Kazuma Okamoto: Confidence Hidden in Humility “I’m Looking Forward to Playing Against the Best Pitchers” [WBC All-Star Roundup] (Japanese only)

Direct interview with the cannon of “Samurai Japan

Kazuma Okamoto, 29, was at first base at Lawn Depot Park in the final inning of the 2011 WBC final, when Japan became the world champions after three tournaments.

It was a short walk from first to the mound, but the guys coming off the bench were so fast that by the time I joined them, I was already in a frenzy. I was so absorbed in the game that I watched the video afterward and finally realized that I had seen Ohtani-san (Shohei, 31) throw his hat at the moment of the game’s final score, and how he lifted the ball up.

In the same tournament, Okamoto had 18 hits, two home runs, and seven runs batted in. In the final against the U.S., he hit a home run off third place pitcher Kyle Freeland (32, Rockies) to lead his team to the championship. What was the last WBC like for him? Early in the morning when the reporter came to interview Okamoto, his large body wrapped in a black hoodie, rubbed his eyes sleepily and began to talk quietly, as if chewing on the memories of that joyous moment.

I was a member of the Giants for 11 years, and we won the league championship three times, but I had never experienced being the number one team in Japan. I was able to feel anew how happy it is when you really become the best. Of course I felt the tension of working with people who are usually my rivals or admirers, and I also felt the tense atmosphere of representing my country. I was especially nervous about the first round at Tokyo Dome, because it was my home ground. Usually, when I am in a defensive position, I think, “Come on! but in tense situations, I thought, “Hit it that way, hit it that way! (laughs).

For Okamoto, the WBC was not only a place to stand up for his country, but also a place to learn.

On the bus on the way to the WBC, I ran into Kondo-san (Kensuke, 32) and Otani-san talking. I was sitting in the back of the bus, secretly listening to their conversation. I asked him questions like, ‘This position produces the most power,’ or about the angle of his knees when striking. I would ask him questions at the right time. I am too afraid to say that we got along well. …… But at the Dodgers’ opening series practice game at the Tokyo Dome last March, Otani-san spoke to me on first base and said, “Oh, wow! I was happy to hear that. That made me happy.

Okamoto will be on the same major league stage as Otani starting this season. Okamoto will be joining the Toronto Blue Jays, who, coincidentally, played in last year’s World Series against the Dodgers in a battle that will go down in baseball history.

I talked with my agent, and the Blue Jays offered me the terms I wanted, so I said, ‘I’ll go. The fact that Gosuke Kato (31) is in the front office is also a big factor. I can directly check the data that Mr. Kato prepares and reports on the other team, and I can communicate with him without an interpreter, which I think is great for me.

I watched the World Series last year on TV at home. At that time, I had no idea that I would join the Blue Jays the following year. At that time, the World Series was being played during the daytime, and at night I watched the Japan Series between Hanshin and Softbank. I love baseball, so I was happy. I was thinking, “Please let the Japan Series be more exciting! (laughs).

Like most big leaguers, Okamoto has longed to play in the majors since he was a child.

I was playing the baseball game “Powerful Major League” around the time Hideki Matsui (51) was in the majors. At that time, the Yankees had Jeter, A-Rod, and Posada (……). As I was exposed to those players in the game, I vaguely thought, ‘I want to go there. I thought, even as a child, that it would be a natural progression for me to be active in the pros and then go and play in the majors. Would you also release the latest version of “Power Majors”?
Now that I have decided to go to the majors, I am very excited and looking forward to it. But I’m also nervous and anxious. …… It’s like all the emotions are there together. Before I go to sleep at night, I sometimes wonder what is going on, or what I am going through. Well, you have to go there first.

His former Giants mentors are also supporting his beloved apprentice’s challenge.

Mr. Abe (Shinnosuke, 46) and Mr. Yoshinobu Takahashi (50) encouraged me, saying, ‘Go for it! Mr. Hara (Tatsunori, 67), who was my mentor for the longest period of time, also gave me his support. I have many memories of Mr. Hara, but the most memorable one is when we talked about drinking.

