Shohei Ohtani (30, LA Dodgers), a Japanese “baseball superstar” who is now the sport’s most recognizable name, attended the Dodgers’ own training and press conference at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea on Mar. 16. At the conference, he showed expectations of the Seoul Series (against the San Diego Padres), the opening two games of the 2024 MLB (Major League Baseball) season, “I’m thrilled to play in South Korea and even more to enjoy several things here.” He also recalled the 2012 IBAF 18U Baseball World Championship in Seoul. “South Korea was one of my favorite countries back then,” adding, “I enjoyed it before and I’m excited to have the opportunity again for another exceptional experience.”
Ohtani also spoke about the sports relationship between Japan and South Korea. “Japan and South Korea have had a long-standing rivalry in sports. I have always admired Korean athletes and teams whenever I have watched them compete against Japan.” “That’s why it feels even better to be welcomed here. I will be committed to providing a great performance that every spectator will cheer about.”
After leading his national team to its third World Baseball Classic (WBC) title last year, he made headlines when he expressed his desire for baseball to be loved not only in Japan but also in other Asian countries and around the world, such as South Korea, Taiwan, China, and others. The Los Angeles Dodgers star shared a picture of his wife, Mamiko Tanaka (28), for the first time just before flying to Seoul. “This is my first time traveling with her to an overseas game like this. We will make memorable times here together,” emphasizing that he would stick to the purpose of his visit, saying, “My focus will be more on the games.”
Ohtani’s love for South Korea seems to be more than just lip service. He posted a picture on his Instagram Live with a South Korean national flag emoji four times before and after his trip to South Korea with three of them being made before his visit. This makes the flag stamped on his fan. He has 7.78 million followers on Instagram.
In a photo taken by the Dodgers to commemorate the Seoul series, Ohtani made the mini heart gesture, a trend that is popularized in South Korea with the flag on Mar. 13. When sharing the photos of his wife on Mar. 15 and of a view from a plane just before his arrival, he never forgot the flag. The fourth emoji was witnessed on his post announcing the Seoul Series after his touchdown in the country. “I’ve never seen a Japanese player who uses the national flag emoji as many as he does,” said many in the Korean baseball community. The Korean series has been reportedly nicknamed the “Ohtani Series” by fans.
Ohtani is no stranger to Korean culture. He famously drove the Hyundai Sonata in the early days of his MLB career in 2018. Currently, he is an ambassador for Porsche, a German high-performance sports car manufacturer. In an interview with a media outlet, Ohtani also revealed that he watched the Korean drama “The Squid Game” on Netflix. an official from the Seoul Series said, “Ohtani might be the best Japanese diplomat.”
