Shohei Ohtani’s every step, swing and smile were intensely followed this week during his homecoming at the Tokyo Dome, an event that would make most mortals wilt under the pressure.

The 2025 season couldn’t have had a much better start for the sport, which showcased its international appeal over the past week in Japan. The Tokyo Dome hosted a capacity crowd of roughly 42,000 for all four games and thousands more came downtown to enjoy the spectacle of a wildly successful overseas trip.

MLB season began with a two-game series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs in Tokyo, Japan. Both teams have big Japanese players, including Shohei Ohtani and Roki Sasaki. The series ended in a two-game sweep for the Dodgers.