How Japanese Culture Shaped MLB's Unicorn | Shohei Ohtani

How Japanese Culture Shaped MLB's Unicorn | Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani is a unicorn in the sport of baseball because of his ability to hit and pitch at an elite level. However, Ohtani became a superstar in the MLB because he was shaped and molded by Japanese Culture. Ohtani developed values ingrained in the culture from an early age, has the personality of the Japanese, and the local high school competition kick-started his competitive drive. The Nippon-Ham Fighters took a calculated risk in drafting Ohtani, first Spring Training showed he was a unicorn on the rise, and he was resolute in the face of criticism. Ohtani improved through his two-way play through discipline and hard work to become a superstar in the NPB.
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[@bobsyoruncle4583]

He hasn't even peaked yet - his pitching is improving and he raised his batting average this year while still hitting 34 home runs. he's going to win a Cy Young.

[@KPD017]

YES! Agree!

[@kennybegeske8824]

@@KPD017 It's 1Baseman Mitt Time For Shohei Ohtani

[@ryk-na]

This video sums up Ohtani well. In Japan, the phrase "deru kugi wa utareru" is used in a negative sense. It means that if you stand out despite your talent and ability, you will be disliked and criticized. For this reason, some people believe that it is better to keep one's abilities hidden in groups such as schools and companies, but this is not something that can be taught openly to everyone. Ohtani is humble not because he was taught this, but simply because he is serious, stoic, and uninterested in what others think of him. No matter how much those around him denied him the 2-way challenge, his belief in baseball never wavered.

[@gordonbgraham]

I think Westerners misunderstand the "nail that sticks out" adage. In Japan, it's the nail that sticks in someone else's foot that gets called out. Individual achievement is lauded and encouraged, which is why in each classroom academic leaders in each subject are posted on bulletin boards at the front of the classroom. The nail that sticks out adage is akin to a brilliant soccer player who dekes out 3 players and scores a beautiful goal. Such a player is admired by his/her teammates and fans alike. However, a player who tries to deke through 3 players and gets stripped of the ball while his/her teammate was wide open at the side of the net unchecked, is unpopular among teammates and fans alike. That is more how "the nail that sticks out" adage applies in Japan.

[@wilburwood8261]

@@gordonbgraham it is more like, stick to the social unwritten rules, don't do/behave differently.

[@gordonbgraham]

@@wilburwood8261 That's the same throughout the world. Don't be late for an appointment, don't interrupt people while they are speaking, don't wear your underwear to the office, etc. Do you suppose MLB or the Los Angeles Angels would allow Ohtani to play with his jersey hanging out? No way!

[@novrinkov0053]

Westerners really stereotype Japanese people exaggeratedly. It is the same in the West that is criticized for deviating from the normal This is a human habit regardless of nationality. Just because a proverb exists doesn't mean it's limited to that Japan. For example, if you say you like Japanese culture in the West, you will be called a weird weeb and bullied. If you are the only one in the class who dresses like Japanese fashion, you will be teased. Because for Westerners, anything other than Western standard is not normal. nothing is normal for them other than normal jeans and t-shirts. When westerners see Korean fashion, they label it as gay. Many times I have seen children being bullied in class because they like japanese culture. Because only one person stands out as different from other children There were some children who could not declare their love of japanese culture because they did not want to be call weeb. All these things are said because they deviate from the Western normal. There are many other things about religion, differences in eating habits, etc. In some categories, the Japanese are much more able to express themselves than the West. Young generations in Japan are not afraid to dress differently from other. They are not afraid to have unusual hobbies that are different from others, and they are open about it. Of course, even if you profess to like foreign cultures, no one will call you westaboo or ameriboo.

[@novrinkov0053]

And it's not all bad. Since ancient times, we have had to face limited land, resource and disasters. If we don't cooperate with the importance of harmony, we'll be perish long ago. At the time of the earthquake, there was no looting in Japan and everyone help each other. At the time of distribution, everyone forms a line and lines up. Remember Katrina in America? Full of looting, even the police participated in the looting. If Japan had not valued harmony, things would have been terrible. But this is also an old custom Many japanese young generations today are not afraid to be different. On the contrary, they even think it's cool to be different. That's why they look for different fashion style. Westerners' knowledge is always old Japanese stereotypes and not updated Their knowledge remains of wartime Japan. Western media and youtubers are also exaggeratingly reporting on strange Japan And foreigners blindly believe it because it's feels good they feel that the western society is superior. Especially for Americans, information on the internet comments and rumor is everything they have. They have never spoken to a Japanese person or been to Japan. To put it bluntly, modern people's behavior doesn't differ much from country to country. Foreigners do the same things Japanese do The Japanese are not aliens from another planet.

