Former President Bush Throws 1st Pitch in Japan

Chosun Ilbo ^ | 11/04/09 | Chosun Ilbo

[AKSurprise]

Former President George W. Bush threw out the ceremonial first pitch for a baseball game in Japan Tuesday during his first visit since he left office.

Bush joined former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to watch the game between the Yomiuri Giants and Nippon Ham Fighters.

Bush changed into a baseball jacket before taking the mound in the Tokyo Dome to throw the pitch before Game 3 of the Japan Series.

He chatted briefly with several players before joining Koizumi in a private box. Also in the box were Japanese home run king Sadaharu Oh and U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos.

The Japan Series is the country's baseball championship, much like North America's World Series.

[AKSurprise]

Seems like W is the one who is really pPatching up relations with Japan due to the insulting way Barack has been treating our allies, and appeasing our enemies all over the world...

[Texas4ever]

I remember when the Former Minister of Japan came to America...he went to TN...loved Elvis...I was hoping he was going to do Karaoke Japan loves GWB...so does most of Africa...i'm not seeing all the love for Obi one....what happened?

[rfp1234]

Better to throw out a pitch than throw up on the Prime Minister like Bush 41 did. Japan went into a 20 year recession after that.

[Jeff Chandler]

Better to throw out a pitch than throw up on the Prime Minister like Bush 41 did

Bush 41 had the flu yet attended the meeting during which he hurled chunks. The Japanese people respected him for enduring his discomfort instead of bugging out. The Japanese are a macho culture.

[Greg123456]

He chatted briefly with several players

I didn't know Bush speaks Japanese.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Bush throwing a ceremonial first pitch

Hikikomori losers of Japan protesting against Bush

[TigerLikesRooster]

Those protesting losers probably came outdoor first time after spending several months, locking themselves in their room and doing computer all day everyday.

[JoeDetweiler]

Go Yomiuri !!

[TigerLikesRooster]

Correction: outdoor —> outdoors

[JoeDetweiler]

A fan’s take.........

“Actually, his first pitch was FAST. It was like, one minute, this white guy is walking out to the mound, and by the time most people in the stadium realized who he was or what he was doing, he had already thrown the ball to home plate and was being rushed off the field.”

http://marinerds.blogspot.com/2009/11/japan-series-game-report-fighters-vs.html

[TheThinker]

W can throw it over home plate.

O needs affirmative-action catching to make him look good.

[eCSMaster]

Nippon Ham Fighters?

[AmericanInTokyo]

From what I heard from some multiple sources, it was a lot more than just "throwing up". But that will come out in somebody's memoirs some time, maybe well down the road.

I was in Tokyo at the time.

[MtnMan101]

ZerO vs Hero

[Puddleglum]

Lol! Thanks for the contrasting pictures. That pic of obama throwing out the pic in mom jeans still kills me.

[coop71]

What else was it?