TOKYO — When Kosuke Fukudome thinks back to his first professional season in Japan, Major League Baseball never felt like an attainable goal.

Fukudome dreamed of playing in the majors, of course. But that didn’t feel tangible until the following year as he watched the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets open the 2000 regular season at the Tokyo Dome. Fukudome, the Cubs’ first Japanese player (2008-11), fittingly had a presence during the Tokyo Series this week, throwing the ceremonial first pitch before the opener and representing the organization during a local elementary school visit Wednesday with former teammate Derrek Lee.

In a conversation with the Tribune, Fukudome expressed his appreciation for his connection with the Cubs organization and his legacy of paving the way for other Japanese players to join the franchise.

“I’m extremely proud and honored,” Fukudome said through an interpreter. “Kids nowadays may have the same thoughts, but if they have a wonderful baseball career, they might be able to be another major-leaguer. So I want them to feel that way and try hard to catch their dream.”

Over the nearly 15 years since he last put on a Cubs uniform, Fukudome followed the seven Japanese players — Koji Uehara, Munenori Kawasaki, Kyuji Fujikawa, Tsuyoshi Wada, Yu Darvish, Seiya Suzuki and Shota Imanaga — who played for the organization after him.

“I want to know how they do, I really care, especially about Imanaga,” Fukudome, 47, said.

Fukudome chatted with Imanaga after the left-hander signed with the Cubs before the 2024 season, offering advice about the transition from Nippon Professional Baseball to the majors and adjusting to living in the U.S. Imanaga appreciated getting to face Fukudome in NPB, the latter having played professionally through the 2022 season.

“He was a really tough opponent facing him, and I feel like a lot of the acquisition of skill, like getting better, came from him too,” Imanaga told the Tribune through interpreter Edwin Stanberry. “So any time I had an opportunity to face him, I think it was really important for my skill development as a whole.”

Game 1 of the Tokyo Series between the Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers averaged more than 25 million viewers in Japan, making it the most-watched MLB game in the country’s history. The two-game series recorded a combined attendance of 84,732 at the Tokyo Dome.

“If you look at these packed crowds, we can tell that Japanese kids will have something else to look up to,” Fukudome said. “So it’s great for Japanese baseball and it’s great for MLB. And as you could see, there are so many former players on the field before the game, so it’s not just about Japan, America, it’s both. The baseball world should unite firmly and spread the great game of baseball all over the world.”

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Part of those efforts to continue to build support in baseball-loving Japan where youth participation has been trending down is through outreach. Fukudome and Lee visited Kyodo Elementary School in Tokyo on Wednesday morning, and students received Cubs hats and mini “W” flags and participated in a Q&A with the two retired players. Clark the Cub was an especially big hit with the kids.

Lee’s dad, Leon, played 10 seasons in Japan, and as a kid, Derrek spent parts of ages 2-11 living there, including the last two attending school. It’s where he fell in love with baseball, creating a full-circle opportunity to return for the Tokyo Series and speak to students. Reuniting with Fukudome brought back memories for Lee of the outfielder’s memorable big-league debut on opening day 2008, when he hit a game-tying three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth.

“He hit that late home run, it was electric,” Lee said. “Maybe the most electric I’ve seen Wrigley Field.”

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Since retiring, Fukudome has mainly been a color commentator and a special coach for his former non-professional team. His jersey still can be spotted regularly on fans at Wrigley, a symbol of his lasting impression on the franchise. Fukudome sees the impact events such as the Tokyo Series and visiting with kids can have on baseball.

“That’s how we are able to pass down to the next generation, I believe that’s our job,” Fukudome said. “Pass down everything that we experienced, and I hope they receive it.”