The Tokyo Dome has transformed from a baseball stadium to a stage where the spectacle will fuse with sports, and at the heart of all this excitement is Shohei Ohtani. The Japan native is back home and the frenzy surrounding his arrival has led to comparisons with global superstars like The Beatles and Taylor Swift!

Tokyo streets are filled with a buzz. After all, they are hosting the MLB opener between the Dodgers and Cubs.

Before heading to Japan, the Dodgers’ players were asked about their expectations from their arrival. Most, if not all, answers went back to Ohtani, and for good. The 2024 NL MVP transcends the sport itself in his native land. The homecoming hero is a symbol of national pride, and his performances in the MLB have helped cultivate a massive and devoted following. So much so that veteran teammate Clayton Kershaw drew parallels to the iconic music acts.

“I think we all assume how much of a figure Shohei is,” Clayton Kershaw expressed, according to The Orange County Register’s Bill Plunkett. “People say he’s like The Beatles. People say he’s like Taylor Swift.” 

An apt comparison, considering that the fans in Tokyo Dome are set to mirror the excitement of a Taylor Swift or The Beatles concert. Such is the anticipated engagement that the upcoming games are filled with, making the atmosphere more dynamic and captivating.

But this comparison seems to be expanding…

Shohei Ohtani is like Justin Bieber, says teammate

Shohei Ohtani’s Dodgers teammate Tyler Glasnow also compared him with pop sensation Justin Bieber. In fact, he believes, the Japanese baseball star is 10 times more popular in his native country than the ‘Baby’ hitmaker.

During a conversation with SportsNet LA, Glasnow said that he was expecting the Japan trip to be crazy. Naturally, Ohtani was at the center of this claim as well. “Ohtani is like Justin Bieber times 10 over there, so it’s probably gonna be insane,” he confidently expressed. Glasnow also talked about how fans would be shoring up their hotels, making the atmosphere all the more insane.

Apart from the fans, Glasnow acknowledged the challenge of acclimatization, too. The time-zone difference, sure to play a part in their disorientation, was also brought up by the Dodgers player. But with the team taking preventive measures by passing a set of instructions to help them overcome the effects of jet lag, it appears that the Dodgers have come prepared.

Apart from their sleep schedule being disrupted, the Dodgers will, however, also have to combat media scrutiny and overwhelming cards as they prepare for a series that is being described as a cultural phenomenon by many. It will be interesting to see how they perform considering the expectations they carry on their shoulders going into the MLB 2025 season opener.

So, are you ready to experience another season of history?