<h2>Enjoying the Sumo Show with Colleagues</h2>
<p style="font-weight: 400;"> After the exciting &#8220;MLB Tokyo Series&#8221; came to an end on March 19, the Cubs and Dodgers teams returned home without a moment to catch their breath before the season opener in the United States.</p>
<figure id="attachment_418663" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-418663" style="width: 1239px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="86f67215"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/03/4c4edb0b44cd17b32498003cfa253c37-4.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-418663" class="wp-caption-text"> Kershaw got into his car with a satisfied look on his face after enjoying sumo wrestling.</figcaption></figure>
<p style="font-weight: 400;"> Despite being the season opener between the U.S. teams, this series was so exciting that it would not be an exaggeration to describe it as a national event in Japan. Members and staff of both teams also enjoyed sightseeing in Tokyo between practices and games.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;"> The one who enjoyed this &#8220;brief respite&#8221; the most was probably Clayton Kershaw (37), a legendary left fielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Even though he was not registered as an official member of the team for the season opener, he came to Japan with his family on his own expenses. His unusual behavior drew a lot of attention.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;"> Kershaw had undergone surgery on his left knee and thumb last November, and it was expected that he would not be able to return to Japan until June or later. Nevertheless, he is believed to have decided to go to Japan, bearing all his own travel expenses for himself, his wife, and their four children.</p>
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<p style="font-weight: 400;"> According to director Dave Roberts (52), Kershaw said, <span class="strongInContent">&#8220;There is no substitute for this trip. I&#8217;m excited about it,&#8221;</span> and he decided to go without hesitation.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;"> This magazine first saw Kershaw on March 14, the day after his arrival in Japan. Kershaw and his family joined teammates Tanner Scott, Ben Kasperius, and Justin Robleski to visit Ryogoku&#8217;s &#8220;Ryogoku Ya Hyakuhacho Hananomai&#8221; in Ryogoku. The restaurant was completely rented out before it opened for regular business, and the group took part in a &#8220;real&#8221; sumo experience tour from the morning.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;"> The restaurant has a real sumo ring, where former sumo wrestlers usually put on a sumo show for tourists, but on this special day, Kershaw and the others stepped onto the ring.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;"> Kershaw and the other wrestlers were on the ring for the show. His wife and children watched on and laughed out loud as he struggled with some of the unfamiliar moves.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;"> Kershaw&#8217;s enjoyment of Japanese culture with his family was a hit with fans, who commented <span class="strongInContent">, &#8220;Kershaw usually takes off his clothes, but this time he&#8217;s wearing clothes (laughs).</span> He often strips down to his upper body for champagne fights, but on this occasion he was still firmly in uniform, prompting some to <span class="strongInContent">ask, &#8220;Is it because he&#8217;s accompanied by his family today?&#8221;</span> He was also jokingly commented, &#8220;Because <span class="strongInContent">I</span> &#8216; <span class="strongInContent">m</span> with my family today? <span class="strongInContent">&#8221; &#8220;Kershaw doesn&#8217;t undress in front of his kids (laughs).</span></p>
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<p style="font-weight: 400;"> The family enjoyed their one-hour stay and left the restaurant with smiles on their faces. The children even shook hands with a former sumo wrestler, indicating that they had thoroughly enjoyed the exotic culture.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;"> At a preseason game between the Dodgers and Hanshin on March 16, he suddenly held an impromptu autograph session with fans. As he walked back to the dugout from the field, he carefully signed autographs for each of the gathered fans, a truly &#8220;divine&#8221; gesture. Kershaw&#8217;s &#8220;enjoyment of Japan&#8221; did not end here.</p>
<div data-friday-nextpage-lead=" Sightseeing in Kyoto"></div>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">On March 17, while Dodgers players were beginning final preparations for the season opener at the Tokyo Dome, a completely different scene was unfolding at Tokyo Station at the same time.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;"> A black Hiace quietly slid into the Tokyo Station roundabout. The rear doors opened, and out stepped Kershaw and his family. Kershaw, suitcase in hand, carrying a backpack. Next to him is his wife, also carrying a backpack. The children were also carrying backpacks, and it looked like a big move with the whole family. The amount of baggage they were carrying suggested that they were planning not just an overnight trip, but a full-fledged &#8220;trip&#8221; to Japan.</p>
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<p style="font-weight: 400;"> The family showed no signs of fatigue from the trip and entered the train station with elated expressions on their faces. Without hesitation, they disappeared onto the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen platforms. Later, on the team&#8217;s official SNS, a joyful video was shown, &#8220;We love Kyoto! on the team&#8217;s official SNS, he must have enjoyed sightseeing in Kyoto.</p>
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<p style="font-weight: 400;"> Kershaw enjoyed sightseeing in Japan and was reunited with Hiroki Kuroda (50), a close friend of his since his rookie season. As his illustrious career comes to an end, there are concerns about the effects of his injuries, but we hope that he will use the energy he has gained in Japan to become a mainstay of the Dodgers pitching staff.</p>


 Ichiro Takatsuka

 Shu Nishihara

 After the exciting "MLB Tokyo Series" came to an end on March 19, the Cubs and Dodgers teams returned to Japan for the season opener in the U.S. without much time to catch their breath. The pitcher who enjoyed his visit the most was Clayton Kershaw.

Extra big service for fans and family!　Clayton Kershaw, the great pitcher who &#8220;came to Japan on his own dime&#8221;, &#8220;A Tour of Japan&#8221;.

Extra big service for fans and family!　Clayton Kershaw, the great pitcher who “came to Japan on his own dime”, “A Tour of Japan”.

Access Ranking

Extra big service for fans and family! Clayton Kershaw, the great pitcher who “came to Japan on his own dime”, “A Tour of Japan”.

Access Ranking

Extra big service for fans and family!　Clayton Kershaw, the great pitcher who “came to Japan on his own dime”, “A Tour of Japan”.