Here's the translation of the press conference transcript reported by
Sportsnavi.


Shinjo: I made it a temporary signing today, which was my selfish request.  I
want to have the formal signing ceremony later in Hokkaido, and my request was
accepted. 

Q: Now that you have signed, at least temporarily, how are you feeling?
S: When I came back from the States, I had made up my mind to sign the first
team that gave me an offer.  It was the Fighters.   I had offers from other
teams but I chose the Fighters, and now I strongly feel I want to do my best in
Hokkaido. 
Q: The fans in Hokkaido signed petitions to ask the team to sign you.  Did you
know that?
S:  Yes.  I got so many.... (showing the petition)  Thank you so much.   I read
the messages for example, "We need you in Hokkaido", and I'm touched. 
Q: So, are you going to live in Sapporo* (*Note: Sapporo is the capital city of
Hokkaido, where the Fighters will have the franchise)? 
S:  Of course.   I'm looking for the apartment.  If any of you know any good
place, let me know.

Q: You may not like this question, but do you have any stats goal?
(Note: This question refers to his comment in 2001, in which he said "I'm not a
man of stats, I'll give that title to Ichiro, and I want to be called a man of
memorable plays".)
S: Stats?   I want to go over this year's stats (laugh)  On top of that, I want
to stay healthy and want to play in all the games, so that I won't miss the
games by injury.

Q: A college player who was drafted by the Fighters this year, wants to become
your apprentice.
S: My apprentice?
Q: He mentioned he has been your fan since he was a kid. 
S: A~h~~ha.   I'm not sure if I could be a good master (laugh).  I think I'll
take him out for dinner.  

Q: Sorry this question is not related to baseball, but you look very 'chic'
today.  What brand is your suit, and is there any implication to it?
S: This is "Dolce and Gabbana" which I bought in Milan.   The implication of
"being chic"?  I couldn't show up in this conference in jersey, could I? 
(laugh)

Q:  You love Ferrari and we heard you want to drive it in Hokkaido, but I'm
afraid it would be tough to drive such a car in a snowy place.  Aren't you
afraid?
S:  You are right...   I think I will buy snow tires for it. (laugh)
Q: Didn't you think about returning to Hanshin?
S:  I played there for years and I feel I grew up there, I gave it a thought
when I was in the States.  But I understand they have their own plan*, so I
chose the Fighters, the first team who told me they want me.   (* Note: "their
plan" meaning a report that their manager and front office said they have enough
outfielders who led the team to the championship this year and they have no
plans to recruit any new players.)

Q:  The Director of the front office mentioned he wanted you to join since the
past summer. Did you know that?
S: No I didn't.
Q:  What did you learn the most in your 3-year's experience in the majors?
S:  I learned the clear switching when the players are in uniforms and not.  I
also learned good training, game development, managers' strategies.  Those were
all great lessons.

Q: What do you look forward to most in playing back in Japan?
S: First of all, I want to run around the center field of Sapporo Dome.
Q: The winter in Hokkaido is very cold, like minus 15 degrees celcius (single
digit Fahrenheit).  Are you ready for the cold winter?
S: I'm fine with the cold winter, because it's colder in New York and San
Francisco.
Q: In Sapporo, they celebrate Snow Festival in February, and create huge snow
statues of celebrities.   They may create a Shinjo snow statue.
S:  In that case, I will take a picture beside my statue. (laugh)
Q:  The Fighters have Ken Iwamoto, who was your translater at the Mets in 2001,
and a few of your old teammates from the Tigers.   Have you heard from them
about the team's culture?
S:  No I didn't ask them.  However, the only question I asked was, "What is the
personality of the manager Trey Hilman?"  I heard he is a very nice person and
understands how the players feel.
Q:  Are you looking forward to playing with them again?
S:  Yes, I'm looking forward to it.
Q:  We are going to broadcast this press conference in Hokkaido.   Do you have
any message for the fans there?
S:  I'll be there soooon, look forward to meeting me!
Q:  Did you meet with Mr. Hilman yet?
S:  Yes, I did.   I met with him, the front office director, and Ken Iwamoto on
Nov 7.  They told me about the team and I thought this is a great team.

Q:  You mentioned you wanted to have the formal signing in Hokkaido, and having
this temporary signing and press conference is a selfish idea.  Why ?
S:  Well, I wanted to sign the contract in front of the people in Hokkaido. So I
requested the front office that I wanted this to be a temporary.  
Q:  The Fighters is moving the franchise to Hokkaido next year, and going to
revive the entire team.  What is your impression of Hokkaido?
S: Well, when I was with the Tigers, we played there only a couple of times but
I remember many enthusiastic baseball fans (* Note, there was no home team in
Hokkaido now, so the people who came all the way to see the teams that were not
the home teams mean they are very enthusiastic about baseball ), so I want those
enthusiastic people to come see the games.
Q:  We know you are "Kyushu danji" (* Note, do you remember this word mentioned
in his interview with SF Examiner last year?  A man who was born and brought up
in Kyushu, where Fukuoka is, is very conservative but passionate and honest.) 
What do you think about moving to  Hokkaido from Kyushu ?
S:  I never saw a pile of snow about this height (gesturing a pile of snow of
his height), so I'm looking forward to seeing it.  When I was in the States, I
often watched the video of a TV drama "Kita no kuni kara ("From a Northern
Country")", and I loved it.  I want to visit the town where they shot this
drama. (* Note: "Kita no kuni kara" is a story of a family living in a rural
town in the center of Hokkaido;  this drama described the growth of the children
in the family in the nature, and continued for more than 15 years or so). 

Q: In the movie promotion yesterday, you announced your new number will be 1. 
Why?
S: I had been thinking 1 is a simple, well-balanced number, for a long time
since I was a kid, so I wanted it.  I wanted to change everything now that I
came back from the majors.
Q: As the team moves the franchise, they are going to renew the uniform.  As a
well-known fashionable person, do you have any advice on it?
S: Advice... advice?   (laugh)  I'm not in such a position.   I hope a uniform
of good taste is coming up, so I'm looking forward to it.
Q: You mentioned you wanted to change everything.  Can we expect "new Shinjo"?
S: I have to follow the advice from the coaches and the manager, and I have to
change myself especially, my batting.   I understand the starting position is
not something I can easily get. In that sense, I have to change myself. 
Q: In the draft conference yesterday, the Fighters drafted a high school
pitcher, who is saying he will refuse this offer because he wants to join the
Tokyo Giants (* Note: In the Japanese draft system, high school players can
refuse a drafted team).  Do you have any comment on this situation?
S: Of course I strongly want him to join the team.  Well, I don't know the
details of what his goal is, so I can't comment any further.  (* Note: In later
news, Shinjo sent a message to this guy via Hilman for the negotiation, and the
young guy was impressed with receiving a personal message from an ex-major
leaguer, and he said he will discuss the offer with the team.)


The comment from the Director of the Fighters
We wanted to strengthen the centerfield defensive line.  Sapporo Dome is a
pitchers' park with a wide open outfield.  Shinjo is the best fit to our needs.


The welcome message from the mayor of Sapporo

Welcome to Sapporo, Mr. Shinjo. Thank you for accepting the offer.  Now that you
are joining the Fighters, we will increase baseball fans, more people in Sapporo
will enjoy baseball.  I am sure that the team will be contending next season.