All-Star Series Opens in Tokyo
The 2026 Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star Series opened at the iconic Tokyo Dome, where the Pacific League edged the Central League 7‑5 in a game that felt more like a showcase of depth than a mere exhibition. The Pacific League has now won eight of the last nine All-Star games, a streak that adds extra weight to every swing and pitch.
The turning point arrived in the eighth inning when Misho Nishikawa and Itsuki Murabayashi launched back‑to‑back home runs, stretching the Pacific lead and energizing the crowd. Their back‑to‑back blasts exemplified the league’s recent surge in power hitting.
MVP Chusei Mannami emerged as the night’s standout, going 4‑for‑4 with two RBI and narrowly missing a cycle. His performance not only secured the win but also highlighted the depth of talent across the Pacific League.
The series will shift to Toyama for Game 2, marking the first time a non‑home‑team venue outside the traditional baseball heartland hosts an All-Star contest since Matsuyama in 2022. Organizers hope the countryside setting will bring a fresh atmosphere to the festivities.
Earlier in the week, the Fresh All-Star Game took place at HARD OFF ECO Stadium Niigata, where the Pacific League posted a 7‑3 victory. Kane Edokpolo, the younger brother of MMA fighter King Edokpolo, earned MVP honors with a three‑run homer that sealed the win.
Teruaki Sato captured the opening rounds of the Home Run Derby and is set to face the winner of Wednesday’s bracket final, while the Super Round and championship games of the 2024 WBSC Premier12 are currently unfolding at the Tokyo Dome, keeping the city’s baseball fever alive.