LOS ANGELES – In a world of professional sports where fame and fortune can overshadow family values, Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani maintains a connection that doesn’t break with his roots. And the story of his mother – a woman who still works part-time despite her son’s multimillion-dollar fortune – has created a world of admiration.
In December 2023, Ohtani signed a record-breaking 10-year, $700 million contract, the largest in North American sports history. But even then, his mother – Kayoko Ohtani – continued to work part-time in her home country of Japan. What does she do? “I don’t feel right asking my son for money just because he’s getting paid well,” she said.
Ohtani is a current MLB icon, a player and pitcher of great quality. He not only changed the way Americans viewed Asian players, but also inspired a spirit of discipline, humility and dedication – values that originated in his own family.
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Ohtani’s father was an amateur player, his mother a national badminton player. Both lived the spirit of sports – but always taught their children to stand on their own two feet, no matter where in the world they were.
“I want to know that success does not exempt anyone from the obligation to be kind and independent,” Ohtani’s mother once said in an interview.
When the image of Ohtani screaming in tension after a great hit went viral on social media, few knew that inside the million-dollar uniform was a heart that always turned to the simple home – where his mother still quietly worked every day.
The story of Shohei Ohtani and his mother is a powerful reminder: no matter how high you fly, you still need to keep yourself grounded – with love, respect, and gratitude.