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 Nihonjin in MLB was Masanori Murakami, who debuted with the San Francisco Giants in 1964. Decades later, stars such as Hideo Nomo (LAD, 1995), Ichiro Suzuki (SEA, 2001), Hideki Matsui (NYY, 2003), and Shohei Ohtani (LAA, 2018) reinforced Japan’s presence in the majors. These players embody the “Japan-to-MLB” pipeline and are firmly identified as Nihonjin.
Nikkeijin: Players of Japanese Ancestry Abroad
The story becomes more complex with Nikkeijin (日系人), people of Japanese ancestry. In MLB history, the first players born in Japan were not necessarily Nihonjin. Take Bobby Fenwick, born in Okinawa in 1946, who debuted with the Houston Astros in 1972. Though born in Japan, he was an American citizen of Japanese ancestry, raised in the U.S., and not considered a Japanese national. Similarly, Dave Roberts, born in Okinawa to a Japanese mother and African American father, went on to a career as a player and later World Series–winning manager. He, too, fits the Nikkeijin category rather than Nihonjin.
Neither: Born in Japan, but Not JapaneseA third category arises when players were born in Japan but neither of Japanese descent (Nikkeijin) nor Japanese nationals (Nihonjin).
For example, Steve Chitren (OAK, 1990) and Jeff McCurry (PIT, 1995; DET, 1996; COL, 1997) were born in Tokyo, but to American parents. Their connection to Japan was circumstantial rather than cultural or ancestral. Similarly, Stephen Randolph (ARI, 2003) was born in Okinawa, but as the child of Americans living abroad. These players technically appear on lists of “MLB players born in Japan,” yet they do not fit neatly into either the Nihonjin or Nikkeijin categories.
Why the Distinction MattersThe distinction between Nihonjin and Nikkeijin is not just a matter of semantics. It reflects how Japanese identity is defined—through nationality, ancestry, or cultural upbringing. For MLB, it also frames how players are marketed and remembered. Is a player seen as an extension of Nihon or Nikkei baseball tradition? Or simply as someone whose birthplace happens to be Japan?
Conclusion
From Masanori Murakami to Shohei Ohtani, Bobby Fenwick to Dave Roberts, the story of MLB players with ties to Japan resists easy labels. Some are Nihonjin, carrying the flag of Japanese baseball onto American fields. Others are Nikkeijin, descendants of Japanese immigrants whose road to the majors unfolded entirely outside Japan. And a few are “neither,” born on Japanese soil but culturally and nationally American.
As baseball so often does, it reminds us that the game is never just a game. It’s a mirror reflecting the complexities of nationality, ancestry, and identity in a global age.
As of this article’s publication, 84 players have been born in Japan, including three debuts in 2025: Tomoyuki Sugano (#82), Roki Sasaki (#83), and Shinnosuke Ogasawara (#84). Of those 84, the following eight players are not Nihonjin:
Bobby Fenwick – born Naha, Okinawa
Steve Chitren – born Tokyo, Tokyo
Jim Bowie – born Tokyo, Tokyo
Jeff McCurry – born Tokyo, Tokyo
Dave Roberts – born Naha, Okinawa
Keith McDonald – born Yokosuka, Kanagawa
Craig House – born Naha AFB, Okinawa
Jung Hoo Lee – born Nagoya, Aichi (South Korean citizen)
And now, with a sharper lens, we can also be more precise when discussing “firsts” in MLB history. For example:
Bobby Fenwick (Nikkeijin) – first position player born in Japan to play in MLB (1972)
Dave Roberts (Nikkeijin) is the second position player born in Japan (1999)
Ichiro Suzuki (Nihonjin) – first Japanese national position player in MLB (2001)
Ichiro also made history in 2025 by becoming the first player born in Japan to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. I bet that Shohei Ohtani will be the next sometime after 2040, and that Dave Roberts could one day follow as the first MLB manager born in Japan to earn a plaque.
Until then, the 100th player from Japan to join an MLB club is just around the corner. Who might it be? Is it a star player from the fields of the 2025 Koshien Summer tournament? Only time will tell.
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Table 1: First Player Born in Japan for Each MLB Team (chronological order)
Note: *Nikkeijin; **No Japanese ancestry
Table 2: First Nihonjin (Japanese National) Player for Each MLB Team (chronological order)
Note: **Appears on the list more than once.