Before being named the Cape Cod Baseball League's 2024 most outstanding pitcher, and receiving the prestigious BFC Whitehouse Award, Itsuki Takemoto was already making waves in Japan.

Hailing from Wakayama, a city about an hour south of Osaka, Itsuki began his baseball journey at a very early stage in his life, under the attentive guidance of his father, Hidehito Takemoto.

"My father first taught me how to pitch when I was eight years old. I remember training and playing catch every day, and sometimes I trained while crying," said Takemoto.

"But everything we did was meaningful and was what I needed to succeed. My father is the most important person to me and my favorite person."

Itsuki's intensive training didn't just benefit him on one of the biggest stages in Japan high school baseball, where he and his team won the Summer Koshien Tournament, the largest amateur sporting event in Japan. It also prepared him for the biggest stage in collegiate baseball - The Cape Cod Baseball League.

As Firebirds bullpen coach Cole Cook has observed, Takemoto's maturity, developed throughout his upbringing in Japan, sets him apart.

“Sukie is a mature enough pitcher that can be uncomfortable for a full bullpen session. We know for 15-20 pitches, we can have him be uncomfortable, and that's just when asking him to do something that he hasn't had success with so far, or that feels new," said Cook.

"We asked him to change his role, and that's a lot to ask a young athlete to do, but Sukie has no problem making those adjustments. If we tell him to do something, he'll just try it, and if it works, he'll think about implementing it, and if not, he moves on. It's a really mature way to go about pitching."

Admitting he was 'immature' before his arrival on Japan's high school baseball scene, Itsuki credits his advanced mindset to the rigorous training he endured throughout his high school career.

“I ran so much that I was about to collapse, but that kind of tough practice made me level up mentally," said Takemoto.

The high level of preparation and discipline that came with growing up within Japan's rich culture helped mold Takemoto into the young man and unshakable pitcher he is today.

Now, he's a spitting image of his homeland's values, all while emphasizing the importance of perseverance by spreading a simple message: 'Learning without giving up will lead to results.'

"Suki talks about Japan, and about the fact that he's proud of being from Japan because of the amount of respect and honor that comes with that community and from that culture"

"You can see he lives that very much in his life. He lives a respectful, honorable life, and he works that way. It's incredible to be a part of," Cook continued.

Itsuki Takemoto's perseverance extends beyond his mindset and play on the mound. Just one short year ago, the English language was completely foreign to him.

After enrolling early at the University of Hawaii in the Spring of 2023, Takemoto faced the challenge of learning a new language and was eager to begin the process.

"The language barrier was large, and I couldn't speak English at all," said Takemoto. "I studied desperately because I wanted to communicate with everyone as soon as possible."

As he's demonstrated throughout his life, Itsuki proved that being willing to learn without giving up, does in fact lead to results. He's now picked up the language so well that he no longer needs a translator in interviews. His hard work didn't go unnoticed by his teammate at Hawaii, Ben Zeigler, who joined him in Orleans for the summer.

"With the language barrier he initially faced compared to where he is now, he has grown tremendously through learning English, adapting to a whole new country, and still performing," said Zeigler, who couldn't be more excited to continue building his relationship with Itsuki.

"I can’t imagine the ups and downs for him through his first year but in my eyes, I have seen him become not only a great ball player but also a great friend and teammate. I can’t express how much of an honor it is to be his teammate but more importantly, a lifelong friend."

During Takemoto's life-changing transition to the United States, few had as significant an impact on his rapid progression as Maaki Yamazaki, the former Hawaii shortstop, and current graduate manager for the Rainbow Warriors.

"As someone who didn't understand anything during my first year at Hawaii, his presence was very big for me," said Takemoto. "If I said I wanted to practice, he would accompany me at any time. He's a wonderful person who's had a great impact on my life."

It's safe to say Itsuki Takemoto's lifelong dedication to his craft and his unbreakable confidence are beginning to pay off, as he traveled across the world, broke down a language barrier, and posted a .71 ERA paired with 23 strikeouts against the most competitive baseball league in all of college sports.

Oh, and he was named the Cape League's most outstanding pitcher.