Genji Kaku
Encyclopedia
Genji Kaku is a Japanese
former professional baseball player from Taitung
, Taiwan
. His family comes from the Taiwanese aborigines. He obtained Japanese citizenship in September, 1989, and often uses the Japanese name, 佳久 源治 while in Japan.
in 1969 as part of the Taiwanese little league team, where his team won the little league championship. Kaku finished his military service in Republic of China, and joined the Chunichi Dragons
in mid-1981. He was not regarded as a star player at that time, and arrived in Japan with only about 3000 yen (roughly $30) in his pocket.
His sharp fastball (hit 94 mph) and breaking pitches quickly earned him a spot on the starting rotation, and he won over 10 games from 1983 to 1986. However, he also lost over 10 games each of these seasons due to poor run support.
In 1987, Dragons closer Kazuhiko Ushijima was traded to the Lotte Marines for Hiromitsu Ochiai
, and manager Senichi Hoshino
chose Kaku as the new closer. Kaku was a huge success in the closing role, using his solid control and hard screwball to lead the Central League
in saves in 1987 and 1988. The Dragons won the league championship in 1988, and Kaku received the league MVP award despite having to return to Taiwan during the season to mourn for his younger brother, who had died in a car accident.
Kaku obtained Japanese citizenship in 1989, and currently has a Japanese wife. He returned to the starting rotation in 1990, winning 13 games in 1991. He became a reliever in 1993, and became the fifth Japanese player in history to record 100 wins and 100 saves in 1994. He also led the league with a 2.45 ERA that year. He played his final season in Japan in 1996.
Kaku played in the Chinese Professional Baseball League
from 1997 to 1998,. He also participated in the preliminary rounds of the 2000 Summer Olympics
with the Taiwanese national team in 1999 at the age of 42.
After retiring from baseball, he opened a restaurant in Naka-ku, Nagoya
. Kaku's jersey number (33) is a retired number for the Chinese Taipei national baseball team.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
former professional baseball player from Taitung
Taitung City
Taitung City is the county seat of Taitung County, Taiwan. It lies on the southeast coast of Taiwan facing the Pacific Ocean.The city is served by Taitung Airport. Taitung is a gateway to Green Island and Orchid Island, both of which are very popular among Taiwanese tourists.-History:Taitung...
, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. His family comes from the Taiwanese aborigines. He obtained Japanese citizenship in September, 1989, and often uses the Japanese name, 佳久 源治 while in Japan.
Biography
Kaku first traveled to JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in 1969 as part of the Taiwanese little league team, where his team won the little league championship. Kaku finished his military service in Republic of China, and joined the Chunichi Dragons
Chunichi Dragons
The are a professional baseball team based in Nagoya, the chief city in the Chubu region of Japan. The team is in the Central League. They won the 2007 Japan Series and 2007 Asia Series.-History:...
in mid-1981. He was not regarded as a star player at that time, and arrived in Japan with only about 3000 yen (roughly $30) in his pocket.
His sharp fastball (hit 94 mph) and breaking pitches quickly earned him a spot on the starting rotation, and he won over 10 games from 1983 to 1986. However, he also lost over 10 games each of these seasons due to poor run support.
In 1987, Dragons closer Kazuhiko Ushijima was traded to the Lotte Marines for Hiromitsu Ochiai
Hiromitsu Ochiai
Hiromitsu Ochiai is a former Japanese professional baseball player. He is currently manager of the Chunichi Dragons in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball...
, and manager Senichi Hoshino
Senichi Hoshino
, 22 January 1947, is a former Japanese professional baseball player and current manager.In 2003, he led the Tigers to their first Central League pennant in 18 years before retiring for health reasons. Since 2007, He had managed the Japanese national team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.In October,...
chose Kaku as the new closer. Kaku was a huge success in the closing role, using his solid control and hard screwball to lead the Central League
Central League
The or is one the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around the country,The Central League...
in saves in 1987 and 1988. The Dragons won the league championship in 1988, and Kaku received the league MVP award despite having to return to Taiwan during the season to mourn for his younger brother, who had died in a car accident.
Kaku obtained Japanese citizenship in 1989, and currently has a Japanese wife. He returned to the starting rotation in 1990, winning 13 games in 1991. He became a reliever in 1993, and became the fifth Japanese player in history to record 100 wins and 100 saves in 1994. He also led the league with a 2.45 ERA that year. He played his final season in Japan in 1996.
Kaku played in the Chinese Professional Baseball League
Chinese Professional Baseball League
The Chinese Professional Baseball League , or CPBL, is the top-tier professional baseball league in Taiwan. The league was established in 1989. CPBL eventually absorbed the competing Taiwan Major League in 2003...
from 1997 to 1998,. He also participated in the preliminary rounds of the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
with the Taiwanese national team in 1999 at the age of 42.
After retiring from baseball, he opened a restaurant in Naka-ku, Nagoya
Naka-ku, Nagoya
is the heart of Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Largely hemmed in by Sakura-dōri , Ōtsu-dōri , Fushimi-dōri and Tsurumai-dōri , it contains the main shopping area of Sakae, a massive air-conditioned 5 square-kilometer underground mall) and the 'after-five' semi-red light districts of Nishiki and...
. Kaku's jersey number (33) is a retired number for the Chinese Taipei national baseball team.