The Dodgers arrived at the Tokyo Dome on Sunday brimming with confidence, fresh off a dominant exhibition win over the Yomiuri Giants. With Shohei Ohtani launching a home run and the reigning MLB champions looking every bit the powerhouse their nearly $400-million roster suggests, they seemed poised to put on another show. But in front of a packed crowd of over 42,000, it was the Hanshin Tigers who stole the spotlight. From the first pitch, they came out swinging, sinking their claws into the Dodgers and never loosening their grip, delivering a statement of their own, looking more like a National League side than their illustrious opponents.

The Dodgers had been warned. The Tigers, who compete in the Nippon Professional Baseball, had humbled the Cubs a day before, shutting them out 3-0. Yet, the Dodgers, with their star-studded names, two from Japan itself, were expected to see them out. But what we got was another shut-out, another 3-0 win for the Tigers. This win came with great Japanese baseball player Atsushi Nomi, who played for the Tigers his whole professional career, in attendance and he had a message for Yoshinobu Yamamoto after the game.

The veteran southpaw Nomi has witnessed it all, from high-stakes games to the subdued intensity of a bullpen session. Sitting in the stands, Nomi had been watching the exhibition game between his beloved Tigers and the Dodgers closely and viewed Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s performance with understanding and respect.

Following the match, Nomi approached Yoshinobu Yamamoto beside the dugout. When the two shook hands and grinned, a moment was captured that had an impact well beyond the scoreboard. Nomi later shared a story on his Instagram account with a simple yet profound message: “After a long time, we met 😊 Thank you sa busy day 🙇🏻I will always support you 👍” (translated in English).

In those few words, Nomi communicated not just respect but also a reminder that baseball is more than stats and wins—it’s about the relationships and the legacy left behind. From 2016 to 2019, Atsushi Nohmi, who threw right and batted left, pitched a strong career, with the Hanshin Tigers, where he recorded a 3.67 ERA. 2018 was his most incredible year, with an ERA of 2.56. In 16 games, he recorded a 4-1 record with 64 strikeouts and a 5.57 ERA in Major League Baseball. He had a 0.83 ERA, a 0.90 WHIP, 5 wins, and 11 saves in Ni-Gun (Japanese minors).

The Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto has been one of the most highly coveted pitchers ever to emerge from Japan. The right-hander made his NPB debut for the Orix Buffaloes shortly after turning 19 in 2017 and went on to dominate over the next seven seasons. In 967 2/3 innings, he compiled a stellar 1.72 ERA, striking out 986 batters while issuing just 216 walks.

The year 2023 was a defining one for Yamamoto. He showcased his elite talent on the international stage with Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic, secured his third consecutive Eiji Sawamura Award—Japan’s equivalent of the Cy Young—and was officially posted to MLB in November. Just a month later, he made history by signing a record-breaking 12-year, $325 million contract with the Dodgers. While he impressed in the first game, he was unable to stop his side from going down against Nomi’s former team.

But let’s talk about the Tigers’ impressive win for a moment.

Their right-hander Hiroto Saiki started out by striking Ohtani. He threw five dominant innings as he held the Dodgers hitless through four innings, and only allowed one walk in the second inning. Saiki, who was one of the best pitchers in Japan last season, struck out seven and induced 16 swinging strikes.

On the other hand, Dodgers superstar Ohtani had a forgetful outing as he flied out to center in his two at-bats with his side limited to three hits. By the time the Tigers surrendered their first hit, they had already built a commanding 3-0 lead, courtesy of slugger Teruaki Sato’s fourth-inning blast off Dodgers starter, Blake Snell.

The game was scoreless heading into the bottom of the fourth. Koji Chikamoto drew a walk to start the inning, and Takumu Nakano recorded Hanshin’s first hit with a single before Sato’s home run drew a raucous response from the majority of the 42,059 crowd. After the game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was full of praise for Saiki and Sato.

“Really good ballclub. I thought they played really good defense, they can handle velocity good with the fastball. The starter, I thought, had major league stuff, really good fastball, good command, good split, and then Sato, he looks the part. He’s a really impressive baseball player,” Roberts said and added, “They clearly showed they can play at the top level.”

The Tigers blanked the Cubs 3-0 earlier and have proven that the Japanese baseball scene is getting stronger by the day. As for Yamamoto, he has a lot to look forward to when they start the defense of their crown against the Cubs on Tuesday at the same venue.

What’s next for Yoshinobu Yamamoto?

The world is watching—and Yoshinobu Yamamoto is ready to deliver. His success in the Tokyo Series, especially in the first game, shows he’s prepared to advance in his Major League career. The Dodgers’ hopes of making the playoffs largely depend on his capacity to adapt to MLB batters and maintain his exceptional control; the team will play the Chicago Cubs in the Tokyo Series to begin their 2025 MLB season. Yamamoto starting Opening Day for the Dodgers is a top storyline, even amid the event’s historic setting and global fanfare.

Yamamoto had an incredible first season in the professional leagues. With a solid 3.00 ERA over 18 games, the Japanese ace lived up to the hoopla surrounding his acquisition with the Dodgers. His exceptional skill set, which includes a nasty splitter and a fastball that frequently reaches the mid-to-high 90s, was demonstrated by his ability to adjust to MLB hitters rapidly. Over 105.0 innings, he gave up just 78 hits and 32 runs while keeping an outstanding strikeout-to-walk ratio of 4.8 (105 strikeouts to 22 walks).

Dave Roberts was confident in his ability: “I think the biggest thing is confidence, which you have to go through, to experience to gain more confidence, and how that manifests is he trusts his fastball in the strike zone. He doesn’t feel he has to be too fine with it, which makes everything else better.”

Yamamoto cemented his spot in the championship rotation with consistent dominance. He is expected to perform better in his sophomore season as he takes the ball for Opening Day in Tokyo. The question now isn’t if Yamamoto can deliver, but how far he can carry the Dodgers.