Jiro Nishi was spotted wearing a New York Mets cap as he browsed through a Tokyo sporting goods store earlier this week. This store boasts the largest collection of MLB gear in Japan. With Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers making it to the World Series, Nishi, a hairdresser, plans to show his support by cheering them on. Finding merchandise to showcase his allegiance won’t be difficult at all. The store is filled with Ohtani-themed products, including caps, T-shirts, jerseys, and even stuffed animals. It seems like everyone in Japan is getting ready to watch their national hero shine on the grandest stage in baseball.
Television ratings in Japan have been through the roof as the Dodgers get set to take on the New York Yankees. The first game is scheduled for Friday evening in the United States, which means it will be Saturday morning in Japan. Ohtani’s success has sparked a sense of national pride, even among those who are not baseball fans. The youth in Japan idolize him, and he is a frequent feature on news broadcasts, despite the upcoming critical parliamentary elections in the country.
Kakeru Watanabe, who manages a store called “Selection” in Tokyo’s Shinjuku area, mentioned that tourists make up half of their business during the week. Some tourists are baseball enthusiasts, while others are simply intrigued by the colorful merchandise that represents all 30 MLB teams. The store also offers products related to the 12 Japanese professional baseball teams. Watanabe revealed that about half of their merchandise is Ohtani-related, and these items are selling like hotcakes.
Ohtani products have always been popular in Japan, but the excitement surrounding the World Series has taken things to a whole new level. Watanabe mentioned that sales have increased significantly ever since the Dodgers made it to the World Series. The buzz around Ohtani has even caught the attention of tourists like Jake Flint and Jessica Griffiths from England. Although they were unfamiliar with Ohtani, they were drawn to the aesthetics of the merchandise.
Stephen Sipidias, a Canadian tourist, shared that he had drifted away from baseball towards basketball, but Ohtani’s remarkable skills brought him back to the sport. The concept of a player who can pitch and bat as well as being compared to Babe Ruth intrigued him. Ohtani’s talent has captivated fans from all over the world.
Supporting the Dodgers and Ohtani in Japan does come at a cost, with merchandise priced at a premium. Dodgers caps at the store were selling for 16,000 yen, which is around $105, while a dark blue Dodgers jersey was priced at about 100,000 yen, roughly $650. Despite the steep prices, fans like Nishi are willing to invest in items that represent their favorite player and team.
Watanabe acknowledged that the Japanese economy is facing challenges, but he believes that people are willing to spend money on things that they are passionate about. Ohtani’s popularity has reached new heights in Japan, and fans are eager to show their support in any way they can.
