r/whitesox • u/Scurezza @SoxTranslator on X • 2d ago
Original Content Japanese fans share their personal experiences with how the White Sox popularity is spreading in Japan
Original thread: https://x.com/SoxTranslator/status/2109504321398206615
@F1qLOen4rfyFPJ4
“I originally started watching the Sox because I was a Murakami fan, but eventually I became a fan of the whole team. Even my elderly mother started watching, and now we text each other every day about that day’s game. She wasn’t even interested in MLB before, so this has been the biggest change in my life this year.”
@yomogi1616
“Did the White Sox win today?” “Who’s in the starting lineup?” “The pitcher did a great job today!” “Vargas had his jersey unbuttoned again 😂” “Show me the Mune! He was yelling it again today!” That was just everyday conversation in our household.
@hikigatarist1
“Back in 2004, when Yakult Swallows pitcher Shingo Takatsu made the jump to MLB, he joined the White Sox. Armed with his frisbee-like pitches, he went 24 consecutive games without allowing a run to start the season and earned the nickname ‘Mr. ZERO.’ I even bought a White Sox cap because of him. This year is the first time I’ve rooted for the White Sox since then. When a Japanese player is doing well, it makes you want to cheer that much harder!”
@mentamajo
“People around me hear me talk about the White Sox so much that more and more of them have started getting curious about the team and checking their game results on the news. A few people at work have even told me they’re more interested in the White Sox than the Dodgers!”
@akiPglfsi
“There are other MLB teams with Japanese players, but this is the first time I’ve ever gotten this fired up about an MLB team as a whole, not just one player like Murakami.
It’s the story of a team climbing up from the bottom, but more than anything, the atmosphere throughout the team under Manager Venable is just infectious. They play exciting, fun baseball that’s a joy to watch. And I’m seeing more and more people around me becoming Sox fans, too!”
@lala_lalagz
“I originally got hooked on Ohtani and subscribed to SPOTV, which got me into watching MLB. But between Mune’s success and Ohtani not having quite the same impact on me anymore, before I knew it, I was cheering for the White Sox every single day. In NPB, I’m a Chiba Lotte Marines fan, and this year’s rise reminds me of the Bobby Valentine craze back in 2005. Even the uniforms look similar!”
@NamatamagoGohan
“I called my dad after we hadn’t spoken for a while because of some unresolved tension between us. Things were awkward at first, and desperately trying to find something to talk about, I managed to squeeze out, ‘The White Sox have been so fun to watch lately. I’ve been watching every day and I’m running on no sleep.’
He replied, with the biggest smile in his voice, ‘Me too.’ We ended up having a good conversation. Thank you, Chicago White Sox.
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u/_theghost_ Berto for Mayor 2d ago
Just gonna say this:
If new ownership really wants to make a killing blow, floor it for Seiya & Shota before the lockout or immediately after to cement a foothold and spite the Cubs and Especially the Ricketts.
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u/SpendWild6987 2d ago
100% on signing Seiya. I don't trust Braden with his bat or glove. We need to trade some prospects for pitching anyway. Send him back to the minors to work on his swing/ground all rate (he had the worst groundball rate in the majors) pr package him for pitching.
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u/iiamthepalmtree 2d ago
If there is one thing I trust about Braden’s game it’s his defense. He might not have the best range and made some poor decisions to dive for balls but his arm is elite and I think he’ll learn to not do too much.
Sam in LF on the other hand is another story. I would love to sign Seiya to be the full time LF, cut Beni, and have Sam be the full time DH and play 2B if we need to give any of the other infielders a day off.
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u/SpendWild6987 2d ago
He looks completely lost out there. The jumps he gets are just terrible. He got a bad jump/read on that diving play that he missed in the Cleveland series. An average fielder makes that. He frequently got bad jumps and reads this year.
Why do you trust his defense?
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u/iiamthepalmtree 2d ago
If you look at defensive metrics they range from slightly below average to slightly above average except his arm strength, which is elite. Hes also 23 and has 93 career games. I trust he can continue to improve.
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u/WunWunFirstofHisName 2d ago
It had a 10% catch expectancy and Braden had a jump that was 6.5 feet better than normal just to make it close. So I don't think an average fielder is making that catch. I'd quibble more with how the Sox had him shaded into the gap on that play.
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u/CoastersandHikes 2d ago
So you saw one play that was a very difficult play and now he's bad at defense. Get the hell out of here
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u/wolffanglex Anderson 2d ago
Seiya would be huge. And Imanaga, while he had an up and down season, would still be a huge boost to our starting rotation
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u/Ghost-of-Black-47 Shoeless Joe 2d ago
Seiya is not the ideal solution for our right handed bat needs in my opinion. But I do think he’s a realistic option. He won’t be cheap but building the Japanese market could make it worth it (in the eyes of Jerry).
Plus with the lockout inbound, I wonder if Seiya would jump on the chance to sign early so he can be guaranteed to stay in the same city and not have to move his family when a last minute free agent scramble occurs after the lockout.
