Asahi: Japanese-Canadian Baseball Heroes tells the true story of the beloved Vancouver Asahi baseball team in a style suitable for a middle-grade audience. It shares the story of Japanese Canadians in a fresh, engaging way, particularly focussing on the lived experiences of individual Asahi athletes, how they were affected by racism against Japanese Canadians, and the relationship that developed between the Asahi team and their fans of all ethnic backgrounds. Beginning with a brief history of the popularity of baseball in both Japan and Canada in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and how Japanese people immigrated to Canada, the main focus of the book is the team itself—from its founding in 1914 to its growth into a championship-winning team; their 1921 tour of Japan; the effects of overt and systemic racism; their philosophy of sportsmanship; and their successes and challenges as a fan favourite team in Vancouver. It highlights individual stories of select key players, outlines the extensive kids’ training system for young Asahi hopefuls, and includes stories of girls and women in connection of this all-male baseball team. The final chapters follow Asahi players’ internment throughout BC and Canada during the Second World War, where many mentored young baseball teams in their new communities, and the establishment of the “Shin-Asahi” or “new Asahi” youth baseball teams in 2014 with the intention of continuing the Asahis’ legacy of sportsmanship and pride in Japanese culture. Illustrated throughout with archival photography and original collage illustrations, this book is a meaningful keepsake for young baseball fans everywhere.
