Iwate Prefecture

Shohei Ohtani, who is also making a big splash in the Major Leagues, hails from Oshu City in Iwate Prefecture. In the first-floor lobby of Oshu City Hall, there is a special support corner for him. Reflecting Oshu’s fame as a production center for cast-iron Nambu Tekki, there is said to be a life-size handshake sculpture of Ohtani’s right hand, cast during his days with the Nippon-Ham Fighters. It’s become a standard for fans to take commemorative photos while “shaking hands” with the sculpture.

Unicorn

A unicorn is a mythical creature, a legendary one-horned beast that does not exist in reality. Because Shohei Ohtani possesses extraordinary, out-of-the-ordinary talent—doing everything both as a pitcher and as a hitter—people use the term as if that legendary creature had appeared. He has even dressed up as a unicorn himself for a Halloween event.

United States of America

In 2024, the City of Los Angeles in the United States designated this day as Shohei Ohtani Day. The decision combines the fact that May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with Ohtani’s jersey number, 17. The fact that such a day is established in a country other than his homeland speaks volumes about the strength of his influence, doesn’t it?

165km/h

Shohei Ohtani’s fastest pitch speed is 165 km/h. He reportedly threw three pitches at that speed during the Climax Series against the SoftBank Hawks at the Sapporo Dome on October 16, 2016. It’s said that tuna in the ocean can swim at 160 kilometers per hour, so the speeds are similar. However, since it’s not a speed we encounter in daily life, it’s hard to compare even if you say it’s close to a tuna’s speed. When the 165 km/h pitch was recorded, the stadium erupted with excitement.

To bring luck to your side

It’s said that the reason Ohtani picks up trash is because his high school coach taught him that picking up what others throw away is like picking up good luck. There’s also the idea that high achievers should set an example for others, and perhaps the fact that he can notice trash even in high-pressure moments shows he has a calm, composed mind. Either way, it’s a wonderful habit.

Hanamaki Higashi High School

Shohei Ohtani attended Hanamaki Higashi High School. It is a private coeducational school known for its strong extracurricular activities. Speaking of Hanamaki Higashi, pitcher Yusei Kikuchi—who went from the Seibu Lions to signing in the Major Leagues—is also well known. It’s said that Shohei Ohtani chose to attend Hanamaki Higashi because he admired Yusei Kikuchi. Additionally, the positive atmosphere he observed when watching the Hanamaki Higashi baseball team practice during his junior high years was also a deciding factor.

17

The number 17 that Ohtani is currently wearing was given to him by Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly. It’s fairly well known that, as a thank-you, he gifted Kelly’s wife a new Porsche. For reference, he wore number 11 during his time with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and chose number 16 for the WBC. He reportedly didn’t have any particular attachment to those numbers.