With the sensational debut of Japanese outfielders Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners and Tsuyoshi Shinjo of the New York Mets, Major League Baseball is stealing the hearts of many Japanese.
While such hoopla may deal a serious blow to Japanese pro baseball by drawing audiences away, satellite broadcasting stations, travel agents and Major league goods shops are cashing in.
SKY Perfect Communications Inc., a major satellite broadcasting firm, said the number of subscribers to its channels that provide Major league games had by April 15 already doubled the total for all of last year. The firm declined to disclose the number, calling it a business secret.