is a former Japanese

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...

 baseball player and manager. Born in Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto

Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto

is a city located in Kumamoto, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 36,297 and the density of 172 persons per km². The total area is 210.55 km².The city was founded on February 11, 1942....

, he was nicknamed "God of batting" as a player. In 1951, he had whiffed only 6 times, which is the Japanese single-season tie record. He was ruthless as a manager, but it made his team strong. He led Yomiuri Giants

Yomiuri Giants

The are a professional baseball team based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. The team competes in the Central League in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top level of professional play in Japan. They play their home games in the Tokyo Dome, opened in 1988. The English-language press occasionally calls the...

 to nine consecutive championships as a manager.

Filmography

Tetsuharu Kawakami played in 3 films:

• 人生選手 (1949)
• (川上哲治物語　背番号１６ Kawakami Tetsuharu monogatari sebangō 16
  Kawakami Tetsuharu monogatari sebango 16
  , literally: Story of Tetsuharu Kawakami: number 16, is a 1957 black-and-white Japanese film directed by Eisuke Takizawa.The film is about Japanese baseball player Tetsuharu Kawakami.-Cast:* Shinoda Yoshihiro as Tetsuharu Kawakami...
  
  ) (1957) as himself
• ＢＩＧ−１物語　王貞治 (1977)
• Kawakami is referred to by name in the baseball game scene from film director Akira Kurosawa's "Stray Dog" (1949); aka "Nora Inu"

External links