Japan's Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto celebrate World Series win with Dodgers

TOKYO (AP) — The World Series trophy is headed to Los Angeles, but a hearty celebration is also underway across the Pacific in Japan.

People gathered in single-sheets around the edge of the Ginza shopping area in central Tokyo on Thursday afternoon, with special newspaper editions off the presses, announcing Japanese stars. Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto as World Champions with their Dodgers teammates after a rousing Game 5 victory over the New York Yankees.

The headline in Japanese in the Sports Nippon newspaper, set in yellow and blue type — with red highlights — read: “No. 1 in the world. Ohtani beats the Yankees.”

“I want to thank my Japanese fans for coming to cheer me on this season,” Ohtani said on Japanese television. “This cheer has given me some strength so I'm glad I can return the gratitude of my victory.”

Newspaper handouts are a Tokyo tradition when Japan celebrates a major event. And it was a scramble, as usual, with men and women – young and old – running up and down the sidewalk to get their free collector's items.

The Yomiuri Shimbun headline read: “Dodgers No. 1; Ohtani, Yamamoto in the first season.

Yasuko Shibata, an 80-year-old woman who said she watches Ohtani's games faithfully, said she admired “Ohtani's personality.” Not to mention his great game.

“His presence is huge,” he said. “He is my source of strength. When he doesn't do well, I feel blue too.”

Another devotee echoed his thoughts as he stood near the entrance to the Ginza underground.

“He is the pride of Japan,” said Hideki Shinohara, who calls himself a hardcore fan. “You can't just describe him with 'amazing'. You have to invent a new word.”

Shinohara added: “He's been through a lot this year, and I didn't expect him to come like this. I am very pleased with what he has achieved. ”

The Japanese pride in Ohtani is a huge one for a country whose players were once considered very small or only good pitchers. Now, their players take great pride in the fact that they are among the best in the game.

Japan defeated the United States in the World Baseball Classic finals in Miami last year, another sign of the country's mastery of the American pastime.

It was a victory Ohtani's home In northern Japan — the city of Oshu — where fans have been gathering all week and hoping to help their superstar hero deliver the title.

About 38,000 special edition newspapers were also published in Iwate Prefecture, the northern region where Oshu City is located.