During Tokyo’s morning rush hour, the city’s nearly 15 million people are en route to work.
As they board trains and subways, giant video boards display news clips of Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers preparing for the World Series. Morning papers are also abuzz, with no less than five stories about the Dodgers’ Japanese stars. In a nation of 125 million, there is no larger story than that of Ohtani and his fellow Dodger star pitcher, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who both command the attention and pride of this baseball-obsessed country.
Sporting goods stores across Japan are struggling to meet the surging demand for Ohtani and Yoshinobu jerseys, along with other Dodgers merchandise. It’s no exaggeration to say that Dodgers gear is selling more in Japan than in Los Angeles.
“Ohtani is a genius full stop,” Sports business expert Dave Carney told Rant Sports. “He had a plan on what team he wanted to play for, how he could be paid a record contract and still make it possible for the Dodgers to compete every year. He is also aware of his international brand potential and being in Los Angeles is a huge advantage.”
Despite the 16-hour time difference between Tokyo and Los Angeles, Dodgers games are setting massive television ratings records in Japan. Each playoff game is breaking viewership records, with an average of over 13 million viewers tuning in.
Ohtani’s approach was evident from the outset: invest in his abilities and join a team with annual World Series aspirations. His journey started in the offseason with a contract negotiation that relocated him 33 miles north, from Angel Stadium to Dodger Stadium.
His focus was solely on Los Angeles, attracted by his affinity for Southern California, the substantial Asian American community, the availability of Japanese television networks, and the Dodgers’ strong chances of making it to the World Series, which matched his business objectives seamlessly.
Los Angeles has movie stars, each night at Dodger Stadium there would be the likes of LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Denzel Washington, Stephen Spillberg, Ron Howard, and Snoop Dog to name a few all to see Ohtani play for their team was part of his plan to make himself a worldwide brand.
Ohtani’s 10-year, $700 million contract is reportedly the largest in global sports history, eclipsing Lionel Messi’s $674 million deal with FC Barcelona from 2017-2021. It also surpasses the estimated $679 million Kylian Mbappé would receive if he remains with PSG until 2025.
But Ohtani’s contract is structured to defer $68 million each year, providing the team with payroll flexibility. This allows the Dodgers to allocate funds for recruiting additional players, like his compatriot Yoshinobu, ensuring that Los Angeles maintains financial agility to acquire stars or reward emerging young talent from their system.
As Japan celebrates their favorite son, back in Los Angeles, Dodgers World Series tickets have become even scarcer than those for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. One fact is clear: Ohtani, perhaps ahead of his time, has realized his dream—a chance to compete on MLB’s grandest stage and the opportunity to win a World Series title.
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