The Founding Members
The Asahi Baseball Association, formerly known as the Canadian Nikkei Youth Baseball Club, was incorporated in 2016. The association was built on and has grown from the original vision shared by the original Founding Members: Emiko Ando; Josh Coward; Tomio Fukumura; Russ Kada; Manabu Ogawa; Sammy Takahashi; John Wong.
Emiko Ando - in 2014, Emiko was a key figure in assembling a youth baseball team to participate in the first Asahi Legacy Game. She was one of the organizers of the inaugural Japan Tour in 2015 and has was the president of the club for 3 years. She is presently our "past president" and she continues to help guide the Association. As the president of the club, Emiko helped locate and present 20 unclaimed BC Sports Hall of Fame medals to families of the original Vancouver Asahi team.
Emiko's younger son, Alec was a player on the 2015 Japan Travel Team and after playing for the North Shore Twins for 4 years, Alec was invited to play with the UBC varsity baseball team. Emiko is General Counsel for BlueShore Financial Credit Union.
Emiko's younger son, Alec was a player on the 2015 Japan Travel Team and after playing for the North Shore Twins for 4 years, Alec was invited to play with the UBC varsity baseball team. Emiko is General Counsel for BlueShore Financial Credit Union.
Tomio Fukumura - Born in Tokyo, raised in Vancouver. Tomio's passion for coaching goes beyond baseball. As a National Team Ski Coach and a Kendo sensei for over 35 years, he understands that fundamentals, discipline, respect and perseverance are essential in every sport and in life. For 7 years, he has coached his older son, Hilo from Little League to Bantam AAA and the 2015 and 2017 Japan Travel teams. Hilo now plays for the University of British Columbia Varsity Baseball team.
Through the Asahi Baseball Association, Tomio has had the opportunity to learn more about the history of the Japanese Canadians and has grown closer to the Japanese Canadian Community. He sees how the Asahi has brought many generations and families together and he is extremely proud of how far the association has come. The positive stories he hears from the Asahi parents, the compliments from opposition coaches, and the success of all the players continue to inspire and motivate him everyday.
Through the Asahi Baseball Association, Tomio has had the opportunity to learn more about the history of the Japanese Canadians and has grown closer to the Japanese Canadian Community. He sees how the Asahi has brought many generations and families together and he is extremely proud of how far the association has come. The positive stories he hears from the Asahi parents, the compliments from opposition coaches, and the success of all the players continue to inspire and motivate him everyday.
Russ Hiroshi Kada was born and raised in East Vancouver, mother Sumi born in Japan and father George born in Vancouver and has an elder sister, Debbie and wife, Carrie. Russ and Carrie’s two teenagers attended Vancouver Japanese Language School and play competitive sports. Kaz is a player with the Asahi Baseball Association and played for the 2015 and 2017 Asahi Japan Tour Teams. Rio is currently playing Rep Softball for South Delta.
Russ has played and been involved in sports his entire life, he’s passionate about football, hockey, and especially baseball. Russ was once a student at the Vancouver Japanese Language School in the early 70’s and continued his ties with the VJLS by serving 8 years on the Board of Directors. Russ has Coached and Managed Teams at Hastings Little League, District 6 Saints, Burnaby Baseball Association, North Fraser Nationals, and Asahi Baseball Association.
When Russ thinks about Asahi, he says this is the epitome of what baseball is all about, it is about respect, history, and unification. Asahi brought people together back in 1914 and today we strive to maintain the pride, the joy, the love of the game, and to continue to live and pass on the traditions of the original Asahi players.
Russ has played and been involved in sports his entire life, he’s passionate about football, hockey, and especially baseball. Russ was once a student at the Vancouver Japanese Language School in the early 70’s and continued his ties with the VJLS by serving 8 years on the Board of Directors. Russ has Coached and Managed Teams at Hastings Little League, District 6 Saints, Burnaby Baseball Association, North Fraser Nationals, and Asahi Baseball Association.
