Staff at one of Toronto’s most popular Japanese restaurants are still buzzing after receiving a surprise visit from not one, but two MLB stars!
On Sunday, Blue Jays player Kazuma Okamoto stopped by Zakkushi on Carlton Street with Chicago White Sox player Munetaka Murakami and Nippon TV announcer Ren Umezawa. The visit came on the final day of a three-game series between the Jays and White Sox at Rogers Centre, which ended with Chicago defeating Toronto 3-0 on Sunday.
Despite the Jays’ loss, there was apparently no bad blood between Okamoto and Murakami after the game. The restaurant shared photos from the unexpected visit on Instagram, including a group shot of the guests posing with members of the Zakkushi team.
“Our team is still buzzing with excitement from this incredible surprise,” the post states. “Thank you so much to Okamoto-san, Murakami-san, Umezawa-san, and their team for making our day. We are sending you endless support all the way from Zakkushi on Carlton!”
The visit also included a very meaningful moment: Okamoto autographed a jersey that Zakkushi had proudly displayed inside the restaurant ever since his move to the MLB!
Okamoto signed with the Blue Jays earlier this year following 11 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league. Toronto agreed to a four-year, $60 million contract with the infielder, including a $5 million signing bonus and no opt-outs. And as you might remember, his decision to join the team may have been a family affair: Okamoto revealed that he showed his daughter all 30 MLB team logos and asked her to choose her favourite (spoiler, she picked the Jays!).
The 30-year-old star made his MLB debut in March and has since become known to Toronto fans by his nickname, “Big Oak,” probably in part due to his powerful 6-foot-1, 220-pound frame.
We don’t know what the group ate on Sunday, but the next time you’re downtown, you can stop by Zakkushi yourself. The Japanese yakitori izakaya is located at 193 Carlton St and specializes in skewers grilled over charcoal, along with tasty appetizers and hot tapas.
Follow @zakkushioncarlton for more info.