San Jose Asahi Baseball Team

Based upon an exhibit by Dr. Stephen Fugita and Ralph Pearce on display at the Japanese American Museum of San Jose.

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For over 50 years, the San Jose Asahi baseball team (later the Zebras), along with other Japanese American teams, helped meet the recreational and social needs of their Northern California communities. Between 1903 and 1915, many such teams were organized wherever significant numbers of Japanese settled. Among these were those formed in Fresno, Florin, Stockton, Sacramento, Lodi and San Jose. The players on these early teams were primarily young, first generation men (Issei).

The San Jose Asahi took their name from the Japanese word meaning "morning sun." Very little is known about the original Issei team. We do know that in the mid-teens, one of its members, Harry Okida, rode his motorcycle out to the farm of Jiggs Yamada to encourage him to reform the team. By about 1917, Yamada was able to put together a new team made up of young second generation (Nisei) boys. Soon the Asahi were playing other local teams, as well as teams from numerous other Japanese American communities throughout Northern California. These communities eventually formed the Northern California Japanese Baseball League (NCJBL).

The Asahi originally played on the southeasterly corner of North Sixth and Jackson Streets. This was a multipurpose area where other community events such as sumo wrestling took place. In the 1920's, through the efforts of Shijiro Horio, land was purchased for a field at what are now North Seventh and Younger Streets. Due to the alien land laws then in effect, the land could not be purchased in the names of the Issei organizers. It was therefore purchased under the names of three Nisei players: Harry Hashimoto, Tom Sakamoto and Russell Hinaga.

In 1924, Meiji University came to the U.S. to play an exhibition game against the Asahi's. In the following year, the Asahi team toured Japan under the guidance of Manager Okagaki and Custodian Nobukichi Ishikawa. The team also traveled to Korea to play several exhibition games there. The Asahi hosted Waseda University in 1927 and Keio University in 1928.

By the early 1930's, many of the older players were being replaced by younger members of the community. It was during this period that veteran Russell Hinaga began to take on the role of player/manager. The Asahi had become one of the strongest teams and were perennially involved in championship games.

In 1935, the newly organized Tokyo Giants, made their first tour of the U.S. This professional team was made up of Japan's best players. In an exciting game played on March 27th at Asahi field, the Asahi battled the Giants in a "squeaker." This low scoring game was hard-fought by both teams. Then, in a dramatic moment in the bottom of the ninth inning with two out, Russ Hinaga, making his only hit of the game, drove in the winning run. In the sixteen games that the Giants played against Nisei teams, they were only defeated twice, once by the L.A. Nippons and once by the San Jose Asahi. The Tokyo Giants returned again in 1936 and defeated the Asahi by a single run, in another hard-fought game.

Most of the games were played on Sunday around one or two o'clock. Family and friends came out to cheer on the players and socialize. A small admission fee was usually charged to support the team and provide for field maintenance. Over the years, the players developed the routine of first changing into their uniforms at the Minato Bath House on North Sixth Street, then driving to Asahi field. After the game, they would return to Minato's for a bath and to change, then walk across the street to eat "China-meshi" at the popular Ken Ying Low restaurant.

During the World War II relocation camp years of 1942-45, the Asahi underwent a transition. A new team called the San Jose Zebras was formed. Many of the younger Asahi players joined (often wearing their Asahi uniforms), and would even play occasional games against the "old timer" Asahi players. By the end of the War, the Asahi field was lost, as was much other property. However, the new San Jose Zebra team emerged ready to play and was able to use other public facilities such as San Jose Municipal Stadium. The Zebras continued to play until 1963.

Ralph Pearce and Stephen Fugita