TOKYO — For decades, the Japanese have called Sadaharu Oh the world’s true home run king. With 868 career home runs and many other hitting records to his name, Oh, now 73, is worshiped here as much as Babe Ruth is in America.

A few foreign players in Japan’s top league have threatened to surpass Oh’s hallowed mark of home runs in a single season, 55. And each time, opposing pitchers refused to throw pitches anywhere near the strike zone in a blatant effort to protect Oh’s record.

But the culture of deference to Oh has seemingly ended. In a development that would have once seemed unthinkable, many Japanese fans are now rooting for Oh’s record to fall, signaling the arrival of a generation that is more comfortable than ever with the notion of knocking off national heroes.

And who is the slugger who might soon usurp Oh? Wladimir Balentien, from a tiny island in the Caribbean.