Rev. Katsuya Kusunoki Throws First Pitch

Seattle Betsuin’s Resident Minister Fulfills New Year’s Resolution With Son

Editor’s note: The Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Church’s First Pitch Committee, composed of Sangha members Kemi Nakabayashi, Leanne Nishi-Wong, Tina Zumoto-Ko, Andrea Mano and Alex Sakamoto, submitted the following story and photos of Rimban Rev. Katsuya Kusunoki’s historic first pitch at the Seattle Mariners game on Aug. 25 to his son Yuiya.

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Congratulations to Rimban Rev. Katsuya Kusunoki and his 7-year-old son Yuiya for throwing and catching the ceremonial first pitch at the Seattle Mariners game on Aug. 25 against the San Francisco Giants.

The fete also marked another historic milestone — it was the first pitch by a BCA minister in a Major League Baseball game.

Rev. Katsu, as he is affectionately known, was all smiles as he stood on the pitching mound, dressed in his ministerial robes, wagesa, setta (Japanese sandals) and a Mariners trident cap. With a graceful delivery, he threw a perfect four-seam fastball, caught expertly by Yuiya.  

The 35,000 fans that attended the game also witnessed a Mariners victory with a 4-3 win.

For the past several years, Rev. Katsu’s New Year’s resolution has included his desire to throw a pitch in a Major League Baseball game. While resolutions are not part of Jodo Shinshu beliefs, they are a fun reflection on one’s self to encourage reaching goals in the upcoming year. 

Rev. Katsu’s love of baseball started across the Pacific Ocean in Nagasaki Japan. By second grade, he had already become a multi-faceted baseball player; he pitched, caught and played shortstop with the Irabayashi Buffalos. His passion was noticeable as he became his school’s captain by the sixth grade. His Sakurababa middle school team made it all the way to the Kyushu district tournament quarter finals. Rev. Katsu was elected captain of all his teams through high school and at Miyazaki University. As a catcher at Miyazaki University, he continued as a leader, as all good catchers are: the one who sees all aspects of the game.  

At age 22, Rev. Katsu paused his studies to live and teach abroad through the Japanese Overseas Cooperation Volunteer program. He lived in Zimbabwe, Africa for 28 months. He taught and coached the game to students and teachers from elementary to middle school. While he was coaching a club team, his talent in teaching and his love of the game were recognized. He was selected to coach the Zimbabwe National Adult team.  Returning to Nagasaki, he continued to enjoy playing on local baseball and softball teams.

As the second son of a Japanese Buddhist minister, Rev. Katsu was able to choose his profession. After graduating from Miyazaki University, he taught third  grade. 

However, his mind and heart kept returning to baseball, as well as to the ministry. His sense of adventure and love of travel brought him to the United States as a Jodo Shinshu minister in Lodi, California. 

While honing his English skills and serving as the Resident Minister at Lodi Buddhist Church, he played catcher on the Lodi Templars JACL (Japanese American Citizens League) team. That team made a historic run. And for the first time, the team won the AA Nisei Baseball tournament in 2015.

Rev. Katsu was transferred to the Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple in 2017. By coincidence, the Resident Minister at the Tacoma Buddhist Temple, Rev. Kojo Kakihara, was at college the same time as Rev. Katsu, but attended different classes. 

Both ministers, passionate about baseball, started an annual softball tournament between the two temples. At the first game, Tacoma was victorious. Rev. Katsu was player-coach of the Seattle team.

Before the second tournament, it was realized that this was a revival of the baseball tournaments from the 1930s between the two temples. In the past two years, White River Buddhist Temple has joined the annual tradition and the three temples look forward to the camaraderie and friendly rivalry each year. 

Rev. Katsu’s son, Yuiya, is already a skilled baseball player with a beautiful swing. Rev. Katsu volunteers as an assistant coach for Yuiya’s Little League team. Yuiya’s love of baseball is as evident as Rev. Katsu’s as you may find them in Wisteria Park, playing catch as much as their free time allows. 

Rev. Katsu chose the number 18 (referencing the 18th Vow) and Yuiya chose the number 17 (an homage to his favorite player, Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani) as their Mariners jersey numbers. 

Ayano Kusunoki, Rev. Kusunoki’s wife and mother to Yuiya, is supportive of their endeavors, on the field and off. Ayano herself is athletic, enjoying tennis, badminton, dance and volleyball. When you see Ayano at Yuiya’s baseball games, you quickly see that she loves watching Yuiya and Rev. Katsu enjoying baseball together. She is the undesignated family leader who cheers them on while gently steering them in the right directions.

On behalf of the Seattle Betsuin’s First Pitch Committee — Thank you! Sangha members throughout the BCA as well as the local community were all rooting for Rev. Katsu to get to the mound. 

Over 600 tickets were purchased in support of his dream of pitching at an MLB game and donating to the Seattle Betsuin's Arson Fund. A special shoutout to those who came from California to join in the Seattle Betsuin’s Sunday service and attend the game. 

Rev. Katsu said he was “so grateful to throw out the first pitch. It has been a dream of mine … because lots of people are talking about the temple and it is a good way (for them) to reconnect to the temple.”