I just heard on TV today that the Japanese baseball player Hideki Matsui, who was recently chosen as the New York Yankees MVP (Most Valuable Player) in the World Series game that they just played not long ago, will be changing teams after playing for the Yankees for six years.
Once the 2010 professional baseball season starts, Matsui will begin his one year contract playing for the Los Angeles Angels baseball team…and will earn US $6.5 million (about JPY ¥583 million).
Hideki Matsui started his professional baseball career playing for the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants baseball team from 1993 -2002.
He was given the nickname “Godzilla“…originally because of his bad skin complexion, but later it referred to his powerful batting.
Tokyo Giants
In 2003, he began playing for the New York Yankees of the Major League Baseball (MLB) in America.
Even in America, he was still called “Godzilla“…and he still batted powerfully!
Godzilla demolished his bat!
I guess New York Yankees fans are disappointed to see him leave for Los Angeles…possibly the same way Tokyo Giants fans felt when he left to play in America six years ago.
Tokyo Five 
Yep, it’s hilly, cold and rainy, but only for 10 months out of the year. 🙂
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Well, at least the weather’s nice for two months a year! 🙂
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Yes, well, I’m originally from near Seattle, so guess which of those I like best? 😉
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You’re from the opposite corner of the U.S. that I’m from.
I’ve never been there, but Seattle’s image to me is hilly, cold and rainy…quite different from the “Sunshine State“. 😉
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Frickin’ Yankees…
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You don’t like the New York Yankees?
I’m not much of a baseball fan…but in Japan, the Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, and Boston Red Sox became popular because of the Japanese players on their rosters…
I guess the L.A. Angels will become popular here now.
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A 1-year deal, though…doesn’t sound encouraging. (I’m sure he’ll get by on his piles and piles of money, though.)
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>his piles and piles of money
Yeah…I wish he’d give my just one of the many millions of dollars he has! 😉
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I’m surprised because he was with the Yankees for so long and he just won the MVP. He will be popular here in Los Angeles though with the large local Japanese and Japanese-American population.
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Yes, and it’s easier for fans frm Japan to travel to the West Coast of the U.S. than to the East.
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