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12/23/2002 Archived Entry: "New York, We Have a Problem"
Yankees Popularity in NY Creates Dilemma for Japanese Tour Companies, Team
Major Japanese travel firm JTB, who guided over 3000 people to see Ichiro in Seattle last season, have joined Kinki Nihon Tourist in planning to offer trips to see Hideki Matsui play in the Bronx, says Nikkan Sports. A spokesman for the firm posited that fans of Matsui are different from those of Ichiro. JTB has made oodles of cash off of MLB-related excursions over the years, starting when Hideo Nomo defected from the Kintetsu Buffaloes to L.A. several seasons ago.
However, both outfits say they are facing a major stumbling block in their plans to bring people to Yankee Stadium: tickets. Having another fine season last year, where they posted 103 wins, the pinstriped nine are boffo box office in their local market. What is ironic is that this could not only prove to be a minus from the perspective of overseas tour outlets, but it could also end up being a drag on the Yankees' bottom line.
You may be saying, "but wait, isn't a ticket sold to a fan from Queens just as good as one sold to a fan from Fukuoka? No it isn't. The reason? The Japanese have a tradition called "omiyage," where you are more or less obligated to buy souvenir presents for your friends, coworkers and relatives. You see where I'm going with this? When Japanese tourists hit a ballpark, they do it with a vengeance, buying jerseys, t-shirts, autographed baseballs, keychains, you name it. For example, when my Japanese girlfriend was here over the summer, her 11 year old daughter bought about $150 worth of Mariners shirts, towels and drinking cups at a team kiosk in a mall near my home to take back to her school mates in Shizuoka Prefecture. In addition, Ichiro's entire contract was estimated to be already paid off after his first season in Seattle due to the explosion in souvenir sales to Japanese journeying to Safeco Field.
Therefore, what is George Steinbrenner to do? Hold blocks of tickets for higher spending Japanese tourists at the risk of alienating the average Joe and his buddies from Brooklyn? If Japanese fans can't get tickets to Yankees games, they may decide to head to L.A. or Seattle instead and those ballclubs will reap the benefits thereby.
New York City itself has an interest in the Matsui phenomenon. In the wake of the devastating terrorist attacks on September 11th last year, travel to that city has been in the dumper. If Matsui takes off and Japanese flock to see him, it could rejuvenate NYC tourism and put millions of extra dollars into the coffers of a debt ridden metropolis.
Thus, for the Yankees as well as the Japanese tour operators, how they market and exploit the Matsui migration to America's largest city will be a big issue. And they would do well to think it over carefully.
Hot Shots....
Congratulations to Yomiuri minor league catcher Kohei Ono, who had his wedding ceremony with new wife Ena, a freelance tv announcer, today in front of 150 teammates, friends and relatives....Lotte submariner Shunsuke Watanabe also held his rites for his union to new spouse Akiko, with 250 invited guests looking on....Makoto Suzuki has reportedly reached agreement with Orix and a formal announcement of his signing is scheduled for Christmas Eve.The former Royal and Mariner is currently in Arizona getting ready fore next season and will report to the Kobe squad February 1st.... Chunichi Dragons rightfielder Kosuke Fukudome has ordered a dozen maple bats for himself. He had used aodamo, but after watching Barry Bonds during the NPB-MLB all star series, decided to see what a new wood could do for his power numbers....Despite his row with his ballclub over his salary being cut and their refusal to give him a multi-year deal, Daiei Hawks catcher Kenji Johjima said today that he would like to finish his career with the team even though he "admires" MLB. But Johjima may soon get what he wants, as the Hawks front office is thought to be reconsidering its stance on multi-year pacts...Nippon Ham hurler Itsuki Shoda says that he wants to start an exhibition game in Sapporo against Yomiuri next March 6th....Diminutive Yakult southpaw Masanori Ishikawa, who is in Phoenix right now, said that he wants his nickname to be "Minira," a combination of "mini" and "Godzilla" (which is pronounced "gojira" by Japanese). Godzilla Matsui clobbered one of the screwballer's pitches more than 490 feet last season....Yankees GM Brian Cashman was