The 2025 Tokyo Series was a big hit on and off the field.
Off the field, the two-game series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs brought a high interest from baseball fans and non-baseball fans.
On the field, the series brought in a high number of viewers. MLB Communications team revealed that the series brought in 25 million viewers overall. It has easily become the most-watched MLB game ever played in Japan.
The last time MLB had a series played in Japan was in 2019 between the Oakland Athletics and the Seattle Mariners. The first game of that series brought in 5.6 million viewers; more than 19 million less than the 2025 series.
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The 2024 Seoul Series set in Seoul, South Korea between the San Diego Padres and the Dodgers received 18.7 viewers; more than six million less than the Tokyo Series.
One of the biggest draws to the country of Japan was the starters from both teams, especially from the starting pitchers.
In game one, the Dodgers started Yoshinobu Yamamoto as pitcher and Shohei Ohtani as designated hitter while the Cubs started Shota Imanaga as pitcher. In game two, the Dodgers kept Ohtani at DH and started rookie Roki Sasaki at pitcher.
The Dodgers would take game one of the series over the Cubs with a 4-1 score. The following day, the Dodgers defeated the Cubs again with a 6-3 win, resulting in the series sweep.
Ohtani accumulated three hits, and three runs including a home run hit, one RBI, seven bases, two walks, and only strikeout in the two-game series.
