Over the 11-plus years that Keizo Konishi of the Kyodo News has spent shadowing Ichiro Suzuki and chronicling his every move, the Japanese sportswriter has gotten to know the iconic star in a way few others have.

He knows that every day, at exactly 5:30 p.m., Ichiro will dine on a rice bowl. He knows every bit of his elaborate stretching-and-strengthening routine inside out. He knows when Ichiro isn't in the mood to answer questions, and when he can be pressed.

In...