MLB's First '50-50' Record, Candidate for Catchphrase
Previously Known as "Idoryu" and "Ohtani Rule"
This year, Japan's 'popular buzzword' is expected to be none other than the season performance of American professional baseball star Shohei Ohtani (30). Ohtani, who lifted the World Series trophy just one year after joining the LA Dodgers, recorded 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases this season, and the term '50-50,' referring to this record, has been cited as one of Japan's top popular buzzwords this year.
On the 6th, Japanese sports media outlet Sports Hochi reported that '50-50' was included among this year's candidates for Japan's representative new words and buzzwords. Every year at the end of the year, Japan selects 10 buzzwords and holds an awards ceremony, and '50-50' is highly likely to be included in that list.
Baseball star Ohtani is also receiving high attention in his hometown Japan. Previously, he gained worldwide attention as the first player in Major League Baseball (MLB) history to achieve 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases. In the U.S., the baseball from his 50th home run was auctioned off for approximately 6.1 billion won. '50-50' is a newly coined term expressing his baseball performance this year and is reported to be gaining popularity within Japan.
This is not the first time a buzzword related to Ohtani has made it to the top buzzword candidate list. In 2021, the newly coined term "Real Ido-ryu (dual-wielding swordsman)" also gained popularity. Ido-ryu symbolizes Ohtani, who has been active both as a pitcher and a batter. The nickname was given because he is like a swordsman skillfully wielding two swords, representing his two specialties as a baseball player.
Meanwhile, a special rule created for him, called the 'Ohtani Rule,' which states that "a player who appears as both pitcher and batter can enter the batter's box as a designated hitter even if replaced as a pitcher during the game," was selected as a popular buzzword in 2022.
Last year, his motto "Let's not idolize" also received a positive response. In March of last year, when the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) final was held, Ohtani, then a member of the LA Angels, gave a speech at a gathering with the Japanese national team players. He said, "I will say just one thing. Let's not idolize (the U.S.). (The U.S. team) is a name everyone has heard of in baseball, but just for today, let's put aside that admiration."
He continued, "If we idolize the U.S., we cannot surpass them. Today, we are here to surpass them and become number one," emphasizing, "Just for today, let's put aside that admiration and focus only on winning." The speech was posted on social media and moved countless Japanese netizens.
Regarding this 'Ohtani Syndrome,' the media commented, "This year, Japan had many dark news such as earthquakes, but in the second half, there were many hot topics like the Olympics and Ohtani's performance," and added, "(Ohtani) was more than enough to become the seed that sprouts into a buzzword."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
