Our two hardworking interns from Santa Clara University, Colin and Alex, wrote the following two short articles. As interns, they are doing the crucial work of cataloging all the artifacts within the museum under the supervision of Brian Hsieh, a JAMsj Volunteer and Intern Manager, and Chisa Matsunaga, JAMsj’s Education Programs Coordinator. To do this, they must create records, conduct research, and, in some cases, restore artifacts held within the museum. Read on to learn about what they discovered about the history of baseball in San Jose Japantown and the significance of sake and sake production companies in the Japanese American community.
A Legacy of Victory: The Asahi Baseball Team
Colin Stolpe
Asahi baseball team's winning baseball from 1935
While working as an intern at JAMsj, the very first artifact that drew my interest was a baseball from the victory by the Asahi over the Tokyo Giants in 1935. Now faded and covered with signatures, this baseball illustrates an essential point in Japanese American sports history. Asahi pitcher Russell Hinaga hit the ball to drive in the winning run in a game against the Tokyo Giants on March 27, 1935. The ball is signed by Hinaga, his catcher Frank Shiraki, and several members of the Tokyo Giants.
This baseball represents much more than mere sports memorabilia. It represents the solid Japanese American community in San Jose and their love for baseball. The Asahi consisted of Japanese American players who excelled at the game and gave rise to community spirit and pride in a period when Japanese Americans faced many challenges in society.
To Japanese Americans, the San Jose Asahi was more than a sports team. It represented resilience and community. Formed in the early 20th century, the team gave identity and brotherhood. They played against local teams and visited Japanese teams, earning respect for their competitiveness and sportsmanship. They even toured Korea and Japan, playing baseball in 1925. During the 32-game tour, they went 25-7. After losing their first five games, they lost only two of their final 27. They were a very skilled team.
The San Jose Asahi on their 1925 Tour of Japan
The 1935 game against the Tokyo Giants is significant to the San Jose community. The Giants were touring the United States, and the Asahi team match with them drew considerable attention, because of the Asahi’s success in Japan 10 years prior. Russell Hinaga's game-winning hit remains memorable for the athletic excellence displayed and because it served as such a moment of memory and impact within the Japanese American community. The game was an equally loud reminder that sports can make cultural changes with people through exchange and mutual respect, making this ball and this artifact even more critical.
This baseball represents a moment of victory, triumph, and unity. It serves as a testament to the contributions and resilience of the Japanese American community in San Jose. That victory in 1935 against the Tokyo Giants stands for much more than just a footnote in
History—it is one of cultural pride and the timeless ability of sports to bind people together.
More than just a Sake Bottle
by Alex Song
The Sake bottle on display in the JAMsj gallery carries more than just rice wine. San Jose has a significant Japanese American community, with roots going back over a century. Japanese immigrants began arriving in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, contributing to the agricultural development of the region. Many of these immigrants maintained their cultural traditions, including the production and consumption of sake. Over time, sake became a symbol of cultural preservation and identity for the Japanese American community in San Jose. Along with this preservation of Japanese identity within San Jose, it also calls back memories from the once popular Dobashi Market. Opening its doors in 1912, it served the San Jose community for over 100 years before closing in the early 2000s.
The Dobashi family and staff in 1989; From left to right: Perry, Larry, Phillip, Chizuko, Andy Krupinski, Kay, Toni, Kevin Takaki, Tomiye, and Harry Dobashi.
Along with the callback to Dobashi Market, the bottle originates from Ozeki. Ozeki has been a large producer of sake since the 1700s and continues to serve its customers today. The significance of this lies within the migration and success of Japanese businesses in the United States. These companies have flourished despite the unrelenting trials and tribulations of Japanese Americans during the 1940s. Although Dobashi Market closed in the early 2000s, it served its San Jose community throughout its most difficult times during its time of service.
Sake Bottle: Dobashi Market
Sake is a powerful symbol of cultural identity and preservation. Dobashi market was a cornerstone for the community, providing goods and a sense of continuity through the decades, even during challenging times. Additionally, the bottle's origin from Ozeki, a prominent sake producer since the 1700s, highlights the resilience and success of Japanese businesses in the United States. Through the lens of this sake bottle, we see a narrative of perseverance, cultural pride, and the lasting impact of the Japanese American community in San Jose.
Meet our collection team interns!
Hello! My name is Colin and I am a Senior at Santa Clara University. I am from Los Angeles and have loved being in the Bay Area. Through my internship at the Japanese American Museum of San Jose, I’ve gained valuable insights into Japanese American History, further aligning my academic studies with practical experience in the field. I chose this internship because it gave me the opportunity to learn more about history, particularly World War II, and to learn more about working in History. This internship has taught me so much about working in a professional environment and has helped me gain a better idea of what I want to do in the future.
Hello! My name is Alex Song. I am a rising senior at Santa Clara University. I am currently pursuing a double major in history and political science with an art history minor. My current goals for the future lie within foreign policy and pursuing a career within the state department or wherever life may take me. This has been a very exciting project to be a part of and I hope that the work that I do here will help the museum and its guests to have a deeper, more meaningful experience while at JAMsj.