As the Los Angeles Dodgers showcased this October, the current contingent of Japanese stars in MLB has never been stronger.

While there are a number of Japanese players littered across the majors right now, there is perhaps no more appealing landing spot for those crossing the Pacific than the Dodgers. The repeat World Series champions have both the money to spend and a deep group of stars led by Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki.

Sounds like a solid fit for the likes of Tatsuya Imai, Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto as they enter international free agency this winter, right?

For Imai, a right-handed starter, that might not quite be the case.

Speaking recently with former World Series champion Daisuke Matsuzaka on the show, “Hodo Station,” Imai said he’d welcome the challenge of beating his countrymen, rather than joining them.

“Of course, I’d enjoy playing alongside Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Sasaki,” Imai said. “But winning against a team like that and becoming a world champion would be the most valuable thing in my life.

“If anything, I’d rather take them down.”

The 27-year-old Imai is set to be one of the most sought-after pitchers on the free-agent market this off-season after posting a 1.92 ERA over 163.2 innings for Nippon Professional Baseball’s Saitama Seibu Lions.

While standing just five-foot-11, Imai emerged as one of Japan’s top starters this season with an arsenal highlighted by a riding fastball and reverse-breaking slider. It helped him rack up 178 strikeouts in 2025, dwarfing his 45 walks.

“If there were another Japanese player on the same team, I could just ask them about anything, right?” he said about his potential landing spot. “But that’s actually not what I’m looking for. In a way, I want to experience that sense of survival. When I come face-to-face with cultural differences, I want to see how I can overcome them on my own — that’s part of what I’m excited about.”

Imai was officially posted by the Lions on Nov. 18, meaning he has to come to terms on an agreement with an MLB club by Jan. 2.

The Lions will receive a fee from whichever MLB club signs Imai through the posting system. They will get 20 per cent of the first $25 million of his contract, 17.5 per cent of the next $25 million and 15 per cent of any amount above $50 million.