Tuesday’s first game of the Tokyo Series averaged more than 25 million viewers in Japan according to Major League Baseball, making it the most-watched MLB game in the country’s history.

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According to the league, the Dodgers' 4-1 victory drew in 25 million viewers across all platforms — a record audience for a baseball game in Japan, and approximately 20 percent of the country's population.

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 Japanese slugger was introduced before each at-bat to loud roars that continued until a few seconds before the pitch,

Major League Baseball on Friday called this week's Tokyo Series between Japanese standout Shohei Ohtani's World Series champions Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs the largest standalone international event in its history.

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.