Dodgers merch collaboration with Japanese artist Takashi Murakami is a natural fit

A period agone Dodgers cogwheel festooned with colorful flowers successful the unmistakable designs of acclaimed Japanese creator Takashi Murakami sold retired successful minutes astatine a pop-up connected Fairfax Ave. A mates 100 Angelenos lined up overnight to acquisition gear, generating $40 million.

The pop-up, called the MLB Tokyo Series collection, preceded the two-game, season-opening series successful Japan betwixt the Dodgers and Chicago Cubs, and items soon deed the secondary marketplace for 4 times the acquisition price.

The merchandise was truthful fashionable that Murakami and the Dodgers responded by approximating the celebrated words of Hall of Fame Cubs shortstop Ernie Banks: “Let’s play two!”

A caller postulation volition beryllium disposable April 28 during Japanese Heritage Night astatine Dodger Stadium and the Dodger Clubhouse store, past tin beryllium purchased lone online. Murakami, 63, volition propulsion retired the ceremonial archetypal transportation as helium did before an exhibition betwixt the Dodgers and Yomiuri Giants astatine the Tokyo Dome connected March 15.

“It’s been 2 months since I started practicing for the archetypal transportation successful Tokyo, but fixed my age, it’s not truthful casual to prime up caller skills,” Murakami said playfully successful an interrogation with The Times. “Still, compared to the archetypal time erstwhile I couldn’t propulsion the shot astatine all, I’ve improved significantly.

“My anticipation this clip is to propulsion the shot without it bouncing.”

Murakami is unquestionably adept with a brush, a pen oregon a computer, creating iconic creation that features manga, anime, cartoons and brightly colored anthropomorphic cherry blossoms, mushrooms and assorted flowers. He began delivering commissioned projects for luxury brands and celebrities 20 years ago, and a fiscal pinnacle came successful 2008 erstwhile his provocative life-size fig “My Lonesome Cowboy” sold for $15.1 cardinal astatine auction.

Since past Murakami has integrated his creation connected Louis Vuitton handbags, a Kanye West album cover, and the Kid Cudi collaboration Kids See Ghosts. He besides had a solo accumulation successful 2022 astatine The Broad titled Takashi Murakami: Stepping connected the Tail of a Rainbow that included sculpture, painting, wallpaper and immersive installations.

Now his attraction has turned to baseball. The MLB Tokyo Series postulation had his acquainted colorful flora sprinkled crossed jerseys, bats, balls, hoodies, flip-flops and a Shohei Ohtani bobblehead. The astonishment mean mightiness person been collaborating with Topps connected shot cards.

“Since 2023, I person been creating trading cards and trading paper games with my team, truthful I felt I approached this task with a bully knowing of the context,” Murakami said. “But erstwhile we filmed the unboxing lawsuit for the Topps Complex Series and Tokyo Series connected YouTube, I recognized anew however profound the satellite of American sports trading cards is, which shook maine with excitement.”

The wide occurrence of the Tokyo Series postulation delighted Murakami, who said helium remembers playing drawback with his begetter arsenic a child.

“Honestly, I had thought shot wasn’t arsenic large a athletics successful Japan these days, truthful I was amazed by the overwhelming response,” helium said. “I received messages from puerility friends and was approached by neighbors afterwards, which made maine recognize that shot remains the beloved athletics among the Japanese public.”

The summation of Japanese megastars Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki made collaborating with the Dodgers a natural. The team’s popularity successful Japan has ne'er been greater.

“The Dodgers are the squad Hideo Nomo joined erstwhile helium archetypal played Major League Baseball, overcoming assorted obstacles,” Murakami said. “His occurrence had a important interaction connected Japanese players entering the majors, and his achievements are vivid successful my memory.

“Shohei Ohtani joining the Dodgers feels similar a fateful communicative for Japanese baseball, and I’m profoundly moved by it. In that sense, I see myself a Dodgers fan.”

Murakami added that helium has felt comfy successful L.A. since his accumulation astatine the Museum of Contemporary Art successful 2007-2008.

“I judge my vocation arsenic an creator successful the modern creation satellite took disconnected successful Los Angeles,” helium said. “The [MOCA] exhibition, curated by Paul Schimmel, was pivotal successful establishing my vocation successful America. Whenever I sojourn Los Angeles, I consciousness a beardown connection, arsenic if it’s my 2nd hometown, with fans saying hullo to maine astir the city. So I’m particularly grateful for this caller narration with the Dodgers successful Los Angeles.”