What to Know
- Yoshio Nakmura, a Southern California icon, will be honored Friday as the Military Hero of the Game at Dodger Stadium
- Nakmura was incarcerated in an internment camp before becoming a U.S. Army staff sergeant during World War II
- A ceremonial first pitch will be thrown by Eiko Roberts, the mother of Dodgers manager Dave Roberts in connection with Japan Night
Yoshio C. Nakamura, who went from being incarcerated in an internment camp to being a U.S. Army staff sergeant during World War II, will be honored as the as the Military Hero of the Game Friday night as the Los Angeles Dodgers begin a three-game interleague series against the Los Angeles Angels at Dodger Stadium.
Nakamura, a Southern California icon who was inducted in the Army enlisted reserves in 1944, served on active duty in France and Italy with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. The team consisted nearly entirely of Japanese-Americans and was the most decorated unit in U.S. military history for its size and length of service.
The team was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal in 2010. Nakamura was awarded a Bronze Star and made a member of the French Legion of Honor.
Nakamura received bachelor's and master's degrees in fine arts from USC and became an accomplished educator and artist.
A ceremonial first pitch will be thrown by Eiko Roberts, the mother of Dodgers manager Dave Roberts in connection with Japan Night. She was born and raised in Japan.
Japanese Consul General Akira Chiba and members of the Nisei Week Court will be introduced during pregame ceremonies for Japan Night.
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A Japan Night ticket package, including a Kenta Maeda jersey T-shirt, with Dodgers and Maeda written in Japanese is available.
Another first pitch will be thrown by "Access" anchor Natalie Morales and Scott Evans and Kit Hoover, correspondents on the syndicated entertainment news program.
A fireworks show set to music from Los Angeles artists will follow the game.
Fans will be invited onto the field to watch the show, which will take place before 11 p.m. and is subject to cancellation if the game lasts too long, like all of the Friday night fireworks shows at Dodger Stadium.
Entering Friday, the Dodgers were alone atop the NL West after their series with San Diego.
