A once-in-a-generation player who earned the admiration of baseball fans in North America -- the birthplace of the sport -- has now received the highest honors. Ichiro Suzuki has been inducted into the halls of fame in both Japan and the U.S.

In both countries, Hall of Fame inductees are chosen through voting by journalists. Five years after retiring, Ichiro became eligible and secured his place with an impressive 92.6% of the vote in Japan and an extraordinary 99.7% in the United States -- just one vote shy of unanimous selection.

Although players like Hideo Nomo and Hideki Matsui have been considered for the American Hall of Fame, Ichiro is the first Asian-born player to be inducted.

During his time with the Orix BlueWave in Japan's Kansai region, Ichiro developed his iconic "pendulum swing," a unique batting technique in which he dramatically kicked his right leg to time his swing. This helped him rack up extraordinary hit totals. In 1995, the year the Great Hanshin Earthquake struck the team's home territory in and around Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Ichiro played a pivotal role in leading Orix to a league championship. The following year, they won the Japan Series, bringing hope and inspiration to the people of Kobe.

In 2001, at the age of 27, Ichiro moved on to Major League Baseball, where he dazzled fans for 19 seasons, mostly with the Seattle Mariners, but also with the New York Yankees and Miami Marlins. His blazing speed, precise hitting to all fields and incredible outfield throws -- famously dubbed "laser beams" -- remain etched in fans' memories.

Though not physically imposing, Ichiro thrilled audiences with his exceptional combination of hitting, running and fielding skills, changing MLB's traditional view emphasizing power.

Ichiro's combined total of 4,367 hits across his career in Japan and the United States is a testament to his unparalleled batting ability. Sadaharu Oh, Japan's legendary home run king who holds the world record, once described Ichiro as "a genius at connecting the ball with the bat's sweet spot -- something beyond human."

Since retiring at the age of 45, Ichiro has taken on a role with the Mariners while also dedicating himself to coaching high school players and promoting women's baseball. As baseball participation declines in Japan, Ichiro appears deeply concerned about the future of the sport in his home country.

In today's game, advanced tools such as analytical footage from high-performance cameras and artificial intelligence are widely used to decide strategies and improve skills. However, Ichiro has warned against modern baseball increasingly relying on data, saying, "Being shackled by data erases creativity." He encourages high school players to value their instincts and think for themselves.

At its core, sports remain a contest that pushes human abilities to their limits. Ichiro is urged to continue to inspire future generations with the enduring beauty of baseball.