‘Otani win’ gives Los Angeles World Series boost – BBC News

Baseball is called “America’s pastime,” but its biggest stars are from Japan.He signed a record 10-year contract worth $700 million (about 107.1 billion yen)has been playing for the Dodgers this season. The excitement around him continues to grow, bringing new fans and new traditions to the multicultural city of Los Angeles.

Business is also booming. Tourists come from all over the world, including many from Otani’s home country.

“Everybody knows if Shohei steps up to the plate and we hit a home run, we start pouring because of it,” said the owner of Fur Bar, which broadcasts Dodgers games on more than a dozen televisions. Don Tahara. When he hits a home run, he gives free rein to his fans, who often number in the hundreds.

This makes a big deal. Ohtani hit 54 home runs in this year’s regular season. However, in the World Series against the New York Yankees, there was no home run.

“(Ohtani’s home run) is good for the Dodgers, but maybe not so good for my pocket, but it makes sense and it warms my heart. “

The Fur Bar was packed during the World Series.

Tahara served Dodgers-branded mochi to customers and gave away free margarita shots in honor of Dodgers legend Fernando Balcezuela, who passed away recently. Balcezuela, a left-handed pitcher born in Mexico, is also being painted on a mural in Boyle Heights, across from Little Tokyo.

Mural painter Robert Vargas took a break to watch the game at the Fur Bar, his face covered in paint. It is hard to imagine that Mr Vargas would buy himself a drink in this shop. Vargas, who painted Otani on the wall of Hotel Miyako, is as popular as Otani here in Little Tokyo.

“I’ve been a Dodgers fan my whole life,” said Vargas, who said he drew Ohtani “in the spirit of emotion.”

This mural has become a popular photo spot for Japanese tourists who come by group bus.

Kiuchi Takatani (kanji unknown) flew in from Japan to watch Game 2 of the series at Dodger Stadium in downtown Los Angeles, and watched Game 3 at Fur Bar with friends. Dressed head to toe in Dodgers gear and wearing an Ohtani uniform, Kiuchi met fans in Los Angeles and around the world.

“We are new Dodgers fans from Tokyo. For us, the Yankees vs. Dodgers part is more important than the World Series.”

Kiuchi and his friends were also excited that the Dodgers’ other Japanese star played in Game 2 of the series. In this game, pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched six innings and allowed just one hit for the Yankees.

Kiuchi hasn’t been to Los Angeles since he was a kid 50 years ago, but he said he always comes back to watch the Dodgers play.

“We came here to see this.”

When Dodgers outfielder Freddie Freeman hit a home run in Game 3, Kiuchi cheered along with Farr Bar patrons.

The Los Angeles Bureau of Tourism is also pleased. The number of Japanese tourists who visited Los Angeles reached 230,000 last year, an increase of 91.7% from the previous year.

According to Bill Carrs, senior assistant director of brand marketing at the city’s tourism bureau, the city is expected to welcome 320,000 Japanese tourists by the end of this year. Tourism officials welcomed the increase, although it remains below pre-pandemic levels.

“The Otani effect is real,” Kars says. “It affects our entire economy. “

As a result, hotel occupancy rates have increased, as have ticket sales at local theme parks such as Universal Studios and Dodger Stadium. The number of Japanese visits has also increased.

In addition, some die-hard Yankees fans are taking advantage of Ohtani’s popularity.

As the inside of the Fur Bar wore Dodger blue, Vince Gonzalez wore the black and red Otani shirt of the Japanese national team.

“Shhh, I’m really a Yankees fan,” Gonzalez said when interacting with the Japanese tourists. “But besides that, I’m an Otani fan. I love Japanese basketball.”

When the Dodgers won Game 3, the Fur Bar erupted with cheers and “I love LA” blared from the sound system.

Vargas, the wall man, could not sneeze. A woman from Japan came running out of the bar and asked to take a picture with me in front of the mural. Vargas happily agreed, and soon dozens of people gathered to take pictures with her. Everyone was chanting, “Let’s go Dodgers!”

Game 5 of the World Series was held on the 30th at Yankee Stadium in New York, where the Dodgers came from behind to beat the Yankees 7-6. With this, the Dodgers won the series with a total of 4 wins and 1 loss.

The Dodgers trailed 0-5 after the third inning, but tied the game in the fifth inning.

The Yankees added one run in the sixth inning to take the lead, but the Dodgers scored two runs in the eighth inning to take the lead. The match ended just like that.

Otani finished the game hitless in 4 at-bats. He had 2 hits in 19 at bats for the entire series.

This is the first time in four years since 2020 that the Dodgers have won the World Series. Freeman of the Dodgers, who hit a home run in four consecutive games from Games 1 through 4 and had 12 RBIs during the series, was named the series MVP.