OSHU CITY, Japan — Early Tuesday morning, hundreds of enthusiastic fans gathered at a public viewing venue in Shohei Ohtani’s hometown to cheer for their local sports icon during Game 3 of the World Series. Located 13 hours ahead of Yankee Stadium, Oshu City embraced the opportunity to support the star player over breakfast.

Fans started forming lines outside the Oshu City Cultural Center, a spacious auditorium with a seating capacity for 500, well before the game was scheduled to begin. The picturesque fall morning set the perfect backdrop for this communal event, and excitement filled the air.

Wearing the signature blue colors of the Dodgers, many attendees donned caps and jerseys while carrying an assortment of noisemakers, such as thunder sticks. The auditorium was festively decorated with posters proclaiming Ohtani as “The Pride of Oshu City,” reflecting the local pride in their native son.

Despite a recent shoulder injury that he sustained just two days earlier, Ohtani managed to walk during his initial at-bat, inciting a wave of cheers from the 250 fans present. The crowd erupted in chants of “Go, Go Shohei,” and excitement surged when the Dodgers took an early lead with Freddie Freeman’s home run.

Among this enthusiastic crowd were around 20 children from the very kindergarten Ohtani attended, waving cheerful flags adorned with his smiling face. This close-knit community remembers Ohtani from his early days, when he played Little League and later became a star pitcher and hitter at Hanamaki Higashi High School, earning his place as a beloved figure in Iwate Prefecture.

Situated approximately 300 miles (500 kilometers) north of Tokyo, the town is nestled in a largely rural area, distinctly separate from the bustling metropolis known for its towering skyscrapers and luxurious lifestyle.

During the viewing, all attention was fixed on the Dodgers’ superstar and the status of his injured shoulder, which briefly dampened spirits and shifted the crowd’s mood from one of excitement to anxiousness. However, relief washed over the fans when Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts confirmed that Ohtani would start as the designated hitter and lead-off batter in Game 3, just as fans and baseball enthusiasts had all hoped to see.