Mr. Baseball

I have found it useful to use selective clips which focus on Selleck, the arrogant American. For instance, the section from his entry into the locker room until he starts the warm-up exercises (about 10 minutes) is good for showing shoe removal, respect for the coach, and an American player who has adapted well to Japan. That section is quite respectful of Japan. In general, many teachers have found the film a good entre point for drawing students toward Japan. Perhaps only parts are valuable.

I viewed this film before and after I visited Japan. I must say that I found it funnier after the visit and realized that there is even more humor in the film beyond what is set up as intentional for "western" audiences. However, I would be cautious about using this with high school students because it reinforces stereotypes for comedic purposes. Students who do not have a thorough study of Japanese culture would not necessarily understand the humor in the right context. I have not used it in class for this very reason. It should be viewed sheerly for entertainment purposes and probably is not suitable for classroom use due to the nature of the stereotyping.