2014-01-22

Red Sox pitchers visit Caroline Kennedy in Tokyo

January 22, 2014(Mainichi Japan)

TOKYO (AP) -- Boston Red Sox pitchers Koji Uehara and Junichi Tazawa met with U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy on Tuesday during a tour to share the 2013 World Series trophy with baseball fans in the country.

Earlier in the day, the two pitchers presented Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with a Red Sox jersey and talked baseball with the Japanese leader.

Kennedy, the 56-year-old daughter of late President John F. Kennedy, arrived in Japan in November to become the first woman to serve as U.S. ambassador to Japan.

Also attending Tuesday's reception were Japan's first major leaguer, Masanori Murakami, former New York Yankees outfielder and 2009 World Series MVP Hideki Matsui and Japanese conductor Seiji Ozawa, the former music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and an ardent Red Sox fan.

"You and your players -- past and present -- are ambassadors of goodwill to millions of fans here in Japan," Kennedy said. "Thank you for continuing the great legacy of baseball diplomacy between our two countries."

(Read the full story in The Mainichi)