Shohei Ohtani’s first Opening Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers in South Korea became unforgettable for reasons no one could have anticipated.

It was there that Ohtani publicly introduced his wife, Mamiko, to the media for the first time. But it was also there that longtime interpreter Ippei Mizuhara was dismissed by the Dodgers after revelations of illegal gambling and financial misconduct.

The shock surrounding the incident was enormous.

At one point, Mizuhara made statements implying that Ohtani may have known about the gambling activities or the money transfers. As a result, Ohtani himself briefly came under suspicion.

Ohtani firmly denied any involvement, stating:

“I have never bet on sports or asked anyone to do so on my behalf.”

He voluntarily provided investigators with access to his phone, and it was soon established that he had no connection whatsoever to the gambling activities.

Before the scandal, the public image of Ohtani and Mizuhara had been that of inseparable companions—almost like best friends navigating the major leagues together side by side.

Yet only a month before the incident became public, Ohtani had already spoken about their relationship during the Dodgers FanFest event.

He said:

“This is a business relationship, not a friendship, so I keep that distinction clear.”

At the time, the remark surprised some fans because it sounded colder and more distant than the public image people had imagined.

But in hindsight, the comment revealed something important about Ohtani’s professionalism.

He understood the importance of boundaries.

It is possible that Mizuhara himself misunderstood the relationship, believing that Ohtani would always protect or forgive him no matter what happened. That misunderstanding may have contributed to both the betrayal and the damaging public statements that followed.

Ohtani, however, responded as a professional.

Rather than allowing the scandal to derail his season, he moved forward with a new interpreter, Will Ireton, who quickly earned a reputation as a highly capable professional.

The result was one of the greatest seasons in baseball history.

This quote is not about coldness or a lack of human connection.

It is about understanding responsibility, maintaining professional boundaries, and protecting the trust necessary to perform at the highest level.

Source

This quote comes from a Japanese book published in Japan and is not currently available in English.

Number 1094–1095 P19