this have always be a favorite movie of mine . i have own a vhs copy and and a couple of month ago i find a dvd release which be also part of my video collection . i also happen to be a huge baseball fan and and a part of my off season reading and i pick up a copy of robert white excellent book you get ta have wa and that profile the in and out of japanese baseball and and the challenge that foreign player have encounter playing in japan . a i begin to read yesterday and it make me think of this movie and because it appear the screenplay be base almost verbatim on this book . the parallel be uncanny . the jack elliot character closely resemble bob horner and an age mlb slugger whose best day be behind him . horner teammate leon lee be also depict in the character max hammer dubois and a veteran in the japanese league who have make his peace with the frustration of the japanese game and and help keep his teammate sane . the elliot character go through the same sequence of encounter a horner and from big fanfare signing and early success that fuel an already ravenous sport medium and and the ensue slump that spur frustration and alienation from teammate and fan and medium and and the resulting disillusionment that prompt a desire to go back home to the u . the only difference be that the movie add such hollywood touch a a love interest and a happy end . speaking of love interest and i be sure many viewer have come to this site ( a i do ) to look up the actress who play hiroko ( the beautiful aya takanashi ) and and what other work she have do . it only list this movie . it turn out and base on an article i read and that the brief love scene she have with tom selleck ( a foreigner ) in this movie ( mild by our standard basically they kiss while he in the bath and she wear a towel ) cause such an outrage on the part of the japanese public ( male in particular ) that she have never be offer another role of any kind and in movie or television essentially blackball by the japanese movie industry . it a real shame and a she be ( be ) quite a talented actress in this movie . if you like this movie a much for the baseball element and cultural difference a i do go find a copy of you get ta have wa by robert whiting . a good read and a great companion book to this movie .