Fukuda, Frank Tokichi, 1889-1941.

Frank Tokichi Fukuda was born in Shimonoseki, Japan, in 1889 and immigrated to Seattle in 1906. In 1912 he joined the Asahi Club, a young men's social club for prominent Japanese in Seattle, and helped form the Asahi Club baseball team. From 1912 until 1927 Fukuda was a player, manager, and coach of several Seattle baseball teams. He later served as principal of the Japanese language schools in both Portland, Or., and Wapato, Wash., where he continued to coach and manage young Japanese teams. He died in 1941. Fukuda has been has been called the father of Japanese baseball in the Northwest and is noted for his commitment to education and cultural exchange.

From the description of Frank Fukuda photograph and ephemera collection, ca. 1906-1927 [graphic]. ca. 1906-1927. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 52428865

Frank Tokichi Fukuda was born in Shimonoseki, Japan, in 1889 and immigrated to Seattle at age 17 in 1906. He played on the Seattle Nippon baseball team before joining the Seattle Mikado baseball team in 1908. In 1912 he joined the Asahi Club, a young men's social club for prominent Japanese in Seattle, and helped form the Asahi Club baseball team. From 1912 until 1927 he was a player, manager and coach of several Seattle baseball teams mostly within the Asahi Club. During this time he worked in a local Japanese bank, Seattle Shokin Ginko, working his way up from cashier to manager and finally vice president. When the bank failed in 1927, he moved to Portland, Or., to become the principal of the Portland Japanese Language School, where he continued to coach and manage young Japanese teams. In 1931, Fukuda moved to Wapato, Wash., to become the principal of the Wapato Japanese Language School and continued coaching and managing teams. He briefly served as principal of the Japanese Language School in Fife, Wash., sometime in 1933, but in 1934 and 1935 he was teaching, coaching and organizing youth baseball leagues back in Wapato and continued to do so until he died in Wapato in 1941 after complications from bladder surgery.

He and his wife, Hatsue, had a daughter, Sachiko/Yukiko, and one son, Masuru/Suguru (the eldest, born ca.1922), whose Americanized name was Perry. Fukuda has been recognized as "the father of Japanese baseball in the Northwest," as well as being noted for his commitment to education and cultural exchange.

From the guide to the Frank Fukuda Photograph and Ephemera Collection, ca. 1906-1927, (University of Washington Libraries Special Collections)