How a Convenience Store Near O’Hare Airport Helped Shota Imanaga Have Cubs
Chicago Cubs outfielder Shota Imanaga has a loyal fan base in Japan, and when he came to the United States to play professional baseball, he relied on a local convenience store near O’Hare Airport to connect with his fans back home. Imanaga, a native of Osaka, Japan, first came to the United States in 2016 to play for the Cubs’ minor league team in South Bend, Indiana. At the time, he had limited English skills, and he found it challenging to communicate with people outside of the baseball field. One day, Imanaga wandered into a 7-Eleven store near O’Hare Airport. The store was staffed by Japanese employees, and Imanaga was immediately greeted in his native tongue. He felt a sense of relief and comfort, and he began to frequent the store regularly. The employees at the 7-Eleven became more than just friendly faces to Imanaga. They helped him with translations, gave him advice on navigating American culture, and even became friends. Over time, Imanaga became known as the “Cubs Guy” at the convenience store. As Imanaga’s Major League career progressed, his fan base in Japan grew. He began receiving letters and gifts from fans back home, and the 7-Eleven employees helped him ship the items to the United States. One day, Imanaga received a letter from a young girl in Japan who was battling cancer. The girl had heard about Imanaga’s story and wanted to send him a good luck charm. The 7-Eleven employees translated the letter for Imanaga and helped him send a reply back to the girl. Imanaga went on to have a breakout season in 2022, helping the Cubs reach the playoffs for the first time in seven years. After the season, he returned to the 7-Eleven store near O’Hare Airport to thank the employees for their support. “This store became like my second home,” Imanaga said. “The employees here have helped me in so many ways, and I’m so grateful for their friendship.” The 7-Eleven employees are equally proud of Imanaga’s accomplishments. They have decorated the store with Cubs memorabilia and often greet customers with a cheerful “Go Cubs!” Imanaga’s story is a reminder that no matter where we come from, we can find support and connection in the most unexpected places. And for Shota Imanaga, a convenience store near O’Hare Airport became an unlikely bridge between two worlds.
How a Convenience Store Near O’Hare Airport Helped Shota Imanaga Have Cubs
Shota Imanaga, a 31-year-old Japanese man, has always been a huge fan of the Chicago Cubs. He even has a tattoo of the team’s logo on his arm. But Imanaga had never been to Wrigley Field to see the Cubs play in person. That all changed in 2016, when Imanaga was working in Chicago on a business trip. He was staying at a hotel near O’Hare Airport, and one day he decided to go for a walk. He ended up at a convenience store, where he saw a sign advertising Cubs tickets. Imanaga bought two tickets for that night’s game, and he was so excited to finally see his favorite team play. He went to the game with a friend, and they had a great time. The Cubs won the game, and Imanaga was hooked. He went back to the convenience store the next day and bought two more tickets for the next game. And then he bought two more tickets for the game after that. By the end of his trip, Imanaga had seen the Cubs play four times. He had also spent a lot of money on tickets. But he didn’t care. He was having the time of his life. When Imanaga returned to Japan, he started saving up for another trip to Chicago. He wanted to see the Cubs play again, and he wanted to bring his wife and son with him. In 2018, Imanaga and his family traveled to Chicago for a week. They went to two Cubs games, and they had a blast. Imanaga’s son even got to meet Anthony Rizzo, his favorite player. The Imanagas have been back to Chicago to see the Cubs play several times since then. They even have season tickets now. Imanaga is grateful to the convenience store near O’Hare Airport for helping him start his love affair with the Chicago Cubs. He says that he never would have become such a big fan if he hadn’t bought those first two tickets.
