Seattle Mariners star Ichiro Suzuki and wife Yumiko were among the celebrities attending the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony held Tuesday for former Orix BlueWave manager Akira Ogi.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Hideo Nomo, Orix Buffaloes player Yoshitomo Tani and wife Ryoko, a six-time world champion judoka, were also among the 400 guests who gathered at an Osaka hotel to honor the 69-year-old newly appointed manager of the Orix Buffaloes.
"I'm really thankful. It was a lot of fun to meet old friends and players with whom I fought the same battle. I hope to continue working with players on the field," said Ogi, who received the news of his induction in January.
Ichiro, who returned to Japan for a brief stay two months after wrapping up a season in which he broke the single-season MLB record for hits, credited Ogi for discovering his batting talent.