From the website Global Atlanta:

The Jan. 13 announcement that the Atlanta Braves have signed the team’s first Japanese-born player prompted predictions of increased tourism from Japan and an energized business relationship between the two countries. [...]

Takeshi Saito, chief executive director of the Southeastern office of the Japan External Trade Organization said Mr. Kawakami’s signing can only be good for business, which is already strong with Japanese auto factories and other businesses throughout the region.

"A Japanese player contributes to many tourists from Japan, and not only from Japan but from around the Southeast," said Mr. Saito.

Japanese-born Yuki Takatori, a professor of Japanese and linguistics at Georgia State University agreed. An avid baseball fan, she has traveled to other American cities to see teams with Japanese baseball players. At the reception honoring Mr. Kawakimi, she praised the Braves for signing a Japanese player.

"It’s long overdue," she said, adding that Mr. Kawakami may help attract Japanese tour groups to Atlanta.

Japanese players, "are great ambassadors to the United States," said Mr. Hanatani, Japan's top diplomat in the Southeast.

"We should recognize the tourism impact," he said. "I’m sure Mr. Kawakami will attract many Japanese baseball fans from all over Japan, but particularly from Nagoya city, that is the home ground of the Chunichi Dragons. (Mr. Kawakami’s former team)." [...]

Indeed, Mr. Kawakami seems to have already mastered some key words in the Southern vocabulary.

"Hello, my name is Kenshin Kawakami," the player told reporters, his only words without a translator. "Ya’ll call me Kenshin."

In a market like Atlanta where it is sometimes hard to fill a stadium even half full when school is in session or the Marlins or Nationals are in town, the addition of Kawakami should help put more butts in the seats of Turner Field. Don't forget, too, that the Braves will benefit financially from the likely increased attendance during away-games.