After Seoul last year, Tokyo is setting the bar even higher this year...
When the Los Angeles Dodgers secured Shohei Ohtani with a record-breaking $700 million contract, they knew exactly what they were investing in. Last year, the team’s international appeal was on full display in South Korea. This year, it’s Tokyo that’s setting the bar even higher. With Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and the recently acquired Roki Sasaki, the Dodgers have built something unprecedented – and Japan is making sure they know it.
As the Dodgers touched down at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, they were met with an overwhelming wave of excitement. A massive crowd had gathered, eager to catch a glimpse of their hometown hero Ohtani, alongside Yamamoto and Sasaki. It was a scene reminiscent of last year’s Seoul Series, but with an even greater sense of spectacle.
However, fans hoping for a clear view of Ohtani were left disappointed. The Dodgers were discreetly ushered off the tarmac, avoiding the public arrival area altogether. Anticipating the frenzy, airport officials had set up a 130-foot-long temporary white wall, ensuring the players remained out of sight. A similar strategy had been used the previous night when the Chicago Cubs – who also feature Japanese stars Seiya Suzuki and Shota Imanaga – arrived.
Still, the energy in the terminal was undeniable. Fans held up signs, with one bright yellow board reading, “I love LA.” Others wore Dodgers jerseys, caps, and any team gear they could find. Time and again, hopeful supporters raised their phones, mistaking random travelers for Ohtani. Each time, it proved to be a false alarm, but their patience never wavered.
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Ohtani’s wife, Mamiko Tanaka, did not accompany him on the trip, reportedly due to her pregnancy. Despite her absence, she still played a role in the team’s journey, providing snacks and a heartfelt letter for the Dodgers’ traveling party, signed on behalf of herself and their dog, Decoy.
With a long flight behind them, the Dodgers now shift their focus to acclimating to the time difference before their first exhibition game on Saturday. Manager Dave Roberts wasted no time, arranging a workout for the team shortly after arrival. Meanwhile, anticipation continues to build for Opening Day, where Yamamoto and Imanaga are set to make history as two Japanese pitchers taking the mound to start the season.
The Tokyo Series is just days away, and while the Dodgers may have taken a private exit from the airport, there’s no escaping the fact that they’ve landed in a baseball-crazed nation eager to watch history unfold.
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