BTS V Dodgers First Pitch Dominates Japan Sports Headlines, Newspapers Sell Out
BTS member V made headlines across Japan after throwing a ceremonial first pitch at the Los Angeles Dodgers game on August 25, 2025, creating an unprecedented media sensation that saw five major sports newspapers sell out nationwide.
Historic Japanese Media Coverage
The singer, born Kim Taehyung, bowed toward Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto and delivered a left-handed strike, sparking cheers from the stands while camera phones lit up the ballpark. V's performance captivated not just American audiences but generated massive coverage across Japan's sports media landscape.
Five of Japan's top sports publications-Nikkan Sports, Sports Hochi, Sankei Sports, Sports Nippon, and Daily Sports-all featured V's ceremonial pitch on their front pages. According to Korean media reports, the newspapers sold out completely across Japan as fans rushed to purchase commemorative copies, leaving many unable to secure the special editions.
Sports Hochi praised V's technique, reporting that he "threw an excellent strike to catcher Yamamoto as a left-handed pitcher, receiving thunderous cheers that seemed to shake Dodger Stadium." The publication also highlighted his meeting with Japanese baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani, describing it as a "'dream collaboration' between global stars."
Record-Breaking Ticket Demand
According to StubHub, tickets for the game rose in price over five times what they were prior to the announcement. The Dodgers were also the number one searched team on Google for the past week. The announcement of V's appearance had crashed the Dodgers' ticketing website due to overwhelming demand from fans worldwide.
Celebrity Meetups at Dodger Stadium
V's appearance included high-profile interactions with MLB stars. He got to meet and hang out with Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani and FaceTime with South Korean Dodgers rookie Kim Hye-seong, who regretted that he could not be there in person to hang with V because of a recent injury he is rehabbing.
V also gave the traditional call of "It's time for Dodger baseball!' in English at the game against the Cincinnati Reds before individually greeting the kids who run on the field to collect player autographs before each home game.
Japanese Broadcasting Frenzy
Major Japanese broadcasters provided extensive coverage of the event. NHK, Nippon TV's "Oha! 4," entertainment talk show "DayDay," and Fuji TV's "Mezamashi" all featured segments on V's ceremonial pitch. The story was also displayed on AP News electronic billboards in Tokyo, capturing local attention.
BTS Reunion Preparations
V's public appearance marks a significant moment as BTS prepares for their full-group comeback. All seven members of BTS have now finished their mandatory military service, with Suga being discharged on June 21, 2025. The group confirmed they are working on a new album for spring 2026, accompanied by a world tour.
This ceremonial pitch represents V's first major public appearance since completing military service in June 2025, following only his attendance at the Celine PRINTEMPS fashion show in Paris.
K-pop Meets Baseball History
V joins other K-pop artists who have thrown ceremonial first pitches at MLB games, including PSY and Girls' Generation's Tiffany in 2013, and more recently, Stray Kids' Seungmin and ATEEZ's Yunho. The moment underscores the growing connection between Korean entertainment and American baseball, particularly with the Dodgers' historical ties to Korean players like Park Chan-ho and Ryu Hyun-jin.
The extensive Japanese media coverage demonstrates V's individual star power and signals the global anticipation surrounding BTS's return to the music scene in 2026.
