MLB Players born in Japan: Nihonjin, Nikkeijin, or Neither
When a ballplayer from Japan steps onto a Major League Baseball field, the conversation often turns to more than just batting averages and ERA. It raises a deeper question of identity: are these players Nihonjin —Japanese nationals representing their home country abroad, Nikkeijin —descendants of Japanese immigrants who carry the legacy of the diaspora, or do some fall into a more complex “neither” category? The answer depends not only on birthplace and citizenship, but also on how heritage, culture, and belonging are defined on both sides of the Pacific. Nihonjin: Japanese Nationals in MLB The easiest category to define is Nihonjin (日本人) , literally “Japanese person.” These are players born and raised in Japan who came to MLB after developing their careers in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) or through Japanese amateur baseball systems. Their nationality and cultural upbringing are clearly Japanese, and they are widely viewed as ambassadors of Japan’s baseball tradition. The first ...