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The "Nisei" or first-generation children of the Japanese immigrants
(Issei), began forming a football team in 1949, playing in the Seattle
Independent Leagues and
averaged 165lbs/man. The first official game occured in 1949 when
the Nisei accepted an invitation to play the 1949 Associated Boys' Clubs
Champion Ballard squad on Dec 4th, 1949.
Coach Keiji Sato got his start with the Japanese
Marmots of the Courier League.
1949 Players Included:
Toby Watanabe (FB), Ted Kogita, Jim Suzuki, Ben Tsutsumoto, Tom
Tsutakawa, Ebo Okiyamam, Bones Mizuki, Shuso Kato, Yosh Hayasaka,
Richard Tsuji, Hay Fukuma, Sam Mitsui, Bob Sato, Bill Mizuki, Richard
Uchida, Ted Shinoda, Jun Tomita, King Tamura, Shozo Komorita, Lloyd
Chin, Art Yoshioka, George Aoyama, Ryo Mihara, Carl Ooka, Saddie Baba,
and Edwin Mar and Roy Mar from the China Clippers.
Ray Saito knifed through his right tackle into the open and raced
80-yards for the first TD to kickoff the 1950 season.
Charlie "Choo-Choo" Chiahara, a former O'Dea High star ran for three
TD's in the 1951 season opener of White Center. Gaylord Iwasaki scored
the other and kicked PATs.
1950 Players included:
Kay Fukuma (QB), Rich Tsuji (QB), Sam Mitsui (HB), Gaylord Iwasaki (HB),
Ray Saito (HB), Bobby Sato (HB), Ted Shinoda (FB), Bill Mizuki (FB), Roy
Mar (C), Ebo Okiyama (C), Mike Fukuma (G), Ben Tsutsumoto (G), Fuk
Takahashi (G), Bones Mizuki (G), Fred Sato (T/G/LB), Bill Cooper (T), Osa
Edamura (T), Ted Kogita (T), Yosh Havasaka (E), Jim Suzuki (E), Yogi
Katayama (E)
Hardhitting fullback Ted Shinoda was named MVP and the Most
Inspirational Award went to tackle and linebacker Fred Sato announced
during intermission of the Thanksgiving Dance. Sato was also
picked as honorary captain.
1951 Players included:
Chuck Kate (E), Herb Christensen (E), Fumie Shibata (T), George Louvaris
(T), Paul Kogita (G), Mike Fukuma (G), Ebo Okiyama (C), Rich Tsuji (QB),
Charlier Chihara (HB), Gaylord Iwasaki (HB/PK), Gerald Okamoto (FB),
John Swanberg (E), Nelson Matsuda (E), Hiro Suzuki (T), Mas Tanemura
(T), Jim Yasui (G), Garner Smith (C), Phil DeMasi (QB), Bob Ikeda (HB),
Sam Mitsui (HB), Ed Appel (HB), Art Watanabe (FB), Toby Watanabe (FB)
Charlie "Choo-Choo" Chiahara was named the teams 1951 Inspirational
Player at a banquet at the China Pheasant.
The Korean War hit the manpower of the Nisei Vet team so hard the team
could not take the field for 1952. Chiahara, Chuck Kinoshita, and
Fred Sato coached little leaguers (12 yrs old or under 100 lbs).
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1949 Schedule/Results (0-1): |
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