{"id":42790,"date":"2025-03-20T11:32:47","date_gmt":"2025-03-20T11:32:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=42790"},"modified":"2025-03-20T11:32:47","modified_gmt":"2025-03-20T11:32:47","slug":"proud-and-honored-kosuke-fukudome-the-chicago-cubs-first-japanese-player-reconnects-with-team-in-tokyo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=42790","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Proud and honored\u2019: Kosuke Fukudome, the Chicago Cubs\u2019 first Japanese player, reconnects with team in Tokyo"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

TOKYO \u2014 When Kosuke Fukudome thinks back to his first professional season in Japan, Major League Baseball never felt like an attainable goal.<\/p>\n

Fukudome dreamed of playing in the majors, of course. But that didn\u2019t 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\u2019 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m extremely proud and honored,\u201d Fukudome said through an interpreter. \u201cKids 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Over the nearly 15 years since he last put on a Cubs uniform, Fukudome followed the seven Japanese players \u2014 Koji Uehara, Munenori Kawasaki, Kyuji Fujikawa, Tsuyoshi Wada, Yu Darvish, Seiya Suzuki and Shota Imanaga \u2014 who played for the organization after him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to know how they do, I really care, especially about Imanaga,\u201d Fukudome, 47, said.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe 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,\u201d Imanaga told the Tribune through interpreter Edwin Stanberry. \u201cSo any time I had an opportunity to face him, I think it was really important for my skill development as a whole.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u2019s history. The two-game series recorded a combined attendance of 84,732 at the Tokyo Dome.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you look at these packed crowds, we can tell that Japanese kids will have something else to look up to,\u201d Fukudome said. \u201cSo it\u2019s great for Japanese baseball and it\u2019s great for MLB. And as you could see, there are so many former players on the field before the game, so it\u2019s not just about Japan, America, it\u2019s both. The baseball world should unite firmly and spread the great game of baseball all over the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Photos: Baseball fever grips Tokyo as the Cubs open their season in Japan<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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 \u201cW\u201d flags and participated in a Q&A with the two retired players. Clark the Cub was an especially big hit with the kids.<\/p>\n

Lee\u2019s 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\u2019s 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\u2019s memorable big-league debut on opening day 2008, when he hit a game-tying three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe hit that late home run, it was electric,\u201d Lee said. \u201cMaybe the most electric I\u2019ve seen Wrigley Field.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chicago Cubs in Tokyo: High prices \u2014 and firm resale laws \u2014 don\u2019t stop fans\u2019 once-in-a-lifetime experience<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s how we are able to pass down to the next generation, I believe that\u2019s our job,\u201d Fukudome said. \u201cPass down everything that we experienced, and I hope they receive it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Kosuke Fukudome expressed his appreciation for his connection with the Chicago Cubs organization and his legacy of paving the way for other Japanese players to join the franchise.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":42791,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[282,1267,1167,1266,424,1245,117,1240,938],"class_list":["post-42790","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb","tag-chicago-cubs","tag-derrick-lee","tag-japan","tag-kosuke-fukudome","tag-major-league-baseball","tag-nippon-professional-baseball","tag-shota-imanaga","tag-tokyo-dome","tag-tokyo-series"],"yoast_head":"\n\u2018Proud and honored\u2019: Kosuke Fukudome, the Chicago Cubs\u2019 first Japanese player, reconnects with team in Tokyo - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=42790\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\u2018Proud and honored\u2019: Kosuke Fukudome, the Chicago Cubs\u2019 first Japanese player, reconnects with team in Tokyo - 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