Postcards from Tokyo: Food forcing some Cubs out of their comfort zone

I had just wrapped up talking with first baseman Michael Busch about how the off-the-field highlight of his trip has been the sushi, when manager Craig Counsell presented the opposing view.

“The first thing you learn is that athletes eat a lot,” he said in his press conference Sunday. “They eat more than you think. So when the food is different, they complain, unfortunately. But also, they need to eat. So they need to be adventurous. And that’s what this trip has forced them to do.

“We talk a lot about, get out of your comfort zone, and that’s where the good things happen. So the food part for a lot of these guys is where it’s happened.”

It was one of the least relatable things I’ve ever heard. Exploring a city through food is smack dab in the middle of my comfort zone.

Some of the best meals I’ve eaten in Tokyo so far have come from wandering into a nearby restaurant and hoping for the best. It’s a tactic I’d very much recommend to anyone taking a trip out here. Just be ready for surprises along the way — most likely great ones.

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