Yoshii

Former Mets, Rockies, and Expos pitcher Matsato Yoshii is now a coach for Nippon Ham. The New York Times notes that he is the first Japanese player with United States playing experience to coach there.

Humor is necessary for the job because in a country where Yoshii was once instructed to throw 2,000 pitches in spring training, ideas from the outside can often be scorned.

Given how long they've put up with Bobby Valentine's schtick (did you know he claims to have invented the wrap sandwich?), I'm guessing those old stereotypes about the closed-minded Japanese baseball establishment are becoming outdated.