Personally, I don't like the term 'success.' It's too arbitrary and too relative a thing. It's usually someone else's definition, not yours. |
Physically I'm fine. All I have to do is get my timing back, those kinds of things. Physically it's no problem at all. |
Physically, I'm fine. All I have to do is start playing games and get my timing back, those kinds of things. Physically, it's no problem at all. Mentally, we all have to pull ourselves together as a team. We're now playing with 'Japan' on our chests and we need to concentrate more. |
Some power hitters can't react to all pitches. [Matsui] can. |
That was embarrassing. If I'm satisfied with the way I played today, I might as well quit. |
The day when Japan's baseball players could do battle against the major leaguers we have long looked up to finally came. So losing it was extremely regrettable. |
The fans cheering me on, when I play well they clap their hands for me. They're really great. |
The Japanese have a strong tendency to suppress their own feelings. That's the Japanese character. They kill their own emotions. |
The longer I played, the more important it became to me. I think those who followed me could see this best. The fans want me to get hits, and since I've been able to in the past, 200 hits became a kind of benchmark indicating I've done well. One hundred eighty wouldn't cut it. For the fans it's got to be 200. |
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. |
The more you put your opinion out there, you are open to more vulnerability. Of course, I want to change the team. But working by myself is difficult ... it has to be a team effort. |
There are a lot of people who get it wrong, ... The size of your body is not necessarily related to the power you can generate. I wish people would understand that. |
There are many issues. But a lot of players pay attention to this event. I'm sure you can improve aspects in the three years before the next event takes place. |
There have been times this year when I would get negative and I would get mad. |
They are very confident. They are united as a team. They have a better chance to bring out the best in themselves. |