TOKYO — Cubs players arrived at the Kanda Myoujin Shrine on Thursday night sporting traditional happi coats. Their wives and girlfriends had wrapped themselves in kimonos. And the festivities began.

Seiya Suzuki was too young and not yet into baseball when the Chicago Cubs last played at the Tokyo Dome 25 years ago. But the memory of being in the ballpark in 2004 and watching Japanese great Hideki Matsui slug a home run for the New York Yankees still resonates with the 30-year-old Suzuki.

All eyes were on Suzuki and Shota Imanaga during Friday’s workout at the Tokyo Dome in front of an estimated 10,000 fans.