Dodgers’ extra-innings win sparks celebration and pride across Tokyo
As the final out was recorded in Toronto, a roar erupted not only from Dodger Stadium, but from bars, cafés and newsstands across Tokyo, thousands of miles away. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ 5-4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays in 11 innings sent fans into celebration mode — and while the biggest party was in Los Angeles, the second-largest appeared to unfold on the other side of the Pacific.
At the heart of the excitement were two Japanese superstars — Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto — who powered the Dodgers to the extra-innings victory. Ohtani delivered key hits, and Yamamoto, pitching under intense pressure, threw shutout innings to hold off Toronto’s offense. His effort earned him the game’s Most Valuable Player award, sparking immense pride among Japanese fans who have followed his transition to Major League Baseball this season.
“It was a fantastic game,” Toshiki Satake, 25, a company employee who watched the matchup at a sports bar in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district, told The Associated Press. “Especially Yamamoto Yoshinobu — I think he pitched at his best at a critical moment. It’s inspiring to see him handle that pressure and perform like that.”
By morning, Tokyo’s newsstands were filled with front-page photos of Ohtani and Yamamoto celebrating on the field in Toronto. Fans stopped to take pictures of the headlines and discuss the dramatic finish.
“It’s amazing to see all these Japanese players going full on and winning — it just feels great,” said Riku Akasaki, a longtime Dodgers fan. “Every time Ohtani or Yamamoto does something special, it feels like Japan is part of that victory too.”
For many in Japan, the Dodgers’ success this season felt deeply personal. Ohtani, a two-time American League MVP, remains one of the country’s most admired athletes, and Yamamoto’s rapid rise as a starting pitcher made him a new national hero. Together, their achievements inspired a renewed wave of enthusiasm for Major League Baseball in Japan, where early-morning broadcasts of Dodgers games routinely draw passionate audiences.
“It’s not like I’m really in the major leagues,” another fan said, standing outside a convenience store where televisions replayed highlights from the game. “But to see Japanese athletes doing great on the world stage — it makes us all proud and happy. It feels like we’re part of their journey.”
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
