Ohtani and Yamamoto are unbelievable in any language. Japanese has several words for them
9 months, 3 weeks ago

Ohtani and Yamamoto are unbelievable in any language. Japanese has several words for them

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. They've stirred pride in almost every Japanese, marked 150 years of baseball evolution in the country, and provided an antidote for political ills like the recent announcement that Japan's economy has slipped to No. REGIMENTED BASEBALL CULTURE Ohtani came up in Japan's regimented baseball system at Hanamaki Higashi High School in largely rural Iwate prefecture in northeasten Japan. This could involve NIL compensation — short for name, image and likeness — and threatens Japanese baseball culture and the country's ability to control its best players. Robert Whiting, in his book “The Samurai Way of Baseball,” quotes former Japanese baseball commissioner Ichiro Yoshikuni: “The teamwork involved in baseball fits in perfectly with the national temper of the Japanese.

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History of this topic

Shohei Ohtani in early stages of rehab from shoulder surgery and hopes to be ready for opening day
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Shohei Ohtani in early stages of rehab from shoulder surgery and hopes to be ready for opening day

Associated Press  

LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani is in the early stages of rehabbing from arthroscopic surgery to repair a labrum tear in his left shoulder following the Los Angeles Dodgers’ World Series championship over the New York Yankees last month. “We’ve already removed the stitches,” the Japanese star said Thursday in Los Angeles after winning his third Most Valuable Player award, …

Shohei Ohtani's Rural Hometown Honors His Starry Son's Legacy
Trending News
2 months, 1 week ago

Shohei Ohtani's Rural Hometown Honors His Starry Son's Legacy

Associated Press  

Shohei Ohtani's rural hometown in northern Japan is a small town, famous for its high-quality Maesawa beef, its history of making traditional ironware and the intense green hills and mountains that surround it. The town honors Ohtani at every turn, with a hair salon dedicated to him and a collection of memorabilia that includes signed jerseys, bats, and other items. …

Shohei Ohtani: The face of baseball shrugging off a betting scandal to keep making history
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Shohei Ohtani: The face of baseball shrugging off a betting scandal to keep making history

The Independent  

Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our …

Japan celebrates as Ohtani becomes the first major leaguer to reach 50-50 milestone
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Japan celebrates as Ohtani becomes the first major leaguer to reach 50-50 milestone

Associated Press  

TOKYO — Shohei Ohtani’s feat of becoming the first major leaguer with at least 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season was met with extra editions of newspapers for fans to read on their way to work on Friday morning in Japan. A pedestrian takes a photo of an extra edition of the Sports Nippon newspaper reporting …

Dodgers, Cubs to open 2025 season in Japan, Shohei Ohtani’s first MLB games in home country
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Dodgers, Cubs to open 2025 season in Japan, Shohei Ohtani’s first MLB games in home country

LA Times  

Fans make their way to the stadium prior to the 2024 Seoul Series game between the Dodgers and Padres on March 20. It also presents the opportunity for Ohtani, who is unable to pitch this season after undergoing Tommy John surgery last year, to potentially make his long-awaited return to the mound during the Tokyo games — perhaps, even, against …

Japanese slugger Rintaro Sasaki blazing his own baseball path in US via Stanford, MLB Draft League
6 months, 4 weeks ago

Japanese slugger Rintaro Sasaki blazing his own baseball path in US via Stanford, MLB Draft League

Associated Press  

STANFORD, Calif. — When balls start landing on the Stanford football team’s practice grass way beyond the wall in right-center field, everybody knows Japanese slugger Rintaro Sasaki must be taking batting practice at nearby Sunken Diamond. “He’s pulling toward the pool for sure.” Sasaki, who hit 140 high school home runs and then made waves by opting out of Japan’s …

Inside Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s MLB transition, which continued in Dodgers’ win over Cubs
9 months ago

Inside Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s MLB transition, which continued in Dodgers’ win over Cubs

