Baseball Fever Hits New High in Japan
The recent National League Division Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres has made history in Japan, with the decisive fifth game drawing a record-breaking 12.9 million viewers. This marks the most-watched Major League Baseball postseason game in Japan, according to MLB.
A Historic Matchup
The game was particularly significant as it featured the first-ever matchup between two Japanese pitchers in a postseason game. Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Dodgers pitched a remarkable five innings, allowing only two hits, while Yu Darvish of the Padres gave up two runs on three hits in 6⅔ innings.
Ohtani Mania
The game also saw the highly anticipated playoff debut of Shohei Ohtani, who helped the Dodgers advance to the National League Championship Series for the first time since 2021. With Tokyo being 16 hours ahead of Los Angeles, the game started at 11 a.m. on Saturday morning in Japan, making it a prime-time event for Japanese fans.
A Ratings Smash
The NLDS decider drew more viewers than the last three MLB games played in Japan, including the Dodgers and Padres’ regular-season opener in Tokyo. Ohtani’s first MLB postseason game on October 5, in which he hit a three-run homer, averaged 9.1 million viewers in Japan.
Japan’s Love Affair with Baseball
The impressive viewership numbers demonstrate Japan’s enduring passion for baseball. With Japanese players like Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Darvish making waves in the MLB, it’s no wonder that the sport has captured the hearts of millions in Japan. As the MLB postseason continues to heat up, fans around the world are eagerly anticipating the next chapter in this thrilling saga.
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