The Los Angeles Dodgers landed in Japan to plenty of excitement as hundreds of fans gathered at Haneda Airport to greet players and coaches.
That of course was to no surprise as the Dodgers have become the de facto home team of Japan following their signings of Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki over the last two offseasons.
“I went to Shibuya and saw a lot of Dodger hats,” said manager Dave Roberts, a Japanese native himself. “I think our mission was accomplished painting the country of Japan in Dodger Blue.”
While the Dodgers have reaped the benefits of working to capture the Japanese market, both through signings and other initiatives, their trip to Tokyo offered a firsthand look at what’s been accomplished.
“It’s really exciting, because we know that almost every morning, in the middle of the morning, the Dodger games are broadcast here in Japan,” Roberts began.
“We can tell by the Japanese enthusiasm at games, whether it be at Dodger Stadium or on the road. But this is our first opportunity to come to the country of Japan, the city of Tokyo, and to actually see Japanese people come support us in their home country.”
As a result of the significant interest they receive from Japan, the Dodgers recently launched a fan club that is only available to residents of the country.
The official Dodgers Fan Club consists of four different membership options that vary in price and benefits. The MVP tier, which costs 75,000 yen (roughly $500 USD) and includes several premium items such as an Ohtani bobblehead, reportedly sold out in three minutes.
Dodgers sweep Cubs in Tokyo Series
The Dodgers completed a sweep of the Chicago Cubs in the Tokyo Series, which saw Ohtani hit his first home run of the 2025 season and Sasaki make his MLB debut.
Yamamoto also turned in a solid start on Opening Day, making it a memorable week for all three of the Dodgers’ Japanese players.
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