Mr. Hara is very strict when it comes to baseball, but off the field he is a friendly person. Mr. Hara told me about wine and whiskey, and that is how I became interested in collecting whiskey. The bottles are kind of cool, aren’t they? Scotch whiskies like Macallan are good, but my favorites are Yamazaki, Hakushu, and Hibiki. I like Yamazaki, Hakushu, and Hibiki. Among them, I especially like Hakushu.

I love fantasy.

When a reporter asked Okamoto about his hobbies other than whiskey, he immediately answered, “Manga,” with the brightest smile I have ever seen.

I read a lot of manga, especially those about reincarnation in another world,” he said. I read a lot, especially the ‘otherworldly reincarnation’ type, like ‘Tensei toda da Slymu ha Datta Koto. Maru-san (Yoshihiro, 36) knows a lot about “Tenshûra,” and even reads light novels. When I told Maru-san, “I’ve read up to this point,” he grinned and said, “No, I haven’t finished this part yet. I haven’t finished this part yet. He would say, “You know, that character is going to be like this after this! He would say, “Oh, no, I haven’t finished this part yet. (Laughs.) But the funny thing about it is that it’s a roller coaster ride! (Laughs.) But it’s still interesting, and that’s what’s great about the reincarnation series.

Oh, I remember the one about the 7th prince who is reincarnated and masters magic at his own leisure, which is really interesting!　I liked it so much that I recommended it to my trainer. I like it so much that I recommended it to my trainer. In the fantasy genre, “Shangri-La Frontier” and “The Seven Deadly Sins” are also really interesting. I read all kinds of fantasy books. Even if it is not fantasy, I like books that are far from the real world. I read books like “The Fable” and “Blue Rock. I used to like baseball-related books when I was a kid, but I don’t read them much anymore.

Okamoto will be entering his first season in the major leagues with his favorite whiskey, manga, and a high-end rice cooker, which he says he bought before anyone else did.

The Blue Jays have many stars like Guerrero Jr. (26) and George Springer (36). I want to play with them, build up my accomplishments, and contribute to the team. Springer is nice, isn’t he? I like him, he’s cool.”

If Okamoto, who has become a mainstay of the Blue Jays, were to play in the World Series against Ohtani of the Dodgers, who are aiming for a third straight championship–. Would he hit a 160 km/h four-seamer, match it with his signature sweeper, or pick up the decisive pitch, the split?

No, I’m going to bunt safely …… (laughs). Since I’m going to the Majors, I want to win the championship in any way possible and become the best in the world. This year, I have two chances to become world champion.”

As he says, Okamoto will participate in the WBC in March in his first season in the Majors.

The pitching staff is older than last time, so I will try not to be rude or stand out (laughs). I’m basically an indoor person. It hurts my heart to say no, so I’m going to try to stay quiet so I don’t get invited (to dinner). …… Of course, if there is a wild party or something, I will go!　Besides, I am looking forward to meeting my former teammate Tomoyuki Sugano (36).

The strongest opponent in this year’s tournament will be the U.S. team. While the lineup of superstars such as Aaron Judge (33), who earns a salary in the double-digit hundreds of millions of yen per year, is spectacular, the decisive difference from the previous tournament is the pitching staff. Tariq Skubal (29), who won the Cy Young Award in the American League last season, and Paul Skeens (23), who won the Cy Young Award in the National League, are unquestionably the best pitchers on either side of the plate. How will Samurai Japan and Okamoto attack them?

I’d like to ask him! (Laughs.) No, those pitches are unbelievable even just watching them on TV. They are both active Cy Young pitchers, not “former” Cy Young pitchers. I really don’t have any countermeasures or image of what to expect at this point (laughs). (laughs) But I am really looking forward to it. It’s not about whether I can hit or not, but if I have a chance to play against the best pitchers, I want to be in the batter’s box.

My goal for this tournament is just to try not to cause trouble for the team. Before I say how many home runs I will hit or how many runs I will hit, I will do my best not to be a “war criminal” (laughs).

This year, the ever-so-modest No. 4 of the Giants will be reincarnated as a major leaguer and begin his Warriors quest for two world championships.

From the March 13-20, 2026 issue of “FRIDAY