Wednesday, June 15th was Japanese Heritage Night at Dodger Stadium in LA.

The Dodgers is a team that interacts with the local community and held an event introducing the Japanese American community at their interleague playing against Angels, where Shohei Ohtani plays.

First, a ribbon-cutting ceremony took place for the exhibition celebrating the legacy of Japanese American baseball. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and actor Ken Watanabe also joined this ceremony.

This exhibit pays tribute to the 80th anniversary of Executive Order 9066 and the 150th anniversary of US-Japan Baseball diplomacy.
The exhibition consists of historical panels, pre and postwar artifacts that chronicle the introduction of baseball, and how baseball was important for people in the internment camps.

Ken Watanabe looked around the exhibition with Dave Roberts who is originally born in Okinawa.

Prior to the game, “LA Taiko Ichiza” performed a Japanese Taiko Drumming Ensemble.
After the 2021 Nisei Queen and Court were introduced, vocalist Keiko Takeshita and former Nisei Queen Lauren Kinkade Wong sang the US and Japanese national anthems.
And then to the ceremonial first pitch.

Consul General in LA Akira Muto threw first, and ABC 7 sports anchor Rob Fukuzaki did the catching.

Followed by Ken Watanabe.
Although the ball bounced once, Dave Roberts caught the ball.

A special baseball cap were given to those who purchased a special ticket package. Everyone there enjoyed the game and event.