32 games longer than the Japanese season, Ichiro said, "I can't say how it will affect me, because I've never experienced it before."

Asked before the season started, what he thought major-league baseball would be like, Ichiro replied, "I have no idea what it's going to be like. I can only imagine what it might be like, so I'll just have to experience it."

I can only imagine what the author could have been thinking when deemed these and the other 115 similar quotes in the book worthy of print. I haven't seen such a pure example of fanatical drivel since I used to read my sisters Teen Beat profiles of Lief Garrett. A polished gem.

Tao, Schmao.......2001-10-10

This isn't a book. It's a farce. It's actually a collection of mostly one-line quotes -- one per page in this epic tome -- pilfered from local newspapers in Seattle and Tacoma. The great pearls of "wisdom" being described here as some form of simplistic genius are little more than a series of trite quotes offered up by one of Ichiro's translators. Save the dough and do a web search for "Ichiro" on the Seattle Times or PI website. You'll have 90 percent of the text for free. This is a shameless attempt to cash in on the guy's instant celebrity status. You'll find deeper insights into baseball and life on the back of a cereal box.

Another Hit.......2001-10-05

When Ichiro Suzuki signed with the Seattle Mariners, NHK Television, Japan's equivalent to PBS, in an unprecedented move, negotiated to broadcast not a few, as is the norm, but ALL of the Mariners games in 2001. (Even Hideo Nomo, a local hero in his own right, who went to the LA Dodgers, didn't receive this much broadcast coverage.) Now the two most watched baseball teams in the Land of the Rising Sun are the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants and the Seattle Mariners.

As a long-time resident of Japan I have watched Ichiro make behind-the-back catches since he was in high school. I was amazed when, during one of the All-Star games (they play a series), Ichiro shifted from the outfield to the pitchers' mound and threw like he did such a thing every day.

While friends and I attend a few games a season, I'm just not a big baseball fan...until Ichiro plays on TV. After-work cocktails with "the boys" more often than not starts with someone asking, "Did you see what Ichiro did today?" Expletive-deleted comments are usually centered around "unbelievable!" Now these sessions include "Baseball is Just Baseball".

Ichiro is a hero to all of us here in Japan and this book shows, beyond the remarkable playing skills, why. In a time when big bats are usually accompanied by big mouths, Ichiro shows the world that it just doesn't have to be that way.

Great reading and here's hoping David Shields can put out a new volume every year.

Ichiro's Art of Playing Baseball: Learn How to Hit, Steal, and Field Like an All-Star
Average customer rating:

Much Adoration, Little Instruction

Ichiro's Art of Playing Baseball: Learn How to Hit, Steal, and Field Like an All-Star
Jim Rosenthal
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0312358318
Release Date: 2006-04-18

Book Description

Ichiro Sazuki is one of the worlds best known baseball superstarsa five-time All-Star, a rookie of the year and MVP award-winner, two-time batting champion and four-time Gold Glove winner, and the current holder of the single-season hits record. Now, with Ichiros full co-operation, James Rosenthal gives solid advice and instruction for young athletes around the world on how to hit and play baseball. He offers unique views on hitting, bunting, stealing, playing the outfield and overall mental preparation for the game. Among the topics covered are: Reading pitchers and pitches Situational hitting and basic offensive strategy Sacrifice bunting vs. bunting for a base hit Stealing the perfect base Fielding and throwing fundamentals Mental preparation for the game. This fully authorized book will become the definitive instructional guide for playing baseball among youths todayand a must-have for every Ichiro fan!

Customer Reviews:

Much Adoration, Little Instruction.......2006-07-27

I am a youth baseball coach and a fan of the way Ichiro plays the game. Unfortunately, this book is a real disappointment.

Its 103 pages consist of lots of big pictures of Ichiro, large print, very little text, and even less text about how to play baseball, let alone how to play like Ichiro.

The first 14 pages consist of pure fluff: a perfunctory timeline of Japanese baseball followed by an "Introduction to Ichiro" which is really only several pages about Ichiro's favorite music, sunglasses (the one's he endorses), food, clothing -- you get the picture.

