MLB Tokyo Series presented by Guggenheim to feature fan events, Japanese brand collabs, retail takeovers, new sponsors and more

Major League Baseball will stage its biggest standalone international event in league history 25 years after playing its first regular season games in Japan with the MLB Tokyo Series presented by Guggenheim on March 18-19 at the Tokyo Dome. While the main attraction will be two regular season games between the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs featuring five Japanese-born players on the two rosters competing in their home country, the extensive surrounding festivities will highlight the country’s enthusiasm for baseball and give fans numerous ways to experience the event.

The MLB Tokyo Series presented by Guggenheim features numerous ways to watch the games, multiple cross promotions with some of the biggest Japanese entertainment brands, fan events, expanded retail takeover presence, and an extensive array of sponsors. Following are more details about Tokyo Series activations.

COLLABORATIONS WITH POPULAR JAPANESE ENTERTAINMENT BRANDS

Some of Japan’s most popular entertainment brands are teaming up with MLB to celebrate the excitement around the league’s event in Tokyo.

Demon Slayer: MLB is partnering with Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, a Japanese entertainment juggernaut that is based on the manga series by Koyoharu Gotoge. The manga consists of 23 volumes and has published over 150 million units worldwide. The feature film Mugen Train currently holds the record as the highest grossing Japanese anime film of all-time. The creators of the animation studio ufotable created a new anime video that combines MLB players, including reigning NL MVP Shohei Ohtani, with characters from the series. A collection of consumer products combining MLB and Demon Slayer will also be available.

Takashi Murakami: MLB, Fanatics and Complex formed a partnership with renowned Japanese artist Takashi Murakami for a limited-edition line of co-branded collectibles and merchandise. The collection includes products featuring Murakami’s distinctive style from MLB partners Fanatics, Nike, New Era, Topps, Rawlings, and Victus.

Apparel and accessories products – including jerseys, hoodies, hats, bags and slides – launched on March 7 and quickly sold out on the Fanatics App and Complex online stores within an hour. Additional merchandise will be available in the Clubs’ ballparks and MLB Flagship Store in New York City.

Pokémon: The popular Japanese brand will have its characters incorporated into the pregame ceremony of the first regular season game between the Dodgers and Cubs.

Chiikawa: MLB has teamed up with Chiikawa to celebrate the Tokyo Series with a special collection featuring Chiikawa characters in Dodgers and Cubs uniforms. The limited-edition merchandise is now available at Chiikawa Market (online), MLBShop.jp, and Chiikawa Land flagship stores in Japan. Created by the illustrator Nagano, Chiikawa has become a cultural phenomenon and one of Japan’s most cherished character brands.

FAN EVENTS

Baseball fans in Japan will have the opportunity to experience more of the Tokyo Series by attending fan events and witnessing various expressions of MLB’s presence in Tokyo.

MLB Tokyo Series Fan Fest Presented by Guggenheim: A fan festival featuring a batting experience zone, baseball diamond with outfield seating, photo opportunities, MLB-themed foods, appearances from former Japanese-born Major League players, trophy and jersey displays, an MLB Tokyo Series Official Store operated by Fanatics, and watch parties will take place at TOKYO SKYTREE TOWN from March 8-19.

TOKYO SKYTREE Light Up: One of the world’s tallest towers, TOKYO SKYTREE will be illuminated with three different light-up patters representing the Tokyo Series, Chicago Cubs, and Los Angeles Dodgers on March 7, 17, 18 and 19 in five-minute patterns. After the two regular season MLB games, the tower will remain in the colors of the winning team.

Dodgers Immersive Experience: A fan event dedicated to the World Champions Los Angeles Dodgers at Tokyo Node from March 5-30 will feature an immersive experience area including sights and sounds of Dodger Stadium, an exhibition area including the Shohei Ohtani 50-50 Commemorative Collection, a VR batting cage, photo opportunities, Club history areas including their unique connection to Japan, a bobblehead exhibit, and an exhibit dedicated to the 2024 World Series complete with the Commissioner’s Trophy.

Tobu Railway: The Tobu Railway Limited Express Ryomo will be wrapped in MLB’s red, white and navy blue to celebrate the arrival of the MLB Tokyo Series. The train will continue to run in MLB colors until the end of the year. Trains across three Tobu lines will have the interiors completely wrapped in MLB imagery.

