Little Tokyo businesses embrace Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers

LITTLE TOKYO, LOS ANGELES (KABC) — The city of Los Angeles is buzzing with the Dodgers back in the World Series, and Shohei Ohtani has been a big part of the success.

The Japanese star player is big everywhere, but they really love him in Little Tokyo.

At one bar in the area, with every home run hit in Game 4 of the NLCS, the sake shots kept coming. It’s the “Game Night Special” offered on the house at Far Bar on 1st Street.

The business says it went through 14 bottles during Game 4 of the NLCS.

RELATED: Here are our favorite places to watch Dodger games

“We love the Dodgers, we love Shohei. We love Yamamoto,” said Cassi Blakeman from New York

That fandom is seen everywhere in the area. Less than 10 minutes from Dodger Stadium is the heartbeat of Japanese-American culture in Los Angeles.

Eyewitness News caught up with some fans who traveled to our Little Tokyo from Japan.

“I think a lot of Japanese people like coming to L.A. to just watch the Japanese players, and yeah, it’s really fun,” one fan said.

“We came to Little Tokyo before the game because we want a picture in front of the Ohtani mural, and I got my Ohtani jersey,” said Dodgers fan Kayla Hickman.

From that towering mural on the Miyako Hotel, to special Dodger-inspired merchandise, and of course, more sake and Ohtani-inspired Mochi — Little Toyko has a lot to offer for die-hard fans.

“All the Japanese players honestly are really amazing – they’ve been doing great,” Hickman said.

Back at Far Bar, you can bet the shots will keep on coming during the World Series every time Ohtani shows up, even if it gets a little costly for the owner.

“I don’t mind giving these shots out, because by definition, it means that we are doing well offensively when that happens,” the owner, Don Tahara, said.