Unraveling the Japanese experience: Lessons learned from Lars Nootbaar

Identity is a concept I regularly contemplate. I often examine what constitutes identity, my own sense of self, and the meaning of being "truly Japanese" or "truly American." As someone with a Japanese mother and an American father who grew up in Japan while receiving an American education at an international school, this subject resonates deeply with me.

In the realm of sports, this subject emerges when mixed-race athletes must decide which country to represent. The conversation can also vary depending on the specific sport in question. For instance, the worlds of baseball and soccer have notably different requirements for representing one's nation in international competitions.

In soccer, regulations are stringent. According to FIFA Statutes, "A player may only represent one nation at the international level, provided they hold the nationality of that country." Additionally, there are inflexible rules regarding playing for multiple teams. Once a player has represented a national team, they are forbidden from switching to another. This often leads to a "tug-of-war" for young athletes eligible to represent multiple countries. A prime example is Adnan Januzaj, who was qualified to play for Belgium, Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, and Turkey due to factors such as birthplace, parental heritage, and grandparents' origins. Players must choose carefully, as they are barred from representing any other country once they have made their decision.

In contrast, for baseball, in order to represent a nation, one does not need a passport. Instead, they can fulfill this requirement in one of two ways: 1) the player has at least one parent who is, or if deceased was, a citizen of the Federation Team’s country or territory, or 2) the player has at least one parent who was born in the Federation Team’s country or territory. These are examples of ways a player without a passport from a specific country can still have the opportunity to represent that country in an international sports tournament.

Until the recent World Baseball Classics, I believed that possessing a passport should be a prerequisite for representing a nation. This seemed logical to me, because I wondered how someone could genuinely represent a country if they are not officially recognized as a citizen.

In late January 2023, the Japanese national team revealed their selection of 30 players for the upcoming tournament. Below is a glimpse of the starting lineup for the squad. You may observe that one of the names appears distinct from the others.

Indeed, the first name features significantly fewer intricate characters compared to the subsequent eight. This is Lars Nootbar, whose name is written using katakana カタカナ, the script typically used by foreigners to spell their names (apart from certain athletes who have Japanese passports, but with foreign fathers). My name, like Nootbar, is similarly spelled using only katakana: ハリス・ニコラス (Harris, Nickolas). Nootbar is Japanese-American. He was born and raised in the USA, but has Japanese roots on his mothers side who was Japanese.

Despite this connection I found to Nootbar, I found it difficult to wholeheartedly support his inclusion on the team. He did not speak Japanese and had not visited Japan for the past twenty years. It seemed to me that he wasn't "authentically Japanese," and I wasn't alone in holding such reservations. At first, there was some reluctance to welcome this gaijin 外人 into the fold. Former players like Hisanori Takahashi questioned Nootbar's selection, arguing, "There are Japanese players just as skilled who could have been chosen instead." This statement insinuated that the coaches should have preferred a Japanese national over the Japanese-American Nootbar if presented with the option.

During that week, I stumbled upon a short documentary about Nootbar. It explored his Japanese heritage, tracing it back to his mother's lineage. Despite his inability to speak Japanese, he had always felt a strong connection to Japan. As early as his elementary school days, Nootbar was determined to represent Japan in baseball. The documentary included footage from 2006, when a nine-year-old Nootbar confidently proclaimed his Japanese identity and asserted that he represented Japan while playing for his little league team. Born and raised in California, Nootbar's deep connection with his Japanese ancestry fueled his lifelong dream of playing for Japan. In his heart, he was Japanese.

I felt remorse for creating preconceived assumptions about his identity, culture, and loyalty to Japan based solely on his passport. Despite the fact that I am a Japanese passport-holder, I've encountered individuals throughout my life who disregarded my Japanese identity or labeled me as "not Japanese enough" due to my physical appearance, name, or mixed ancestry. This realization made me see that my initial rejection of Nootbar was a reflection of the attitudes of those who doubted my own nationality. In doing so, I had unintentionally imposed my own criteria on another person's identity, failing to consider their unique experiences and emotions.

With seven hits and four runs batted in, as well as numerous outstanding plays in the outfield, Nootbar quickly established himself as an invaluable asset to the Japanese team. His charisma also made him a fan favorite among the national team members. Baseball enthusiasts across Japan warmly referred to him as "Tachan" (たっちゃん), a nickname derived from his middle name, Tatsuji. Over the course of the tournament, Nootbar's Instagram following skyrocketed from 60,000 before the WBC to over 1,000,000 followers after Japan secured the 2023 World Baseball Classic title. Currently, he is one of the most sought-after Japanese baseball players in the MLB, boasting two TV commercial contracts with Morinaga & Company and Zoff.

The Lars Nootbar story demonstrated to me that identity transcends the limitations of a mere government-issued document. Possessing a passport was never the exclusive determinant of his "Japaneseness." Nootbar identified as Japanese and was willing to give 100% for the Japan national team. I used to be skeptical of the baseball system that permitted players without a passport to represent their nation. However, Lars Nootbar's journey has made me reevaluate this stance.

Nootbar is as Japanese as I am, regardless of whether he holds a Japanese passport or not.

The concept of "identity" is a prevalent issue for many mixed-race children and TCKs (third-culture kids) as they navigate their lives. As international educators, we often teach students who are of mixed race or considered "TCKs". To effectively address the topics of race and identity, a valuable resource for educators is a website called "Identity-Centered Learning". https://www.identitycentered.com/ This platform is managed by Daniel Lee-Wickner, a mixed-race educator and fellow "hafu," who teaches at Hong Kong International School.

(FIFA) Fédération Internationale de Football Association. "Regulations Governing the Application of the Statutes." FIFA Statutes, FIFA, [Publication Date], www.fifa.com/about-fifa/official-documents. Accessed 23 April 2023.

Answer編集部 : The. “ヌートバー、侍Jを「家族」と表現した粋な円陣 海外絶賛「彼は全試合でやるべき」.” THE ANSWER スポーツ文化・育成＆総合ニュース・コラム, https://the-ans.jp/wbc/307370/. 

週刊女性Prime . “【WBC大活躍】「決して選ばれる選手ではない」ラーズ・ヌートバー選手への‘酷評‘に批判殺到の高橋尚成氏が謝罪も「許しません」「上から目線」収まらない野球ファンの怒り（2ページ目）.” 週刊女性PRIME, 11 Mar. 2023, https://www.jprime.jp/articles/-/27163?page=2. 

“【選出理由】ヌートバーはなぜ日本代表?5つのポイントが評価!?” Kininaru Blog, 9 Mar. 1970, https://aiolin.com/nutoba-naze-japan/. 

Wickner, Daniel. “Identity-Centered Learning: A Framework for Educators.” Identity-Centered Learning, https://www.identitycentered.com/.

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