Ichiro Suzuki Makes History With MLB Hall of Fame Induction
By Romen Basu Borsellino | 28 Jul, 2025

The former Seattle Mariner from Japan has become the first Asian player inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Ichiro Suzuki took a brief pause from speaking English to deliver a few words in his native Japanese on Sunday during his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY:

“Nomo-San, Arigato Gozaimasu.”

He was thanking pitcher Hideo Nomo, the first Japanese player to compete in the MLB during his lifetime.  “His success inspired many, including me,” Suzuki said. “Because of Hideo Nomo’s courage, my eyes suddenly opened to the idea of challenging myself by going somewhere I never imagined.”

There is little doubt that similar words will one day be spoken about Suzuki when future Japanese players join him in Cooperstown.

Until that day, Ichiro Suzuki will remain the only Asian player ever admitted into the Hall of Fame. 

He joins baseball legends CC Sabathia, Billy Wagner, Dick Allen (posthumous) and Dave Parker (posthumous) in making up this year’s Hall of Fame Class.  In 2022, Suzuki was inducted into the Seattle Mariners Hall or Fame.  Next month, he will be inducted in Japan’s baseball hall of fame. 

Suzuki is, of course, no stranger to history-making.  While Hideo Nomo and Masanori Murakami before him were both pitchers and therefore not known for their hitting, Suzuki became MLB’s first Japanese position player. He also holds the record for most hits in a single baseball season, having racked up 262 in 2004.

Even when it comes to his Hall of Fame induction, Suzuki is raising the bar.  He is now tied with former New York Yankees teammate Derek Jeter for the second most votes ever received.  Of the 394 votes cast this year, Suzuki’s first of eligibility, he received 393.

Sunday’s ceremony began with an introduction video highlighting Suzuki's career.  In a grainy piece of footage from about 2001, a sports commentator referred to him as “The most exciting export from Japan since Godzilla.” 

The comment might make anyone roll their eyes in 2025.  But nearly a quarter-century ago, when Suzuki joined the league, there were fewer Japanese references accessible to an American audience. 

“Think about if he had failed,” pondered one of the commentators during Sunday’s broadcast.  “The pressure was on him for all position players coming out of Japan.” 

It’s a sentiment Suzuki himself repeated during his speech.  “I think you can imagine, there was much doubt when I decided to become the first professional baseball player from Japan.  But it was more than just doubt.  There was criticism and negativity.  Someone even said to me 'don’t embarrass the nation.'”

From the reactions of thousands in the crowd on Sunday, many of whom were Asian, it was clear that Suzuki had done the opposite.  “Arrigato” someone shouted during a brief pause between sentences in Suzuki’s remarks. It means “Thank you.”

And anyone who arrived at the speech expecting Suzuki to play into the stereotype that Asians are rigid and humorless would have been thrown for a curveball, particularly when Suzuki noted that “People often measure me by my records…but the truth is, without baseball, you would say ‘This guy is such a dumbass.’"

His speech also included an impression of broadcaster Rick Rizzs shouting “Holy smokes, a laser beam to second base from Ichiro!,” a jab at the sole voter who prevented his induction from being unanimous, and a joke about having never heard of the Miami Marlins prior to his signing with them in 2015.

The jokes, which allowed casual fans to see another side of Suzuki, were just one part of an 18-minute speech that touched on various lessons from his 28 year baseball career, eight of which were spent playing in Japan. 

Suzuki didn’t explicitly mention the Japanese work ethic, which is known for diligence and teamwork, but he devoted a portion of his remarks to the importance of those very traits. 

Suzuki stated that he would not have achieved the success that he did “Without paying attention to the many small details every single day, consistently for all 19 seasons.” 

He mentioned the little things like tying the strings on his glove to avoid a fielding error or cleaning the spikes on his cleats so that he didn’t slip.  "I personally cared for my equipment each day because I never wanted to risk a fielding error due to a loose string on my glove or a slip on the basepath because I didn’t clean my spikes."

He noted the importance of an off-season regimen and showing up to Spring training already in shape.  “If you consistently do the little things, there’s no limit to what you can achieve.” 

And he talked about the importance of a mentality in which you don’t blame others for your shortcomings but, rather, think about what you yourself could have done differently.  “By taking responsibility for yourself, you support your teammates and you don’t cheat the fans."

But the most poignant part of Suzuki’s remarks came at the very end when he put the spotlight on his wife, Yumiko Fukushima, who was sitting in the front row.  Suzuki explained that through the years of pressure he faced, his wife never once made him feel like she doubted him and instead remained “The most consistent teammate I ever had.” 

He reminisced about a date night they had after he retired, spent eating hot dogs together at a Mariners game. “Of all of the experiences baseball has given me, enjoying a hot dog at the game with the person most responsible for helping me reach this moment was the most special.”

I couldn’t help but think of a line in Everything Everywhere All At Once. “In another life,” actor Ke Huy Quan’s character proclaims to his wife, played by Michelle Yeoh, “I would have really liked just doing laundry and taxes with you.” In a life that has allowed Ichiro endless exciting opportunities, it was the most simple act with the person he loves that was the most meaningful.

Now, at age 51, Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki has earned the right to enjoy as many casual date nights with his wife as he wishes, especially when he’s watching the numerous players who took up the sport because they were personally inspired by him.