Today, Complex is unveiling the Takashi Murakami x MLB Tokyo Series collection, set to launch on March 7, 2025. The exclusive partnership highlights the collaboration between the renowned Japanese contemporary artist Takashi Murakami and Major League Baseball (MLB), bringing together two cultural icons to celebrate two of the league’s most storied teams for a limited-edition collection of collectibles and merchandise.
In celebration of the 2025 MLB Tokyo Series Presented by Guggenheim taking place March 18-19 at the Tokyo Dome between the Chicago Cubs and the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, the collection celebrates the deep cultural connection between America’s favorite pastime and its influence in Japan. Featuring Murakami’s iconic vibrant colors and playful motifs, the exclusive series brings a fresh, artistic perspective to MLB merchandise and memorabilia, making it a must-have for baseball fans, art enthusiasts and collectors.
“I think this new collection builds upon the historical friendship between Japan and the United States,” said Takashi Murakami. “I feel lucky to be able to work alongside Complex, MLB and highlight Shohei Ohtani, an outstanding athlete who has emerged from Japan and made a name for himself on the global stage. This is something I am overwhelmed with gratitude to be a part of.”
The Complex collaboration brings together two of MLB’s most iconic teams: the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs, infusing Murakami’s signature style across an array of exclusive products from global sports platform Fanatics, including Nike MLB t-shirts and hoodies, alongside signature pieces – official Nike Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs MLB Limited jerseys. The Fanatics apparel collection, which will incorporate Murakami’s iconic floral artwork, will also be available on individual player Nike MLB Limited jerseys for Dodgers players Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman and Cubs players Shota Imanaga, Seiya Suzuki, and Dansby Swanson.
In addition to wearable merchandise, the collection will also include Topps trading cards, New Era 59FIFTYs, knits and adjustable caps, Rawlings baseballs and gloves, Victus bats, totes, keychains and more.
As part of the collaboration, Murakami’s Ohana Hatake, a first-of-its-kind brand led by the legendary artist, will introduce two brand new, limited-edition slides. The new release embodies Murakami’s iconic flower motif and showcases the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers logos on the inventive Surippa Ohana silhouette.
The Takashi Murakami x MLB Limited Edition 2025 Tokyo Series Collection will be available to buy on Complex.com (including Complex exclusives), Fanatics.com and MLBShop.com beginning March 7. Select products will also be available at the MLB Tokyo Series games, Dodger Stadium, Wrigley Field and Clubhouse stores as well as the MLB Flagship Store in New York City.
A special 2025 Topps x Murakami MLB Tokyo Series Matchup Set will be available exclusively through Complex Shop (SRP $120). The collection includes a 25-card complete set, featuring Murakami artwork that celebrates top players from both the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers, including Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Seiya Suzuki and Shota Imanaga. The set also has rare parallels and autographs, with the chase card being a one-of-one dual-autograph card of Murakami and Ohtani, sure to be one of the most desirable and rare cards of all time. Each limited-edition box will contain: one 25-card complete set, one serial-numbered base card parallel /199 or lower.
“Complex is proud to bring together Takashi Murakami and two of the biggest teams in MLB to celebrate this historic sports moment in Tokyo. This once-in-a-lifetime collaboration merges Murakami’s unmistakable artistry with the global energy of baseball, capturing the essence of the city and the deep cultural connection between art and sport,” said Aaron Levant, Complex CEO.
Fans can immerse themselves in the Takashi Murakami x MLB collaboration at exclusive Complex pop-up events in Tokyo and Los Angeles. Each event will showcase the limited-edition merchandise, Murakami-inspired installations, and historical MLB vignettes, offering fans a chance to engage with both the collection and Murakami’s visionary artwork. The events lead off in Los Angeles from March 7-9 at Complex LA (433 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90048), followed by Japan, March 8-21 from 11:00am – 6:00pm JST, at 1 Chome-20-6 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan. Consumers can reserve a time slot at the Tokyo pop-up HERE and all purchases will be limited to three items total.
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The originator and proponent of Superflat theory, which reconstructs Japanese traditional paintings and the origin of Japanese contemporary art through visual premises of anime and manga. Murakami has created numerous characters including Miss Ko2 and Mr. DOB that reflect the otaku culture and presents them in the forms of intentionally kitsch sculptures and acutely two-dimensional paintings antithetical to the Western perspective techniques. Murakami’s cultural theory based on subcultures not only deconstructs the highbrow/lowbrow hierarchy but critically illustrates the post-World War II Japanese psychology, establishing a discourse unique to Japan in the increasingly globalizing art scene. The artist continues to attract a wide-ranging audience beyond contemporary art through his multifaceted activities including his collaboration with Louis Vuitton and focuses on street culture and contemporary ceramics. The final installment of his Superflat trilogy of curated exhibitions, Little Boy: The Arts of Japan’s Exploding Subculture (New York, 2005), was awarded The Best Thematic Museum Show in New York by AICA that year. His first retrospective, ©MURAKAMI (2007 – 2009) toured four cities in North America and Europe, starting with the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles. He has since been holding major solo exhibitions around the world, including at the Palace of Versailles (2010), Al RiwaqExhibition Hall (Doha, 2012), the Mori Art Museum (Tokyo, 2015), the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art (Moscow, 2017), Tai Kwun Contemporary (Hong Kong, 2019), The Broad (Los Angeles, 2022), Asian Art Museum of San Francisco (San Francisco, 2023), and Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art (Kyoto, 2024).
