Nearly 25 years after Ichiro Suzuki embarked on a Hall of Fame career for the Mariners, the impact of Japanese players is as prevalent as ever going into this week’s games in Tokyo.

All anyone in the MLB world can discuss is the 2025 Tokyo Series, including a Cubs pitcher who grew up in Washington state idolizing Japanese superstar Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattl

Nearly 25 years after Ichiro Suzuki embarked on a Hall of Fame career for the Seattle Mariners, the impact of Japanese players in Major League Baseball is at a high point