Hideki Matsui, a former major league star, visited the Samurai Japan training camp in Miyazaki to motivate the team players, fulfilling a request from coach Hirokazu Ibata. Their connection dates back to 1992, when they faced each other in a high school baseball tournament.

During the 64th National High School Baseball Championship, Matsui's Seiryo High School from Ishikawa faced Ibata’s Horikoshi High School from Tokyo. Although Matsui was already a prominent batter at the time, he first learned of Ibata’s talent during a pre-match meeting where he was advised to watch out for Ibata. This early encounter laid the groundwork for a relationship that would endure in the years following their high school careers.

The recent visit marks a significant moment, as Matsui, who has not participated in the World Baseball Classic (WBC), expressed that he was inspired to engage with the team following Ibata's enthusiastic invitation. Wearing a jacket that featured 'JAPAN' and 'MATSUI', he reminisced about the pride of wearing the national team's uniform during his own high school days, evoking a sense of nostalgia and patriotism among the current players.