Iconic superstar Ichiro Suzuki, who has more hits in professional baseball than any other Japanese player, told the Seattle Mariners he intends to retire, an informed source said Thursday.

The news came as the Mariners' next prospective star from Japan, Yusei Kikuchi, was making his major league debut as the club's starting pitcher at a sold-out Tokyo Dome against the Oakland Athletics.

Ichiro caught the final out of the first inning as Kikuchi recorded a 1-2-3 frame, and their countrymen responded with a crescendo of cheers.