Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto hosted a talk show in Tokyo on Saturday after announcing his partnership with Nike two weeks ago, and revealed plenty about himself and the Dodgers during the event.
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The show, called “WINNER’S MIND YOSHINOBU YAMAMOTO TALK SHOW,” ran for 45 minutes, during which the 27-year-old World Series MVP spoke about himself and his time in the big leagues.
While we wait for the hurler to return to the mound in the 2026 season, here are five fun facts he revealed about himself during the event.
The Dodgers Host “Sushi Fridays” Before Friday Home Games
Yamamoto said the Dodgers hold “Sushi Fridays” for the team ahead of home games which land on Fridays.
During the event, a Japanese restaurant visits Dodger Stadium to deliver sushi for the players. The right-hander revealed he can’t eat sushi on Fridays where he is slated to start, but looks forward to the days in which he can.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto Makes Pottery in the Offseason
Yamamoto also spoke about an offseason hobby of his: making Japanese pottery or Bizen ware.
He says it helps him with concentration, and he eats out of the bowls he makes himself. Additionally, he has gifted some of his creations to Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani and his dog, Decoy.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto Didn’t Expect To Play in World Series Game 3
The All-Star put together an all-time performance in Game of the 2025 World Series, pitching a complete game to level the series at one apiece, but almost had to come in for the following game two days later.
The Dodgers came down to the last pitcher in their bullpen — Will Klein — in the 18-inning thriller and ultimately didn’t need Yamamoto, though he warmed up in the bullpen.
Yamamoto revealed he didn’t think he’d have to enter the game, and had been drinking coffee and eating sushi before gametime.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto Credits the Dodgers For His Winning Mindset
During the show, Yamamoto gave plenty of credit to the Dodgers for the mindset he’s taken on since joining MLB.
“For the sake of winning, if there’s something we should do, the players will do anything,” Yamamoto said. “What they do every day is very basic, they keep doing it little by little. When you spend time with them, you really feel so this is what top players are like.”
Yoshinobu Yamamoto Wishes He Slept More as a Young Athlete
The pitcher said he regrets not sleeping more in his youth, as he believes that to be one of the reasons he didn’t grow taller.
Despite being 5-foot-10, Yamamoto is the shortest member of the Dodgers rotation by a few inches.
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