Japan's National Pride Shohei Ohtani
Congratulations to the Los Angeles Dodgers on becoming World Champions
I’ve been absolutely enthralled by this years’ fall classic, completely glued to my TV during this World Series. There is something electric about watching baseball in October. It is already a game of suspense—each pitch, every swing of the bat holds a world of possibilities, but with the World Series, that intensity is multiplied by 100. You’re not just watching a game; you’re witnessing history unfold and what I love so much about baseball is the constant reminders of the history and tradition of the game during broadcasts. One thing we could do with far less of during broadcasts though is the Pfizer commercials to get vaccinated for COVID-19, as well as commercials for junk food and diabetes medicine. Oh and don’t forget commercials for viagra. You guessed it folks, I am watching the American broadcasts and not the Japanese ones, which would be commercials for Japanese cars and beer, and life insurance.
This year was one of the best World Series’ that I can remember, and was contested by the two most iconic franchises, the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers, who had not met in the Fall Classic since 1981. I sit here writing this after watching the LA Dodgers come back from 5-0 down to tie the game at 5-5 in the 5th inning and eventually turn it around to win the game and the World Series. The 700 million dollar contract given to Shohei Ohtani and the 325 million dollar deal to fellow Japanese teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto was money well spent. Yes you read that right, a 1.025-billion Pacific Rim investment in two Japanese players. Speaking of Japanese players, here is “Godzilla” Hideki Matsui throwing out the first pitch for game 5.
Before I explain why Shohei Otani has captured the hearts and minds of an entire nation, I want to add that I am no professional baseball writer—just a fan who loves the game and has noticed how much of an impact Shohei Ohtani has had on everyday folks here in Japan. I am always inspired to write by my literary hero Robert Whiting, and when it comes to writing about Japanese baseball and culture, he’s the GOAT. Robert has had a huge influence not just on me, but on how people in both Japan and the West understand baseball. He is best known for books like You Gotta Have Wa (1989), The Chrysanthemum and the Bat (1977), Tokyo Underworld (1999) and many others. Each book reflects his deep knowledge of Japan, having lived here for over four decades, and his writing balances keen insight with a sense of humor that makes his work both enlightening and entertaining. Check out my book review of his latest book Gamblers, Fraudsters, Dreamers & Spies: The Outsiders Who Shaped Modern Japan (2024) here.
Shohei’s Impact
I’ve seen the impact Shohei Ohtani has had on people here in Japan firsthand. Recently, while traveling, I was watching game 1 of the World Series on my iPad at a highway service area in Ibaraki. People I’d never met before came up to me, curious about how Ohtani and the Dodgers were doing. Before long, we had an impromptu watch party. Everyone was glued to the screen, cheering, sharing stats, and discussing Ohtani and the Dodgers.
My stream was delayed by 10 seconds and hilariously, as the series defining game winning grand slam home run was just about to be hit, a jogger jogged past us and screamed “home run, the Dodgers won” which totally ruined the mood. Series MVP Freddie Freeman's grand slam home run in the bottom of the tenth inning was screamed at us only seconds before we got to see it on the screen. I could have strangled the jogger!
I’d say that kind of enthusiasm shows the influence Ohtani has on everyday life here in Japan—he’s bringing people together not over a shared love of the game of baseball but for the pride of seeing a Japanese player playing on the biggest stage of them all. Mark my words, despite a subpar World Series, Shohei Ohtani will go down as the greatest player to ever play the game—the Michael Jordan of baseball. After he took this year off of pitching and played only as a designated hitter, I can’t wait to watch him pitch next year.
This year, the buzz around the World Series is so strong that more people in Japan are tuning in than in the U.S., a testament to Ohtani’s influence and how much he’s grown American baseball’s appeal in Japan.
Around 15.9 million people in Japan — or about 12% of the country’s population — reportedly tuned in to watch the World Series Game 2 between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees on Saturday. Meanwhile, the U.S. logged 13.8 million in viewership, marking the first time the biggest market for baseball was overtaken by Japan, the world’s second biggest, according to the MLB. The World Series games are being broadcast in Japan by Fuji TV, NHK BS and J Sports.
Baseball has always had a special place in Japanese culture, but the rise of Shohei Ohtani has taken Japan's passion for the game—and for American baseball in particular—to unprecedented levels. Ohtani’s impact on the sport transcends numbers; he represents a new age for baseball in Japan, symbolizing both admiration for the American game and a powerful national pride. Don’t get me wrong, Japan has always cheered on its MLB players, but this is different. It almost feels like the Japanese are taking it personal, like supporting a family member. When Ohtani wins awards and breaks records, Japanese fans celebrate alongside him and it is not surprising that so many now watch the World Series. Long gone are the days when Japanese children wanted to be judo athletes or sumo wrestlers, for over 30 years or more now they’ve wanted to be professional soccer or baseball players.
