Western University Scholarship@Western Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository 11-8-2013 12:00 AM The Vancouver Asahi Baseball Team and Cultural Acceptance 1920-1941 Christopher M. Pellerin The University of Western Ontario Supervisor Dr. Don Morrow The University of Western Ontario Graduate Program in Kinesiology A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the equirr ements for the degree in Master of Arts © Christopher M. Pellerin 2013 Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd Part of the Asian History Commons, Cultural History Commons, and the Sports Studies Commons Recommended Citation Pellerin, Christopher M., "The Vancouver Asahi Baseball Team and Cultural Acceptance 1920-1941" (2013). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 1750. https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/1750 This Dissertation/Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by Scholarship@Western. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository by an authorized administrator of Scholarship@Western. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Vancouver Asahi Baseball Team and Cultural Acceptance 1920-1941 Thesis format: Monograph by Christopher Pellerin Graduate Program in Kinesiology A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies The University of Western Ontario London, Ontario, Canada © Christopher Pellerin 2013 Abstract This thesis analyzed how the Vancouver Asahis, through excellence in baseball, gained acceptance within the newspaper media and community from 1920 to 1941. An examination of Vancouver’s history and culture determined the importance of baseball to the city, especially upon Bob Brown’s, Vancouver’s greatest builder of the game, immigration. A history of the Asahis was also examined to help frame baseball’s importance to the Japanese and why they wished to engage in this specific sport. Through a content analysis within the Vancouver Sun and Daily Province newspapers, this thesis examined how the Asahis were represented in each of the two major newspapers in Vancouver. Words and phrases related to the themes of racism, praise, and acceptance, were documented and analyzed for frequency in each year sampled. This helped determine what type of coverage was afforded to the Asahis thematically. Through excellence in baseball, a sport primarily reserved for Caucasians, the Asahis managed to gain favour within the community as well as minimize the racism that Japanese residents of Vancouver normally received. Keywords: Asahi, Baseball, Vancouver Asahi Baseball Team, Japanese Baseball History, Harry Miyasaki, Culture, Content Analysis, Bob Brown, Vancouver Baseball History ii Acknowledgments There are many people who helped me throughout the process of completing my thesis, but none were as invaluable as my supervisor, Don Morrow. You were the inspiration to pursue my Masters Degree, as the undergrad classes I took with you showed me how important your students were to you and that you always gave your time to anyone who reached out to you. In my own eyes, I was hardly the conventional grad student, but you always allowed to me to grow and learn in my own ways, while never failing to be there for guidance whenever I asked; for that I am forever grateful. Dr. Janice Forsyth and Dr. Bob Barney, I am also greatly appreciative of the help you gave me when I began my thesis. I may not have been in constant contact throughout the process, but without either of your help in selecting a topic and getting it started I do not know where I would be now. Finally, thank you to Dr. George Warecki and Dr. Kevin Wamsley for generously taking time out of your schedules to serve as two of my examiners. I also am forever indebted to my roommates throughout this process; you helped make this whole adventure exciting and were there when I needed help of any kind. To my parents, Steve and Kelly, your support throughout my entire academic career has never gone unnoticed. I may not say it enough, but I have always been thankful and will never forget everything you have done for me while I pursued my dreams. Lastly, I cannot express enough gratitude and thanks to Western University of Canada (or The University of Western Ontario for most of my enrollment) and all the people and experiences it encompassed. For six years you have helped me learn who I am and grow as a person. I have tried to experience as much of you as possible and you never failed to provide me with experiences and opportunities to develop and utilize my skills. I am forever indebted to my alma matter and leave taking away some of the fondest experiences that I will forever remember. iii Table of Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgments.......................................................................................................................... iii Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................... iv List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. vi List of Appendices ........................................................................................................................ vii Chapter 1 ......................................................................................................................................... 1 Research Question, Introduction, Sources, and Methodology ........................................................ 1 Research Question....................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 3 Methodology .............................................................................................................................. 12 Limitations and De-Limitations ................................................................................................ 13 Organization of Thesis .............................................................................................................. 15 Chapter 2 ....................................................................................................................................... 20 Vancouver’s History and Growth: Railroads, Japanese Immigration, and Baseball .................... 20 Culture as a Concept ................................................................................................................. 20 The Canadian Pacific Railway and Vancouver’s Development ............................................... 22 Japanese Immigration and Cultural Acceptance within Vancouver ......................................... 26 Baseball in Vancouver .............................................................................................................. 32 Summary .................................................................................................................................... 36 Chapter 3 ....................................................................................................................................... 43 An Overview of the Asahi Baseball Team, 1920 to 1941 ............................................................ 43 Asahi: A History ........................................................................................................................ 44 Defining Racism ........................................................................................................................ 53 Summary .................................................................................................................................... 58 Chapter 4 ....................................................................................................................................... 66 Racism, Praise, and Acceptance in the Vancouver Sun and Daily Province ................................ 66 Racial Themes Surrounding the Asahis .................................................................................... 66 iv Themes of Respect and Acceptance Surrounding the Asahis .................................................... 69 The Asahis in the Newspaper .................................................................................................... 71 Racism in the Daily Province and Vancouver Sun ................................................................... 74 Praise and Acceptance in the Daily Province and Vancouver Sun .......................................... 82 Summary .................................................................................................................................... 87 Chapter 5 ....................................................................................................................................... 92 Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations ........................................................................... 92 Summary .................................................................................................................................... 92 Conclusions ..............................................................................................................................