Japanese Baseball Legend Isao Harimoto Dies at Age 86

Isao Harimoto, a prominent figure in Japanese baseball and atomic bomb survivor, has died at the age of 86. Harimoto was known for his record of 3,085 career hits, which remains unmatched in Nippon Professional Baseball. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1990. Born to Korean parents in Japan, Harimoto began playing left-handed after an accident at the age of four left him with severe burns and limited mobility in his right hand. He survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima when he was five years old, with his mother shielding him and his sister from the blast. Throughout his career, Harimoto played for several teams, including the Yomiuri Giants, and earned the nickname “Hit Machine” due to his exceptional batting skills. He retired in 1981 after 23 seasons and later worked as a television commentator.