WATCH: Shota Imanaga, Seiya Suzuki MLB Tokyo Series press conference

Tony Crumpton - Senior Editor - 5 hours ago

Chicago Cubs stars Shota Imanage and Seiya Suzuki addressed the media before getting to play again in their home country of Japan at the MLB Tokyo Series.

“It’s really all thanks to the Japanese players that came before us,” Suzuki said, “who created the stepping stones for us to be here now. I want to be kind of the stepping stone for future generations of Japanese players to come play in MLB.”

Watch the press conference below:

Video summary/cliff-notes:

(00:17) Shota Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki return to Japan for the MLB Tokyo Series, expressing excitement and anticipation.

(01:20) Suzuki feels the enthusiasm from Japanese fans, while Imanaga acknowledges both the excitement and pressure of playing in Japan.

(02:25) Suzuki is eager to play in front of Japanese fans and hopes to make a memorable impact. Facing former NPB teams adds to his excitement and nerves.

(03:28) Suzuki emphasizes his goal of staying injury-free this season and helping the Cubs compete for a championship.

(04:34) Imanaga feels honored to be the opening pitcher and attributes the opportunity to the legacy of past Japanese MLB players.

(05:38) He acknowledges the Dodgers' strong lineup and plans to stay focused throughout the game.

(07:51) Cubs players enjoyed experiencing Japanese culture, including participating in a tuna-cutting event and watching a samurai sword demonstration.

(11:02) The team transitioned from enjoying Japan to focusing on the upcoming games, with a more serious atmosphere at the stadium.

(12:08) Imanaga hopes his teammates appreciate the unique aspects of Japanese baseball and learn from the experience.

(13:11) Both players recognize the contributions of past Japanese MLB stars and aim to inspire future generations.