Cooperstown, New York — During Hall of Fame Weekend in Cooperstown, Ichiro Suzuki was asked by World Baseball Network about one of the most revered figures in Japanese baseball history — Shigeo Nagashima.
The moment came during Saturday’s media availability, a quieter setting ahead of Sunday’s official induction ceremony, and one not seen by most viewers watching the event’s broadcast.
Ichiro sat on stage in a dark green zip jacket over a white T-shirt, paired with matching pants and gray New Balance sneakers. Microphone in hand, he addressed questions in Japanese, seated between interpreter Allen Turner and moderator Craig Muder beneath a large Hall of Fame banner.
Ichiro was asked what it meant to have a mentor like Nagashima and how that shaped his path to Major League Baseball. He responded in Japanese, offering a thoughtful reflection on both Nagashima and Sadaharu Oh.
He explained that for his generation, the word “Mr.” in a baseball context automatically referred to Nagashima — a symbol of greatness, elegance, and public awareness.
「長嶋さんについては、一定世代以上の人たちは、長嶋さんのプレーを見て野球選手になりたいと思った人がほとんどだった。長嶋さんと大さんですね。そういう偉大な日本人としては、絶対に野球選手といえば“ミスター”、“ミスター”といえば長嶋さんというぐらい、とても偉大な存在でした。
僕にとっても、まずそこまで。いつも何度かお目にかかったことはあるんですけど、必ず人が長嶋さんをどう見ているかということを、すごく認識されていて、理解されていて、どうあることが、どうご自分が振舞うことが正しいのかとか、美しいのか、それを追い求められた方だと思っていました。」
For those of a certain generation or older, nearly everyone who dreamed of becoming a baseball player did so after watching Mr. Nagashima play — along with Mr. Oh. In Japan, when you say ‘Mr.’ you mean Nagashima. That’s how great a presence he is.
I had the chance to meet him a few times, and every time, he was acutely aware of how others saw him. He understood how to present himself — what was proper, what was beautiful — and I believe he always strove for that. That left a deep impression on me.
Ichiro was officially inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, July 27, alongside CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner. He had previously been enshrined in the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.
