A “normal Japanese woman”?
Not quite.
Baseball sensation Shohei Ohtani — perhaps best known for signing a record $700 million US, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers last year, jilting hopeful Toronto Blue Jays fans in the process — revealed yesterday that he’s married to none other than former professional basketball player Mamiko Tanaka.
Tanaka, 27, played for the Fujitsu Red Wave in the Women’s Japan Basketball League from 2019-23. The 5-foot-11 forward had a shooting rate of 47.7 per cent from the field and 69.9 per cent from the free throw line in 28 games last season, according to ESPN.
Tanaka posted 7.8 points and 6.0 rebounds in 24 minutes per game during her final season, according to USA Today.
Ohtani was photographed Thursday standing next to Tanaka in front of an airplane alongside his teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The photo was posted on Ohtani’s Instagram account.
The Dodgers posted a photo of the newlyweds on the team’s X account next to one of Mookie Betts and his wife. The couple also appears in a video of Dodgers players and their families boarding a plane for South Korea on Thursday.
Wheels up to Seoul. <a href=”https://t.co/NgeQYiwgS2″>pic.twitter.com/NgeQYiwgS2</a>
—@Dodgers
‘I wanted everyone to know I am now married’
In a surprise, Ohtani announced in late February that he had recently married “a normal Japanese woman” whom he had known for a few years. But the two-way player gave no details about her identity or their wedding.
“Not only have I began a new chapter in my career with the Dodgers but I also began a new life with someone from my native country of Japan who is very special to me and I wanted everyone to know I am now married,” he said in an Instagram post that quickly racked up more than three million likes.
People posting on social media platform X were quick to point out that Tanaka isn’t exactly a “normal Japanese woman,” but a respected athlete.
Mamiko Tanaka: a normal Japanese woman <a href=”https://t.co/RwnvXFNDGl”>pic.twitter.com/RwnvXFNDGl</a>
—@Shawn_Spradling
“She’s a normal Japanese woman” he left out the part where she’s a professional basketball player lol <a href=” <a href=”https://t.co/OX6vltkolA”>pic.twitter.com/OX6vltkolA</a>
—@QuinnSTLCards
“He left out the part where she’s a professional basketball player lol,” one person wrote.
Ohtani is expected to make his Dodgers debut Wednesday as designated hitter in the opener against the San Diego Padres in Seoul. He won’t pitch this season after elbow surgery last fall.
The Los Angeles Dodgers introduced Shohei Ohtani at a press conference Thursday after signing the two-way superstar to a historic 10-year, $700M US contract. ‘I’m not sure how long I’m going to be able to play the game. So I did prioritize winning,’ the 29-year-old Ohtani said about deciding to join the Dodgers.
Source Agencies
