NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- The Nashville Predators had to like what they saw from Japanese defenseman Yujiro Nakajimaya.
Making his preseason debut, Nakajimaya contributed an assist and played a solid all-around game and Drake Berehowsky had a goal and two assists as the Predators posted a 4-1 win over the Atlanta Thrashers.
Nakajimaya, 29, was invited to participate in the Predators training camp by general manager David Poile and will accompany the team to Japan in October for their season-opening two-game series against the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 7-8.
Today, he received more than 13 minutes of ice time, played effectively in his own end and moved the puck efficiently on the power play. The Predators converted 3-of-12 opportunities with the man advantage. Nakakimaya was also penalized for hooking in the first period.
FWIW, the Islanders had a Japanese player (from the Japanese league) at their prospect camp. There wasn't/isn't a lot of talk about him so I don't know how he did, but it was strange to see his name on the invite list (who is watching games for the Isles in Japan?!)
FWIW, the Islanders had a Japanese player (from the Japanese league) at their prospect camp. There wasn't/isn't a lot of talk about him so I don't know how he did, but it was strange to see his name on the invite list (who is watching games for the Isles in Japan?!)
Shuhei Kuji, who is entering his final year with Wasata University. He's going to join the Oji Eagles of the Asian League upon graduation. He played for the Japanese national team at the Division I World Championships in April, scoring 2 goals and 1 assist.
If Nakajimaya did so well then WHY didn't he stay on with the Preds or another NHL team?
It would be REALLY nice to see an Asian/Oriental born skater in the NHL. Yutaka Fukufuji played one period or so for the Kings a couple years ago but he was a goalie.
If Nakajimaya did so well then WHY didn't he stay on with the Preds or another NHL team?
It would be REALLY nice to see an Asian/Oriental born skater in the NHL. Yutaka Fukufuji played one period or so for the Kings a couple years ago but he was a goalie.
Richard Park and Jim Paek are both born in South Korea, but I don't think they played hockey there.
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Originally Posted by BladesofSTEELwFIRE
Who is he??
Made up, late round draft pick of the Sabres from a Japanese team. I believe it was back in the 80's.
The history of Japan players in the NHL began in 1974, when the Buffalo Sabres drafted Taro Tsujimoto in the 11th round. It turned out Tsujimoto was a fictitious player. The club’s General Manager Punch Imlach was bored with the late-rounders, so he let his staff translate Sabres into Japanese to form a club name and let pick the first Japanese-looking name from the phone book, making a random Japanese man from Buffalo the star centre of the Tokyo Katanas.
Can someone explain to me what a Nippon Paper Crane is?
You have never made origami in school? A paper crane (crane[bird] made of paper) is probably the most common/famous rendition. In traditional Japanese culture, if you fold 1000 of them, a wish will come true. Its a symbol of long life and good luck.
Nippon is what Japanese people call Japan. In this case Nippon Paper (or Japan Paper company) is the one that sponsors the team.
FWIW, the Islanders had a Japanese player (from the Japanese league) at their prospect camp. There wasn't/isn't a lot of talk about him so I don't know how he did, but it was strange to see his name on the invite list (who is watching games for the Isles in Japan?!)
I know this is old, but the owner of the Isles is from Japan I think.
