Tokyo Series Breaks MLB Viewership Records in Japan

The Tokyo Series set viewership records in Japan, with the first game drawing over 25 million viewers, the highest for any MLB game in the country, surpassing the 2024 Seoul Series. The Los Angeles Dodgers, featuring Japanese stars Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki, won both games against the Chicago Cubs, with Ohtani hitting a home run and Yamamoto delivering a strong pitching performance. Yamamoto pitched five innings with four strikeouts in the opening game, showing his potential as a key player for the Dodgers this season. Off the field, Yamamoto supported a charitable initiative by Hiroya Miyagi that allowed children from Okinawa to attend the games. The Tokyo Series also achieved record merchandise sales, highlighting its success beyond viewership. This series further solidified the impact of Japanese players in MLB, both on and off the field.