When studies are not going well, or when work performance declines, many people instinctively search for explanations.

“I’ve been tired lately.”

“There’s been a lot going on in my personal life.”

Physical exhaustion and emotional stress certainly affect performance. When someone is mentally distracted or emotionally overwhelmed, maintaining focus becomes extremely difficult.

Shohei Ohtani faced exactly that kind of situation at the beginning of the 2024 season.

Just as he was preparing for his first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, longtime interpreter Ippei Mizuhara was dismissed by the organization after revelations involving illegal gambling and the theft of Ohtani’s money. For a time, Ohtani himself was even suspected of possible involvement.

The scandal became an international story and created enormous pressure around him.

At the same time, Ohtani began the season without hitting a home run in his first 40 at-bats. Naturally, reporters wondered whether the off-field turmoil had affected him mentally.

One reporter asked whether the slow start had been caused more by “mental factors” or “technical issues.”

Ohtani answered:

“I don’t want to use mentality as an excuse. I believed that handling that, too, is part of one’s skill and ability.”

The response surprised many people.

Athletes often explain slumps by referring to confidence, stress, or mental struggles. Ohtani, however, refused to separate mental strength from performance itself.

In his view, the ability to remain focused under pressure is not something outside the game.

It is part of the game.

Part of being a professional.

Part of one’s actual ability.

That mindset helps explain why Ohtani continues to perform under circumstances that might overwhelm most athletes. Rather than seeing mental toughness as an excuse or an external condition, he treats it as another skill that must be trained, developed, and mastered.

For Ohtani, true professionalism means taking responsibility not only for physical preparation, but also for emotional control and mental resilience.

That, too, is part of the craft.

Source

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

Asahi Shimbun 2024.4.5