The World Series will not only be the biggest sporting event in the United States this weekend, but it has a chance to do the same in Japan. With Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto taking center stage as the Los Angeles Dodgers take on the New York Yankees, fans in Japan will be tuning in to watch their countrymen. Here’s everything going on in Japan due to the World Series.
Japanese Baseball Fandom
– When the Dodgers, led by Shohei Ohtani, qualified for the World Series, “World Series” (ワールドシリーズ) was the top trending term on X in Japan, according to Jeffery J. Hall
– Sporting goods stores in Tokyo are full of Dodgers merchandise, specifically Ohtani merchandise, according to the Associated Press.
“I think about half of our products here are Ohtani-related items,” sports merchandise store owner Kakeru Watanabe said. “And in terms of the percentage of the products sold, Ohtani-related items are even higher.”
– Japan recently set a record for the country’s most-watched Major League Baseball game when the Dodgers took on the San Diego Padres with 12.9 million viewers. All eyes are on Game 2 of the World Series as the Dodgers take on the Yankees with Japanese starter Yamamoto on the mound.
– JTB (Japanese Travel Bureau) is organizing packages for the World Series, specifically games held at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Packages include airfare, hotel, and, most importantly, tickets. It’s a unique situation for a Japanese agency organizing packages for a sporting event in the United States.
– Tokyo American Club will be hosting watch parties in Japan. The club will play the games on a big screen for viewing while offering complimentary coffee and pastries as the games will take place in the morning time in Japan. The club will also rebroadcast the games at 4 p.m.
Baseball Taking Over Important Events in Japan
– Ohtani has made baseball a bigger deal in Japan than one of its leading entertainment industries. In 2023, Japan’s anime market was valued at $12.72 billion, according to Yahoo News. Game 2 of the World Series, where Yamamoto will start, is scheduled for October 26 in the United States. That is Sunday morning in Japan, when a popular anime, One Piece’s Fishman Island Arc, was scheduled to premiere. The premier has been delayed to November 6 to make way for World Series coverage.
– Sunday, October 27, in Japan, will be a very busy day and could indirectly affect their political elections. Sunday morning in Japan will be when Yamamoto starts Game 2. That will also be the same day of Game 2 of the Japan Series, the championship for Nippon Professional Baseball. The two most significant sporting events in the nation fall on the same day as the Japanese general election
Historical Significance
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