Shohei Ohtani the pride of Japan after winning fourth MVP award

TOKYO – Japanese baseball fans hailed Shohei Ohtani’s fourth unanimous Most Valuable Player (MVP) award on Nov 14, calling the Los Angeles Dodgers star a source of national pride and good news amid the economic gloom.

“Despite going through a difficult period after getting married and having a child, he managed to give his all and achieve such results,” Yukihiro Kosaka, 54, said in front of a train station in central Tokyo.

Ohtani, 31, was named American League MVP in 2021 and 2023 as a member of the Los Angeles Angels and led the Dodgers to back-to-back World Series championships in his second season with the club.

“I think it is really a monumental achievement. I feel very proud,” said Yukiko Yamashita, 38, a long-time Ohtani supporter who saw his idol win his second straight MVP in the National League.

Takaaki Ichikawa, 46, said Ohtani’s achievements made the whole country proud.

“It’s truly a pride for the Japanese people,” said the civil servant, who learnt of the news after receiving a special edition newspaper.

“In the current economic stagnation, it is wonderful to hear such positive news and it encourages me to keep working hard.”

University student Yoshino Inoue hoped Ohtani could be the MVP of both the World Baseball Classic and MLB in 2026.

“This season kicked off with the opening game in Japan,” said Inoue.

“I watched that game and saw his first home run here, which was really great. And when the season wrapped up, he ended up winning MVP again. I think that just shows how great a player Ohtani is.”

The Dodgers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 in a seven-game series to win their second straight championship and third in six seasons, cementing themselves as a modern-day dynasty.

“It was a great year,” Ohtani said on MLB Network via a translator.

“I’m grateful to my teammates, the coaching staff... but not only them. The fans were the ones who really rooted us on and supported us.”

While Ohtani had his greatness reconfirmed, Cal Raleigh learnt that not even the greatest season by a catcher in MLB history could stop Aaron Judge from adding another MVP award to his trophy case.

Minutes after Ohtani secured his third consecutive MVP award and fourth in the last five years – leaving him just three shy of Barry Bonds for the most in MLB history – Judge was announced as the American League’s MVP in a close vote with Raleigh.

Ohtani and Judge became the first duo to win the MVP award in the same back-to-back seasons.

New York Yankees outfielder Judge secured 17 of a possible 30 first-place votes and 355 points. Seattle Mariners catcher Raleigh claimed the other 13 first-place votes and finished with 335 points. REUTERS