1. Ichiro Suzuki:
- Ichiro Suzuki is perhaps the most famous Japanese baseball player internationally. He played in MLB for teams like the Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, and Miami Marlins. Ichiro is a legendary figure, known for his hitting ability, speed, and defensive skills.
- He is one of the all-time leaders in hits in MLB history, surpassing 4,000 hits (including his time in Japan’s NPB).
- Ichiro was inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame and is celebrated in both Japan and the U.S.
2. Shohei Ohtani:
- Shohei Ohtani is one of the brightest stars in MLB and has taken the baseball world by storm due to his rare ability to pitch and hit at an elite level, a phenomenon not seen in MLB for many years.
- Playing for the Los Angeles Angels, Ohtani is known as both a pitcher and a batter, and he won the American League MVP in 2021. His unique dual-threat abilities have made him one of the most exciting and marketable players in baseball today.
3. Yu Darvish:
- Yu Darvish is a talented Japanese pitcher who has played for multiple MLB teams, including the Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Chicago Cubs.
- Known for his pitches arsenal (especially his slider and curveball), Darvish has been a consistent ace in MLB, earning multiple All-Star selections and continuing to be one of the top pitchers in the league.
4. Hideki Matsui:
- Hideki Matsui, known as "Godzilla," is one of the most famous Japanese hitters in MLB history. He played for the New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, and Los Angeles Angels during his MLB career.
- Matsui helped lead the Yankees to a World Series Championship in 2009, and he was named World Series MVP that year. He was known for his powerful bat and clutch performances.
5. Hideo Nomo:
- Hideo Nomo was one of the first Japanese pitchers to succeed in MLB. Nomo’s tremendous success with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1990s helped pave the way for future generations of Japanese players in the U.S.
- His famous "Tornado" delivery and solid pitching made him a rookie of the year and earned him a long career in MLB.
6. Kazuhiro Sasaki:
- Kazuhiro Sasaki was a Japanese closer who played for the Seattle Mariners in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Sasaki had a solid MLB career and is considered one of the top Japanese pitchers to make the jump to MLB.
- Sasaki was known for his powerful fastball and slider, and he was a key part of the Mariners’ bullpen during his time in the U.S.
7. Masahiro Tanaka:
- Masahiro Tanaka is another prominent pitcher who played for the New York Yankees after having a highly successful career in Japan's NPB with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.
- Tanaka earned a spot as a starting pitcher for the Yankees and was known for his sharp splitter and ability to perform in big games.
8. Seiya Suzuki:
- Seiya Suzuki is one of the newer stars from Japan, who joined MLB with the Chicago Cubs in 2022. Suzuki had a standout career in Japan with the Hiroshima Carp and made an immediate impact in MLB with his hitting skills and defensive versatility.
9. Kenji Johjima:
- Kenji Johjima was a catcher who played in MLB for the Seattle Mariners after a successful career in Japan's NPB with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
- He was the first Japanese catcher to play regularly in MLB and had a solid career as a defensive specialist.
10. Shunsuke Watanabe:
- Shunsuke Watanabe is a well-known figure in Japan’s NPB and has gained recognition for his performances as a pitcher in the Japanese league.
Japanese Baseball in Japan (NPB):
- Japanese baseball (played in the NPB, the Nippon Professional Baseball league) is incredibly popular, and players such as Tetsuto Yamada, Yuki Saito, and Tomoya Mori are widely recognized within Japan.
- The High School Baseball Championship (summer Koshien) is a major event that produces many future stars in the NPB, and players from these tournaments can quickly become national heroes.
Conclusion:
Japanese baseball players have gained significant fame both domestically in Japan and internationally, particularly in MLB, where they have made an undeniable impact. Players like Ichiro Suzuki, Shohei Ohtani, and Yu Darvish have made a mark as some of the most famous and successful athletes globally, with many Japanese players excelling in MLB and contributing to the worldwide popularity of the sport.