Across the Pacific, fans in downtown Tokyo watched Suzuki in sports bars and on big-screen monitors.
"I would like to give him my heartfelt congratulations," Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said. "He has made extra efforts in addition to having a natural gift."
Added Suzuki's father, Nobuyuki: "You can tell how happy and proud I am just by looking at me. The tears just won't stop flowing."