Picture this: the bustling, neon-lit streets of Tokyo, a city where the worlds of art and sport collide in a joyful festival of creativity and competition. As the much-anticipated 2025 MLB Tokyo Series prepares to hit the diamond in Japan, Topps, the iconic trading card company, has teamed up with renowned Japanese artist Takashi Murakami to create an exclusive collection of baseball cards that redefines the boundaries of trading card collectibles. This unique partnership marries baseball, art, and culture into a vibrant ensemble that pays homage to Japan’s profound influence on the sport.
Tokyo, a metropolis celebrated for its deep-rooted appreciation of both sports and art, serves as the stunning canvas for this groundbreaking collaboration. In league with Major League Baseball and the trendy media platform Complex, Topps has unveiled a limited-edition series of trading cards and branded merchandise, drawing from Murakami’s signature style to infuse the world of baseball memorabilia with a splash of modern art.
Murakami, famous worldwide for his colorful and flower-themed masterpieces, has brought a distinctly Japanese flair to the traditional baseball card. His dynamic designs feature bright, playful aesthetics that not only highlight his unique artistic expression but also honor Japan’s storied baseball culture and its legendary players. What results is a spectacular fusion of Topps’ classic design with the avant-garde, pop art brilliance of Murakami’s creative genius.
Never shy about venturing beyond the well-trodden path of traditional collectibles, Topps continues to push artistic boundaries. In 2024, for example, a collaboration with the high-profile rapper Travis Scott gave birth to the Cactus Jack card set—a must-have for collectors and fans alike. With Murakami now part of the team, Topps once again finds itself at the confluence of sport and artistry, captivating both sports aficionados and art enthusiasts alike.
The collaboration extends beyond just trading cards. Murakami has also lent his visionary touch to a bespoke collection of Nike MLB apparel, complete with t-shirts, sweatshirts, and customized player jerseys. Fans eager to sport these wearable art pieces can find them on sale starting March 7 at various outlets, including Fanatics.com, MLBShop.com, Complex.com, and select brick-and-mortar locations such as MLB Tokyo Series games, Dodger Stadium, Wrigley Field Clubhouse stores, and the MLB Flagship Store in New York City.
Two highly coveted releases will serve as the centerpiece of this collaboration, each promising to be a collector’s dream. First up is the 2025 Topps Baseball Series 1 – Tokyo Game Exclusive, launching on March 1. This set features the immensely popular Murakami-designed base card variations, limited to a mere five copies apiece and available for a cool $50 per Mega Box. Special sets will feature autographs from some of the most revered Japanese baseball icons like Hideki Matsui, Yu Darvish, and Ichiro, alongside creative themes such as Tokyo Nights, World Tour Domination, and the History of Japanese Baseball.
Following closely is the 2025 Topps x Murakami MLB Tokyo Series Matchup Set, hitting shelves on March 7. Priced at $120 per hobby box, this 25-card set includes intriguing parallels and sought-after autographs, with the Chase card stealing the show—a dual-autographed redemption card signed by none other than Takashi Murakami and the baseball sensation Shohei Ohtani.
Acquiring these limited-edition gems will require a touch of luck and speed. If attending the Tokyo Series is not in your cards, you’ll need to be both swift and strategic. The Topps Series 1 – Tokyo Game Exclusive can be tracked down across select Tokyo hotspots, including Miyashita Park rooftop, Tokyo Dome’s Prizm Hall, and Topps’ experiential activation in Shibuya, along with online on jp.topps.com. Meanwhile, for the Topps x Murakami Matchup Set, collectors will need to head to Complex.com, Complex’s storefront in Los Angeles, or one of the pop-up sites peppered throughout Tokyo.
The festivities don’t end with the cards. Topps is hosting an extravagant, three-floor interactive exhibition in Shibuya from March 13-16. This immersive experience will not only spotlight rare trading cards and memorabilia but also dive into the fascinating history of Japanese baseball. Shohei Ohtani fans are in for a treat with an entire floor dedicated to the two-way superstar, complete with his 50/50 game base and World Series game-used bat.
Through this collaboration, Topps is weaving a tapestry that celebrates baseball’s profound connection to Japan, all while ushering the hobby into a new era. By blending the worlds of sports, art, and culture, Topps is not just crafting trading cards, but transforming them into collectible works of art—each a 3×5-inch masterpiece telling its own vibrant story.
