Ohtani Shines as Dodgers Edge Cubs in Historic Tokyo Season Opener

• by Shimanta Das
• August 5, 2026

The 2025 Major League Baseball season opened with a historic clash in Tokyo, as Shohei Ohtani’s Los Angeles Dodgers rallied to defeat the Chicago Cubs 4-1 at the Tokyo Dome. In front of a packed crowd of 42,365, Ohtani, playing on home soil for the first time as a major leaguer, delivered the pivotal hit that sparked the Dodgers’ comeback. His performance made him the third Japanese player with multiple hits in a Major League game at Tokyo Dome, joining legends Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui, and he became the first to score a run in a regular-season game there since Matsui in 2004.

The game was a showcase of Japanese baseball talent, with five Japanese players on the rosters: Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki for the Dodgers, and Shota Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki for the Cubs. For these players, the Tokyo Series is more than just a pair of games; it’s a homecoming filled with honor and pressure. They were warmly welcomed by fans, but the weight of representing their Major League teams on home soil is immense, especially for those with aspirations of inspiring the next generation of Japanese ballplayers.

The Cubs struck first when catcher Miguel Amaya ripped an RBI double in the second inning, taking a 1-0 lead. But the Dodgers, fueled by Ohtani’s energy, stormed back. Ohtani crossed the plate on a throwing error by Jon Berti, tying the game, and the Dodgers added more runs to secure the victory. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has repeatedly stated that the team is essentially Japan’s Major League team, given their trio of Japanese stars, and the reception in Tokyo has certainly validated that claim.

This opening game was a testament to the global reach of baseball, as the only two teams to travel across the world for this series delivered a thrilling contest. The Dodgers and Cubs will clash again tomorrow at the Tokyo Dome, with the series serving as a celebration of the sport’s international appeal and the remarkable talents of its Japanese stars.