Matsui, 28, was introduced Wednesday by the New York Mets after signing a three-year contract reportedly worth $20.1 million US.
A standout shortstop with the Seibu Lions, he officially declared free agency on Oct. 28.
"This is an exciting day," Mets general manager Jim Duquette proclaimed. "Our plan for next year is to get younger and more athletic and improve our pitching and defence, especially our defence up the middle.
Kazuo Matsui is all smiles after finalizing a $20.1 million US pact.(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
"The signing of Kaz Matsui fits perfectly with that plan. This was an important first step as to what we're trying to do."
"I'm going to do my best to bring another one (a World Series title) to the city for the New York Mets," said Matsui, no relation to Hideki Matsui of the crosstown-rival Yankees.
"I wasn't compared to him in Japan. He's a home-run hitter.
"He played in a different league. He's my 'sempai,' my senior."
Handed his new Met jersey by New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, Matsui exclaimed in English: "Hello everybody, my name is Kaz Matsui. I love New York."
Matsui batted .305 with 33 home runs, 84 runs batted in and 104 runs scored in 140 games for Seibu this past season.
In doing so, the switch-hitter became the eighth Japanese player since 1950 to bat .300 or better with 30-plus homers and 30-plus steals.
"I would like to say to New York Mets fans," he continued through an interpreter.
"I will do my best to fulfill the hopes you have for me. I'm going to work real hard."
Matsui is a career .309 hitter with 150 homers, 569 RBIs and 762 runs in 1,159 Pacific League games over eight NPB seasons since being drafted third overall by the Lions in 1994.
"I don't consider myself a home run hitter," said Matsui, whose 1,143 consecutive-games streak was fifth-longest in NPB history.
"I'm just going to try and get up to the plate and hit, run hard and beat out hits and get as many as I can."
Matsui, a seven-time all-star and four-time Golden Glove winner with the Lions, will start at shortstop for the Mets with incumbent Jose Reyes moving to second base.
"He plays the position with the flair of a Latin player," said Duquette, who likened Matsui to Rey Ordonez.
"With Matsui and Jose Reyes anchoring the middle part of our lineup and our infield, we feel we'll have one of the best double-play combinations and most athletic top of the lineups in the game."
Of note, New York (66-95) finished last in the National League East for the second straight season in 2003.
with files from Sports Network
