Shohei Ohtani’s desire to become the best in Japan was rooted in experiences that began long before his professional career.
While attending Hanamaki Higashi High School, Ohtani reached the prestigious Koshien tournament twice. However, both appearances ended in first-round defeats. In his final summer, he threw a historic 160 km/h fastball in the Iwate Prefectural Tournament semifinal, the fastest ever recorded by a Japanese high school player at the time.
But despite that remarkable achievement, his team lost in the final and never reached Koshien that year.
After the game, Ohtani struggled to hold back his emotions.
“I’m sorry that we couldn’t even challenge for the national championship. I wanted to win it for everyone in Iwate.”
Those words revealed how deeply he cared about representing the people who supported him.
Four years later, that dream finally came true.
In 2016, Ohtani helped lead the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters to the Japan Series championship. During the Climax Series he threw a blazing 165 km/h pitch, the fastest in Japanese professional baseball history at the time. In the Japan Series itself, he delivered a dramatic walk-off hit in Game 3, contributing both as a pitcher and a hitter.
The victory marked the culmination of the philosophy he had often expressed:
that the two-way style was not simply about personal achievement, but about winning championships.
Looking back on that season, Ohtani spoke warmly about the experience.
Winning the title itself was unforgettable, but what remained most vivid was the moment when he saw the fans celebrating.
During the championship parade, thousands of supporters gathered to share the joy.
Seeing their happiness made the victory feel even more meaningful.
For Ohtani, the greatest reward was not only the trophy—but the happiness it brought to the people around him.
Source
This quote comes from a Japanese book published in Japan and is not currently available in English.
Opening a Path, Crossing the Ocean: The True Story of Shohei Ohtani, p.240