His on-field success is also drawing new sponsorship interest from Japanese companies, according to Boyer, who declined to discuss specifics.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere has been a significant increase in interest in the White Sox and that\u2019s why we\u2019re working so hard to make sure we\u2019re introducing our brand to a Japanese fan base,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re constantly in conversation with Japanese companies.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Chicago White Sox\u2019s Munetaka Murakami catches a throw from shortstop to get Kansas City Royals batter Maikel Garcia out at first base during the eighth inning at Rate Field, Tuesday, May 12, 2026.<\/p>\n | A fan shows off her Munetaka Murakami sign after the White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 6-5 at Rate Field, Tuesday, May 12, 2026.<\/p>\n | Chicago White Sox\u2019s Munetaka Murakami celebrates on the field after the Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 6-5 at Rate Field, Tuesday, May 12, 2026.<\/p>\n | Chicago White Sox\u2019s Munetaka Murakami hugs Miguel Vargas on the field after the Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 6-5 at Rate Field, Tuesday, May 12, 2026.<\/p>\n | Chicago White Sox\u2019s Munetaka Murakami celebrates in the dugout with Derek Hill after Hill hit a tie breaking pinch-hit home run in the eighth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Rate Field, Tuesday, May 12, 2026.<\/p>\n | The Mune City Connect mural hangs near Gate 3 as the Chicago White Sox take on the Kansas City Royals at Rate Field, Tuesday, May 12, 2026.<\/p>\n | Chicago White Sox\u2019s Munetaka Murakami takes a pitch before walking during the third inning against the Kansas City Royals at Rate Field, Tuesday, May 12, 2026.<\/p>\n | Chicago White Sox\u2019s Munetaka Murakami prepares to run to second base after walking in the third inning against the Kansas City Royals at Rate Field, Tuesday, May 12, 2026.<\/p>\n | Fans can buy the Tonkatsu dog from the Lucky\u2019s concession stand as the Chicago White Sox take on the Kansas City Royals at Rate Field, Tuesday, May 12, 2026.<\/p>\n | Chicago White Sox\u2019s Munetaka Murakami gets a batter out at first base against the Kansas City Royals at Rate Field, Tuesday, May 12, 2026.<\/p>\n | Chicago White Sox players salute during the National Anthem before taking on the Kansas City Royals at Rate Field, Tuesday, May 12, 2026.<\/p>\n | Munetaka Murakami warms up before the Chicago White Sox take on the Kansas City Royals at Rate Field, Tuesday, May 12, 2026.<\/p>\n | Fans wear Munetaka Murakami t-shirts as the Chicago White Sox take on the Kansas City Royals at Rate Field, Tuesday, May 12, 2026.<\/p>\n | Munetaka Murakami greets teammates in the dugout before the Chicago White Sox take on the Kansas City Royals at Rate Field, Tuesday, May 12, 2026.<\/p>\n | Munetaka Murakami greets teammates in the dugout before the Chicago White Sox take on the Kansas City Royals at Rate Field, Tuesday, May 12, 2026.<\/p>\n | Fans can buy Japanese script jerseys as the Chicago White Sox take on the Kansas City Royals at Rate Field, Tuesday, May 12, 2026.<\/p>\n | Chicago White Sox\u2019s Munetaka Murakami watches from first base as Tyler Schweitzer pitches against the Kansas City Royals at Rate Field, Tuesday, May 12, 2026.<\/p>\n | Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami catches a throw, but Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals is safe at first base in the third inning at Rate Field, Tuesday, May 12, 2026.<\/p>\n | Chicago White Sox\u2019s Munetaka Murakami strikes out during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Rate Field, Tuesday, May 12, 2026.<\/p>\n | Chicago White Sox\u2019s Munetaka Murakami walks off the field after striking out during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Rate Field, Tuesday, May 12, 2026.<\/p>\n | Chicago White Sox\u2019s Munetaka Murakami takes off his gloves in the dugout after striking out during the fifth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Rate Field, Tuesday, May 12, 2026.<\/p>\n | A fan wears a Munetaka Murakami jersey as the Chicago White Sox take on the Kansas City Royals at Rate Field, Tuesday, May 12, 2026.<\/p>\n | Chicago White Sox\u2019s Munetaka Murakami watches teammates bat against the Kansas City Royals at Rate Field, Tuesday, May 12, 2026.<\/p>\n | Chicago White Sox\u2019s Munetaka Murakami prepares to make a play at first base against the Kansas City Royals at Rate Field, Tuesday, May 12, 2026.<\/p>\n | Chicago White Sox\u2019s Munetaka Murakami chats with teammates on the field before the start of an inning against the Kansas City Royals at Rate Field, Tuesday, May 12, 2026. | Ashlee Rezin\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n | A fan wears a Munetaka Murakami t-shirt as the Chicago White Sox take on the Kansas City Royals at Rate Field, Tuesday, May 12, 2026.<\/p>\n | A fan wears a Japanese baseball jersey as the Chicago White Sox take on the Kansas City Royals at Rate Field, Tuesday, May 12, 2026. | Ashlee Rezin\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n | On the South Side, the rising star is boosting Sox<\/a> ticket, merchandise and concession sales.<\/p>\n At the beginning of the season the team introduced the Tonkatsu Dog, a Vienna Beef hot dog covered with Panko, Kewpie mayo, teriyaki sauce and Japanese bonito flakes. It\u2019s a new crowd favorite, according to Boyer.