Icihiro Suzuki? Any reason?
2007-03-27 11:58:49 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Baseball
It has to do with the fact that Suzuki in Japan is like Smith is in the USA (or ming is in China) and since he was a superstar, his manager wanted him to stand out instead of being "just another suzuki". Since Seattle is owned by a Japanese company (nintendo) they continued this tradition.
2007-03-27 14:08:55 · answer #1 · answered by mekounknown 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I would think because of free advertising, MLB does not want to have to pay Suzuki corp. every time Icihiro takes the field.
and maybe he is just more comfortable with his first name on his jersey?
2007-03-31 00:05:34 · answer #2 · answered by martin d 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the irony of the situation is that Ichiro is indeed his last name. in Japan the last name is the first name said. the reason for this might be the importance of family in Japaneses culture, but a person named Josephus doe in America, is doe Josephus in Japan. what i am wondering to see is Dice-K. i am under the impression that Daisuke is his "first name" in America, but for all i know it isn't and will be what is on his away jersey with Boston
2007-03-27 20:01:51 · answer #3 · answered by Jason G 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
In Japan the First name is the most important name so it goes on the back of his jersey same with yao ming
2007-03-27 19:19:34 · answer #4 · answered by patsguy9210 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't think the reason "Ichiro" is on the back of his jersey has anything to do with his first/last name. Ichiro just stuck, so they just went with it.
2007-03-27 19:11:43 · answer #5 · answered by Berts 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
in japan the family name (our last name) goes before the personal name (our first name) so if he was american his mane would be suzuki ichiro
2007-03-27 20:48:48 · answer #6 · answered by Fuquan 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's not a japanese thing people, if it were, then Daisuke would be on the back of Dice-K's jersey, NOT Matsuzaka.
2007-03-27 19:07:24 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I used to live up there, and my parents and friends told me this years ago (when he first got to Seattle). I think I am remembering correctly, that it was a superstition of his, not to have his name on his jersey.
I hope I am remembering that correctly.
.
2007-03-27 19:02:46 · answer #8 · answered by tlbs101 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
because his name in japan is really suzuki ichiro..... so when he comes here in the states it changes to ichiro suzuki...
i kno hes not japanese but yao ming is the same thing.. it says yao in the back oppose to ming because his name in china is ming yao but in the states it translates to yao ming...
2007-03-27 19:32:41 · answer #9 · answered by cecilia m 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Im guessing that in Japan most people liked caling him just Ichiro.
2007-03-27 21:57:36 · answer #10 · answered by cutelady372003 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