Isao Harimoto dies, looking back at the moment Ichiro broke the Japan-U.S. hit record

In 2009, Ichiro broke Harimoto's record for most hits in Japan and the United States combined, a number that was thought to be immortal. Harimoto visited Seattle, the home of the Major League Baseball Mariners, where Ichiro played, and watched him break the record.

Efforts and defiance that produced great records, overcoming handicaps - Isao Harimoto's death and biography

Angels game on April 15th. His 3,085th hit was a bases-loaded arch. "They did it so easily. I didn't think it was a home run. It was a big hit," Harimoto said. Living up to the expectations of ``hopefully making a clean hit,'' Ichiro marked a milestone the next day with a brilliant move to the right field. In between games, Harimoto, who was introduced as a ``legendary Japanese baseball player'' inside the stadium, responded to applause.

Mr. Harimoto is known for his harsh commentary on TV and other media, but it was impressive that he frankly praised his junior for surpassing his own record. ``I thought Kawakami (Tetsuji) was the best, but as far as hits go, (Ichiro) is the best. His grip hardly moves.What surprises me the most is that he spends so much time looking at the ball even when he's going to hit,'' he said with enthusiasm as he talked about his batting technique.

When Ichiro was playing for Orix in the 1990s, Harimoto told him, ``You're the only one who can beat my record.'' After setting the new record, he humorously said, ``Congratulations was very modestly said to me.It was kind of uncharacteristic,'' but he also expressed respect for his predecessor, saying, ``It was important to (achieve) it in front of Mr. Harimoto.''

Don Zimmer, who has a long career as a major league manager and was Harimoto's colleague at Toei (currently Nippon-Ham) when he was active, said before his death, ``I think he would have hit .300 in the majors as well.I was lucky to see both (Harimoto and Ichiro) play.'' The images of these two hit makers born in the Japanese baseball world were etched in the memories of those who played in the American baseball world. (current events)