Currently, Japan is abuzz with excitement over the FIFA World Cup, and all eyes are on the players. Similarly, another figure attracting national attention is Major League Baseball player Shohei Ohtani. Just over ten days after announcing the birth of his second child (the gender was later revealed to be a boy), while congratulations spread, concerns were also raised about his wife, former basketball player Mamiko. Because this will be her second child, approximately 14 months after the birth of their first daughter in April 2025, many voices on the internet expressed concern for Mamiko.
Some even criticized Ohtani. Considering the background, we can see the pros and cons of his excessive popularity as a “national star.” Now that the initial frenzy has subsided, let’s take another look at the structure behind it.
Criticism of “Having children close together is too soon” escalates into a “moral harassment” controversy
Regarding the birth of his second child, voices on social media raised concerns such as “Isn’t it too soon?” and “I’m worried about the mother’s health,” leading to accusations of moral harassment by Ohtani. Some criticisms even included questions about patriarchy, such as “A wife can’t go against her husband’s wishes.”
Naturally, there were many who defended the decision, saying things like “If both spouses are happy, that’s fine” and “Different families have different views,” but dissenting opinions also spread widely. The debate intensified further when online news outlets reported on “reactions from celebrities” and “views from medical professionals regarding ‘having children close together’.”
While this is evidence of Ohtani’s status as a “national star,” it also feels like it’s gone too far. Considering why it escalated to this extent, I felt there was an “unrealistic narrative” at play.
160 km/h in High School, Two-Way Player—A Figure Like a Manga Protagonist
Shohei Ohtani is, in a good way, an almost superhuman figure. Even as a high school baseball player, he already possessed a blazing 160 km/h fastball. After turning pro, he excelled as a two-way player, both pitcher and hitter, and his momentum continued unabated even after moving to the United States.
In a sense, he’s a person who has updated the values of baseball players up until now. Because there were no pioneering role models, and he pioneered his own path, many Japanese people position the “Ohtani story” as a kind of fictional story, like something out of a manga or anime. Even if not entirely fictional, he gives the impression of living in a distant world, much like a historical figure.
