Major League Baseball officially kicked off its 2025 season this morning in Tokyo Japan with the Dodgers taking down the Cubs 4-1.

Chicago struck first, scoring their only run in the second inning but a three-run fifth and four hitless innings from the Dodger bullpen lifted LA to victory.

However, no pitch needed to be thrown before MLB history was made out of this contest.

When Shota Imanaga and Yoshinobu Yamamoto were announced as starters for this game, they became the first pair of Japanese starters to face off in the same Opening Day Game.

With the game being held in Tokyo, things were that much more special for the rich Japanese baseball culture.

Just after 7:00 PM local time, Imanaga started what would end up being a pitchers duo between two local products.

Imanaga watched as Japanese legend Shohei Ohtani walked into the box and took his first pitch fastball for strike one.

Two pitches later, Ohtani bounced a grounder to second base for the first out of the game and a theme of what was to come from Imanaga.

Despite struggling with command at times resulting in four walks, Imanaga was able to navigate through four hitless innings throwing 69 pitches.

On the other side, Yamamoto ended up on the winning side of the aisle and looked lights out while doing it.

With a high 90’s fastball and a splitter sitting in the 90’s with tremendous break, Yamamoto navigated through five innings allowing just three hits and the one run.

“Great outing, I thought he [Yamamoto] commanded the baseball really well tonight,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

“The fastball was as good as we’ve seen. Competed really well. There was some soft contact in there and he just navigated the game really well.”

There is no doubt that this was no ordinary baseball game for Yamamoto and Imanaga and they certainly did not disappoint.

Japanese pitching isn’t done in the spotlight just yet as tomorrow we will see the MLB debut of the former NBP phenom Roki Sasaki.