TOKYO 每 As the cameras went off, Shota Imanaga wrapped an arm around the shoulders of his Cubs teammate Seiya Suzuki. After they posed with stoic expressions, a few photographers asked the duo to smile. Imanaga broke into a wide grin, while Suzuki offered a sheepish smile that elicited some laughter.
It was a light-hearted moment that concluded their opening press conference at the Tokyo Dome Hotel 每 next door to the stadium in which the Cubs and Dodgers will clash for the Tokyo Series on Tuesday and Wednesday. It was the start of what will be a whirlwind week of events, exhibition games and MLB＊s Opening Day.
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※It didn＊t really hit me when we were in the U.S. how it was going to feel until we came here,§ Suzuki said via interpreter Edwin Stanberry. ※Everyone＊s been enjoying it. But also, ever since we＊ve been at the field, just watching my teammates＊ faces, they look ready.§
One night earlier, Imanaga and Suzuki put on a celebratory team dinner at the Kanda Myoujin Shrine. There were Samurai warriors who went through a traditional choreographed routine. And there was an assortment of Japanese food, including a large tuna that players helped cut open for the feast.
Imanaga enjoyed watching his teammates go through the experience.
※It makes me very happy,§ Imanaga said via Stanberry. ※Just noticing that a lot of players were taking interest in that part of the culture was very interesting.§
Cubs manager Craig Counsell called the dinner ※wonderful,§ but quipped that he did get a little nervous when it was time to serve the tuna.
※Some of the players participated in that,§ Counsell said with a smile, ※which was scary for a second with players with knives in their hands. But other than that, it was great.§
※I didn＊t think the knife would be that big,§ Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong said with a laugh. ※I thought my form was pretty decent, though. But it was nice. I couldn＊t make it all the way through the first cut.§
Really, Counsell was thrilled to see his players, family members, coaches and staff go through such a memorable experience. With a long 162-game season ahead, plus the goal of making a run deep into October, finding ways to expedite building team chemistry early in the year can be critical for a ballclub.
That is why, even with the lengthy flight and disruption that the time zone presents, Counsell did not see much in the way of negatives to this venture overseas. This was an opportunity for the Cubs to build connections that can help over the course of the next several months.
※The word ＆kizuna,＊ which is a Japanese word for bond,§ Counsell said. ※That started for our team last night, I thought, with the great party, and being able to be together. This is the start of a journey for our team.
※I thought the party last night 每 that Shota and Seiya did a fabulous job with, and we＊re so grateful that they organized it 每 was the start of that journey and the start of that ＆kizuna＊ for our team.§
The Cubs will have exhibition games against the Hanshin Tigers (Saturday) and Yomiuri Giants (Sunday) in the lead-up to the Tokyo Series against the Dodgers. It will be another opportunity for the players to experience how the crowds inside the Tokyo Dome differ from what they are used to around MLB stadiums.
And then when the Tokyo Series arrives, Imanaga and Suzuki will take the stage, along with the Dodgers＊ trio of Japanese stars, Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki.
※It＊s really all thanks to the Japanese players that came before us,§ Suzuki said, ※who created the stepping stones for us to be here now. I want to be kind of the stepping stone for future generations of Japanese players to come play in MLB.§
And Counsell believes this week spent in Tokyo will help offer many of his players a small snapshot into the challenge Japanese players take on when they come to the United States.
※Empathy is when you put yourself in the place of others,§ Counsell said, ※and being able to understand what they＊re feeling. I think being uncomfortable is where growth comes from for all of us, right? So, you gain a tremendous amount of respect for the challenge that the Japanese players who have come to the United States and played Major League Baseball take on.
※It＊s not just a work challenge, a baseball challenge. It＊s a life challenge. And it takes a lot of courage to take that challenge. And you learn that really quickly when you＊re uncomfortable in a new place. Two days in, 36 hours in, when you＊re uncomfortable, that＊s where the good stuff happens.§
Crow-Armstrong agreed with how Counsell phrased things.
※I＊ve definitely gained a little more perspective,§ said the outfielder. ※I don＊t think I gave them enough credit at first, or even really thought about how hard it actually is. But that＊s kind of the fun part about it for me. We＊re only here for a much smaller sample size, but having to struggle a little bit is just fun, and kind of learning along the way.
※And Seiya and Shota were lying about leaving us on our own. They＊ve been nice and they＊ve helped out a lot. I have a whole different perspective now, for sure.§