Pitching greats Daisuke Matsuzaka and Yu Darvish are leading Japan's star-studded squad as national teams battle it out in the United States in the World Baseball Classic.

But No. 51 Ichiro Suzuki, who has icon status, remains in a class of his own even in that superstar lineup.

Japanese media have followed every step of the Seattle Mariners outfielder, going as far as to report what he has for breakfast before showing up at the ballpark.