Watch the stunning closing ceremony to the Japan All-Star Series

In the early hours on the East Coast Thursday morning, the final game of the Japan All-Star Series ended.

Though the MLB All-Stars lost the final game, 6-4, due in large part to Samurai Japan's double play combo of Kenta Imamiya and Ryosuke Kikuchi combining for six hits and four RBIs (with Kikuchi adding in this nifty little flip), the All-Stars were sent off in grand fashion by a colorful pregame ceremony. 

The ceremony featured a number of traditional Okinawan celebrations including yotsudake dancers in bright kimonos and flower headpieces, eisa dancers pounding away on small hand drums that are known as paarankuu and the shisa, a lion-dog hybrid that wards off evil spirits. 

Though the series is over and we must now begin the long, cold baseball-free winter, it was an experience that the Major League players will long remember. Said Ben Zobrist: 

"I think the thing I'll remember is just the experience -- the cultural experience and the baseball cultural experience, too. It's just a really special thing that you're probably never going to get to do again. Being that they love baseball so much in this country, to get to experience that from their side of the world is really special."