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Master bat maker

TOKYO, Japan - Master bat maker Isokazu Kubota (R) and Hideki Matsui, then a player of the New York Yankees, chat at Mizuno Technics Corp. in Yoro, Gifu Prefecture, in December 2003. The craftsman whose bats have launched thousands of big league hits for Matsui and Ichiro Suzuki announced his retirement on Jan. 28, 2014.

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Master bat maker

NAGOYA, Japan - Master bat maker Isokazu Kubota announces his retirement during a press conference in Yoro, Gifu Prefecture, on Jan. 28, 2014. The craftsman whose bats have struck thousands of big league hits for Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui is calling it quits after half a century at his craft.

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Master bat maker

NAGOYA, Japan - Master bat maker Isokazu Kubota crafts a bat after announcing his retirement in Yoro, Gifu Prefecture, on Jan. 28, 2014. The craftsman whose bats have struck thousands of big league hits for Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui is calling it quits after half a century at his craft.

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Ichiro's baseball bat makers

GIFU, Japan - Baseball bat makers Isokazu Kubota (R) and Tamio Nawa of Mizuno Technics Corp. hold the same model of baseball bat used by Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, in the town of Yoro, Gifu Prefecture, on Sept. 24, 2010. Ichiro has set a new Major League Baseball record of 10 consecutive 200-hit seasons.

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Ichiro ties Harimoto's record for most career hits

GIFU, Japan - Isokazu Kubota (R), who has made bats for the Seattle Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki for about 17 years, celebrates in Gifu Prefecture on April 16 after a grand slam Ichiro hit in the seventh inning of a game against the Los Angeles Angels at Safeco Field on April 15. Ichiro tied Isao Harimoto's record in Japan for most career hits by marking the 3,085th hit of his career in Japan and the major leagues.

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Ichiro ties Harimoto's record for most career hits

GIFU, Japan - Isokazu Kubota (R), who has made bats for the Seattle Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki for about 17 years, celebrates in Gifu Prefecture on April 16 after a grand slam Ichiro hit in the seventh inning of a game against the Los Angeles Angels at Safeco Field on April 15. Ichiro tied Isao Harimoto's record in Japan for most career hits by marking the 3,085th hit of his career in Japan and the major leagues. (Kyodo)

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Ichiro's baseball bat makers

GIFU, Japan - Baseball bat makers Isokazu Kubota (R) and Tamio Nawa of Mizuno Technics Corp. hold the same model of baseball bat used by Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, in the town of Yoro, Gifu Prefecture, on Sept. 24, 2010. Ichiro has set a new Major League Baseball record of 10 consecutive 200-hit seasons. (Kyodo)