LA Times  

Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivers during the first inning of a 4-1 win over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Saturday. “He just didn’t want a repeat of Seoul,” manager Dave Roberts said proudly postgame, contrasting Saturday’s effort with the five-run, one-inning dud Yamamoto endured in South Korea to start his rookie season. “Just being mindful of that, …

After Ohtani and Kikuchi, Japan high school toasts latest baseball prodigy
9 months, 1 week ago

After Ohtani and Kikuchi, Japan high school toasts latest baseball prodigy

CNN  

Hanamaki, Japan CNN — At a school in Japan’s snowy northern mountains, reminders of distinguished alumni are everywhere. “The presence of legends like Shohei Ohtani and Yusei Kikuchi were a huge factor as to why I got into baseball – I fell in love with the sport,” Sasaki told CNN. Sasaki said this pivot to academia was inspired by his …

Startled Dodgers move on after Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter accused of theft, gambling
9 months, 2 weeks ago

Startled Dodgers move on after Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter accused of theft, gambling

LA Times  

The camera shot of the dugout looked reminiscent of so many before. As The Times first reported, representatives of Ohtani accused his interpreter of engaging in a “massive theft” of the two-way star’s funds, with millions of dollars of Ohtani’s money allegedly used to pay off gambling debts Mizuhara owed to a bookmaker. Like I said, no matter what cards …

Ohtani and Yamamoto are unbelievable in any language. Japanese has several words for them
9 months, 3 weeks ago

Ohtani and Yamamoto are unbelievable in any language. Japanese has several words for them

Associated Press  

SEOUL, South Korea — If you’re a fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ billion-dollar duo of Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, you might want to learn a couple of Japanese adjectives. They’ve stirred pride in almost every Japanese, marked 150 years of baseball evolution in the country, and provided an antidote for political ills like the recent announcement that Japan’s …

Yoshinobu Yamamoto throws 2 impressive, scoreless innings in MLB exhibition debut for Dodgers
10 months, 1 week ago

Yoshinobu Yamamoto throws 2 impressive, scoreless innings in MLB exhibition debut for Dodgers

Associated Press  

SURPRISE, Ariz. — Even Shohei Ohtani was intrigued by Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s exhibition debut Wednesday, making the 30-minute drive through Phoenix suburbs in a white convertible to show his support for a fellow Japanese star, even though he wasn’t playing in the game. When Yamamoto was asked how Ohtani judged the outing, the pitcher grinned and said “so-so.” Roberts said the …

‘He’s comfortable.’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto continues Dodgers acclimation with strong spring debut
10 months, 1 week ago

‘He’s comfortable.’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto continues Dodgers acclimation with strong spring debut

LA Times  

Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw two scoreless innings against the Rangers in his spring training debut. During one of their first conversations at Dodgers camp, as the team planned out Yamamoto’s schedule for the spring, Prior asked his new starter about his routine for “touch and feel” bullpen sessions — brief, low-effort throwing activities mostly meant to keep a …

Shohei Ohtani mindful that his situation on the Dodgers is unique
11 months ago

Shohei Ohtani mindful that his situation on the Dodgers is unique

LA Times  

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani speaks to reporters at Camelback Ranch on Friday. While complimenting Ohtani for his modesty, Roberts also said, “There’s a lion in there.” The manager continued, “For me, that’s the perfect combo. “He does this whole pre-pitch routine between every single swing and just how intentional every single thing he does, whether it’s in the weight room, …

Shohei Ohtani says he’s ‘going to act like I’m a rookie’ as he settles in with Dodgers
11 months ago

Shohei Ohtani says he’s ‘going to act like I’m a rookie’ as he settles in with Dodgers

LA Times  

Shohei Ohtani, with interpreter Ippei Mizuhara, right, speaks to media at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix on Friday morning. Shohei Ohtani’s first media scrum from Camelback Ranch as a Dodger went just about as expected Friday. “I’m on a brand new team so I’m going to act like I’m a rookie and try to get along with all the guys,” Ohtani …

