Alright, let me tell you about my little adventure trying to get my hands on a Kodai Senga Japanese jersey. Not his current team’s stuff, I mean his old Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks jersey from back when he was pitching in Japan. I’ve been a fan for a while, even before he came over, and I really wanted something from that time.
Starting the Hunt
So, I started where everyone does these days – online. Typed in all sorts of searches. Looked through auction sites, marketplaces, even some forums dedicated to Japanese baseball gear. Let me tell you, it wasn’t straightforward. You find a lot of… well, let’s just say questionable stuff. Reproductions, fakes, or jerseys in rough shape being sold for way too much money.
I spent probably a few weeks just browsing, getting a feel for what was out there. Found a couple that looked promising, but then you hit other walls. Some sellers just wouldn’t ship outside Japan. Period. Others had descriptions that were vague, or the pictures weren’t clear enough. I wasn’t about to drop decent money on something I couldn’t be sure about.
Changing Tactics
I was getting a bit frustrated, thinking maybe this wasn’t going to happen. Then I remembered my old friend, Takeshi, who lives over in Osaka. We hadn’t chatted in a bit, but I figured it was worth a shot. I sent him a message, explained what I was looking for – specifically a Hawks jersey with Senga’s name and number, ideally in my size.
Takeshi was great about it. He said he’d keep an eye out, check some local second-hand sports shops or memorabilia stores when he had time. He warned me it might be tough, Senga was popular, and finding specific older player jerseys isn’t always easy even there.
The Waiting and the Find
So, I waited. Didn’t bug him too much, just hoped for the best. Took a couple of months, actually. Then one morning, got an email from Takeshi. Subject line was just “Found it?”. Inside were photos. A Hawks jersey, Senga #41. Looked authentic, good condition, and miracle of miracles, it was my size.
He’d found it in a vintage sports shop. Price wasn’t exactly cheap, but seemed fair considering how hard they are to find internationally. I told him yes, absolutely, grab it! We sorted out the payment – I sent him the money for the jersey plus shipping and a bit extra for his time and effort.
Finally Got It
Then came the wait for international shipping. Felt longer than the search itself! I tracked that package like crazy. When it finally landed on my doorstep, I was pretty excited. Opened it up carefully.
And there it was. Holding that jersey, seeing the SoftBank Hawks logo, Senga’s name stitched on the back… it felt really good. The quality was nice, definitely felt different from the standard replicas you see everywhere.
So yeah, it was a process. Took time, effort, and calling in a favor from a friend overseas. But totally worth it. It’s more than just a piece of clothing; feels like owning a small bit of baseball history from his NPB days. It definitely stands out in my collection.
