The MLB opening Tokyo series between the Los Angeles (LA) Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs is causing a stir in Japan as five Japanese players, including Major League Baseball (MLB) superstar Shohei Ohtani, are participating. In particular, attention is focused on Ohtani, who was named the most valuable player (MVP) after achieving the first '50 home runs and 50 stolen bases' in the history of American professional baseball last year.
According to Yomiuri Shimbun on the 19th, when Ohtani stepped up to the plate for his first at-bat in the MLB opening game held the previous day at Tokyo Dome, the audience erupted in cheers welcoming him. When Ohtani recorded his first hit in the top of the 5th inning, Tokyo Dome was filled with applause. The Dodgers won 4 to 1 the previous day and will face the Cubs in the second game at Tokyo Dome that afternoon.
The opening game’s viewership rating was recorded at 31.2% based on the Kanto region. Kyodo News reported that apart from the end-of-year NHK Red and White Song Festival, which exceeded a 30% rating in the Kanto region last year, it is 'rare' for programs to achieve such ratings.
Due to his soaring popularity, Ohtani is one of the most sought-after sports stars in the advertising world. According to Sankei Shimbun, more than 10 Japanese corporations have signed sponsorship contracts with Ohtani, including Japan Airlines (JAL) and Mitsubishi UFJ Bank.
The Japan CM Research Institute analyzed that Ohtani-related advertisements were broadcast 4,543 times in the second half of last year, which is about three times the 1,568 times ads were aired in the first half of the same year when Japan won the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in March 2023.
According to the American sports business media Sportico, Ohtani earned $72.5 million (approximately 105 billion won) last year, making him the top earner among baseball players.