Shohei Ohtani announced his marriage to former basketball player Mamiko Tanaka on Instagram on February 29, 2024 — though at the time, he did not reveal her name publicly.
Back in high school at Hanamaki Higashi, Ohtani had famously written a “life plan sheet” outlining his future goals. Alongside dreams such as winning the World Baseball Classic, earning MVP awards, capturing a Cy Young Award, and winning the World Series, he had also written one personal goal:
“Get married at 26.”
Still, because Ohtani had devoted himself almost entirely to baseball since his days with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters — without even a single public dating rumor — many people quietly wondered whether he would ever marry at all.
That is why the announcement shocked not only baseball insiders, but fans around the world.
In reality, Ohtani had managed to date and marry completely out of the public eye.
Although the exact date of their marriage registration was never disclosed, Ohtani was 29 years old when he made the announcement on Instagram — three years later than the age written in his teenage life plan.
For a while, media outlets and online communities became obsessed with identifying his partner. Soon, speculation began circulating that the woman was Mamiko Tanaka, and that prediction was effectively confirmed when the couple departed together for the Dodgers’ opening series in South Korea.
Why did Ohtani choose that specific timing to announce the marriage?
He explained that paperwork issues delayed the public announcement, but he also gave another important reason:
Once the season started, he did not want unnecessary distractions or noise surrounding the team.
The decision reflected Ohtani’s priorities perfectly.
He was building a family life while also preparing for his first season with the Dodgers — a season filled with enormous expectations and pressure.
For Ohtani, marriage was not something separate from his professional life.
It was part of creating a stable, meaningful life that would allow him to focus completely on baseball.
The quote reveals a calmer and more personal side of Ohtani.
Even while standing at the center of global attention, he was beginning not only a new baseball chapter, but a new life chapter as well.
Source
This quote comes from a Japanese book published in Japan and is not currently available in English.
SHO—TIME 3.0: Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers’ First World Series Championship p.79