The Tokyo Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs is a full circle moment for Japanese baseball.

No player in professional baseball history has slugged more home runs than the 868 that Oh hit over 22 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants, the Japanese equivalent of the New York Yankees. “He was almost like a figment of my imagination and like a folk hero,” Roberts said. “A fictional character.”

Japanese players Shohei Ohtani and Shota Imanaga are transforming Major League Baseball and its fans — and the future of the game.