The Los Angeles Dodgers have officially become Japan’s most beloved Major League Baseball team — and the gap isn’t even close.
According to a recent YouGov Sport survey of more than 1,000 Japanese baseball fans, the Dodgers hold a massive popularity advantage across the country.
The numbers are striking:
• Los Angeles Dodgers – 59%
• New York Yankees – 14%
• Chicago Cubs – 9%
In other words, the Dodgers have built something unprecedented — a connection that has effectively turned them into Japan’s unofficial MLB team.
The Ohtani Effect… and More
The biggest reason behind the Dodgers’ surge in popularity is obvious.
Shohei Ohtani.
But the connection goes deeper than just one superstar.
Los Angeles now boasts a roster filled with Japanese icons:
• Shohei Ohtani
• Yoshinobu Yamamoto
• Roki Sasaki
Together, they’ve created a powerful bridge between Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) and Major League Baseball.
For many Japanese fans, following MLB now means following the Dodgers.
A Strategy Decades in the Making
The Dodgers’ dominance in Japan wasn’t built overnight.
For years, the organization invested heavily in international scouting and relationships with NPB, building connections long before many MLB teams fully embraced the global market.
While some franchises only began aggressively pursuing Japanese stars in recent years, Los Angeles had already laid the groundwork.
That long-term strategy is now paying off.
Japanese Fans Follow the Players
The survey revealed another fascinating detail about why Japanese fans watch MLB:
• 72% follow MLB to watch Japanese players compete internationally
• 45% follow because of the higher level of competition
• 26% follow because of star players
When Japanese stars succeed in Los Angeles, the ripple effect is enormous.
It inspires younger players — many of whom now dream of reaching MLB through the Dodgers pipeline.
The Most Popular MLB Players in Japan
The survey also ranked the most popular players among Japanese fans.
The results highlight just how dominant the Dodgers’ presence has become:
1️⃣ Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers) – 78%
2️⃣ Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Dodgers) – 53%
3️⃣ Yu Darvish (Padres) – 30%
4️⃣ Roki Sasaki (Dodgers) – 27%
Three of the top four players on the list wear Dodger blue.
That kind of cultural influence is incredibly rare in professional sports.
Geography Helps Too
Los Angeles also benefits from its location.
Being on the U.S. West Coast makes travel between Japan and the United States easier than for East Coast teams.
The city also hosts one of the largest Japanese communities outside Japan, giving international players a familiar cultural environment.
For athletes relocating thousands of miles away, that matters.
The WBC Could Strengthen the Pipeline
The World Baseball Classic may amplify this connection even further.
In Japan, the tournament is a massive national event.
Survey data shows:
• 74% of Japanese fans watched the 2023 WBC
• 60% plan to watch the 2026 tournament
• 78% say they are excited for the event
That massive audience creates a global stage where Japanese stars shine — and many of them now represent the Dodgers.
Can Other Teams Catch Up?
Other MLB teams are still attracting Japanese talent.
Recent examples include:
• Tatsuya Imai joining the Houston Astros
• Kazuma Okamoto signing with the Toronto Blue Jays
• Munetaka Murakami joining the Chicago White Sox
Those moves prove the market remains competitive.
But right now, the Dodgers have built a connection that is difficult for any franchise to replicate.
And for the next generation of Japanese baseball stars growing up today…
The dream of playing in MLB may increasingly mean playing in Los Angeles.
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