If you don’t know about Shohei Ohtani, you either don’t follow baseball, don’t live in Los Angeles, or both. That’s because the Dodgers star happens to be the highest-paid player in MLB, signing a $700 million contract with the team for the 2023 season. The Japanese pitcher and designated hitter, who once played professionally in his home country, has proven to be a valuable asset to the Dodgers’ winning streak, but prefers silence in his personal life. Therefore, fans are wondering about his low-profile marriage. Here’s what you need to know about Ohtani’s wife and their relationship.
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Who is Shohei Otani’s wife?
Well, thanks to the private nature of their romance, we may be short on details, but here are some concrete facts: Ohtani told his followers in February 2024 that they got married. However, it is noteworthy that he did not reveal his wife’s identity at the time. However, rumors were still active, and two weeks later he was photographed with Japanese basketball player Mamiko Tanaka, leading fans to speculate that she might be his mystery spouse.
In fact, Ohtani immediately confirmed the news.
“Not only am I starting a new chapter in my career with the Dodgers, but I am also starting a new life with someone very special to me from my home country of Japan. I want everyone to know that I am now married. I wanted to get it,” Otani announced on Instagram.
And in December 2024, Ohtani shared on Instagram that he and Tanaka were expecting a “little rookie.” The statement also includes a photo of the couple in a pink costume, sparking further speculation about the baby’s birth.
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two athletes in love
Ohtani and his wife Tanaka, two prominent Japanese athletes, are currently romancing under the palm trees of Los Angeles.
Tanaka, 28 years old and 30 years old of Otani, was born on December 11, 1996. She is a former Japanese basketball player who began her hoops career playing at Waseda University and turned pro in 2019 with the Fujitsu Red Wave of Japan Women’s Basketball. league. She played forward for the team for four years before retiring in 2023. According to ESPN, Tanaka shot 47.7 percent from the field and 69.9 percent from the free throw line in 28 games last season.
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Still, the two are clearly moving things forward based on their personal lives. At a press conference after the marriage announcement, Otani referred to his new wife simply as an “ordinary Japanese woman.”
Ohtani, who usually speaks to American media through an interpreter, revealed more in his native language. When he announced his marriage to fans in a February 2024 Instagram post, he provided both an English caption and a more detailed note in Japanese.
“As the season approaches, I am happy to announce to you all that I am married,” the Dodgers star wrote, according to the Associated Press and CNN. He also asked the press not to follow the couple as they move through life together.
Otani said, “We are still young and there are many things we don’t know, but I hope you will watch over us warmly.” “I hope the two of us (and one dog) work together to support each other and move forward with our fans.
“I’m not really comfortable talking about exactly when we got married,” he continued. But whether or not the date is confirmed, you can’t help but root for two Japanese sports pros to fall in love with each other, even if they’re far from home.
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