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u/m0_m0ney Mark Buehrle 1d ago
Does Jerry give a shit about building the Japanese market? He’s selling the team soon
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u/my-time-has-odor Robert 2d ago
Shota not that good of a pitcher imo; at least in the games I’ve seen dude has a sky-high ERA and gets pulled in 2 innings
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u/reiks12 Go Sox! 2d ago
If I remember right, a bunch of White Sox players are going to go to Japan this offseason to hang out with Mune. That would be fun to follow how they are received. Hopefully they make some public appearances
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u/SarahBeara231 2d ago
Ozzie picked Japan/Tokyo too for the tickets he was gifted at his number retirement ceremony.
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u/doggoploggo 2d ago
There is a great opportunity to have a strong foothold in Japan if the Sox can capitalize. Would be so cool to be a team that Japanese players want to play for.
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u/Slim_Calhoun Cardinals 2d ago
I’m just an American boy stoked to see his favorite AL team on the rise
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u/CartoonofMilk_ Miguel Munegomrothery 2d ago
Extend Mune, he had a fantastic season and will only improve for here first and foremost.
Also, why not go for Sato? He has been unbelievable in Japan, he is listed as a 3B, but also a Right Fielder. I would also say Seiya, but I think he'll resign with the cubs.
Another great option, I would love to see is Kaima Taira, dude had a 1.36 era in 130 innings.
Clearly the white sox have become a fan favorite team in Japan, if Jerry was smart he would see that with some more japanese talent, they would only become more popular.
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u/cmophosho 2d ago
Nice reminder of what a magical, fun season it was. Let's hope the team can build on it next year!
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u/cruzrawkv2 2d ago
This is absolutely heartwarming. Thank you! I hope our team continues to earn the love of our Japanese fans
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u/Capable_Salt_SD 2d ago
Glad to see the Japanese embracing more MLB teams other than That One from LA
I too, enjoyed watching Murakami as he’s one of my fav non-Padres players. Hope he stays with you and thrives
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u/Ghost-of-Black-47 Shoeless Joe 2d ago
I’d love to be able to reciprocate this love and follow the NPB. But it’s not particularly accessible to foreign audiences. No English language social media or telecasting as far as I’m aware of
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u/wolffanglex Anderson 2d ago
You gotta love the Japanese fanbase man, glad they’re on board! Hopefully we get to see more of Nishida next year too.
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u/5thSeasonFront 2d ago
https://youtu.be/E2HeDHkL9kg?si=CzauSbH0rPIPbd6x
We need a series split between his home island and Tokyo, where he made his name. His hometown has a 24k seat ballpark, while Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks’ dome is just up the way. Make it a fundraiser for earthquake victims.
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u/Hotdog-44769 2d ago
Very cool. Thanks for posting. This kind of stuff actually gives me hope. It’s such a strange feeling to have fans from elsewhere.
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u/isitatomic 2d ago
This is amazing. Used to teach kids over there and it was wild how many knew the Padres just because of Yu Darvish. No doubt that's Mune and the Sox now.
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u/Ghost-of-Black-47 Shoeless Joe 2d ago
I love this so much. I want more Japanese players, more Japanese fans and maybe a few games in Tokyo someday.
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u/gangreen424 FT 2d ago
Absolutely love all of this. Our star is on the rise. These boys are gonna come back even stronger next year.
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u/jasonpwrites The Big Hurt 2d ago
I was in Japan and they still have Murakami stuff all over the Swallows store. I wanted to get a hat, but wasn't spending $100US on one.
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u/90sRnBMakesMeHappy Southside Samurai 2d ago
This makes me so teary eyed. When I went to Japan, the thing I talked to most people was about baseball. But this was a year before Murakami came to the southside. They all wanted to talk about the Cubs, not our Sox. So excited to visit with Sox gear next time.
This is why Mune should be given a blank check damnit. Come at me online betters, I'll just keep adding you to my block list who call me an idiot of loving him.
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u/vsladko 13h ago
I was in Japan in 2024 and it was largely dependent on the city or were in but of the folks with MLB hats in Osaka, it was was 75% Oakland A’s and White Sox hats. It cracked me up as they were the worst two teams that year I think. Less Sox hats in Tokyo where it was dominated by Yankees and Dodgers, but still a great amount of Sox gear around.
That being said, there’s a difference between wearing a Sox hat and rooting for the team. It’s nice to see the growth this team took this year in that sense
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u/wtfffreddit 2d ago
For whatever reason I saw way more Sox hats than anything last time I was in Japan. And we didn't even have murakami yet.
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u/skygunner 14h ago
Yeah, Japan’s been like this since around April. People started watching the White Sox because of Murakami, and ended up becoming fans of the team along the way.
Well, I guess I’ve only got one more season of this, but let’s see how it goes. 😃
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u/CunningMuskrat 2d ago
Well the fans don’t want to retain Mune. Check the Oct 10 game thread.
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u/90sRnBMakesMeHappy Southside Samurai 2d ago
I am a fan, and I do. And I had to block 2 people from harassing me since I love him so much. Stupid online betters...
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u/mune_notenonehundred 2d ago
I am Japanese. The White Sox were the first MLB team I ever rooted for. At first, I only followed them to watch Murakami hit home runs, but before I knew it, I had become a genuine fan of the team. I started waking up early to watch games and would even check the scores while at work. If I told the "me" of last year that I’d be rooting for the White Sox this year, I’d be surprised. I hope to visit Guaranteed Rate Field someday.