Torrance celebrates Dodgers win with Japanese cities Oshu and Bizen – Daily Breeze

Mayor George Chen helps lead the city of Torrance “International...

Mayor George Chen helps lead the city of Torrance “International Dodgers Celebration,” with Japanese sister cities Oshu and Bizen participating virtually via video link, and the cut-outs of Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto behind him, at the Torrance Transit Center on Thursday, November 20, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

Mayor George Chen helps lead the city of Torrance “International Dodgers Celebration,” with Japanese sister cities Oshu and Bizen participating virtually via video link, at the Torrance Transit Center on Thursday, November 20, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

The mayor of the city of Oshu, Japan, joins Torrance and Bizen, Japan, virtually via video link during the “International Dodgers Celebration,” at the Torrance Transit Center on Thursday, November 20, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

The mayor of the city of Bizen, Japan, joins Torrance and Oshu, Japan, virtually via video link during the “International Dodgers Celebration,” at the Torrance Transit Center on Thursday, November 20, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

Mayor George Chen takes pictures during “International Dodgers Celebration,” with Japanese sister cities Oshu and Bizen participating virtually via video link, at the Torrance Transit Center on Thursday, November 20, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

North High School cheerleaders take part in the city of Torrance “International Dodgers Celebration,” with Japanese sister cities Oshu and Bizen participating virtually via video link, at the Torrance Transit Center on Thursday, November 20, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

Attendees cheer during the city of Torrance “International Dodgers Celebration,” with Japanese sister cities Oshu and Bizen participating virtually via video link, at the Torrance Transit Center on Thursday, November 20, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

Mayor George Chen hangs with Yoshinobu Yamamoto during “International Dodgers Celebration,” with Japanese sister cities Oshu and Bizen participating virtually via video link, at the Torrance Transit Center on Thursday, November 20, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

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The City of Torrance held an international Dodgers celebration Thursday afternoon, celebrating the Los Angeles Dodgers back-to-back world series win with Torrance’s “friendship cities,” Oshu, Japan (Dodgers player Shohei Ohtani’s hometown) and Bizen, Japan (Blue Crew hurler Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s hometown) whose mayors and city staff attended virtually.

Torrance has long honored international partnerships, establishing “friendships” with cities across the world.

“Today we are celebrating not only the back-to-back championships of our Los Angeles Dodgers, but also the incredible international friendships they foster,” said John La Rock, community services director with the City of Torrance. “This community is deeply connected to baseball and is proud to share this special day with our friendship cities in Japan.”

Dozens of Torrance residents, city staff and first responders filled the conference room at the Mary K. Giordano Regional Transit Center, cheering and waving at Oshu and Bizen’s mayors and city staff.

La Rock noted the first ever “friendship games” that the city hosted over the summer, inviting a youth baseball team to come from Oshu to play with Torrance’s own 310 Baseball team. Toru Ohtani (Shohei Ohtani’s father) came with the baseball team to coach the young players.

“The event brought together local and international players, families and community partners from across regions and cultures, demonstrating how the core values of the game – collaboration, respect and camaraderie are understood worldwide regardless of language,” La Rock said. “This spirit of connection carries seamlessly into our international Dodgers celebration. The Dodgers global reach and diverse standbys mirror what we experience here in Torrance, a community enriched by international relationships and shared traditions.”

The event concluded with the entire room along with those across the world in Oshu and Bizen, Japan emphatically yelling, “Let’s Go Dodgers!”