Ended the year, winning; started the year, winning – that’s the Los Angeles Dodgers! And when the lineup was handling the business on the field in the Tokyo Series against the Chicago Cubs one of them decided to enjoy his trip to Japan.

Clayton Kershaw. Right now on a 60-day Injury List, he made sure not to pass on Japan! And how could he! So he took the flight to Tokyo along with everyone and experienced their culture and sights. He jokingly admitted that he was just “mooching” off the team for the trip.

During an interview with Darren Hayes, Kershaw said, “I’ve loved every second of it. You know, I kind of just mooched off the Dodgers to get a trip out of this because I’m not playing or anything. I wanted to experience this. I wanted to come with Shohei and see what it was all about. It’s been an incredible experience.” 

But while Clayton Kershaw might not have been in uniform, he was there in the dugout. He took in Tokyo Dome’s insane energy. And he cherished the passion Japan shared for baseball, for Shohei Ohtani. “In Tokyo, I think just being around the people and meeting everybody and seeing how passionate everybody is about the Dodgers and about baseball, it’s been really cool.” And there were more…

Kershaw’s trip got even better when he, along with his teammates, was welcomed in style with a feast hosted by Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki. The dinner featured a 400-pound tuna, carved live in front of them by Michelin-starred sushi chefs and a yakitori master.

“Shohei, Roki, and Yama all treated us to a Japanese dinner… Some of the best sushi I’ve ever had. It was amazing,” shared Kershaw. And well, the massive tuna alone likely cost over 1.5 million yen, approximately USD 10,000!

It was a spread anyone who attended won’t forget. For Ohtani, though, it was just another way to show hospitality the Japanese way, because the bluefin tuna isn’t just food but a symbol of celebration and fortune.

Los Angeles Dodgers star pitcher’s epic experience in Kyoto

Plus, of course, Kershaw wasn’t there in Japan just to be a spectator. He legit turned the trip into a family affair. Everyone was there, from his wife Ellen to their four kids. And Kershaw ensured that they had the total Japan experience, more beyond the ballpark.

“Obviously, the baseball part of it has been so much fun, but having my whole family here, getting to tour around Tokyo—it’s been, I mean, it’s been a once-in-a-lifetime [experience],” Kershaw said. But the highlight of the trip?

It was their visit to Kyoto. And Kershaw and his family made the most of their day soaking in the city’s old-world charm. “We got to go to Kyoto on the off day, and that was amazing. Just the whole vibe there, the bamboo forest, walking through the streets—we had a blast.” But while this was a much-needed escape from the baseball grind, Kershaw will soon have to bring his focus back.

The 36-year-old re-signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers on a one-year $7.5 million deal this offseason. But he is still recovering from knee and toe surgery. And when he returns, he is expected to chase history. Right now he is sitting at 2,964 career strikeouts and is just 36 away from joining the 3k strikeout group. It’s a club where only 19 pitchers sit.

For now, though, Kershaw is taking it slow. But he will have his sights on joining the exclusive club. Won’t he?