Diamonds in the Rough: The Legacy of Japanese-American Baseball on AllMovie

Baseball came to Japan in 1870 as part of an idea to embrace rising Western values. Along the way, it was infused with the spirit of perseverance and harmony that characterized Japanese culture. When the Japanese settled in America in the late 1800s, they brought baseball with them. Soon, professional teams were organized and games were being played in Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. However, much of this activity came to a sudden halt in the 1940s with the construction of interment camps for Japanese-Americans. Though they were imprisoned, many players retained their competitive spirit. One such athlete was Kenichi Zenimura also known as Zeni. Diamonds in the Rough: The Legend of Japanese-American Baseball is his story. Named the Father of Japanese-American Baseball, Zeni led a generation of baseball fans in their appreciation of the sport. Noriyuki "Pat" Morita narrates this heartfelt examination of baseball's hidden history.