Japanese Fans Express Pride in Homegrown Talent in MLB Tokyo Series

With five Japanese players taking part in MLB's season-opening Tokyo Series between the Lo s Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs, local fans have plenty to cheer for and be proud of.

While 2024 National League MVP Shohei Ohtani is the big attraction for Japanese fans, the locals are also cheering on his LA teammates Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki.

Shota Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki are the two Japanese players on the Cubs.

"I think having five Japanese players shows you how far the game has progressed in Japan," said 47-year-old fitness consultant Shigeru Uchida, who wasn't able to get tickets but plans to watch on TV.

"It's a source of great national pride to see our players excelling at the highest possible level," added Uchida, who spoke to JAPAN Forward outside of Tokyo Dome.

The Tokyo Series marks the first time the Dodgers have played official games in Japan. The Cubs came here in 2000 when they played the New York Mets at Tokyo Dome.

While Japanese players like Hideki Matsui and Ichiro Suzuki have taken part in official MLB games in Japan in the past, a series with five Japanese players is unprecedented.

In a sign of just how popular the Tokyo Series is, thousands of fans paid ¥2,000 JPY (about $13.50 USD) each on Friday just to watch Ohtani and his teammates practice at Tokyo Dome.

Even the preseason exhibition games with the Yomiuri Giants and Hanshin Tigers playing the two MLB teams on Saturday and Sunday, March 15 and 16 have seen near-capacity crowds at the 45,600-seat Big Egg.

Impressions from Japanese Baseball Fans

Ai Matsumoto, a native of Fukushima Prefecture, tried to get tickets for one of the two games between the Cubs and Dodgers but had to settle for Sunday's exhibition between LA and Hanshin.

Still, that gave her a chance to see her hero Ohtani, who she started following closely after he led Japan to victory over the United States in the 2023 World Baseball Classic championship game in Miami.

"It was my first time to see Ohtani live and I was very excited," Matsumoto said. "I'm very proud of Ohtani, he has the spirit of a Japanese. After I saw him in the WBC I became a big fan and was so excited when Japan won."

For 31-year-old Kaito, an employee of a sports apparel company, the fact that five Japanese were taking part is further proof of how far Japan has progressed.

"Our pitchers in particular have improved, it's very impressive," Kaito said. "American baseball is more powerful, Japan baseball is more technically oriented. It makes me proud to see our pitchers doing so well in the major leagues."

Around 500 fans waited to see the Dodgers arrive at Tokyo's Haneda Airport on Thursday but strict security measures denied them a chance to get a glimpse of their heroes.

Activities Planned for Baseball Fans

While tickets to both games sold out almost immediately, there are other ways for fans to enjoy the games.

A fan festival is taking place at Tokyo Skytree Town from March 8-19 featuring a batting experience zone and baseball diamond with outfield seating for public viewing parties.

The tower will be lit up in the colors of the winning team after each game.

To accommodate all those who weren't able to get tickets, fans can watch the Tokyo Series at up to 150 movie theatres across Japan.