The 2025 MLB season began today in Japan with Game 1 of the Tokyo Series.
The Dodgers defeated the Cubs, 4-1, at the Tokyo Dome.
Both teams were led by their Japanese stars. Shohei Ohtani knocked two hits for Los Angeles, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shota Imanaga, the two starting pitchers, were both sharp on the mound.
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Here are the top moments from today's game.
Dodgers win on Opening Day in Japan
The Dodgers started their World Series title defense with a 4-1 victory over the Cubs.
Tanner Scott capped off the win with his first strikeout as a Dodger, whiffing Matt Shaw on a 98 mph fastball to end the game.
Ohtani doubles for 1st extra-base hit, multi-hit game
Ohtani picked up his second hit of the game, and his first extra-base hit of the season, in the top of the ninth inning.
Ohtani went down and got a low slider from Ryan Brasier and roped a 108 mph double down the right-field line. He came around to score on Teoscar Hernández's RBI single to give the Dodgers an insurance run.
Yamamoto, Imanaga both deliver strong starts
Yamamoto and Imanaga both had excellent outings in the first Opening Day matchup of Japanese starting pitchers in MLB history.
Yamamoto pitched five innings for the Dodgers, allowed just one run and struck out four.
Imanaga went four innings for the Cubs and did not allow a hit or a run, with a pair of strikeouts.
Dodgers take the lead in the 5th
The Dodgers got on the board with a three-run fifth inning to take their first lead of the game against the Cubs.
Tommy Edman drove in Andy Pages with an opposite-field RBI single for the Dodgers' first run, Ohtani scored on a throwing error by Cubs second baseman Jon Berti and Will Smith knocked an RBI single to bring home Teoscar Hernández and give the Dodgers a 3-1 lead.
Ohtani leads off 2025 season, rips Dodgers' 1st hit in 5th
The first batter of the 2025 Major League season was Ohtani, who began his quest for a third straight MVP Award batting leadoff for the reigning World Series champions.
Ohtani grounded out against Imanaga in his first at-bat -- but then he ripped the Dodgers' first hit of the season against reliever Ben Brown in the top of the fifth. Ohtani lined a 107 mph single into right field to spark a three-run inning for the Dodgers.
Dansby knocks first hit of the year, Amaya opens the scoring
Cubs star Dansby Swanson notched the first hit of 2025, lining a curveball from Yamamoto into center field for a single in the second inning.
Two batters later, Miguel Amaya got the scoring started in Tokyo with an RBI double off Yamamoto into the right-center-field gap, scoring Swanson.
Imanaga gets the first K of 2025
Imanaga pitched a 1-2-3 first inning for the Cubs, which included both retiring Ohtani to start the game and getting the first strikeout of the 2025 season by fanning Teoscar Hernández.
Imanaga got Hernández on a nasty splitter to end the inning.
The left-hander didn't allow a hit in four innings in his first start of the year.
Pokémon intro, Yoshiki anthems, Fukudome first pitch highlight pregame festivities
The Tokyo Dome put on a show before the game, including an epic Pokémon-themed intro highlighting the great MLB stars who have come to Japan, and the great Japanese stars who have played in MLB.
Japanese composer Yoshiki then put on an incredible performance of both the Japanese and American national anthems on the piano.
Former Cubs and Nippon Professional Baseball star Kosuke Fukudome also threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Stars come out in Tokyo
The stars came out for the Tokyo Series opener.
A few from the baseball world: MLB ambassadors Ken Griffey Jr. and CC Sabathia, who posed for pictures with Andruw Jones and Koji Uehara.
And some from outside it: Bill Murray, Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss.
Ohtani's shoe game on point
Shohei Ohtani, whose first signature cleat for New Balance debuted last season, generally makes a stir with his footwear -- and of course, the Tokyo Series opener was no different. Ohtani entered the stadium wearing the Japan-exclusive Shohei x New Balance 990V6.
And he brought it with his game cleats as well, wearing custom Ohtani 1's emblazoned with his dog, Decoy, as has become his custom.
Freeman scratched from Dodgers lineup
Dodgers star first baseman Freddie Freeman was a late scratch from the Los Angeles lineup just before the game due to left rib discomfort. He was replaced at first base by Kiké Hernández.
Freeman was the 2024 World Series MVP after hitting four home runs in the Fall Classic.
Japanese aces square off
The season opener featured a showdown of Yamamoto vs. Imanaga, who are both coming off excellent debut seasons in MLB.
Yamamoto, who was the best pitcher in Japan with the Orix Buffaloes before signing with the Dodgers, capped off his 2024 season by beating the Yankees in Game 2 of the World Series.
Imanaga, the former ace of the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, was an All-Star and fifth-place Cy Young Award finisher after going 15-3 with a 2.91 ERA and 174 strikeouts for the Cubs.