The Shohei Ohtani Effect is minting a whole new lineup of Dodgers sponsors—and this time, the King of the Monsters is stepping up to the plate.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have landed another blockbuster partnership with one of Japan’s biggest entertainment brands, announcing a Godzilla Minus Zero Night that further showcases how Shohei Ohtani has transformed the franchise into Major League Baseball’s premier destination for Japanese business.
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The Sept. 24 promotion, the Dodgers’ regular-season home finale against the San Diego Padres at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium, will feature one of Japan’s most iconic cultural exports.
Shohei Ohtani is greeted in the dugout after hitting a solo home run. AP Photo/Kyusung Gong
40,000 bobbleheads will be given out during the Sept. 24 showdown. Instagram/godzilla_toho
The first 40,000 ticketed fans entering the 7:10 p.m. game will receive an exclusive Godzilla Minus Zero bobblehead, with one giveaway item per valid ticket.
The collectible depicts Godzilla in full Dodgers gear, wearing a blue LA batting helmet and a white Dodgers jersey marked “0.0” while clenching a baseball bat between its jaws.
The monster stands atop a wrecked stadium scene surrounded by flames, with “Godzilla Minus Zero” displayed on the base.
Ohtani pitches against the San Diego Padres. Getty Images
The promotional image notes the design shown is a concept and the final product is subject to change.
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Fans will also be treated to a Godzilla-themed drone show after the game, while additional in-stadium activations promoting the event will take place in the days leading up to the matchup.
The event also serves as a promotional launch for TOHO’s upcoming feature film, Godzilla Minus Zero, which opens in theaters nationwide on Nov. 6.
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Written, directed and featuring visual effects by Takashi Yamazaki, the movie is set in 1949, two years after the events of Godzilla Minus One, and follows the Shikishima family as they confront an all-new calamity.
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Its predecessor won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects at the 96th Academy Awards.
The movie is set in 1949, two years after the events of Godzilla Minus One ©Toho Company Ltd/Courtesy Everett Collection
“We are pleased to partner with TOHO on Godzilla Minus Zero Night, an evening at the ballpark that should be a sure-fire hit with Dodger fans,” said Lorenzo Sciarrino, Senior Vice President of Global Partnerships, Los Angeles Dodgers. “This will be the perfect event to cap our 2026 regular season home schedule.”
Founded in 1932, TOHO is one of Japan’s leading entertainment companies, with operations spanning film production, distribution and exhibition, theater, anime and real estate.
“We are deeply honored to launch this partnership between the Los Angeles Dodgers, a monumental Major League Baseball franchise that continues to captivate fans worldwide, and Godzilla, a global icon loved for over 70 years,” said Keiji Ota, Senior Managing Executive Officer and Chief Godzilla Officer, TOHO CO., Ltd. “Both names share a powerful legacy of stepping onto the world stage, embracing relentless challenges, and fueling the passion of millions.”
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Ota added that the collaboration marks another milestone in TOHO’s continued global expansion of the Godzilla brand.
“Through this partnership, Godzilla’s overwhelming presence and monumental scale will fuse with the dynamic energy of the Dodgers, delivering an exclusive, one-of-a-kind experience,” Ota further shared. “We imagine the roar of the stadium crowd echoing across the globe, capturing the very spirit of Godzilla itself.”
TOHO also promoted the event on social media, writing: “We are thrilled to announce ‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ Night at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, Sept 24 during the Dodgers vs. Padres game!”
The company added: “Get ready, the first 40,000 fans score an exclusive bobblehead! Plus, don’t miss an epic drone show lighting up the night sky.”
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The Godzilla partnership follows another wildly successful Japanese-themed promotion earlier this season.
The Dodgers’ One Piece Night on July 2 featured a co-branded Straw Hat giveaway and an exclusive Monkey D. Luffy trading card.
The promotion sparked massive demand, with thousands of fans lining up five hours before first pitch as raw copies of the card quickly flipped online for between $600 and $900.
Those promotions are part of a much larger financial transformation driven by Ohtani’s arrival.
Industry reports indicate the Dodgers now generate at least $200 million annually in revenue tied directly to Ohtani and the club’s expanding portfolio of Japanese partnerships.
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The boom has reportedly been so lucrative that the franchise effectively recouped the equivalent of Ohtani’s historic $700 million contract within his first couple of seasons through sponsorships and other business generated by the Japanese superstar.
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