The Major League Baseball (MLB) season kicked off in an exciting way with games held in Tokyo, Japan. The Los Angeles Dodgers, last year’s World Series champions, faced off against the Chicago Cubs in a two-game series that drew in a massive crowd. The event took place on March 19, 2025, and included four spring training games, bringing in a total of 252,795 fans to the Tokyo Dome.
The MLB Tokyo Series Fan Fest was a huge success, attracting over 450,000 visitors throughout the week. This festival set a record for attendance, surpassing last year’s London Series by a staggering 320 percent. In Japan, about 20 percent of the population tuned in to watch the games, making it the most-watched MLB event in the country’s history. Ticket prices for these games soared, rivaling those of the Super Bowl.
Among the stars of the series was Shohei Ohtani, a standout player who thrilled fans by hitting three times in eight at-bats, including a home run. This event marked a significant moment for baseball in Japan, showcasing top players like Ohtani and Rōki Sasaki, who are beloved in their home country.
The games were scheduled without adjusting the start times for American audiences, with first pitches thrown at 3 a.m. Los Angeles time. This decision reflects the growing popularity of baseball in Japan, which has a rich history with the sport dating back over a century. In contrast, interest in baseball in the U.S. appears to be declining, with the average MLB fan now estimated to be a 57-year-old Caucasian male.
Despite its storied past, baseball has faced challenges in maintaining its status as America’s favorite pastime. The rising costs of attending games, including expensive food and parking, have made it less accessible for families. Additionally, the game struggles to attract younger fans, as evidenced by demographic data from Nielsen.
As the MLB season progresses, questions linger about the relevance of the "World Series" title. Historically, the World Series has not included teams from Japan or Korea, despite their strong professional leagues. With a significant portion of MLB players coming from abroad, there are calls to rethink the structure of the championship to include the best teams from around the world.
The regular MLB season began on March 27, 2025, with an expanded playoff format that will continue into November. As baseball evolves, the challenge remains: will American audiences embrace a truly global version of the sport?