Incidentally, the American version of baseball is in ways different to the way the Japanese play the game here in Japan, where baseball is literally translated as field ball. You can often see me at Yakult Swallows home games also wishing I could go to big league American ballparks. In fact I’d go as far as saying that Japan produces the most technically gifted players and America produces the best games. This can be said for professional wrestling as well.
The U.S. and Japan have shared a long and passionate relationship with baseball since the early 20th century, but it was Hideo Nomo's groundbreaking entry into Major League Baseball (MLB) in 1995 that set the stage for what would eventually become an extraordinary international sports exchange. Before Nomo, only one Japanese player had ventured into the MLB and his success shattered perceptions and expanded the horizon for Japanese players. It also gave Japanese fans a stake in the league, and they began following MLB games more closely, rooting for “Nomo-mania” in Los Angeles and beyond. This was very similar to "Fernando-mania" that became must-watch television in the early 1980’s.
For more on Nomo-mania, Whiting’s The Book of Nomo is an absolute must read. His The Chrysanthemum and the Bat (1977), You Gotta Have Wa (1989) and The Meaning of Ichiro (2004), are also essential readings to Japanese baseball, giving readers a window into how the sport mirrors the culture here in Japan.
Since Nomo’s era, MLB has seen a stream of Japanese talent that includes Ichiro Suzuki, Hideki Matsui, and Yu Darvish, among others. Each player brought unique skills and charisma, strengthening the bond between Japanese fans and American baseball. Yet, it is Shohei Ohtani, a once-in-a-generation player excelling as both a pitcher and a hitter, who has captivated both Japan and the world like no other player before him.
Ohtani’s two-way play is historic in a sport where specialization has long been the norm. In Japan, where hard work, humility, and dedication are revered, Ohtani is seen as an embodiment of these values. Fans admire his grit, his reverence for his team, and the level of excellence he brings to both sides of the game. His story is deeply inspiring: a young man from a rural town in Iwate Prefecture, now dominating on the world’s biggest baseball stage. His success makes Japanese fans feel not only proud but connected to the larger world of American baseball.
The biggest thing I noticed at that highway service area last week was that the Japanese don’t just watch Ohtani play baseball; they are proud of his journey in becoming the number 1 player on that planet. This is something that the Japanese have been searching for since 1945, a time that gave rise to pro wrestling star Rikidozan, known as the "Father of Puroresu" (Japanese professional wrestling). Rikidozan restored Japanese national pride in the post-war era by becoming a symbol of resilience and strength, defeating foreign opponents in the ring and inspiring hope in a generation that had endured the devastation of World War II.
Like Nomo, Ohtani’s MLB career has inspired Japan’s younger generation of players, who now see playing in the U.S. as a more attainable and exciting prospect than ever before. The Japanese media heavily covers MLB, offering Ohtani as a symbol of what’s possible. This drives up interest and viewership, making baseball not just a Japanese pastime but an international game with roots across both sides of the Pacific. American baseball has become more than a sport; it’s a cultural bridge between Japan and the United States. No one has written better about this topic than Whiting has in his book You Gotta Have Wa (1989).
The Japanese love affair with American baseball isn’t likely to end anytime soon. The World Baseball Classic, baseball’s version of the World Cup, showed this as Japan beat the US in the final with Ohtani starring.
With Ohtani setting records and new Japanese talent emerging, we’re sure to see more players make their way to the MLB and as baseball continues to transcends borders, Ohtani, like Hideo Nomo and the other Japanese players that followed him, remind us of how sports can unite us, excite us, and inspire us across continents. As Shohei continues to make history, one thing is certain: the story of Japanese players in the MLB has only just begun.
Rionne McAvoy is the director of the award-winning documentary The One's Left Behind: The Plight of Single Mothers in Japan, showcasing his dedication to addressing pressing social issues. A committed documentary filmmaker and professional wrestler, he explores critical themes with passion and insight. Additionally, he has a keen interest in post-World War II Japan, particularly the intricate connections between politicians and gangsters during that era. Known in the wrestling ring as Rionne Fujiwara, he brings the same determination and storytelling prowess from his wrestling persona to his filmmaking endeavors.