As the 2025 MLB Tokyo Series approaches in full swing, an electrifying crossroad of art and sport has emerged. Topps, the iconic baseball card company, has teamed up with Japan’s visionary artist Takashi Murakami to produce an extraordinary collection of trading cards and merchandise. This dazzling partnership is set against the vibrant backdrop of Tokyo, a city that reveres both athletic prowess and artistic expression.
Murakami’s illustrious reputation in the art world needs little introduction. Known for his use of bold colors and floral themes, Murakami has embarked on an artistic reinvention of the traditional baseball card. With this collaboration, the mesmerizing aesthetics of Murakami are seamlessly fused with Japanese baseball culture, adding an innovative twist to the nostalgic sports memorabilia.
Topps’ decision to collaborate with Murakami isn’t an isolated journey into synergy. In a similar stride of creativity, the brand previously paired with rapper Travis Scott in 2024, launching the highly anticipated Cactus Jack card set. By welcoming Murakami aboard, Topps continues to stretch the conventional boundaries of collectibles, captivating an audience that spans both sports fanatics and art lovers.
Dipping into a realm beyond trading cards, Murakami extends his artistry to a new line of apparel. This exclusive MLB merchandise includes cleverly designed Nike t-shirts, sweatshirts, and personalized player jerseys. These pieces echo Murakami’s artistic flair and will be available for sale on March 7 through various online platforms such as Fanatics.com, MLBShop.com, and Complex.com. Notably, limited in-store purchases can be made at the MLB Tokyo Series games, Dodger Stadium & Wrigley Field Clubhouse stores, and the MLB Flagship Store in New York City.
The heart of Murakami’s collaboration with Topps pulsates within two must-have card sets:
First, the “2025 Topps Baseball Series 1 – Tokyo Game Exclusive” set takes the stage on March 1. This collection presents a Mega Box priced at $50, where connoisseurs can find base card variations enriched with Murakami’s signature designs, strictly limited to a mere five copies each. The pack also teems with potential autographs from legendary Japanese players like Hideki Matsui, Yu Darvish, and Ichiro, as well as engaging thematic sets focusing on Tokyo Nights, World Tour Domination, and the Heritage of Japanese Baseball.
Second, the “2025 Topps x Murakami MLB Tokyo Series Matchup Set” arrives on March 7, featuring a 25-card set with a retail price of $120 per hobby box. Each box is a treasure trove of potential with parallels and autograph inserts. The pinnacle piece is the chase card—a dual-autographed redemption card personally signed by both Takashi Murakami and the revered Shohei Ohtani.
Collectors craving these exclusive editions will need finesse and swiftness to land a set. While some cards will be available at the Tokyo Series locations, Topps Series 1 – Tokyo Game Exclusive and the accompanying match play sets will be distributed in precise locations, such as the Miyashita Park rooftop, Tokyo Dome’s Prizm Hall, Topps’ immersive spot in Shibuya, and online through jp.topps.com. The elusive Matchup Set can moreover be unearthed at Complex.com, Complex’s Los Angeles store, and select pop-up sites peppered throughout Tokyo.
This exhilarating venture won’t conclude with just the trading cards and merchandise. Topps is gearing up for an off-the-field spectacle during the 2025 Tokyo Series by staging a three-floor interactive exhibition in Shibuya scheduled from March 13 to 16. Fans can immerse themselves in an arena of rare trading cards, cherish detailed exhibits honoring Japan’s cherished baseball history, and soar through a level entirely dedicated to Shohei Ohtani, showcasing exceptional items like his 50/50 game base and his World Series game-used bat.
In merging the traditional with the modern, Topps, alongside Murakami, is paying homage to the rich Japanese affinity for baseball while galvanizing the collectibles industry into an expressive frontier. Through the interlacing of sports, art, and culture, each card pulls the traditional essence of collecting into a new era—elevating them into compact masterpieces of cherished memory and vibrant possibility.