When Russ thinks about Asahi, he says this is the epitome of what baseball is all about, it is about respect, history, and unification. Asahi brought people together back in 1914 and today we strive to maintain the pride, the joy, the love of the game, and to continue to live and pass on the traditions of the original Asahi players.
Manabu Ogawa - Manabu was born in Japan and now resides in N. Vancouver. Before immigrating to Canada, Manabu was a fire fighter and member of the Japan Police and Fire Federation. Presently, he is a Medical and Conditioning Trainer and Shiatsupractor. In addition to his regular patients, Manabu has worked with Japanese and Canadian National Team Athletes for over 10 years. His connection to athletes and sports, particularly baseball, goes back more than 30 years. He has played high school baseball in Japan and has coached in Japan and Canada and has organized several local tournaments.
For Manabu, the significance of the Asahi dates back to pre and post World War II. Life in Canada was difficult for immigrants from Japan. In a world of confusion and discrimination the Asahi baseball players were heroes who united the hearts and minds of the Nikkei community and the Anglo communities. He honors those players who persevered and overcame social hurdles. Through the Asahi Baseball Association, Manabu feels that the shin Asahi is a symbol of peace, and means to bring the new generation of players together while honoring the Japanese Canadian heritage.
For Manabu, the significance of the Asahi dates back to pre and post World War II. Life in Canada was difficult for immigrants from Japan. In a world of confusion and discrimination the Asahi baseball players were heroes who united the hearts and minds of the Nikkei community and the Anglo communities. He honors those players who persevered and overcame social hurdles. Through the Asahi Baseball Association, Manabu feels that the shin Asahi is a symbol of peace, and means to bring the new generation of players together while honoring the Japanese Canadian heritage.
Sammy Takahashi - was born in Tokyo, Japan and has lived in Vancouver since 1991. Sammy Takahashi who is presently managing several language schools in Vancouver served as Vice President of Japan-Canada Chamber of Commerce from 2013 to 2015 as well as Director from 2013, to 2017.
His younger son, Cody, was on the 2015 travelling team. Sammy was instrumental in organizing the Japan trip as the coordinator between the city of Yokohama, Obu High School in Aichi and Tenri High school and university baseball teams and the Terikyo church in Nara.
Sammy's involvement with the the club was sparked by the Vancouver Asahi movie at Vancouver International Film Festival in 2014. He wanted to be part of the move to revive the spirit of the Vancouver Asahi by creating a new Asahi team.
His younger son, Cody, was on the 2015 travelling team. Sammy was instrumental in organizing the Japan trip as the coordinator between the city of Yokohama, Obu High School in Aichi and Tenri High school and university baseball teams and the Terikyo church in Nara.
Sammy's involvement with the the club was sparked by the Vancouver Asahi movie at Vancouver International Film Festival in 2014. He wanted to be part of the move to revive the spirit of the Vancouver Asahi by creating a new Asahi team.
John Wong - Has coached coached baseball for over 20 years and coached his three 3 sons (and daughter) during that time and as such has created a great family passion for the game of baseball. His sons and daughter are of Japanese Canadian descent but were not too familiar with their Japanese Canadian history or Japanese culture until the Asahi Baseball Association was formerly created. In 2015, his youngest son was named to the Japan Tour Team and John was the head coach. Though the ABA and the tours to Japan, John's family has learned more about their cultural mosaic and feels that the family has grown closer to their Japanese roots.
For John he believes the original Vancouver Asahi Baseball team is a great legacy in Japanese Canadian history and he is passionate in keeping its legacy alive. This combined with his passion for baseball were the impetus for him to get involved in creating the association.
For John he believes the original Vancouver Asahi Baseball team is a great legacy in Japanese Canadian history and he is passionate in keeping its legacy alive. This combined with his passion for baseball were the impetus for him to get involved in creating the association.