Kyle in Japan

In the pursuit of hobbiness, while exploring the places and people of Japan.

価値のある趣味を探し、日本の人々や場所を探索して配信します。

[Kyle in Japan @KyleInJapan]

Three things:

1) I live in #Japan. It’s been my home for over 15 years now.

2) I've been a lifelong @astros fan.

3) After being away for several years, I'm currently back in #Texas for a visit.

Ever since they signed Tatsuya Imai back in January, I've been checking the #astros schedule and trying to figure out a way to get to Houston to watch him pitch. I knew the only home games I could attend during my visit were this week, which meant there would probably be just one game where Imai would start. Then the post-All-Star rotation was announced.

One game while I'm here. One chance to cheer him on.

I splurged on a ticket behind the dugout so I'd have a great view. I even made a sign for him in Japanese so he could read it.

Then a few days ago, the team moved him from the starting rotation to the bullpen.

Imai hasn't been able to find a good rhythm since he got here. It's nothing new—it's happened to other Japanese players after making the move to #MLB. They're professionals, of course, but there a number of significant differences to adjust to, making it difficult when you've been doing things a certain way for so long.

I still went. I wanted to watch the game, of course, but a big part of me also wanted the chance to see a little bit of my old world and my new world come together.

But he didn't pitch.

He spent the entire game in the bullpen and never even started warming up.

A lot of people online have been quick to criticize him. I understand that fans want the players they support to perform at the highest level. I've never been one to pile on, though, because I can't truly imagine everything professional athletes go through—especially when they're struggling to meet expectations.

One good thing did come from today. Well, the Astros won, so its actually two things. After the national anthem, Imai turned toward the dugout. I shouted his name loudly enough to get his attention. He saw the sign I had made for him, and he seemed to get a kick out of it.

Hopefully he knows that some of us will keep supporting him.

And who knows? I might get to make another visit next year, and perhaps I can see him pitch then.

Stay strong, Imai-san. 頑張ってね。

[Kyle in Japan @KyleInJapan]

During the anthem, I spied the #Astros Imai practicing grips for his pitches.

Has he always done this, or is it something the coaches had him start doing?

[Kyle in Japan @KyleInJapan]

While visiting home for the first time in years, I just had to watch the #Astros. Glad they made it worthwhile. Here's Jeremy Pena's screamer just high enough to reach the Crawford Boxes in today's win over the #Rangers.

[Kyle in Japan @KyleInJapan]

Waiting to board a plane, but we can't get on for 40 minutes now. Here's why:

1. Airline starts charging for checked baggage get more income.
2. People bring more carry-on bags to not pay the fee.
3. Full flight means not enough overhead space for all the carry-on bags.
4. Delay boarding for a required number of volunteers to check their carry-on bags. No fee to check these bags.
5. Plane will depart behind schedule.

Good grief.

[Kyle in Japan @KyleInJapan]

@gphi0711 @JamesMelville You keep saying the ball "drove his leg up". His spikes were up from the beginning of the slide all the way through. At no point did he attempt to point his toes down to try and keep his spikes from staying up. No way to know intentional or not, but it was clearly reckless.

[Kyle in Japan @KyleInJapan]

12:01 here. Happy Birthday, America.

[Kyle in Japan @KyleInJapan]

@kangminlee The vast majority of Japanese households only have A/C in the living room and bedrooms, and use it only in the rooms where people are. However in the US, there are a lot of homes where it's centralized A/C, meaning it goes to every room of the house all the time.

[Kyle in Japan @KyleInJapan]

@tanpukunokami 彼はスタジアムより心が汚いね。

[Kyle in Japan @KyleInJapan]

@tuuu28283 My nephew did when he was too young to have a driver's license. He used the pick-up service (持ち帰り).

[Kyle in Japan @KyleInJapan]

@tuuu28283 穴場が大好き！

[Kyle in Japan @KyleInJapan]

@tuuu28283 A lot of us Texans do love Dr Pepper. Last year, imagine my surprise when I found a vending machine near my home in Japan that sells it for 100 yen. I go and buy one almost every week as a treat for myself.

[Kyle in Japan @KyleInJapan]

@Jusoon3 @tuuu28283 46 states and 4 commonwealths, to be precise.

[Kyle in Japan @KyleInJapan]

@TonyRav I say after COVID messed up the Tokyo Olympics that Japan deserves to get the next available World Cup hosting spot.

[Kyle in Japan @KyleInJapan]

@tuuu28283 For anyone having trouble quickly figuring out Celsius temps, this is what I do:

Minus - 0°C = freezing
0°C - 10°C = cold
10°C - 20°C = cool
20°C - 30°C = warm
30°C - 40°C = hot
40°C and up = nope

[Kyle in Japan @KyleInJapan]

@tuuu28283 You should come up north more. It's cool here all week.

[Kyle in Japan @KyleInJapan]

@kangminlee Whenever the question of what to do about Japan's declining population comes up, I (half) jokingly say that Ohtani just needs to have 4 or 5 kids and show everyone their happy family.

[Kyle in Japan @KyleInJapan]

@learning_yohei まぐれなゴール、でも文句しない。

[Kyle in Japan @KyleInJapan]

@Arin_Yumi Does that answer your question?

[Kyle in Japan @KyleInJapan]

Historically, #Japan has been a defense-oriented team, often hoping that they would need only 1 goal to win or draw against difficult opponents. Going into this World Cup, I knew this Japan team was different. Today, they scored 4 goals for the first time in a World Cup match.

I'm excited to see how far they can go this time, and then who knows how they'll grow in the next 4 years.

頑張れ、日本！