It’s been 13 years since Kosuke Fukudome last played a game in Cubs uniform but on any given day at Wrigley Field, you can see his patented No. 1 jersey floating around the ballpark.

Fans still routinely sport Fukudome’s jersey after the Japanese outfielder played a big part on the 2008-11 teams on Chicago’s North Side.

This weekend at Wrigley Field represented a historic moment in baseball history with four Japanese players facing off between the Cubs and Dodgers (Seiya Suzuki, Shota Imanaga, Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto).

Fukudome caught up with Elise Menaker on Cubs Live! Sunday and reflected on the big weekend in Chicago as well as his legacy with the fanbase.

“Honestly, it’s not something I imagined to see,” Fukudome said through translator Shingo Murata. “To see so many Japanese players playing in one stadium brings me a lot of joy.”

[Watch the entire interview with Kosuke Fukudome on the Marquee Sports Network app]

Fukudome said he has spoken with Imanaga about what it is like to play in Major League Baseball and also talked with Suzuki prior to the star outfielder signing with the Cubs in 2022.

Suzuki credited players like Fukudome with paving the way for Japanese players in today’s game but Fukudome acknowledges Suzuki and Ohtani and others are also forging a stronger path for future generations.

As for his career in Chicago, Fukudome is grateful for the memories. He played 513 games in a Cubs uniform, hitting .262/.369/.403 (.772 OPS) with 37 homers and 236 runs scored.

He was an All-Star during his rookie season in 2008, in which he smacked a game-tying 3-run home run off star closer Éric Gagné in the 9th inning on Opening Day at Wrigley Field. The Cubs ended up losing that game in the 10th inning, but it’s a moment that lives on forever in the mind of fans.

“To be able to do that in front of the wonderful fans at Wrigley Field who are known to be very passionate, it was very special for me,” Fukudome said. “When I look back on my baseball career, it’s one of the most exciting moments etched in my memory.”

Fukudome also shared a hilarious story about one very memorable experience dealing with the iconic Wrigley Field ivy.

He has been able to return to Wrigley Field over the years, including during the 2016 World Series when he had some time to catch up with former teammate Alfonso Soriano.

Catch the entire 10-minute interview with Fukudome on the Marquee Sports Network app.