ヤンキース入りが決まった田中将大投手が、入団会見を行った。日米合わせて約300人の報道陣が集結。通常の入団会見が行われる会場ではなく、スイートルームの「レジェンズ・クラブ」が使用される超VIP待遇でのお披露目となったが、田中の軽妙な受け答えに何度も笑いが起こり、本人がそのたびに「マー君スマイル」を弾けさせる和やかなムードとなった。
■ユーモア溢れる会見
ジラルディ監督にピンストライプのユニホームと帽子を被せてもらった田中が冒頭に英語で「Hello! My name is Masahiro Tanaka. I'm very happy to be a Yankee!」とあいさつすると、緊張感のあった会場の空気が一気に緩んだ。本人もしてやったりの笑み。これで満足したのか、続けて何かあいさつがないかを聞かれると「いや、もういいです」と笑顔で返した。
その後も田中は茶目っ気たっぷりの回答で米国人メディアを魅了していく。特に笑いが大きくなったのが、ニューヨークに入ってから最初の食事は何だったかを聞かれたときだ。「近くのスーパーの寿司を食べました」。アメリカらしい料理名を期待していた報道陣は、意外な答えにドッと沸く。よほど印象深かったのか、その後、生中継した「YES」の単独インタビューで「寿司は美味しかったか？」と聞かれて「おしかったです」と答える一幕もあった。
会見では、ヤンキースの先輩である松井秀喜氏と電話で話した事実も明かした。2009年のワールドシリーズMVPからは「（ニューヨークは）すごくいいところだから」と声をかけられたという。
ユーモア溢れる会見で「つかみはOK」といったところか。大注目の右腕が、メジャーで新たなキャリアを積み上げるために、上々のスタートを切った。
【関連記事】
（2014年2月12日フルカウント「マー君がヤンキース入団会見 渡米後初めて食べたのはスーパーの寿司？」より転載)
田中将大 画像集
New York Yankees Introduce Masahiro Tanaka(01 of29)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 11: Masahiro Tanaka of the New York Yankees addresses the media during his introductory press conference at Yankee Stadium on February 11, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New York Yankees Introduce Masahiro Tanaka(02 of29)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 11: Masahiro Tanaka of the New York Yankees speaks at the podium as he is introduced to the media during a news conference on February 11, 2014 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New York Yankees Introduce Masahiro Tanaka(03 of29)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 11: Masahiro Tanaka of the New York Yankees addresses the media during his introductory press conference at Yankee Stadium on February 11, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New York Yankees Introduce Masahiro Tanaka(04 of29)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 11: Masahiro Tanaka of the New York Yankees looks on as he is introduced to the media during a news conference on February 11, 2014 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New York Yankees Introduce Masahiro Tanaka(05 of29)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 11: Masahiro Tanaka of the New York Yankees smiles as he is introduced to the media during a news conference on February 11, 2014 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New York Yankees Introduce Masahiro Tanaka(06 of29)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 11: Masahiro Tanaka of the New York Yankees addresses the media during his introductory press conference at Yankee Stadium on February 11, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New York Yankees Introduce Masahiro Tanaka(07 of29)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 11: Masahiro Tanaka of the New York Yankees enters his introductory press conference at Yankee Stadium on February 11, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New York Yankees Introduce Masahiro Tanaka(08 of29)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 11: Masahiro Tanaka of the New York Yankees smiles as he is introduced to the media during a news conference on February 11, 2014 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New York Yankees Introduce Masahiro Tanaka(09 of29)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 11: Masahiro Tanaka of the New York Yankees poses for a photograph with manager Joe Girardi (R) and general manager Brian Cashman as he introduced to the media during a news conference on February 11, 2014 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New York Yankees Introduce Masahiro Tanaka(10 of29)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 11: Masahiro Tanaka of the New York Yankees looks on during his introductory press conference at Yankee Stadium on February 11, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New York Yankees Introduce Masahiro Tanaka(11 of29)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 11: Masahiro Tanaka of the New York Yankees smiles as he introduced to the media during a news conference at Yankee Stadium on February 11, 2014 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New York Yankees Introduce Masahiro Tanaka(12 of29)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 11: Masahiro Tanaka of the New York Yankees looks on during his introductory press conference at Yankee Stadium on February 11, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New York Yankees Introduce Masahiro Tanaka(13 of29)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 11: Masahiro Tanaka of the New York Yankees shakes hands with manager Joe Girardi as he introduced to the media during a news conference on February 11, 2014 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New York Yankees Introduce Masahiro Tanaka(14 of29)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 11: Masahiro Tanaka of the New York Yankees shakes hands with manager Joe Girardi as he introduced to the media during a news conference on February 11, 2014 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New York Yankees Introduce Masahiro Tanaka(15 of29)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 11: Masahiro Tanaka (2nd L) of the New York Yankees laughs withYankee team president Randy Levine (L) after he was introduced to the media during a news conference on February 11, 2014 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New York Yankees Introduce Masahiro Tanaka(16 of29)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 11: Masahiro Tanaka of the New York Yankees poses for a photograph with manager Joe Girardi as he introduced to the media during a news conference on February 11, 2014 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Masahiro Tanaka Holds News Conference On Contract With Yankees(17 of29)
