The most popular Japanese pitcher where people born in 1980 and 1981 is called Matsuzaka generation in Japan, Matsuzaka became a national hero back in 1998 when he helped Yokohama High School winning the annual Koshien Tournament by totally dominating throughout the competition. In the quarterfinals battling the stifling heat, Matsuzaka pitched a game for the ages by throwing an unheard of 250 pitches in 17 innings. In the final, Matsuzaka threw a no-hitter! only the second ever in a final, to win both the tournament and the admiration of the nation. During his first encounter against Ichiro as a pro in 1999, Matsuzaka struck him out three consecutive at-bats. Matsuzaka pitched brilliant in the 2006 World Baseball Classic, which he was named the MVP when he went 3 - 0 with 1.38 ERA, later on that year, the Red Sox paid $51.1 million dollars just to negotiate a contract with him, and he rewarded the team by helping winning a World Series title for the Red Sox Nation and the Fenway Faithfuls in his rookie season. Pictured here is his 2006 BBM card, showing him in action with the Seibu Lions during his last season in Japan.