Zeni, Dean of the Diamond

Kenichi Zenimura–known as “Zeni”–loved baseball. As a young man in the 1920s he developed a Nisei baseball league in Fresno, California, and later organized barnstorming tours that brought the likes of Babe Ruth to the West Coast and Japan. And despite being sent to a Japanese-American internment camp in Arizona during World War II, he knew that somehow, baseball would be the key to improving the lives of his fellow detainees.

This play is sponsored by the California Civil Liberties Public Education Program, a state-funded grant project of the California State Library.

Recorded at The Invisible Studios, West Hollywood, in October 2024.

Directed by Anna Lyse Erikson

Producing Director: Susan Albert Loewenberg

An L.A. Theatre Works full-cast recording, starring:

Keiko Agena as Kiyoko Zenimura

Michael Sun Lee as Kenichi Zenimura (Zeni)

John Miyasaki as Hiro Tanaka and others

Rob Nagle as Coach Hank and others

Thomas Winter as Harvey Zenimura

Additional voices by Tristan Chung, C.J. Cruz, Genki Hall, Derrick Kemp, Rosie Narasaki, Tristan Pravong, and Paul Yen.

Senior Producer: Anna Lyse Erikson

Prepared for audio by Mark Holden

Recording Engineer and Editor: Neil Wogenson

Mixing Engineer: Charles Carroll

Designed by Mark Holden and Charles Carroll for The Invisible Studios, West Hollywood

Senior Radio Producer: Ronn Lipkin

Foley Artist: Stacey Martinez

Special thanks to Bill Staples, Jr., and the Nisei Baseball Research Project for sharing their research and expertise to inspire and accurately depict the historical events of this project.