SENDAI, JAPAN - JANUARY 23: Masahiro Tanaka of Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles attends the news conference announcing his agreement to a seven-year contract of 155 million U.S. dollars with the New York Yankees at Rakuten Kobo Stadium Miyagi on January 23, 2014 in Sendai, Miyagi, Japan. (Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Masahiro Tanaka Holds News Conference On Contract With Yankees(18 of29)
SENDAI, JAPAN - JANUARY 23: Masahiro Tanaka of Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles attends the news conference announcing his agreement to a seven-year contract of 155 million U.S. dollars with the New York Yankees at Rakuten Kobo Stadium Miyagi on January 23, 2014 in Sendai, Miyagi, Japan. (Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Masahiro Tanaka Holds News Conference On Contract With Yankees(19 of29)
SENDAI, JAPAN - JANUARY 23: Masahiro Tanaka of Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles attends the news conference announcing his agreement to a seven-year contract of 155 million U.S. dollars with the New York Yankees at Rakuten Kobo Stadium Miyagi on January 23, 2014 in Sendai, Miyagi, Japan. (Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Masahiro Tanaka Holds News Conference On Contract With Yankees(20 of29)
SENDAI, JAPAN - JANUARY 23: Masahiro Tanaka of Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles attends the news conference announcing his agreement to a seven-year contract of 155 million U.S. dollars with the New York Yankees at Rakuten Kobo Stadium Miyagi on January 23, 2014 in Sendai, Miyagi, Japan. (Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Japan v Netherlands - World Baseball Classic Second Round Pool 1(21 of29)
TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 12: Pitcher Masahiro Tanaka #17 of Japan pitches during the World Baseball Classic Second Round Pool 1 game between Japan and the Netherlands at Tokyo Dome on March 12, 2013 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Japan v Netherlands - World Baseball Classic Second Round Pool 1(22 of29)
TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 10: Masahiro Tanaka of Japan celebrates after winning during the World Baseball Classic Second Round Pool 1 game between Japan and the Netherlands at Tokyo Dome on March 10, 2013 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Japan v Netherlands - World Baseball Classic Second Round Pool 1(23 of29)
TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 10: Pitcher Masahiro Tanaka #17 of Japan looks on the World Baseball Classic Second Round Pool 1 game between Japan and the Netherlands at Tokyo Dome on March 10, 2013 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Japan v Chinese Taipei - World Baseball Classic Second Round Pool 1(24 of29)
TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 08: Pitcher Masahiro Tanaka #17 of Japan pitches during the World Baseball Classic Second Round Pool 1 game between Japan and Chinese Taipei at Tokyo Dome on March 8, 2013 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Japan v Cuba - World Baseball Classic First Round Group A(25 of29)
FUKUOKA, JAPAN - MARCH 06: Pitcher Masahiro Tanaka #17 of Japan stands on the mound during the World Baseball Classic First Round Group A game between Japan and Cuba at Fukuoka Yahoo! Japan Dome on March 6, 2013 in Fukuoka, Japan. (Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Australia v Japan - WBC 2013 Friendly(26 of29)
OSAKA, JAPAN - FEBRUARY 24: Pitcher Masahiro Tanaka #17 and Pitcher Takeru Imamura #16 of Japan line up for national anthem and the international friendly game between Australia and Japan at Kyocera Dome Osaka on February 24, 2013 in Osaka, Japan. (Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Japan v Australia - WBC 2013 Friendly(27 of29)
OSAKA, JAPAN - FEBRUARY 23: Masahiro Tanaka #17 of Japan Starting pitcher and Catcher Shinnosuke Abe #10 against Australia in the top half of the third inning in action during international friendly game between Japan and Australia at Kyocera Dome Osaka on February 23, 2013 in Osaka, Japan. (Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Japan's catcher Kenji Johjima (L) cheers(28 of29)
Japan\'s catcher Kenji Johjima (L) cheers up relief pitcher Masahiro Tanaka in the 7th inning against China in the World Baseball Classic first round at Tokyo Dome on March 5, 2009. Japan beat China 4-0. The top two teams will advance to the second round in the United States from Pool A featuring Japan, Olympic champion South Korea, Taiwan and China on March 5-9. AFP PHOTO/Kazuhiro NOGI (Photo credit should read KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
China v Seibu Lions(29 of29)
TOKYO - MARCH 01: (L-R) Catcher Kenji Johjima #2, pitcher Yu Darvish #11 and pitcher Masahiro Tanaka #15 of Japan watch a friendly match between China and Saitama Seibu Lions at Tokyo Dome on March 1, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Junko Kimura/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)