apparently taken with his experience in Tokyo, saying that he "could live there. The place is beautiful," according to the Newark Star-Ledger. The same paper also says that Cashman won an essay contest when he was 17 sponsored by Japan Airlines, recieving a two week trip to the Land of the Rising Sun as a prize....The Yokohama Bay Stars are considering changing their team motto to "headlight Yokohama." Last year, it was "break with tradition." C'mon guys, you can do better than that!....Rikkyo University pitcher Kazuhito Tadano, who would have gone high in the draft had he not injured his shoulder, drew some interest from the Padres, but they decided to put off signing him, so Tadano will reportedly tryout for U.S. independent league clubs....Mike Stanton signed with the Mets because he didn't want to move his family out of New Jersey? Is he serious? I mean, geez, New Jersey? America's garbage scow? Shouldn't moving your family there engender a call to Child Protective Services?. Incidently, just to stick in some obligatory Japanese reference to keep this item remotely on topic, Star-Ledger writer Lawrence Rocca says that Bruce Wilpon, Fred's brother, speaks Japanese and lives in Tokyo with his wife, who is from a well heeled Japanese family. Bruce struck up a friendship with Godzilla. but couldn't persuade him to play at Shea Stadium.... And when the Mets couldn't grab Norihiro Nakamura, they have apparently decided to pursue Masato Yoshii, who started his big league career with that team. The offer in a newly rationalizing market? Two years for a total of $1 million....They're going to turn the Astrodome into a casino? How tacky!....
Matsui Has Right Stuff
See story at: Stamford Advocate Article
Matsui and the Press
The duo who call themselves "The Insiders" at the NY Post have an amusing little anecdote about the Japanese press coverage of Matsui going to the Yanks at: NY Post Article
By the way, guys, Baseball Guru.com readers knew long before you printed it that Godzilla was going to the Yankees.
Daubach Talked Out of Going to Japan by Bosox....Who Then Released Him
I wonder if this is actionable in some way. In any event, this article also has a couple of great Dick Stuart stories toward the bottom, too. But Gammons for the Hall of Fame? Are you kidding me?Boston Globe Article
Baseball a Free Market if You Have the Money
See story at: International Herald Tribune Article
Australia Wallops Canada in Women's World Baseball Championships
See story at: Way More Sports.com Article
Quotes of the Day
Two of them come from Scott Ostler at the SF Chronicle. First, among his thoughts on what would have happened had Trent Lott gotten his wish and Strom Thurmond became President is: "Had Strom Thurmond won in 1948....the country wouldn't have many of its current problems. Such as pitching -- or not -- to Barry Bonds."
On Hideki Matsui: "Snap judgment from quick TV clips of Hideki Matsui's swing: Sweeet. Fewer moving parts than my lawn mower."
The whole piece is good for a laugh, so take a look at: SF Chronicle Article
Then Jay Mariotti over at the Chicago Sun Times, writing that what the Cubbies have done so far personnel-wise this offseason just ain't gonna get it, offered, "When legendary slugger Sadaharu Oh visited [Sammy] Sosa in the Dominican Republic, Sammy
should have recruited him to protect him in the order for even in his 60s, Oh might be more reliable than [Hee-seop] Choi and [Moises] Alou."
Today in Japanese Baseball History
This report is for December 22nd and on that date in Japanese baseball history in 1969, the Kintetsu Buffaloes held a press conference announcing the signing of number one draft choice Koji Ota, a high school pitcher. The team paid Ota a 50,000,000 yen signing bonus, causing the Buffaloes front office to conspicuously beef up security at the session. Ota stuck around for 13 indifferent seasons and finished with a record of 58-85 with four saves and an ERA of 4.05.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Replies: 1 Comment
Read the Daubach article a little more closely. He was talked out of going to Japan 4 seasons ago before he even began his career with the Sox. They convinced him not to go and he went on to a pretty good 4 year career with the Sox. If anything he should be thankful they convinced him to stay and take another shot at the major leagues. You portray the article as saying that Daubach was talked out of going to Japan this offseason only to be non-tendered by Boston. That is not the case.
Posted by RV @ 12/24/2002 09:31 AM EST
