TOKYO – The Tokyo Dome video board lit up Sunday night with the words “ CUBS WIN,” flashing between English and Japanese. Clark, the team mascot, waved a “W” flag in center field. And “Go Cubs Go” played over the loudspeakers, celebrating the team’s first exhibition game win.

For the first time in six years, Major League Baseball games will be played in Japan this season. The Chicago Cubs and defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers will open the 2025 regular season with two games in Tokyo starting Tuesday.

It is hard to find a block in the heart of Tokyo that does not feature a banner or advertisement featuring Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani. This week, images of Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, along with Cubs stars Shota Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki,