Baseball's Global Stage: A Look at Japan's Love for the Game

Japan has a deep love for baseball. It's more than just a sport there. It's a big part of their culture. This is clear in a new documentary called "Homecoming: The Tokyo Series. " It's about the 2025 MLB World Tour opener in Tokyo. The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs played there. The Dodgers won both games. This was special for Japanese players on both teams. Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki played for the Dodgers. Seiya Suzuki and Shōta Imanaga played for the Cubs. The documentary shows how baseball fits into Japan's way of life. It's about craft, discipline, and devotion. The film looks at different parts of Japan's baseball culture. This includes Little League players, superfans, and master craftsmen. It also shows how Japanese values have shaped the game. The documentary is directed by Jason Sterman. He says baseball is a big part of everyday life in Japan. It's about work, craft, and pride. The film focuses on where the game lives in Japan. This includes workshops, local fields, and people's homes. Sterman wanted to show how baseball is part of Japan's identity. The film will be shown in theaters on February 23 and 24. Tickets go on sale in January. MLB says baseball is growing around the world. The 2025 season started in Tokyo. It ended with the Dodgers winning the World Series. This was watched by record-setting global audiences. Fathom Entertainment is excited to show the documentary. They say it's a special look at Japan's baseball stars. It's about them coming home and playing in front of their fans. BD4 made the documentary. They say it's a story that needed to be told on a big stage.