Ichiro's Opening Day Farewell A Home Run For Viewers In Japan

MLB said the March 21 Mariners-A’s game at the Tokyo Dome that was the final game for Ichiro Suzuki attracted 2.4 million TV households in Japan, representing the league’s most-watched game of any type in the country since the ’04 Opening Series that was also played in Tokyo. The total is additionally up 75% compared to the second game of the ’08 Opening Series in Japan, and up 28% from the comparable game there in ’12. MLB’s media distribution in Japan is part of an overall global broadcast footprint that has grown this year to 129 international media partners and exposure in 204 countries and territories, up from 114 partners and 195 countries in ’18.