Wed Mar 19 11:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Dodgers’ Tokyo Opener a Smash Hit: Ohtani Mania Fuels Global Baseball Buzz
**TOKYO** – Major League Baseball kicked off its regular season in Japan with a resounding success, as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Chicago Cubs 4-1 in front of a packed Tokyo Dome. The opening series, featuring five Japanese players including superstar Shohei Ohtani, captivated fans and highlighted baseball’s growing global appeal.
Ohtani, a national hero in Japan and the reigning National League MVP, drew massive crowds, even during practice sessions. His presence, along with that of other Japanese stars like Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Seiya Suzuki, created an unprecedented level of excitement. Tickets for the games sold out rapidly, with some costing more than airfare from Los Angeles. Fans flocked to watch parties and fan experiences, showcasing the intense passion for baseball in Japan, where the sport is the most popular spectator activity. Even Baseball Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. compared Ohtani to legendary athletes like Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods.
The games marked not only a historic start to the MLB season but also a significant step in expanding the sport’s international reach. The series, played for the first time in the regular season in Japan, signals baseball’s growing presence in Asia. Ohtani himself expressed hope that the games would resonate across the continent. The success of the Tokyo series underscores Japan’s importance as a key market for baseball, a sport introduced to the country over 150 years ago. Exhibition games last week, in which Japan’s Hanshin Tigers defeated both MLB teams, further emphasized the growing global competition and popularity of the sport.
First Piper 