Uploaded May 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Today's Interview features American-born, Japanese Tarrento, Commentor, Baseball Manager, Salesman and Actor Marty Kuehnert (マーティ・キーナート). Marty is famous in Japan for being the first foreigner to become general manager a professional Japanese baseball team, The Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. In this interview, Mr. Kuehnert speaks of his early days studying in Japan, Appearing on NHK's English Conversation programs, Being a commentator for professional baseball in Japan, Appearing on Sekai Marugoto How Much, Appearing on the Drama Sakura and so much more. I want to thank Mr. Kuehnert for taking the time to speak with me about his career in Japan.
This interview was recorded via Skype on May, 1st 2020. This interview is the property of the JM Archive and The Spider's Lair Studios. Any work referencing this material must give written and/or oral credit to the interview and its source. This interview may not be excerpted or re-posted without expressed written or oral permission from the Spiders Lair Studios.
Mr. Kuehnert wishes to clarify that Babe Ruth Came to Japan in 1934 and not 1936 as stated in the interview. However 1936 was the year Japanese professional Baseball started. Thanks to Mr. Kuehnert for the clarification.
0:00 Introduction
4:00 On his earliest memories of television
5:00 On sports he played as a teen
5:20 On his early years playing non-professional Baseball and turning down a player contract with the Angels
6:25 On his early education prior to going to Stanford
7:03 On attending Stanford and the study abroad program that led him to Japan
8:24 On the ongoing process of learning the Japanese language
9:36 On being cast in the NHK English conversation program, On being in Pierre Gaisseau's Bye Bye Butterfly as the lead, appearing in the tv series of Otoko Wa Tsurai Yo (男はつらいよ) staring Atsumi Kiyoshi (渥美 清)
16:36 On starting as a baseball commentator with Kansai Television and Sun Television in the 80s
18:10 On how he was different from other baseball commentators at the time
19:40 On being a panelist in one episode of Ai Ai Game (アイ・アイゲーム) and not doing well with the format.
20:19 On modeling in Japan and it leading into being a contestant/panelist on the show Sekai Marugoto HOW Much (世界まるごとHOWマッチ)
21:38 On the format of Sekai Marugoto How Much
24:34 On Ohashi Kyosen (大橋巨泉) and guesting on 11PM
26:46 On "Beat" Takeshi Kitano (ビートたけし)
27:40 On how he differed from the other foreign contestants who were on Sekai Marugoto
29:07 On buying sports programming for Sun Television and doing commentary for NBA games and being primarily known in Japan as a sports person
31:06 On doing commentary for the Osaka Women's Marathon for 10 years and doing the Japanese commentary of California's Rose Parade for NHK
35:20 On fame and anonymity.
39:13 On being cast by Beat Takeshi for his show Koko ga Hen da yo Nihonjin (ここがヘンだよ日本人) and getting into a heated argument with Senichi Hosino (星野 仙一)
42:34 On shows he refused to take part in and his opinions on Japanese television
43:23 On the incorporation of humor into his broadcasts
44:35 On appearing in the NHK drama Sakura (さくら)
46:23 On the perceptions foreigners in Japan have on the successful Gaijin Talent, the perception Japanese have of Foreigners and how that has changed since first coming to the country
49:50 On the superficial nature of Japanese television
51:55 On how sports have changed in Japan since he first came to the country, the lack of unity among the sports franchises, and the lack of quality sports broadcasters in Japan
58:18 On the difference between American and Japanese Baseball fans
1:00:21 On why baseball teams in Japan are so divided
1:07:15 On his proudest achievement in his career
1:08:04 Advice he has for those wishing to work in professional sports
1:09:51 Advice he has for those wishing to work in Japanese television
1:11:31 Persons who helped him in his career
Today's Interview features American-born, Japanese Tarrento, Commentor, Baseball Manager, Salesman and Actor Marty Kuehnert (マーティ・キーナート). Marty is famous in Japan for being the first foreigner to become general manager a professional Japanese baseball team, The Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. In this interview, Mr. Kuehnert speaks of his early days studying in Japan, Appearing on NHK's English Conversation programs, Being a commentator for professional baseball in Japan, Appearing on Sekai Marugoto How Much, Appearing on the Drama Sakura and so much more. I want to thank Mr. Kuehnert for taking the time to speak with me about his career in Japan.
This interview was recorded via Skype on May, 1st 2020. This interview is the property of the JM Archive and The Spider's Lair Studios. Any work referencing this material must give written and/or oral credit to the interview and its source. This interview may not be excerpted or re-posted without expressed written or oral permission from the Spiders Lair Studios.
Mr. Kuehnert wishes to clarify that Babe Ruth Came to Japan in 1934 and not 1936 as stated in the interview. However 1936 was the year Japanese professional Baseball started. Thanks to Mr. Kuehnert for the clarification.
0:00 Introduction
4:00 On his earliest memories of television
5:00 On sports he played as a teen
5:20 On his early years playing non-professional Baseball and turning down a player contract with the Angels
6:25 On his early education prior to going to Stanford
7:03 On attending Stanford and the study abroad program that led him to Japan
8:24 On the ongoing process of learning the Japanese language
9:36 On being cast in the NHK English conversation program, On being in Pierre Gaisseau's Bye Bye Butterfly as the lead, appearing in the tv series of Otoko Wa Tsurai Yo (男はつらいよ) staring Atsumi Kiyoshi (渥美 清)
16:36 On starting as a baseball commentator with Kansai Television and Sun Television in the 80s
18:10 On how he was different from other baseball commentators at the time
19:40 On being a panelist in one episode of Ai Ai Game (アイ・アイゲーム) and not doing well with the format.
20:19 On modeling in Japan and it leading into being a contestant/panelist on the show Sekai Marugoto HOW Much (世界まるごとHOWマッチ)
21:38 On the format of Sekai Marugoto How Much
24:34 On Ohashi Kyosen (大橋巨泉) and guesting on 11PM
26:46 On "Beat" Takeshi Kitano (ビートたけし)
27:40 On how he differed from the other foreign contestants who were on Sekai Marugoto
29:07 On buying sports programming for Sun Television and doing commentary for NBA games and being primarily known in Japan as a sports person
31:06 On doing commentary for the Osaka Women's Marathon for 10 years and doing the Japanese commentary of California's Rose Parade for NHK
35:20 On fame and anonymity.
39:13 On being cast by Beat Takeshi for his show Koko ga Hen da yo Nihonjin (ここがヘンだよ日本人) and getting into a heated argument with Senichi Hosino (星野 仙一)
42:34 On shows he refused to take part in and his opinions on Japanese television
43:23 On the incorporation of humor into his broadcasts
44:35 On appearing in the NHK drama Sakura (さくら)
46:23 On the perceptions foreigners in Japan have on the successful Gaijin Talent, the perception Japanese have of Foreigners and how that has changed since first coming to the country
49:50 On the superficial nature of Japanese television
51:55 On how sports have changed in Japan since he first came to the country, the lack of unity among the sports franchises, and the lack of quality sports broadcasters in Japan
58:18 On the difference between American and Japanese Baseball fans
1:00:21 On why baseball teams in Japan are so divided
1:07:15 On his proudest achievement in his career
1:08:04 Advice he has for those wishing to work in professional sports
1:09:51 Advice he has for those wishing to work in Japanese television
1:11:31 Persons who helped him in his career
