Diamonds in the Rough: Legacy of Japanese-American Baseball

2015

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Summary

"A perfect example of what the game of baseball has meant to all Americans." -Ted Spencer, National Baseball Hall of Fame "Baseball, and an unlikely hero, sustained hope for Japanese-Americans interned in WW II." -Sports Illustrated "Highly Recommended. This is an excellent documentary video about the little-known but fascinating history of Japanese-American baseball. It focuses on the story of one man, Kenichi Zenimura, who is considered to be the father of Japanese-American baseball. Part of the program's success can be attributed to Noriyuki "Pat" Morita (of "Happy Days" and "Karate Kid" fame); as a former internee, he narrates with skill, empathy, and his low-key humor." -EMRO Review During World War II, 120,000 Japanese-Americans, including this program's host and narrator, Oscar-nominated actor Noriyuki "Pat" Morita (The Karate Kid), were relocated to remote internment camps, such as the one in Gila River, Arizona, for the duration of the war. Behind the barbed wire, baseball helped many of these people survive this humiliating ordeal. One man, despite his small size, became a very big hero. His name was Kenichi Zenimura. Today, he is commonly referred to as "The Father of Japanese-American Baseball." This poignant documentary pays tribute to Zeni; however, it is much more than the biography of one man, it is the story of a legacy in which baseball helped transcend bigotry and hatred to bring pride and respect to Japanese-Americans who loved the game. Covering over 100 years of history, it is filled with great baseball memories, including wonderful anecdotes of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.