TOKYO — Jake Flint and his partner Jessica Griffiths, visiting Japan from England, found themselves exploring a sporting goods store in Tokyo renowned for its extensive collection of MLB merchandise, with a strong emphasis on the Los Angeles Dodgers brand.
The store prominently features various items emblazoned with the name and likeness of baseball sensation Shohei Ohtani, including caps, jerseys, shirts, and even plush toys, as Japan gears up for the World Series.
Television ratings for the series have reached new heights in Japan, with Ohtani and the Dodgers preparing to take on the New York Yankees. The first match is scheduled for Friday evening in the U.S., coinciding with Saturday morning in Japan.
Ohtani has sparked a sense of national pride among Japanese citizens, even those who typically aren’t interested in baseball. Young athletes admire him, and news reports often prioritize stories about him, despite the backdrop of impending parliamentary elections in the country.
Despite the buzz surrounding Ohtani, Jake admitted to being unaware of who he was. “I have no idea who he is,” he remarked, attributing his lack of knowledge to the minimal exposure Ohtani receives in the UK.
Jessica added, “We’re aliens. Never heard of him.”
Jake mentioned that if he were to make a purchase, it would be purely based on how it looked.
Kakeru Watanabe, who manages the store named “Selection” located in the bustling Shinjuku district, noted that tourists account for about half of their weekly sales. While some are dedicated baseball enthusiasts, many curious visitors make purchases based solely on the appealing aesthetics of various MLB gear. The store also features merchandise from Japan’s 12 professional teams.
“Approximately half of our items are related to Ohtani,” Watanabe shared, adding that the sales figures for Ohtani-branded products are even more significant.
The interest in Ohtani merchandise has surged since the World Series appearance. “Sales performance has nearly doubled or tripled since the Dodgers advanced to the World Series compared to an average weekday,” Watanabe explained.
Jiro Nishi, a local hairdresser spotted in a New York Mets cap, expressed his support for Ohtani and the Dodgers, despite the Mets’ recent defeat by them. “I thought I’d wear something with the Dodgers logo to cheer them on,” he mentioned, recognizing the team’s acquisition of Ohtani and pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto as a strategic move to clinch the championship.
Canadian tourist Stephen Sipidias shared his nostalgic relationship with baseball, admitting that he had shifted to basketball over the years, but was drawn back by Ohtani’s remarkable talents. “A guy being able to pitch and bat, being compared to Babe Ruth — he sounds like a legend,” Sipidias said. “He got me back into watching baseball.”
However, embracing fandom for Ohtani and the Dodgers comes at a price in Japan. Dodgers caps are available at around 16,000 yen, or approximately $105, while a dark blue Dodgers jersey can set buyers back nearly 100,000 yen, or $650.
“Expensive,” Jake noted.
Watanabe acknowledged the challenges of the current Japanese economy but defended the price points. “I think that people are willing to spend money on things they like,” he remarked, and it’s clear that Ohtani tops that list in Japan.