Baseball Fever in Japan Skyrockets as Dodgers’ Ohtani Dominates World Series

Japan’s love for baseball is nothing new. The sport has been a national obsession for generations. However, the recent performance of Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani in his first World Series has taken the country’s passion for the game to unprecedented heights.

Unprecedented Viewership Numbers

The Dodgers’ second World Series game against the New York Yankees was a major event in Japan. It attracted an average viewership of 15.9 million people, a stunning 12% of the country’s population.

A Historic Victory

The Dodgers’ 4-2 triumph over the Yankees was a nail-biter. Japanese pitching ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered a strong performance, but fans were on the edge of their seats when Ohtani had to leave the game in the 7th inning due to a shoulder injury. Despite this setback, the game set a new record as the most-watched Major League Baseball (MLB) postseason game in Japan’s history.

Japan Surpasses U.S. in Baseball Viewership

For the first time, Japan overtook the U.S. to become the second-largest TV market for baseball during the game. In the U.S., approximately 13.8 million viewers tuned in to watch the game, despite the country’s significantly larger population of 346 million. This data was released by Major League Baseball and Fox Corp.’s sports division.

Broadcasting Details

Japan is 16 hours ahead of Los Angeles, meaning the first two games of the series began at 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday morning in Japan. The games were broadcast in the country by Fuji TV, NHK BS, and J Sports.

Ohtani to Play in Game 3

The Dodgers have confirmed that Ohtani will be playing in Game 3 of the World Series in New York. This announcement guarantees that Japanese fans will once again be tuning in in large numbers.

Record-Breaking Ratings for Fox Sports

The high-stakes clash between the two most valuable franchises in baseball, the Dodgers and the Yankees, has resulted in a ratings windfall for Fox Sports, which is broadcasting the games in the U.S. So far, viewership is set to reach levels not seen since the 2017 World Series. More importantly for the future of the sport, viewership among the coveted 18 to 34-year-old demographic has increased by 93% for this series, according to Nielsen. Additionally, social media views (345 million) and engagement (25 million) have reached record highs for a World Series, according to the league.

Conclusion

The performance of Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers in the World Series has sparked a baseball frenzy in Japan, leading to record-breaking viewership numbers. With Ohtani set to play in Game 3, Japanese fans are expected to tune in in droves yet again. As the sport continues to captivate audiences both in Japan and abroad, the future of baseball looks brighter than ever.

FAQs

Q: Who is Shohei Ohtani?
A: Shohei Ohtani is a professional baseball player for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is known for his exceptional skills both as a pitcher and a hitter.

Q: How popular is baseball in Japan?
A: Baseball is incredibly popular in Japan and has been a national obsession for generations.

Q: What was the viewership for the second game of the World Series in Japan?
A: The second game of the World Series attracted an average of 15.9 million viewers in Japan, which is about 12% of the country’s population.

Q: What time did the first two games of the series start in Japan?
A: Due to the time difference, the first two games of the series started at 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday morning in Japan.

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