Yoshinobu Yamamoto the next Dodgers ace? Scouts praise his skill, question his durability
1 year ago

Yoshinobu Yamamoto the next Dodgers ace? Scouts praise his skill, question his durability

LA Times  

As the center fielder for Team Japan in last spring’s World Baseball Classic, Lars Nootbaar had a unique view of the jaw-dropping four-pitch repertoire of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Japanese right-hander who agreed to a 12-year, $325-million deal with the Dodgers on Thursday. Nootbaar, the St. Louis Cardinals outfielder whose mother is Japanese, marveled at the way Yamamoto’s fastball, which sits …

Waiting game: Why the Dodgers’ winter plans hinge on Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto
1 year, 1 month ago

Waiting game: Why the Dodgers’ winter plans hinge on Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto

LA Times  

The Dodgers appear to be waiting for this offseason’s two biggest dominoes, Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, to fall before making any other major moves. Instead, with the winter meetings approaching next week, the team appears to be waiting for this offseason’s two biggest dominoes to fall first, anxious to learn their fate in the sweepstakes for Shohei Ohtani and …

Shohei Ohtani's hometown in Japan knew he was a prodigy since Little League
1 year, 6 months ago

Shohei Ohtani's hometown in Japan knew he was a prodigy since Little League

NPR  

Shohei Ohtani's hometown in Japan knew he was a prodigy since Little League Enlarge this image toggle caption Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images MIZUSAWA, Japan — Los Angeles Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani is often described as a once-in-a century talent, especially for his dual skills as pitcher and hitter. Ohtani's opposite-field home runs have become a signature …

Shohei Ohtani and Japan: It’s much more than just baseball
1 year, 10 months ago

Shohei Ohtani and Japan: It’s much more than just baseball

Associated Press  

TOKYO — He’d paid about $80 for his ticket. They paced, they camped out, and they discussed their hopes of seeing Ohtani pitch — and hit — against China in Japan’s opening game in the World Baseball Classic. “So each time where there is a Japanese `export’ that was hugely successful in MLB, the Japanese are enthralled.” The wait to …

Shohei Ohtani and Japan: It's much more than just baseball
1 year, 10 months ago

Shohei Ohtani and Japan: It's much more than just baseball

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. They paced, they camped out, and they discussed their …

Shohei Ohtani is ‘Made In Japan’ with American adaptations
2 years, 5 months ago

Shohei Ohtani is ‘Made In Japan’ with American adaptations

Associated Press  

TOKYO — Shohei Ohtani is doing things no other player has ever done, a point of pride for Japanese like Fumihiro Fujisawa. It was also titled “The Meaning of Ichiro.” Ohtani came up in Japan’s highly regimented baseball system at Hanamaki Higashi High School in largely rural Iwate prefecture in northeastern Japan. Whiting quotes Japanese historian Kyushi Yamato: “Foreigners could …

Shohei Ohtani, Naomi Osaka lead Japanese stars' golden era
3 years, 5 months ago

Shohei Ohtani, Naomi Osaka lead Japanese stars' golden era

LA Times  

Nearly two decades after Hideo Nomo pitched in the major leagues for the first time, a high school senior in the northern part of Japan’s mainland wrote in colored markers his annual goals for the next 50-plus years. “To want to try to play at the highest level possible,” Ohtani said in Japanese recently, “is normal, I think.” That wasn’t …

Japanese teen’s triple-digit fastball has some calling him the next Shohei Ohtani
5 years, 5 months ago

Japanese teen’s triple-digit fastball has some calling him the next Shohei Ohtani

LA Times  

High school pitcher Rouki Sasaki speaks to reporters after a game July 16 in Hanamaki, Japan. As his older brother became Ofunato High’s cleanup hitter, Sasaki emerged as a national-level player in middle school, which led to him receiving offers from powerhouse high schools throughout the country. That was what I had in mind when I chose this school.” Ofunato …

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