Homecoming: Inside the Tokyo Series Director Reveals Shohei Ohtani's True Impact

What this episode covers

We sat down with Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Jason Sterman, director of Homecoming: The Tokyo Series, for an unforgettable conversation about baseball, culture, and the emotional bridge between Japan and the United States. This film is NOT a Shohei Ohtani documentary. It’s not a game recap. It’s a deeper story about: • Why respect is the foundation of Japanese baseball • How little league values shape MLB stars like Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto • The electric, ritual-like atmosphere inside the Tokyo Dome • Why Yamamoto warming up after a complete game makes sense in Japan • How Ohtani’s celebrity in Japan compares to Taylor Swift in America • Why this moment in baseball history feels bigger than the game itself Jason shares how growing up a Dodgers fan in Los Angeles led him to ask a simple but powerful question: How did these Japanese stars become who they are? From the 81-year-old grandmother running a little league program in Osaka… To the glove craftsmen and bat makers living baseball daily… To Miguel Rojas receiving a standing ovation at the Hollywood premiere… This is a story about culture, identity, and two nations connected through the game. Homecoming: The Tokyo Series In theaters for two nights only: February 23rd & 24th Over 750 theaters nationwide. If you love baseball — or simply love powerful storytelling — this conversation is for you.