TOKYO — It’s officially named the World Baseball Classic . But for the Group C games in Japan, simply call it the world according to Shohei Ohtani.

Ohtani’s life-size image is all over the Tokyo Dome, and racks of Ohtani jerseys — about $125 each — dominate the adjacent merchandise center. Japan begins play on Friday against Taiwan with South Korea, Australia and the Czech Republic also in the group.