When I look at the records and see where my place in the history of the game (in Japan with Orix) might be, I guess you could say it was a good decision to come here. It's not just me. Maybe I'll have an effect on others in the international part of the game.

The Japanese have a strong tendency to suppress their own feelings. That's the Japanese character. They kill their own emotions.

I'm told I either look bigger than I do on television or that I look smaller than I look on television. No one seems to think I look the same size.

If I ever saw myself saying I'm excited going to Cleveland, I'd punch myself in the face, because I'm lying.

I'm not a big guy and hopefully kids could look at me and see that I'm not muscular and not physically imposing, that I'm just a regular guy. So if somebody with a regular body can get into the record books, kids can look at that. That would make me happy.

If I'm in a slump, I ask myself for advice.

I want to be the first player to show what Japanese batters can do in the major league.