JAPAN’S RISING SONS
TOKYO—Sunday morning in Japan began with a palpable buzz after the Los Angeles (LA) Dodgers announced Shohei Ohtani would start Game 7 of the World Series.
By the time countryman Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered the final out, Tokyo was erupting with joy.
“I am so proud today to be Japanese,” said cab driver Seiichiro Okada, who pulled his car to the side of the road to watch the ending. “To be able to watch these legends in real time is something else.”
Ohtani had two hits and also pitched, while Yamamoto earned World Series MVP after yet another stellar pitching performance as the Dodgers repeated as champions by beating the Toronto Blue Jays, 5-4, in 11 innings. Los Angeles trailed 3-0 and 4-2 but rallied with a tying homer from Miguel Rojas in the ninth inning and a tiebreaking homer by Will Smith in the 11th.
“I thought it was over for a second, but it was great,” said Hiroshi Hoshii, who was visibly teary-eyed.
Hoshii was among a big crowd of baseball fans spilling out into the street from Hub, a Tokyo fish-and-chips restaurant with several large screens where the game was shown live.
After the Dodgers’ victory, cheering people wearing Ohtani No. 17 jerseys broke out in dance at the Hub. They were among the millions of Japanese celebrating the Game 7 victory.
The Dodgers were heavy favorites in the World Series but got a tough test from the Blue Jays, including one game that went 18 innings and a nail-biting 3-1 victory in Game 6 to force the winner-take-all showdown in Toronto.
Most Japanese were watching at home. Games 1 and 2 averaged 10.7 million viewers in Japan, and Game 7 was likely to eclipse that.
Baseball fans in Japan say they have watched every game, even those who came home after working night shifts. Delivery workers said they watched whenever they could on their trucks.
Ohtani has been a star in baseball-mad Japan since he was an amateur and his likeness is now everywhere here, including on ads for sneakers, cosmetics, electronics and more.
Fans are proud of his extraordinary two-way prowess—he’s one of the sport’s best hitters and also a dominant pitcher. But people also note his character, pointing to his unpretentious and friendly behavior in the dugout. There’s a sense that he always remembers his Japanese roots, speaking in Japanese in interviews and addressing his fans.
His wife, former professional basketball player, Mamiko, as well as their dog, Decoy, routinely make headlines. Their daughter, born earlier this year, is already big news, starting with Ohtani’s announcement of the birth on Instagram, complete with a photo of her tiny feet.
Yamamoto stole the show in the World Series, though. He pitched a rare complete game in a Game 2 victory, then won Games 6 and 7 with gutsy, back-to-back performances that easily earned him Series MVP honors.
“Yamamoto is the GOAT!” manager Dave Roberts shouted moments before the Dodgers hoisted the World Series trophy.
The 27-year-old Japanese ace pitched out of a jam in the ninth inning, leaving the bases loaded and the score tied at 4. After cruising through the 10th, he worked around Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s leadoff double to preserve a 5-4 lead and lock up LA’s second consecutive championship.
Signed from Japan to a $325 million, 12-year contract before last season, Yamamoto was 3-0 with a 1.09 ERA against the Toronto Blue Jays. The 27-year-old struck out 15 and walked two over 17 2/3 innings, allowing two runs and 10 hits.
The right-hander’s Game 2 gem was his second consecutive complete game of the postseason. He retired the final 20 batters in a 5-1 Dodgers victory.