The last 15 pages are devoted to "The Cult of Ichiro," Ichiro's statistics and an index.

Chapter 1, "Hitting with the Optic Nerve" consists of six half-pages of text and many photos of Ichiro standing or sitting around (i.e., not demonstrating any baseball skill). The lesson of Chapter 1 is simply that you must see the baseball in order to hit it.

Chapters 2 through 5 provide what little instruction the book contains. Chapter 2, "Analyzing Ichiro's Swing," and Chapter 3, "The Essential Elements of Hitting," contain clear photos of Ichiro swinging the bat but the text is vague. Chapter 4, "Flawless Fielding Made Simple," consists of uninstructive photos of Ichiro running to field a ball -- I don't think anyone can really learn anything from Chapter 4. Chapter 5, "Stealing Wins with Steals," does have some tips about running the bases but is very basic.

As I wrote at the outset, I am a fan of Ichiro's style of play. Unfortunately, this book does not provide much insight. Coaches, parents, and players can learn more about Ichiro by watching ESPN, and can learn more about baseball from almost any of the many other baseball instruction books already on the market.

Average customer rating:

Ichiro Suzuki (Amazing Athletes)
Jeff Savage
Manufacturer: First Avenue Editions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Time and Eternity (Documentary Reference Collections)

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Time and Eternity (Documentary Reference Collections)
Seiichi Hatano
Manufacturer: Greenwood Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0313265577

Book Description

The fruit of a lifetime of study and contemplation, Seiichi Hatano's final work, Time and Eternity, develops most fully his tripartite scheme of temporality. For Hatano, one of the first Japanese philosophers to study the works of Western thinkers, human experience could be analyzed with reference to natural, cultural, and religious temporalities. Each temporal stage is further characterized by the type of love that rules at that level of life. In Time and Eternity, Hatano explores the stages of temporality in depth and attempts to locate the kind of love which governs in each phase.

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Ichiro's Baseball History

Ichiro Suzuki: Best in the West
Mark Stewart
Manufacturer: Millbrook Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

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ASIN: 0761326162

Customer Reviews:

Ichiro's Baseball History.......2007-03-28

This book was very good and I learned a lot about baseball history. I read the book fast because I could not put it down it was so interesting. It was a baseball autobiography book that teaches so much about the wonderful world of baseball. This was a great style of writing. There were some surprises in the story. One was when Ichiro Suzuki joined the MLB. There were no cliffhangers through out the book. This was not a boring book at all. If you like baseball you would love this book. I would read more of this authors books so I could learn about other sports. I would recommend this book to others because they would learn about the exciting world of baseball history

Baseball Samurais: Ichiro Suzuki and the Asian Invasion

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Baseball Samurais: Ichiro Suzuki and the Asian Invasion
Rob Rains
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0312982577

Book Description

How an Asian batting champ became American baseball's newest star!

Meet baseball's rookie sensation Ichiro Suzuki...from the top spot in Japan to the Seattle Mariners' right field.

Seven-time batting champion for Japan's Pacific League, he is a paradoxical combination of modesty and ego, calling himself simply "Ichiro." But when the Seattle Mariners signed him to a fourteen-million-dollar contract, scoffers said the 5-foot-9 inch, 156-pound Ichiro wasn't even in the ballpark. He proved them wrong. With fast legs and an even faster bat, he led the Mariners to their best start in franchise history.

Now, sportswriter Rob Rains takes an in-depth look at Ichiro and the new wave of talented Japanese players, including last year's Rookie of the Year, Kazuhiro Sasaki of the Seattle Mariners, and Hideo Nomo of the Boston Red Sox, former Yankee Hideki Irabu and Mets outfielder Tsuyoshi Shinjo. American fans are learning what the Japanese already know-- these amazing players are already mapping out baseball's future, proving that this grand slam Asian invasion is here to stay...

With 8 pages of thrilling photos.

2005 Seattle Mariners Information Guide (cover featuring Ichiro Suzuki)

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2005 Seattle Mariners Information Guide (cover featuring Ichiro Suzuki)

Manufacturer: Alliant Printing Services
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: B000QFN0T2

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