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Big in Japan Tokyo citizens get up early to watch Ichiro
TOKYO (AP) -- The name on the back of Yasushi Irie's jersey said it all: "Ichiro." Japanese thronged sports bars, crowded in front of outdoor TV screens and tuned in from home on Wednesday morning to see Seattle sensation Ichiro Suzuki make his major league All-Star debut. Hopes were running high at the Tokyo Dome Baseball Cafe, where Irie and nearly 100 other fans rooted for Ichiro and another Japanese All-Star, Mariners closer Kazuhiro Sasaki. "Of course he'll win game MVP, there's no doubt!" Irie said early in the game. However, it was Cal Ripken Jr. who took that honor after his homer gave the American League a 1-0 lead on the way to a 4-1 victory. Irie and his friends -- some of them also with Ichiro jerseys -- stood on their chairs and cheered whenever their hero's face appeared on the dozen or so TV screens suspended around the restaurant. At a towering outdoor television screen across town in the trendy Shinjuku district, businessmen took off their jackets and stood in the July heat to grab a glimpse of the game. The seven-time Japan batting champion didn't do quite as well as Irie hoped, but good enough to keep his status as a national idol for being the only Japanese hitter to make it big in the majors. Ichiro started out strong, getting the game's first hit when he beat out an infield single, then stealing second base. Teammate Sasaki also did the home crowd proud, getting the save. The 27-year-old outfielder grounded out his other two times at bat, but there was no grumbling at the Baseball Cafe, where people praised his hustle. "He did great, he stole a base -- I'm satisfied," said Tadashi Ozawa, who took some time out from his job as an advertiser to drop in and catch some of the game. "I think he has a lot of talent." Ichiro's exploits -- he leads the majors in hits, is tied for steals and is batting .347 -- has not only made him a star. It also has intensified Japan's long-standing fascination with major league baseball. Coverage of major league games -- particularly Seattle's -- has expanded in the Japanese media, and Japan's own baseball leagues are worried about slumping ratings. North American baseball news often takes the front pages of Japan's sports tabloids. That fascination was well in evidence at the Baseball Cafe. The dining floor is a baseball diamond, with huge TV screens over second base and home plate. American flags, and red, white and blue bunting is everywhere, and photographs of past greats such as Jackie Robinson adorn the walls. The focus on America's favorite pastime was also on the menu: the All-Star Breakfast featured a hamburger patty and french fries, but with a Japanese touch: Diners could skip the sesame seed bagel and have rice instead. For all the attention on Ichiro, Japanese fans' knowledge about the majors is broad. Stars like Randy Johnson and Sammy Sosa were given hearty welcomes. Fans erupted in cheers when Ripken homered. "True, two Japanese players are in the game," Takashi Inose said. "But it's also Ripken's last All-Star game." Yoichi Yamamoto, a 30-year-old math teacher, said before the game he was hoping to see the best players in the game and not just the Japanese baseball talent. But that didn't mean he wasn't rooting for Ichiro. "I hope he gets to play in the All-Star game again next year," he said.
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