Exclusive Part 2! Shintaro Fujinami, who moved to the Athletics, talks about Shohei Otani, his family and his marriage

When you say “Japanese Major Leaguers,” the earliest memory that comes to mind is …….

This season, three new Japanese major leaguers were born. One of them, Shintaro Fujinami, 28, who joined the Oakland Athletics, says his “earliest memory” is of Hideo Nomo, 54.

I remember the Tornado at Dodger Stadium on a day game,” Fujinami said. I also have a vivid memory of Ichiro (49) playing well. Hideki Matsui (48) left a deep impression on me. I was surprised that he was going to the Yankees. I was so surprised. I can remember scenes like the “Game Seven” with the Red Sox and Matsui playing a big role in the postseason.

The Athletics belong to the West Division of the American League, the same division as Shohei Ohtani (28, Angels), who is already a top major leaguer. When asked at his press conference, Fujinami replied humbly, “He is one of the best players in the world,” and “I know there are Japanese fans who are looking forward to seeing him, so if I get a chance, I would like to give it my best shot. I’ll respect all of them,” he joked. He was trying to get a laugh by humiliating himself, but his pride was evident in his words when he spoke one-on-one with a reporter for this magazine in a corner of Tokyo where no one from the …… press corps was present.

–Do you keep in touch with Otani?

No, I have not.

–Do you have his contact information?

Yes, I do.

–Has he contacted you?

No, I haven’t. I’d like to talk to him in the U.S. if I have a chance. If you have a chance to talk to me in the U.S., I would like to know more about …….

We are not friends. Even though it has been 10 years since they became professionals, and no matter how much their positions have changed, they are rivals who are intensely aware of each other.

As previously reported in this magazine (reproduced at the end of this article), Fujinami could not consult with anyone before he decided to challenge the Majors. It was only last summer that he told his parents.

When I told my parents that I was thinking of trying out for the majors, they said, ‘That’s fine.　You only live once. They gave me a push.

–Did your father ever tell you to take your wife with you?

No, not at all (laughs).

(laughs) — At 28 years old, is it too early to get married?

Not too early, but …… well, I guess. Married to an American woman?　Well, in the extreme, yes, but still.

He has been a member of the National League since the beginning of the season, and he has been a member of the National League since the beginning of the season. The contract is worth $3.25 million, plus $1 million in piece work, if he can keep his spot in the rotation for the entire year.

The “drastic change” in the environment was in response to the comments of some fans on the Internet over the past few years that “the environment should be changed” and “Fujinami should be traded.

I tried not to look at the posts on the Internet. I tried not to look at the posts on the Internet, and I don’t mind them. But I guess it was unexpected or surprising to everyone. But even if he had stayed with Hanshin, he might not have been a starter, and manager Akifumi Okada (65) might not have had him in mind in the first place. The majors are said to have a “pitching high, hitting low” mentality, but I don’t think they have a “pitching high” mentality. I guess aiming for the big shot and aiming for the big shot is the trend in American professional sports nowadays. I have grown by jumping into an environment that is above the stage I am at. That suits my nature. Even in the majors, I would like to put the whip in myself, learn a lot, and grow.