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cover to order. The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus Share this
page: + - R  Darvish in Texas: haafu identity and athletic
celebrity  Paul Christensen  In early December 2011 the Nippon
Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) “posted” Yu
Darvish, making him eligible to field contract offers from Major
League Baseball (MLB) teams in the United States.1 Darvish, a
tall, handsome then 24 year old who, from 2005-2011, was the
team’s ace pitcher, had been the frequent subject of
speculation: would he, and if so when, leave Japan for American
baseball. By December 19 the Texas Rangers had won the posting
process with a bid of $51.7 mill