When I think about it, if somebody was to pass Pete Rose's record just playing in Japan, that would be a bigger accomplishment because of the few games they play over there.
I am so happy and proud to learn of Hideo Nomo's election to the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame. He was quite a pitcher and competitor, but he is also a very special and caring person.
Major league hitters have more power. But Japanese hitters are very good at making contact. I don't like either.
I want to be the first player to show what Japanese batters can do in the major league.
There is nothing I will miss about Japanese baseball. Off the field, I will miss my dog.
The more that Japanese players go to the big leagues to play and succeed, the more that will serve to inspire young kids in Japan to want to become baseball players when they grow up.
In Japan, football has grown but it doesn't mean that baseball has regressed. Baseball also has grown with football.
When I look at the records and see where my place in the history of the game (in Japan with Orix) might be, I guess you could say it was a good decision to come here. It's not just me. Maybe I'll have an effect on others in the international part of the game.
I notice that teams are now more interested in Japanese players than when I first went to Europe.
Playing in Japan suits me the best, but what I need is in the Majors. I felt that in order to do my job, I needed to change my job location.
