In response to the ever-increasing popularity of Major League Baseball in Japan and throughout Asia, Major League Baseball International will open a regional office in Tokyo on Aug. 1. The Tokyo office will be the third regional office created to support Major League Baseball International's efforts to grow the game around the world. Other offices are located in Sydney and London.
MLB Japan will be responsible for both building and better integrating MLB International's existing television, sponsorship, licensing and event businesses in Japan, as well as creating new business opportunities in Japan and throughout Asia.
“Major League Baseball has never been more popular in Japan,” said Tim Brosnan, Executive Vice President, Business, Major League Baseball. “The star status of Japanese-born MLB players such as Ichiro and Matsui has illustrated to fans in the United States the high caliber of Japanese Baseball and has created unprecedented interest in Major League Baseball among baseball fans in Japan. Not only will a regional office in Tokyo enable us to better serve our current business partners and create new business opportunities, but it will help us work more closely with Nippon Professional Baseball to maintain and strengthen the popularity of baseball in Japan and promote baseball as a global sport.”
Japan is one of the strongest international business markets for Major League Baseball. This season, more than 300 Major League Baseball games are being telecast in Japan, and MLB has 18 sponsors and 55 licensees in Japan. Major League Baseball opened the 2000 season with a two-game series between the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets that drew more than 110,000 fans and Major League Baseball has staged nine off-season All-Star Tours in Japan since 1986.
Long-time MLB executive Jim Small will be the Managing Director for MLB Japan. Small, who worked for the Major League Baseball Public Relations Department from 1986-1996, has been Director and regional Vice President, Global Market Development for Major League Baseball International since 1998. He will retain his role in Global Market Development while managing MLB Japan.