Topps ZeroBase Shibuya Activation: A three-floor interactive experiential fan event with digital touchscreens in a gamified environment – combining trading cards and memorabilia all while telling the story of iconic Japanese players like Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Hideki Matsui, and Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Ichiro Suzuki. Full floor of Ohtani memorabilia including a base from his 50/50 game — and a game-used bat from the World Series. The event is open to fans March 13-16.

WAYS TO WATCH

Fans around the world will have the opportunity to watch the Tokyo Series in a variety of ways.

Broadcasters in U.S.: Nationally in the U.S., FOX will air the first game of the Tokyo Series and FS1 will carry the second game with FOX Deportes airing both contests. The games will also be available on the Clubs’ RSNs, SNLA and Marquee.

Broadcasters in Japan: The Dodgers vs. Cubs games will air over-the-air on NTV and will be streamed on Amazon Prime in Japan.

Movie Theaters and Other Locations in Japan: The games will also air in up to 150 movie theaters in Japan, Giants Town Stadium in Tokyo, MLB Tokyo Series Fan Fest Presented by Guggenheim and more.

Global Distribution: The Tokyo Series will be distributed to more than 200 countries and territories and will also be available through MLB.TV outside of the Los Angeles and Chicago areas.

RETAIL

At more than 30,000 square feet, the Tokyo Dome will be home to the largest ever MLB special event store which will operate in partnership with Fanatics. More than 20 unique retailers across Japan are expected to offer a variety of new MLB product in more than 100 locations country-wide, including brand flagship stores, shop-in-shops and pop-up shops in conjunction with the Tokyo Series. Fans can find retail activity at many Tokyo landmarks such as the four corners of Omotesando’s main crosswalk and Miyashita Park near Shibuya Crossing, the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing.

Retailers activating with MLB merchandise include: ’47, Alpen Group, Atmos Pink, Avirex, AZUL by Moussy, BEAMS, Beauty & Youth United Arrows, BTTF, Fanatics, GR8, Journal Standard, Keboz, Kiddy Land, MadHappy, MilkFed, Murasaki Sports, New Era, Ralph Lauren, Ron Herman, THE CAP, and Xebio.

SPONSORS

A total of 22 major global and Japanese domestic brands are partnering with Major League Baseball and the Tokyo Series to reach fans. The sponsors range from commercial airlines, convenience stores and technology providers to payment processers and resorts. MLB has secured 14 new sponsors in Japan, one which is global and three which are pan-Asian, since 2023 including Ito En, Mastercard Japan and NX Nippon Express. The 2024 Seoul Series was the largest international event for sponsorship in MLB history and that is expected to be surpassed by the 2025 Tokyo Series by +240%.

The list of sponsors for the MLB Tokyo Series includes 7-Eleven Japan, Asahi Beer, Brand USA, Deloitte, Dip, Earth Corporation, Google Cloud, event presenting sponsor Guggenheim, IDOM/Gulliver, ITO-EN, Japan Airlines, JTB, Konami (eBaseball: MLB Pro Spirit), Kose, Kowa, Mastercard, MGM Resorts Japan, New Balance, NX Nippon Express, SAMTY, SCSK, and Zoom Workplace.

SCSK, an IT services provider, signed a multi-year deal to sponsor MLB in Japan which include the use of the SCSK and Net One Systems (an SCSK brand) logos on the batting helmets that will be worn by both teams during the two games between the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers.

MLB TOGETHER LEGACY

Major League Baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, Chicago Cubs and Cubs Charities will host an MLB Together Legacy event at Seicho Special Needs High School for the students who love baseball on Monday, March 17. The organizations will make a product donation to the school followed by a baseball clinic with former MLB players who are members of the Commissioner’s Ambassador Program (CAP). Participants expected to join include Baseball Hall of Fame inductee CC Sabathia, MLB Network Analyst Harold Reynolds and CAP members Dellin Betances, Dexter Fowler, Jeremy Guthrie, LaTroy Hawkins, Ryan Howard, Adam Jones, Andruw Jones, Jason Kendall, Jed Lowrie, Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, and Chris Young.

MLB CUP COACHES’ CLINIC

Major League Baseball will host a special coaches’ clinic and workshop featuring Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. at the Tokyo Dome. Participating baseball coaches from MLB CUP Japan youth teams will have the opportunity to learn from staff that including Griffey Jr., Guthrie, Kendall, and MLB Network’s Reynolds on Monday, March 17. A flagship youth program operated by MLB Japan, the MLB CUP is an annual U11 tournament with nearly 2,000 participants.