The story made headlines on the front page of several Japanese sports newspapers Jan. 25: The Yomiuri Giants in a money trade bought the contract of catcher Katsunori Nomura from the Hanshin Tigers, and just why would the transfer of a back-up backstop who, in fact, did not play a game at the varsity level for the Tigers in 2003, make it on Page 1?
![News photo](/images/photos2004/sb20040204wga.jpg)
Because of his name, his famous father and the family's history of opposing the Giants over the past 45 years, that's why.