Japan baseball great and atomic bomb survivor Isao Harimoto dies aged 86

What the report says

Japanese baseball legend Isao Harimoto has died at the age of 86, according to Al Jazeera’s reporting, which said he was remembered both for his on-field achievements and for surviving the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Harimoto remained the all-time hits leader among Japanese players, with 3,085 career hits, and was the first player from Japan to reach 3,000 hits.

Al Jazeera reported that Harimoto was born to Korean parents in Japan and overcame serious childhood injuries after an accident at age four left him with burns and limited use of his right hand. He learned to bat left-handed and went on to build a long career in Nippon Professional Baseball, including stints with the Yomiuri Giants. His powerful hitting earned him the nickname “Hit Machine.”

The article said Harimoto survived the Hiroshima bombing as a five-year-old, with his mother shielding him and his sister from the blast. He retired in 1981 after 23 seasons and later worked as a television commentator. The Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame inducted him in 1990.

His death underscores the lasting place he held in Japanese sport, both as a record-setting player and as a public figure whose life intersected with one of the defining tragedies of the 20th century.