Like Ichiro, daily beat demands dedication to craft

PHILADELPHIA — The horde of Japanese and American media had just finished a pregame session with manager Don Mattingly inside the Marlins’ dugout at Citizens Bank Park. Hiroki Toda, one of the 10-15 members of the Japanese press watching Ichiro Suzuki’s every move as he approached his 3,000th hit in the Major Leagues, leaned against the dugout railing and was asked who among them knew Ichiro the best.

His answer was almost second nature: “Keizo” — Keizo Konishi — who hasn’t had a day off in four years. He has followed Ichiro from Kobe, Japan, to Seattle, New York and Miami. From 1994-96, Konishi covered the Orix Blue Wave, Suzuki’s Nippon Professional Baseball team in Japan. He then transitioned to a general baseball reporter, even covering Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa’s home run race in 1998.

• Ichiro triples to reach 3,000-hit milestone • From Japan to US, Ichiro born to be a star • DYK: Ichiro joins 3,000-hit club • To Ichiro, 3,000 hits bigger than 1 person • Ichiro congratulated by 3,000-hit club members • Ringo: Ichiro’s road to 3,000 paved in Emerald City • Ichiro means everything to Ichi-meter lady • Like Ichiro, daily beat demands dedication • Celebrate Ichiro’s 3,000th hit with 13 great photos • Griffey admires Ichiro’s feat from afar • Old foes praise Ichiro’s greatness • Ichi-Rose: Combo batter expands hit story • Ichiro’s player page • Rare feats: 3,000 hits club • Shop for Ichiro merchandiseSights & soundsIchiro’s 3,000th MLB hitRadio calls Ichiro’s 3,000th hitIchiro discusses milestoneA look at the 3,000-hit clubIchiro reaches milestoneIchiro’s historic hit No. 4,257Ichiro highlights

In 2001, Konishi became one of more than 100 Japanese reporters on the inaugural Ichiro beat in the United States. The total has since dwindled to about one-tenth of that, but the duties remain the same. Konishi is not reporting on the Marlins, Mariners or Yankees. There is a singularity to his coverage, but it is wide-ranging. To cover Ichiro, one must appeal not only to the baseball fan but also the fashion connoisseur and pop-culture enthusiast. At least a sliver of Ichiro piques the interest of nearly everyone in Japan.

To understand the Ichiro beat, you must first understand Ichiro, as well as his standing within Japanese culture. “A mere baseball star when he played there, Ichiro is now an omnipresent cultural icon,” S.L. Price wrote in his 2002 Sports Illustrated profile. Added Brad Lefton, the lone American on …

continue reading in source mlb.mlb.com