TOKYO (AP) — The World Series trophy is headed to Los Angeles, but there’s a hearty celebration going on across the Pacific Ocean in Japan, too.
People milled around the edge of the Ginza shopping area in central Tokyo on Thursday afternoon as single-sheet, special newspaper editions rolled off the presses, proclaiming Japanese stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto as world champions along with their Dodgers teammates after a stirring Game 5 victory over the New York Yankees.
The headline in Japanese in the Sports Nippon newspaper, set in yellow and blue type — with red highlights — read: “No. 1 in The World. Ohtani beats the Yankees.”
“I want to thank my Japanese fans for coming all the way to cheer me this season,” Ohtani said on Japanese television. “That cheering gave me some energy so I’m glad I could return the gratitude my winning.”
The newspaper handouts are a Tokyo tradition when Japan celebrates a big event. And it was a scramble, as usual, with men and women — young and old —sprinting up and down the sidewalk to get their free collector’s items.
The Yomiuri Shimbun headline read: “Dodgers No. 1; Ohtani, Yamamoto in first season.”
Yasuko Shibata, an 80-year-old woman who said she faithfully watches Ohtani’s games, said she admired “Ohtani’s personality.” Not to mention his great play.
“His presence is huge,” she said. “He is a source of my energy. When he doesn’t do well, I also feel blue”
Another fan echoed her thoughts, standing near the Ginza underground entrance.
“He is the pride of Japan,” said Hideki Shinohara, who called himself a hardcore fan. “You cannot describe him with just ‘amazing.’ You need to invent a new word.”
Shinohara added: “He went through many things this year, and I didn’t expect him to come all this way. I am very pleased with what he has achieved. ”
The Japanese pride in Ohtani is a huge one for a country whose players were once considered too small, or only good pitchers. Now, there is strong pride in the fact that their players are among the best in the game.
Japan defeated the United States in the World Baseball Classic final last year in Miami, another sign of the country’s prowess in the American pastime.
It was also a victory for Ohtani’s hometown in northern Japan — Oshu City — where fans have been gathering all week and anticipating their superstar hero would help deliver the title.
About 38,000 special edition newspapers were also published in Iwate Prefecture, the northern area where Oshu City is located.
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