[Japanese Perspective] "Dreams Make Life" The Story of Baseball Player Ohtani Shohei

A Two-Way 'Idoryu' Monster Pitcher and Batter
Beloved for Consistent Planning and Effort

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The day before, the World Baseball Classic (WBC) match between Korea and Japan heated up both countries. While cheering passionately for Korea, many were also amazed by Shohei Ohtani's skills. He is a player who attracted public attention even before the game due to the news of his participation. Today, we will share the story of Shohei Ohtani, Japan's top rising baseball star.

Tall Stature is Genetic...Showing Talent from a Young Age

Ohtani was born on July 5, 1994, in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. In fact, his rise to becoming a top-tier player cannot be separated from the influence of his parents. Both of his parents were athletes, making him a 'sports spoon' (a term used in Korea to describe children born to athletic parents). His father was a social league baseball player, and his mother was a badminton player. In Japan, Ohtani's tall height always draws attention, and his height of over 190cm comes from his 180cm tall father and 170cm tall mother.

Ohtani started playing baseball in the second grade of elementary school. He joined because a friend recommended it. Thanks to his baseball player father, he was already playing catch at home, but when he joined the baseball club with his friend and started practicing, he found a new kind of fun. He told his parents he wanted to join the little league baseball team, and from then on, he began his path as a baseball player.

In the little league, he experienced various positions from pitcher to outfielder and dreamed of playing professional baseball. By the fifth grade of elementary school, he was already throwing at 110 km/h, a speed comparable to ace players in middle school. Showing such talent, Ohtani participated in Japan's national high school baseball tournament, Koshien, in his second year of high school, recording a pitch speed of 150 km/h. In his third year, he threw 160 km/h in regional qualifiers, a level comparable to many professional baseball players.

Several professional teams in Japan began to take notice of Ohtani, and the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters signed him. At this time, he established himself as a player who could both pitch and hit, known as ‘Idoryu’ (two-way player), intimidating opponents just by his presence. Manager Kuriyama, who was in charge at the time, greatly supported his growth and actively encouraged him to move to the Major Leagues.

After transferring to the LA Angels in 2017, he missed one WBC participation due to an ankle injury but won the American League Rookie of the Year in his first MLB season in 2018 and the MVP award in 2021. Thanks to Ohtani’s two-way playing style, the ‘Ohtani Rule’ was created in MLB and WBC, allowing a player who starts as a pitcher and is later substituted to remain in the lineup as a hitter.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Thorough Planning and Execution...The ‘Ohtani Schedule’ Trend in Japan

Ohtani’s remarkable success is known to be backed by tremendous effort, which has further boosted his popularity. He is especially famous for meticulously planning his life and consistently following through every day. In Japan, the so-called ‘Ohtani Schedule,’ known as ‘Mandarat’ (Mandala Chart), became a trend. It is a method of developing ideas in all directions in a lotus flower shape to write down goals and plans, which Ohtani learned from his high school coach and practiced diligently.

The schedule directly written by Ohtani.

What stands out is that his plans include not only baseball-related goals like building his body, strengthening his lower body, and increasing pitch speed but also actions like picking up trash, greeting others, using things carefully, and not being swayed by ups and downs. In an interview with the media, Ohtani revealed, “I often pick up trash dropped in the stadium, thinking I am picking up someone’s lost luck.”

His famous quotes have inspired many people, especially the one that says, “Life does not create dreams; dreams create life.”

Ohtani, who is revered as a ‘passion man’ even in baseball-loving Japan, seems to attract fans not only because of his athletic skills but also due to his humble and sincere character.