TOKYO — Despite the anticipation, Shohei Ohtani remained out of sight for the hundreds of fans gathered at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on Thursday. Eager to witness the Los Angeles Dodgers star’s arrival, they were instead met by a 40-meter-long temporary white barrier designed to shield players as they navigated through the airport. The Chicago Cubs had taken this route the previous night, avoiding the fanfare.
Arriving from Phoenix, the Dodgers were seen deplaning on the tarmac, with Ohtani among the first to disembark. However, the team did not pass through the main arrival area, opting for an alternative exit.
Eager fans have another opportunity to see Ohtani and the Dodgers during Friday’s open practice at the Tokyo Dome. The MLB season will kick off with a two-game series on Tuesday and Wednesday, with Tokyo’s evening games broadcasting live in North America’s early morning hours. The time difference puts Japan 13 hours ahead of the East Coast.
Inside the airport terminal, fans waited patiently, many holding signs welcoming the star player. Some displayed signs like the bright yellow board declaring, “I love LA,” while others donned Dodgers attire, reflecting their support for the superstar.
Excitement occasionally stirred among the crowd as fans mistakenly thought they glimpsed Ohtani. Each time proved to be a false alarm as other passengers emerged instead. Despite the anticipation, fans graciously left the area when it became evident that Ohtani would not appear.
While some like Satoshi Yoshii, a local accountant, remained hopeful, he acknowledged the odds. “I just came hoping for any chance I might see him. But I knew, probably not,” he admitted. Meanwhile, Misaki Ueta, alongside her husband and a friend, expressed a lighter-hearted purpose for being there: “We just came to be able to breathe the same air,” she joked.
Not all were dedicated Ohtani followers. Kotomi Miyakoda, for instance, attended more for the experience, likening it to the atmosphere of a rock concert. Her friend, Kotomi Nakatsu, expressed a desire to see Ohtani in person, even though she didn’t consider herself a fan.
The MLB’s initiative in Japan, often tagged as the Japan Series, also serves as a high-profile showcase for Ohtani’s marketing prowess in his home country. With a strong following, he represents MLB’s most valuable promotional asset.
This marks the second consecutive year MLB starts its season in Asia, having launched last year in South Korea with the Dodgers and San Diego Padres. This year, Tokyo hosts the Dodgers, Cubs, and their contingent of Japanese talent, including Ohtani, pitchers Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki for the Dodgers, and Cubs’ designated hitter Seiya Suzuki and pitcher Shota Imanaga.
Yamamoto and Imanaga are anticipated to perform against one another in the opening game scheduled for Tuesday. The teams will also engage in exhibition matches against local teams, the Yomiuri Giants and Hanshin Tigers, over the weekend.
Chris Marinak, MLB’s chief operations officer, emphasized the advantages of having a standout player such as Ohtani in a unique market, enhancing global engagement. “It helps to have a generational talent like Ohtani — essentially the best player in the game — to be from a different market,” Marinak explained.
The Dodgers are widely embraced as Japan’s national team, solidified after Ohtani’s World Series victory. They have organized events like the “Dodgers Experience at MLB Tokyo Series,” where fans can admire the World Series trophy, championship rings, and rich history stretching back to the Dodgers’ Brooklyn origins.
Further adding to the series’ allure, renowned Japanese artist Takashi Murakami has created artwork specifically for these events, captivating fans with his unique artistic display.
Ticket prices for these much-awaited matches reflect their demand, with resale listings soaring to as high as $20,000 per ticket, though many are available within the $2,000-$8,000 range. Despite these resale practices technically violating Japanese law — a regulation enforced prior to the 2021 Tokyo Olympics — ticket sales continue to thrive amidst fervor for the games.
