TOKYO (AP) – Hideki Matsui may get to display his Yankee pinstripes at the Tokyo Dome. The outfielder will return to Japan with the New York Yankees on March 30 and 31 to open the season against the Tampa Bay.

While the Devil Rays are the home team, Matsui said Tampa Bay has agreed to let the Yankees wear their home uniforms for the benefit of Japanese fans.

“I never thought I’d be playing in Japan in the Yankee uniform,” Matsui said Tuesday at a news conference to promote the series.

Yankees spokesman Rick Cerrone and Devil Rays spokesman Rick Vaughn said the idea of having New York wear its pinstripes was under discussion but no final decision had been made.

On March 28 and 29, the Yankees and Devil Rays will play split doubleheaders against the Yomiuri Giants – Matsui’s former team – and the Hanshin Tigers, also at the Tokyo Dome.

“It will be interesting to play against my old teammates,” Matsui said. “My role on the Yankees is different than it was with the Giants.”

Matsui was a three-time MVP for the Giants before joining the Yankees before the 2003 season.

These will be the first games played by the Yankees outside the United States and Canada since 1955, according to the baseball Hall of Fame.

This will be only the second time regular-season major league games are played in Japan. The New York Mets and Chicago Cubs played a two-game series in 2000.

“We’ve played the Yankees before,” Tampa Bay infielder Aubrey Huff said. “I’m looking forward to playing the Japanese teams because I’ve heard the level of competition here is very high.”

AP-ES-01-20-04 1649EST