According to Sheldon Ocker a sportswriter with the Beacon Journal (March 1, 2008), Kobayashi was a much honored and respected closer in Japan. He was one of only three pitchers in the history of Japanese professional baseball to amass 200 or more saves. Adjusting to a tougher league might be the least of Kobayashi's problems. He has been plucked from his home in Tokyo and dropped into a new culture.

The Tribe hired Nagahara, a trainer with a master's degree, to help Kobayashi with the physical demands of his job, as a translator and to make the pitcher's transition into a strange environment a little easier.

''Kobayashi's got a lot of personality to him,'' Wedge said. ''He is obviously very comfortable in his own skin. And he has good reason to be confident.''

Kobayashi's demeanor and body language indicate he is comfortable in the clubhouse, even though the only person he can converse with is Nagahara.

''He says he loves it here,'' Nagahara said. ''He says the coaching staff is very nice, and so are his teammates.''

How does Kobayashi know that? He interacts with other players and staffers with the help of Nagahara. This includes the inevitable teasing and mocking that occur in the clubhouse.

''It's hard for me to translate jokes,'' Nagahara said. ''There's a time lag. But Masa is a funny guy.''

English and Japanese have little in common, making the learning process much more difficult for Kobayashi than for players who come from Spanish-speaking places, such as Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.

''Eventually, Masa wants to learn English,'' Nagahara said. ''Right now, he is focusing on listening. That is easier than speaking.''

During 2008 spring training, Masa quite often went to Wal-Mart in Winter Haven, Florida.

"He's a Gold Club member," said Toshi Nagahara, Kobayashi's trainer/interpreter. "He goes there almost every day. He buys meat, fish and vegetables. He does his own cooking."

Kobayashi is a long way from home. He wears a ring from his wife, Michiko, around his neck on a silver chain. He has the names of his wife and daughter, Miu, stitched on his glove. As part of his two-year, $6.25 million contract with the Indians, he receives eight roundtrip business-class tickets between Tokyo and Cleveland.

He is friends with YasuhikoYabuta of the Royals and sometimes has dinner with him.  "I think Masa likes Asahi beer," Yabuta said with a grin to a MLB journalist.

Kobayashi brought a unique suction-cup contraption to the Indians clubhouse.

According to Kobayashi, the suction-cup machine with the unpronounceable Japanese name stimulates his circulation, making his arms and shoulders feel fresh each day, allowing the right-hander to pitch when called upon in his set-up role for the Tribe.

The circular bruises that it leaves are the signal that the machine -- and Kobayashi's routine -- is working. He gets daily massages from the personal masseuse hired as a stipulation in his contract. He has a daily stretching and sauna routine. He occasionally likes acupuncture, too.

In April and May, 2009, Kobayashi had major trouble retiring hitters. He said he was comfortable in the clubhouse with his teammates and happy off the field.

"I'm not homesick or any of that," Masa said. "To put it simply, the level of the players is different," he said. "It's the main reason I'm having trouble compared to Japan."

As of May 11, 2009, he had an 8.38 ERA in 10 appearances, having given up 12 hits, walked four and struck out four in 9 2/3 innings.

Mid-July, 2009: Kobayashi was released by the Indians.

November 30, 2009: Masa signed to play in Japan for the Yomiuri Giants.

Kobayashi's windup is a curious mix of baseball and ballet. He comes to a stop at his waist, then lifts up on his toes before putting his glove over his head and delivering the pitch. His motion from the stretch, designed to check baserunners, is much more direct and doesn't include a toe raise.