These days, Don Nomura, the man who changed baseball forever, resides in Hawaii. The isolated island chain in the middle of the Pacific serves as a fitting and poetic home for the 67-year-old, silver-haired player-agent. Honolulu is located approximately halfway between Japan and the United States, the two nations whose sporting worlds Nomura connected three decades ago.
Today, Japanese baseball and American baseball are intricately intertwined, with Shohei Ohtani, the defending National League MVP, being the most famous player in the world. His presence is felt on billboards and TV commercials on both sides of the Pacific. Currently, Ohtani and the defending world champion Los Angeles Dodgers are in Tokyo for a season-opening two-game set against the Chicago Cubs at the sold-out Tokyo Dome. The Dodgers, with Japanese pitchers Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki on their roster, have become the most popular team in Japan. Tokyo is adorned with interlocking L.A. hats, showcasing the team’s popularity in the nation. The 2024 World Series games between the Dodgers and New York Yankees had higher viewership in Japan than in the United States.
Despite baseball being Japan’s unofficial national sport for over a century, the immense popularity of Major League Baseball in the country is a more recent development. Until the mid-1990s, only one Japanese-born player had ventured to play in MLB due to restrictive rules in the NPB and cultural expectations. However, in 1994, Don Nomura, Hideo Nomo, and Jean Afterman worked together to exploit a contract loophole, sending Nomo to MLB stardom with the Dodgers and opening doors for future Japanese players.
The dispute surrounding the rights of Masanori Murakami in the 1960s put an end to negotiations between Japanese and American baseball for nearly 30 years, halting the flow of Japanese players to the U.S. It wasn’t until Nomura and Afterman’s collaboration in 1994 that the tide turned, ushering in an era of globalization for Major League Baseball. Afterman, a recent law school graduate working for a small firm in the San Fernando Valley, was introduced to Nomura and his legal situation by a mutual friend. Intrigued by the challenge to the status quo, she eagerly dove into the intricate details of the Yakyu Kiroku, Japan’s baseball rulebook, with Nomura. Together, they uncovered a loophole that could potentially pave the way for Japanese players to sign with American teams.
Their focus on adhering to the rules led them to a breakthrough – a letter from the Japanese commissioner confirming that a voluntarily retired player was no longer under contract and free to sign with a U.S. club. Armed with this information, Nomura and Nomo devised a plan to convince the Buffaloes to retire Nomo, allowing him to explore opportunities in Major League Baseball.
Despite facing resistance from the Buffaloes and the NPB office, Nomura’s persistence and strategic maneuvering began to sway the situation in their favor. By presenting Nomo as a free agent and demanding a multi-million dollar contract, they pushed the boundaries of traditional Japanese baseball practices.
As tensions escalated and negotiations stalled, Nomo and Nomura stood firm, determined to challenge the status quo and create new opportunities for Japanese players in the American baseball market. Their unconventional tactics and unwavering resolve would ultimately pave the way for Nomo’s historic journey to the Major Leagues. Kintetsu brought down the hammer on their player due to insubordination, unaware of Nomura’s scheme. Nomo was officially retired from NPB, banned from playing in Japan, but free to join an MLB team. The Japanese public was shocked by Nomo’s retirement and his decision to play in the United States, leading to public outrage towards Nomo and Nomura. Despite facing criticism and hate mail, they persevered.
Nomo made his MLB debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 2, 1995, showcasing his talent by striking out seven Giants in five scoreless innings. His success sparked “Nomo-mania” as he continued to impress on the mound, eventually winning the NL Rookie of the Year award. This marked a turning point in Japanese players transitioning to the MLB, with Nomo paving the way for others like Soriano and Irabu.
Nomo’s impact led to the establishment of a posting system between MLB and NPB in 1998, facilitating the influx of Japanese players into the major leagues. This system, still in place today, has enabled 79 Japanese players to play in the MLB, with Roki Sasaki set to become the 80th debutant. Nomo’s legacy is not just in his stats but in inspiring a new generation of players to aim for the major leagues.
The success of players like Nomo and the efforts of Nomura and Afterman have reshaped the landscape of international baseball, with Japanese players making a significant impact in the MLB. As players like Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Sasaki continue to shine, they owe a debt of gratitude to those who paved the way for them.