<\/p>\n And more Murakami game day promotions at Rate Field are in the works, following the immediate sell out of special tickets for the July 12 game against the Athletics when fans will receive a limited World Baseball Classic Japan team bobblehead in his likeness.<\/p>\n The team plans to announce another gate giveaway tied to Murakami for July 26.<\/p>\n Since the start of the MLB season, Murakami\u2019s home jersey is the team\u2019s top selling product across Fanatics\u2019 network of retail sites, a spokesperson from the Jacksonville, Florida-based company said.<\/p>\n Boyer said Murakami jerseys account for 57% of its team jersey sales, and 30% of those feature Japanese letters on the back. A replica pinstripe white jersey in kanji font starts at $164.99 and limited editions are slightly more expensive.<\/p>\n \u201cCertainly, we\u2019re seeing more Japanese fans. We\u2019re seeing people bringing Murakami signs,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A Munetaka Murakami hat is on display at Grandstand in Bridgeport on the South Side, Tuesday, May 12, 2026.<\/p>\n | Sox fan and Northwest Indiana resident Lou Avila regularly makes the drive to shop at Grandstand in Bridgeport on the South Side, Tuesday, May 12, 2026.<\/p>\n | Munetaka Murakami jerseys are on display at Grandstand in Bridgeport on the South Side, Tuesday, May 12, 2026.<\/p>\n | A wide array of Chicago sports merchandise is in stock at Grandstand in Bridgeport on the South Side, Tuesday, May 12, 2026.<\/p>\n | Manager Miguel Lozano sells a Munetaka Murakami tee to a customer at Grandstand in Bridgeport on the South Side, Tuesday, May 12, 2026. | Candace Dane Chambers\/Sun-Times.<\/p>\n | Sales associate Luis Rubio wears a Munetaka Murakami tee at Grandstand in Bridgeport on the South Side, Tuesday, May 12, 2026.<\/p>\n | Owner Stephanie Ganal sits atop the register at Grandstand in Bridgeport on the South Side, Tuesday, May 12, 2026.<\/p>\n | Manager Miguel Lozano stands in front some of his hat designs at Grandstand in Bridgeport on the South Side, Tuesday, May 12, 2026.<\/p>\n | \u2018No. 1 seller\u2019<\/p>\n Grandstand sells custom jerseys and fitted baseball caps at its store a few blocks from Rate Field. The retailer placed a big bet in November, ordering hundreds of Murakami gear.<\/p>\n \u201cWe took a gamble on all this before we had even watched him play,\u201d Grandstand Store Manager Miguel Lozano said. \u201cThis gamble has been solid and people love him. No question, Munetaka Murakami is the number one seller right now.\u201d<\/p>\n Grandstand has already had to restock inventory, including his top selling custom-made, home pin-stripe jersey with Japanese kanji font that costs $250.<\/p>\n \u201cAll of our items sold out by the end of April,\u201d Grandstand owner Stephanie Ganal said.<\/p>\n Business at sports retailers like Grandstand are often tied to the success of local teams. For Grandstand, it\u2019s boom time with the store also seeing an influx of new Japanese customers and media attention.<\/p>\n \u201cWe end up with a big boost when there\u2019s love and crazy fandom for a guy like that,\u201d Lozano said. \u201cIt\u2019s the same kind of spurt we felt with the Bears this year.\u201d<\/p>\n On opening day, Adams Street Brewery released a Japanese rice lager called Southside Sama, a play on his Japanese nickname Murakami Sama.<\/p>\n The light beer, available on draft and in decorated four-packs, is drawing new customers to the Loop brewery inside the iconic German restaurant The Berghoff. <\/p>\n After the beer was mentioned during a recent Sox pregame broadcast, the brewery\u2019s social media accounts were flooded with inquiries and demand.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adams Street Brewery released a Japanese rice lager called Southside Sama in April to honor White Sox rookie Munetaka Murakami.<\/p>\n Provided by Adams Street Brewery<\/p>\n \u201cPeople were literally coming in yesterday just to get the cans,\u201d Andrea Serrano, Adams Street Brewery\u2019s social media and marketing director, told the Sun-Times last week. \u201cWe had to restock the fridge twice.\u201d<\/p>\n The brewery has released beers with other Chicago tie-ins. A few years ago it launched Moonlight Showgun, an award-winning Sake beer produced in partnership with The Art Institute of Chicago.<\/p>\n Southside Sama was developed by lead brewers Mark Buchow and Jim Riggs, two die-hard Sox fans. And it\u2019s helping drive food sales at the restaurant.<\/p>\n \u201cOur sales are increasing,\u201d Serrano said. \u201cAnd with the warmer weather, I think Southside Sama is definitely one of our staples.\u201d<\/p>\n The vibes are certainly different than the last three years when the Sox lost at least 100 games each season, including a modern-day major-league record of 121 losses<\/a> in 2024.<\/p>\n They enter Friday\u2019s game with a 22-21 record, 1\u00bd games behind the AL Central-leading Guardians and in possession of the second AL Wild Card playoff spot.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going into every game feeling like we\u2019ve got a shot to win,\u201d Boyer said. \u201cThat hasn\u2019t happened the last few years.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n Ashlee Rezin\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n
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\n Candace Dane Chambers\/Sun-Times<\/p>\n
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