TOKYO — Two dozen cameramen raced for position. Four boom mikes loomed overhead.

One country was back in the throes of Dice-K mania.

Daisuke Matsuzaka stood at the edge of the Tokyo Dome dugout after today's workout as photographers clicked away, a national treasure coming back as a World Series champion to the field where he made his pro debut eight years ago.

The same field where he will pitch in the very first game of the major league season Tuesday for the Boston Red Sox against the Oakland Athletics.

"After I went to the U.S. I thought that perhaps one day I'd have the opportunity to pitch a game here in Japan, but I certainly didn't expect it to happen here in the second year" of his major league career, Dice-K said through a translator Friday.

A back injury to Josh Beckett gave Matsuzaka the chance to start — another milestone in his long, expensive journey that brought him from the Seibu Lions where he starred for eight years (at a total cost to the Red Sox of $103.1 million) to Boston and back home again.