3 minute read
Connected to Two Countries by Softball
An Interview with Olympian Monica Abbott
Interviewed by Rashaad Jorden (Yamagata 2008-2010, Kochi 2018-2020)
This interview was conducted prior to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics postponement.
Monica Abbott has represented the United States in softball in two Olympic Games: 2008 and 2020, winning silver medals on both occasions. The Tokyo Olympics definitely did not represent her only significant softball experience in Japan, having played several seasons for the Toyota Red Terriers in Aichi Prefecture. Abbott made history in 2016 when she signed a $1 million contract with the Scrap Yard Dawgs in the National Pro Fastpitch League, becoming the first woman on a team sport in the U.S. to ink such a deal.
RJ: You've spent several seasons in Japan playing for Toyota. What attracted you to the country and what do you enjoy most about playing in Japan?
MA: Japan had the best professional opportunity for me in softball post the 2008 Olympics. I wanted to continue my playing career, and Japan was the best way to do it. I love how passionate the Japanese (and Toyota) fans are! They are super loyal, consistent, and they make the atmosphere of the games very fun!
RJ: You've been able to win championships with Toyota. Aside from those titles, are there any other memorable experiences that come to mind when you think of your time on the diamond in Japan?
MA: Obviously winning championships come with a lot of happy memories, but I have also loved getting to know the language through sport! Charades, gestures, and acting got me a long way in the very beginning, and those are some fun memories!
RJ: What have been the most challenging aspects of playing softball professionally in Japan?
MA: I think just getting used to the different demands and culture (such as scheduling, practice, time constraints, and lifestyle). The league is very competitive, and there aren’t a ton of games, so every game holds so much more weight!! That competitiveness is a challenge I love!
RJ: How do you think your 2020 Olympic experience will be different from your 2008 Olympic experience?
MA: In 2008, I was the youngest player on Team USA, but in 2020, that story has changed. I’m also in a country that I have lived and played in for over 10 years! I think it will be really cool for me as a Team USA player to have supporters from both Japan and America!
RJ: Finally, what excites you the most about being able to participate in the Tokyo Olympics?
MA: Being able to compete in front of and for the world as a representative of my communities, and of the sport of softball for the USA is really exciting!
Monica Abbott is a native of Northern California. After graduating from North Salinas High School, she starred at the University of Tennessee before embarking on an enormously successful professional career. Off the field, she has helped several outstanding athletes attend college through the MA14 Scholarship Fund she established.
Rashaad Jorden was a two-time JET Program participant—first in Yamagata Prefecture from 2008 to 2010 and in Kochi Prefecture from 2018 to 2010. During his JET experiences, he completed the Tokyo Marathon in 2010 and the Kochi Ryoma Marathon twice in 2019 and 2020. He also served as the Sports Editor for CONNECT from September 2019 to July 2020.
