You can make the argument that the Ottawa Titans should be playing the Japanese national anthem ahead of games, in addition to the Canadian and American anthems.

Not only is the Japanese links with the Titans an on-field affair, with both Mitsuki Fukuda and Kai Moody sharing the heritage, but through special event nights, the Titans have helped make the ballpark a fostering place for the culture.

Fukuda and Moody share an exciting bond, being two of the only players in the league who can speak the language, certainly a rare opportunity on this side of the world. 

“It made the transition much easier,” Fukuda, who was born in Japan, admitted through Moody, who translated all of his thoughts from his mother tongue. “Not knowing any English, and having a couple of guys with Japanese blood in them, it made me more comfortable. I didn’t feel completely out of place, and there were a couple of people I could actually relate to outside of baseball.”

Last season, along with Kenny Williams, who has since been traded, the three routinely spent time together, speaking exclusively Japanese. Despite being in North America for some time now, Fukuda hasn’t picked up the language, but unlike some Latin players in baseball, he didn’t have many options when it came to communication.

As a result, Moody and Williams spoke plenty more Japanese than they previously had, and even got closer to the culture they have been separated from a little bit throughout their lives.

“No doubt he’s helped me get closer to the culture,” Moody said. “Even my Mom told me my speaking has been way better than in the past, I speak it daily now, and I’m even texting in Japanese.”

Connecting with their Japanese roots comes with something special, particularly in a baseball context. Over the winter, Fukuda and Moody were treated to one of the greatest events in the sport’s history in Japan, as over 42 percent of households in the nation tuned in to the World Baseball Classic final against the U.S.A., despite the game taking place at 8 a.m. on a Wednesday morning.

As Shohei Ohtani struck out Mike Trout, Japan had conquered the baseball summit in 2023, once again marking them as the best team in the sport, with potentially the best player in the world to boot.

“I was all excited, just like the rest of the country,” Fukuda said. “In Japan, the popularity of baseball is kind of on the downfall, but winning the WBC gives us hope that it can continue to grow and become more a part of the culture.”

Although a Titans game isn’t quite the same as the WBC, the Japanese have made it a priority to support their own on the ball diamond. A look in the stands on a game day will routinely turn up a sighting of diplomats from the Japanese Embassy, or even other folks who have since moved to Canada.

For both players, it comes with a great honour to compete in the sport they love in front of their nation’s leaders, and that rings even more true when they consider this is independent baseball, where they don’t earn the big bucks.

“Having someone from the Japanese embassy come out and root for me is like a dream,” Fukuda said. “It’s something you wouldn’t think is real, it’s not something you expect to happen. I’m very grateful for that.”

This small gesture isn’t invisible to Moody, who sees it as a reflection of what Japanese culture is all about.

“It shows that in Japanese culture, people are out there rooting for one another,” Moody said. “Having them come out makes me feel very included in the Japanese baseball community.”

He didn’t expect things to be this way when he signed with the Titans midway through their first season in 2022, but with Japan Night already on the schedule again in 2023, he’s excited to see his heritage celebrated once again.

“It was right out of left field, but I loved it,” Moody explained. “I saw that we’re doing it again this year, so I’m really looking forward to that.”

Japan Night at Ottawa Stadium is on Saturday, August 26th, as the Titans host the Empire State Greys.