TOKYO -- When Shohei Ohtani steps onto the Tokyo Dome field, the mere sight of him is enough to send those in the stands into rapturous applause. But when he steps into the batter's box, the noise level drops to an almost eerie silence.
For every foul ball or swing, there's an audible murmur from the stands.
Tokyo Series 2025: Dodgers vs. Cubs
? Ohtani ignites Dodgers past Cubs in Tokyo Series opener
? Top moments from Tokyo Series Game 1
? Imanaga bests Ohtani in 'made for TV' Tokyo matchup
? Game 2 FAQ: Lineups, starting pitchers, how to watch and more
? 'I'll remember everything': Shaw makes much-anticipated debut
? Pok¨¦mon front and center as Tokyo Series celebrates Japanese icons
? Freeman (left rib discomfort) scratched from Tokyo Series opener
? MLB's history of games played abroad
? 150 years of history has led to historic Opening Day
? Seiya taking BP with a samurai sword is exactly as cool as it sounds
"There was just so much anticipation to see anything he did," manager Dave Roberts said earlier in the week, "which was different than any one of our other players."
In the fifth inning of the Dodgers' season-opening 4-1 win over the Cubs in Game 1 of the Tokyo Series on Tuesday night, the Tokyo Dome faithful got to let loose when Ohtani notched his first hit of the season, a 107.4 mph line drive to right that helped set the table for a go-ahead rally.
Ohtani and the lineup backed five strong innings of one-run ball from Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who -- opposite the Cubs' Shota Imanaga -- was part of the first Opening Day matchup between two Japanese starting pitchers.
For all five Japanese players in the Tokyo Series -- Ohtani, Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki for the Dodgers, and Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki for the Cubs -- the opportunity to represent their Major League teams on home soil is both an honor and a source of pressure.
They've been warmly welcomed back by their home fans, but there's also a sense that the two-game set is bigger than baseball for Japanese players with Major League aspirations.
"I think it¡¯s a little tough for them to enjoy it because it¡¯s just a lot -- especially for them," third baseman Max Muncy said. "Sometimes when there¡¯s a moment that¡¯s that big, it¡¯s hard to enjoy it.
"I think Yoshi will enjoy it a little more tomorrow. Tonight, he did his job. Now, he can sit back and enjoy the atmosphere. I don¡¯t think they had too much pressure on them, but it¡¯s hard to relax when it¡¯s this big a moment."
Even the normally unflappable Ohtani admitted to dealing with some emotions while on the field.
"It's been a while that I felt actually this nervous playing a game," Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. "In that sense, I felt like I needed the first couple at-bats, I needed some time to adjust. I'm glad that I was able to make the adjustments in the later part of the game."
When Roberts got wind that Ohtani had felt some nerves, he was visibly surprised.
"I don't think I've ever seen Shohei nervous," Roberts said. "One thing I did notice is how emotional he got during the Japanese national anthem. That was really something that was very telling, how emotional he was."
Even without Mookie Betts, who departed Tokyo early to continue recovering from a non-contagious illness in a more familiar environment, and Freddie Freeman, who was a late scratch with left rib discomfort, the defending World Series champions hit the right notes to get off to a 1-0 start to their title defense.
And just like in the previous meaningful game the Dodgers played, a big fifth inning got them on track.
Andy Pages drew a one-out walk before Ohtani's base hit in the fifth, then Tommy Edman, Teoscar Hern¨¢ndez and Will Smith knocked in a run apiece in three consecutive trips to the plate. Ohtani, who crossed the plate on Jon Berti's throwing error, joined Hideki Matsui (two runs in 2004) as the only Japanese players to score a run in a regular-season Major League game at Tokyo Dome.
Ohtani added a double that hooked into the right-field corner -- also hit at an exit velocity north of 107 mph -- and scored on Hern¨¢ndez's RBI single in the ninth inning to cap a 2-for-5 evening. He's the third Japanese player with multiple hits in a Major League game at Tokyo Dome, joining Ichiro Suzuki (2012) and Matsui (2004).
The Tokyo Dome faithful was loudest for the Japanese players who were back home, but there was also plenty of support for Los Angeles. Roberts has said multiple times that the Dodgers are essentially Japan's Major League team with their trio of Japanese stars -- and their reception in Tokyo has proven him right so far.
"Basically a home game with all the Dodger fans there," catcher Will Smith said. "Such a big fan base here that supports us from across the ocean, which is really cool. It¡¯s cool to have the chance to come here and play and play in front of them.¡±