Record-Breaking Audience for Dodgers-Cubs Opener in Tokyo
Introduction to the Tokyo Series
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ 4-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs in the first game of the Tokyo Series averaged more than 25 million viewers in Japan, making it the most-watched MLB game in the country’s history.
The audience surpassed the 18.7 million viewers who tuned in for the first game of last year’s Seoul Series in South Korea, which featured the Dodgers against the San Diego Padres.
The Game’s Significance
Tuesday’s game featured the first all-Japanese starting pitching duel on opening day. Los Angeles’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto gave up one run in five innings while Chicago’s Shota Imanaga threw four scoreless frames. The Dodgers’ 6-3 win on Wednesday, which featured a towering solo home run by Shohei Ohtani, averaged more than 23 million Japanese viewers.
US Viewership and Merchandise Sales
The two games — which started at 5 a.m. CDT in Chicago and 3 a.m. PDT in Los Angeles — averaged 590,000 viewers in the U.S. Tuesday’s game on Fox averaged 838,000 viewers with Wednesday’s on FS1 drawing 361,000. MLB said the games in Tokyo had the most merchandise sales of its international events, up 320% from last year’s games in London between the New York Mets and Philadelphia.
Previous Season Openers in Japan
The previous season opener in Japan, a 9-7 win by Seattle and Ichiro Suzuki over Oakland in 2019, was seen by 5.6 million, MLB said Friday. The top-selling product was Ohtani Dodgers jersey with the Tokyo Series patch.
Conclusion
The Dodgers-Cubs opener in Tokyo has set a new record for the most-watched MLB game in Japan, with over 25 million viewers tuning in. The game’s significance, coupled with the high merchandise sales, makes it a successful event for Major League Baseball.
FAQs
What was the viewership for the Dodgers-Cubs opener in Japan?
The game averaged more than 25 million viewers in Japan, making it the most-watched MLB game in the country’s history.
What was the significance of the game?
The game featured the first all-Japanese starting pitching duel on opening day, with Los Angeles’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Chicago’s Shota Imanaga starting for their respective teams.
How did the merchandise sales perform?
The games in Tokyo had the most merchandise sales of its international events, up 320% from last year’s games in London between the New York Mets and Philadelphia.
What was the top-selling product?
The top-selling product was Ohtani Dodgers jersey with the Tokyo Series patch.
