Biography

Announced in a press release that he eloped, identifying his bride only as "a 25 year old civilian" from Japan; Matsui has yet to reveal her name. Speculation is that he married to win a bet he made with Derek Jeter and Bobby Abreu as to which one would get married first. (26 March 2008).

Nicknamed "Shemp" by his Yankees teammates because of his similar hair style to Shemp Howard of The Three Stooges.

Graduated from Seiryô High School.

Hit 60 home runs as a high school student.

Is nicknamed "Godzilla" because of his power-hitting. At the Tokyo Dome gift shop, there is merchandise (T-shirts, coffee mugs, etc.) of Godzilla in a Giants baseball shirt (with # 55, Matsui's number). Matsui is also a Godzilla fan, and at the baseball games, Akira Ifukube's famous "Godzilla" theme is played when Matsui steps up to bat.