TAIWAN – Japanese baseball legend Sadaharu Oh received the Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon from Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou on Thursday in recognition of his contributions to the sport of baseball, and for promoting friendship between Taiwanese and Japanese people. A luncheon at the Presidential Office followed the ceremony.

The son of a Chinese father and a Japanese mother, Oh is a Republic of China citizen who is known in Taiwan as Wang Chen-chih. The former Yomiuri Giants’ great said after receiving the prestigious medal that it was the greatest honor of his life to be decorated by President Ma.

Baseball’s all-time home run king retired in 1980 with 868 career home runs. Due to stomach cancer, Oh stepped down as manager of the SOftbank Hawks after last season and plans to spend his retirement promoting the love of baseball among youths and children.

Oh also paid a visit to ruling Kuomintang Chairman Wu Po-hsiung on Thursday and received two photo souvenirs from his longtime friend. One picture showed Oh in 1989 bringing the torch into a Taipei arena to symbolize the opening of the national gamesin Taiwan, while the other photo showed Wu, in his capacity as Taipei city mayor, presenting Oh with a certificate of honorary citizen of Taipei. Wu was the mayor of Taipei from 1988-1990.

Chairman Wu also received a gift when Oh presented him with an autographed baseball. Both agreed to meet again in May when Oh visits Taiwan again to help promote baseball.

Tags: Taiwan