Murakami’s Unusual Request Signals a Cultural Shift in MLB Clubhouses
When the Chicago White Sox landed Munetaka Murakami this offseason, they weren’t just signing one of Japan’s premier sluggers-they were also welcoming a new cultural perspective into their clubhouse. Murakami, who made the jump from the Tokyo Yakult Swallows to Major League Baseball for the first time, had a simple but telling request upon arriving in Chicago: he asked for a bidet in the locker room.
“One thing he did notice is we didn’t have a bidet in our locker room,” White Sox general manager Chris Getz shared. “That’s new to him.
It was like, ‘Okay, that’s new. We can do that.’”
It’s a small detail, but one that speaks volumes about how MLB teams are evolving to accommodate international players, particularly from Japan. For Murakami, who’s used to the amenities of Japanese clubhouses, it wasn’t about luxury-it was about comfort and familiarity in a brand-new environment.
And Murakami’s not alone.
Last offseason, when the Los Angeles Dodgers were courting Roki Sasaki, the star pitcher also made it clear that a bidet wasn’t just a nice-to-have-it was a deal point. Dodgers president Stan Kasten recalled the conversation.
“I was telling him about all the amenities we were adding,” Kasten said. “We’re going to have this and this and this. And he asked, ‘Are you going to have Japanese-style toilets?’”
The Dodgers said yes. Sasaki signed.
“It sounds like a joke,” Sasaki later admitted through an interpreter. “But for me, it’s pretty important.”
What we’re seeing here is more than just a quirky footnote to a free-agent signing. It’s a subtle but important reminder that MLB teams looking to attract top-tier Japanese talent need to think beyond just money and playing time. Cultural considerations-whether it’s food, facilities, or yes, bathroom fixtures-can play a real role in helping international players feel at home.
And while a bidet might seem like an odd sticking point in a multi-million-dollar negotiation, it’s really about respect. These players are making a massive leap-across the world, into a new league, and often into a very different daily routine. When teams show they’re willing to meet them halfway, it can make all the difference.
Still, Murakami and Sasaki’s requests don’t quite take the crown for the most unusual contract detail in MLB history. That honor might still belong to former Astros reliever Charlie Kerfeld.
After a breakout 1986 season in which he finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting, Kerfeld went into contract talks with the Astros and asked for-wait for it-37 boxes of orange Jell-O as part of his new deal. Why 37?
It was a nod to his jersey number, of course.
“My mind works in different ways,” Kerfeld said at the time.
So while Murakami’s bidet request might raise a few eyebrows, it’s hardly the strangest thing a player has ever asked for. But it does highlight a growing awareness in MLB front offices: if you want to land international stars, especially from Japan, you’ve got to be willing to make room-not just on the roster, but in the clubhouse, too.