mr. baseball be a film of paradox . write and film a a light and sport comedy it truly have a heartwarming core a human and universal a some of capra fine . at the plot level and you have the paradox of baseball and a fine old american game and a it be play in japan turn around and with american value cast off and japanese value imprint upon the game . ( some of the superficial sport comedy result from jack uncomprehending disbelief at how basa boru be play in japan . ) you also have a lead character who present a an over the hill and age baseball star and but who be actually quite immature pro ball allow him to postpone grow up . and you have a lead character who be rudely resistant to the change in his life that be be force upon him and refuse to accept the curveball that life have give him and in the midst of a new country and a new manager and a new team and and a new girlfriend and who have all welcome him and try to accept him . sound like heavy stuff . not really . it a charm clash of culture comedy that take place on the national and sport and romantic and and professional level . but if you watch it sensitively enough and you will also find a great story about a man who have to abandon his immaturity and grow up way too late in life ( cause some amount of personal pain ) and and find success in place he never expect it . i love the story and but i also have great respect for selleck performance while he bar his tush ( literally ) to portray an ugly american and insulting people and throw tantrum in public and then let u inside this character to understand his dismay . it also doesn not hurt if youre a big fan of takakura ken like i be . mr. baseball be a surprising loss of innocence tale .