Baseball may be known as America’s pastime, but in Japan, it has become something just as meaningful, a daily ritual. As the 2026 Major League Baseball season begins, fans across the country are once again waking up early, turning on their screens, and starting their mornings with the game.
Opening Night sets the tone. The matchup between the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants airs at around 9 a.m. in Japan, making it perfectly timed for fans heading into school or work. It’s a reminder of how uniquely global baseball has become, a night game in the United States transforms into a morning event halfway across the world.
But not every game is so convenient. When the Pittsburgh Pirates face the New York Mets at 2:15 a.m. Japan time, only the most dedicated fans will be watching live. Still, that level of commitment is nothing new. For years, Japanese baseball fans have built their routines around MLB schedules, often sacrificing sleep just to follow their favorite players.
And this season, there is even more reason to watch.
Japanese superstars continue to dominate the league, with Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto leading the Los Angeles Dodgers in their pursuit of a third straight championship. Their Opening Day matchup against the Arizona Diamondbacks at 9:30 a.m. in Japan is expected to draw massive attention. Ohtani, already one of the most recognizable athletes in the world, represents a direct connection between MLB and Japanese fans, while Yamamoto’s continued success adds even more pride and excitement.
This growing presence of Japanese talent has strengthened the relationship between the two baseball cultures. While Japan has its own highly respected professional league, Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), MLB offers a global stage where Japanese players can compete at the highest level. For fans, it creates a sense of shared identity,3 supporting both their home country and their stars abroad.
MLB has clearly recognized this connection. In a new Opening Day campaign, the league refers to Japanese fans as the “MLB Breakfast Club,” celebrating their dedication to waking up early to follow the sport. The message is simple: in Japan, baseball isn’t just something you watch, it’s something you wake up for.
The 2026 season also brings high expectations beyond just individual players. Teams like the Dodgers are aiming to build dynasties, while historic franchises like the Yankees are looking to return to dominance. With rising young stars such as Paul Skenes entering the spotlight, the league continues to evolve, blending new talent with established greatness.
For Japanese fans, this means every morning offers something new, a big matchup, a standout performance, or a moment worth remembering.
As the season stretches across the next seven months, this routine will continue. Alarms will ring early. Screens will flicker on. And millions of fans will once again begin their day the same way.
