TOKYO (AP) - The Major League Baseball (MLB) season kicks off with two opening games featuring the World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Chicago Cubs at the Tokyo Dome. Set to take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, this pair of games marks the beginning of a 2,500 game regular season. However, for Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who was born in Japan, and Shohei Ohtani, alongside four other Japanese players on both teams, these games hold special significance beyond just the season's start.

MLB's choice to open its regular season in the Asian market for the second consecutive year follows last year's games in Seoul, South Korea, where the Dodgers faced the San Diego Padres. The Tokyo Dome games provide an opportunity for the league to engage fans in Japan, following a year that also saw a betting scandal emerge surrounding Ohtani's interpreter.

Shohei Ohtani noted during a media session that he is uncertain whether this is truly a golden age for Japanese players in Major League Baseball but acknowledged the importance of having five Japanese players participating in the opening games. Ohtani expressed his eagerness to enjoy local cuisine and overcome the effects of jetlag while enjoying the experience of playing in his home country.

For Roberts, the series represents a personal homecoming. Born in Okinawa, Japan, to a Japanese mother and an American father, he is anticipating visits from family members who will finally see him coach a Dodgers game without the blanket of a time difference. The time difference between Japan and the East Coast of the United States is 13 hours, while California is 16 hours behind Japan.

Japan has increasingly embraced the Dodgers, thanks in part to the influence of star players like Ohtani and emerging talents such as Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki, who are projected to start against the Cubs. "I think our mission was accomplished painting the country of Japan in Dodgers blue," Roberts stated proudly.

Both Ohtani and Yamamoto shared their joy at being home in Japan, alongside Cubs players Shota Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki, as they gear up for their games. Imanaga is expected to face Yamamoto in the first match-up. Ohtani emphasized his hope that his teammates would enjoy Japan, encouraging fans to see their favorite players savoring the local culture.

On the other hand, Roki Sasaki, a recent addition to the Dodgers, feels pressure to perform well after transitioning from Japan just two months ago. "I was literally in Japan until a couple of months ago," he mentioned through an interpreter, expressing determination to prove himself in a new environment. His recent meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, where he presented an autographed Dodgers cap, exemplified the excitement surrounding the season opener.

Additionally, Cubs manager Craig Counsell highlighted an event hosted by Imanaga and Suzuki that introduced the team to Japanese culture, with a notable highlight being a ceremonial tuna-cutting that provided sushi and sashimi for the players. "We had tuna cut open, which was a bit scary with players handling knives," Counsell recounted. The trip symbolizes "kizuna," the Japanese term for bonding among teammates, enhancing the overall experience of being in Japan.

The Dodgers and Cubs series in Japan is a significant event for MLB, showcasing both the game's international appeal and its deepening ties with the Japanese baseball community. As the players gear up for the first pitches, the excitement and cultural exchange continue to resonate, making this inaugural series in Japan a historic occasion for the league and its fans.