Seattle Times: Ichiro, Johjima develop mutual trust
Submitted by Robert Daeley on Sat, 2006-09-02 11:56.
Very funny story in the Seattle Times about teammates Ichiro and Kenji Johjima. The latter joined the Mariners this year as a rookie catcher, though he had played in the Japanese leagues…against Ichiro. They didn’t have much of an opinion of each other, especially thanks to Johjima’s attempts to distract the slugger at the plate.
…The more Johjima recalls his futile antics, the harder he laughs at them.
“I would say, ‘Ichiro San, how are you today?’ ‘What’s up, Ichiro San?’ ‘You’re sure swinging the bat good lately, Ichiro San.’ Sometimes he’d return the greeting in the first at-bat, but as I persisted throughout the game, he’d just ignore me. I wasn’t deterred, though. I hung in there determined to distract him.” Beyond the yapping, Johjima was known for other brash tactics during his career in Japan. Another former opponent remembers how he would stand defiantly behind the batter and glare at the third-base coach giving signs. Such brazenness was clearly a style different than Ichiro’s.
They’re doing much better now, though. :) The rest of the article offers a fascinating glimpse into their friendship and sempai/hohai hierarchical relationships.
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