[@jerryk843]

Hope one day, he will pitch no hitter/perfect game.

[@michaeltran2743]

With 4 rbi’s

[@Old.School.Ronin.01]

@@michaeltran2743 The home run cycle.

[@kennybegeske8824]

@@Old.School.Ronin.01 Ohtani Is Becoming A Formal Pitcher To 1Baseman And Outfielder

[@BryanChance]

The greatest MLB player in the world.

[@Mia-xb9er]

I think the reason why he is humble because his parents are humble. Also his high school baseball’s coach said that I raise kids to be be a person at first.

[@18001206]

Yankees judges are interchangeable, but Angels unicorn Shohei Ohtani is the only one who is not interchangeable.

[@flipsolo]

This is gotta be the worst Skip Bayless-level take I have seen. Aaron Judge interchangeable!?!? Get da f*ck outta here! I can't stand the Yankees, but you gotta appreciate the historic season he had. He has the highest WAR this season, and one the highest OPS in recent memory (not including the 'roided era). Shohei is unique, but so is Judge.

[@mao5787]

@@flipsolo Sorry, but Judge will never put up 2022 kinds of numbers for the rest of his career. His 2021 numbers are more accurate. He can still hit .280 35HR-45HR if he is healthy, which is really good though. But Judge isn't unique. Barry Bonds is way better as a hitter than Judge. Whether Bonds used steroids or not in his late career, He and Ichiro has one of the best batting technique in baseball history. Pujols and Trout are close to them too. But Judge isn't on that level. Pujols and Trout are also better hitter than Judge. On the other hand, Ohtani has put up historical numbers for two consecutive years. He will put up similar numbers for at least few more years. Ohtani is Unique.

[@unknown_individual7050]

@@flipsolo Judge is only unique so much as he's putting up a season that other players have as well. The great hitters of the league have done what Judge did, but no other player in the history of the league has put up 2 way numbers like Ohtani.

[@scotty7864]

@@mao5787 what historical numbers has shohei put up? Average ERA, Average home runs, average to below average batting avg. If you’re talking statistical worth to a team, he has “historical numbers”, but he has no historical numbers in any actual measurable category aside from worth to a team..

[@tootspogsforever5590]

@@scotty7864 lmao g t f o 😀😁

[@23ofSeptember]

I've worked and lived in Japan since 2007, played competitive men's league ball here too and in Canada. I was a decent pitcher and hitter in my youth. What I can tell you about baseball culture in North America, is that your position is decided very early, even before you have fully grown and developed. Much of the decision making is done by inexperienced coaches and by the characteristics of other players. In other words, the tallest players are put at first base or asked to pitch. The fat kid catches or plays 3rd base. The chirpy kid plays SS or Center and so on. None of this makes any sense long term, but thats how kids are brought into the game. In Japan, I'd say kids get more opportunity, but its often wors in some ways because kids sometimes don't get to play at all. Overall, I'd say baseball culture is too focused on winning and not player development in the early years especially.

[@gordonbgraham]

Kids in Japan practice on average 3 hours a day weekdays 5~6 hours on weekends, 12 months a year, and are well schooled in the fundamentals. I grew up playing competitive baseball in Toronto, we practiced once a week and played once a week. Our coaches may or may not have attended coaching clinics. They knew very little about batting or fielding techniques such as your left foot should be ahead of your right when fielding a ground ball. Coaches were mostly babysitters who wrote the lineup card and shouted keep your head in.

[@23ofSeptember]

@@gordonbgraham Exactly! I have some very bad memories of my coaches yelling at me, sometimes for not throwing strikes or messing up a signal. The worst coach I had (Peter Kreko) had never played baseball in his life, but coached because his kid was too small for hockey.

[@noturdaddyblameyomomma8354]

You're spot on & it's the reason I became a parent/coach. I train the entire team, & not just my "fave" players. Little League "coaches" are literally only focused on winning & give their attention to only a handful of players, which are usually the older kids &/or most athletic, etc. Just this week a player asked me why his own father (also a coach) doesn't do drills with him. SMH

[@burgerjoemama]

Hopefully they make an anime on Ohtani

[@arjayp5268]

Try watching "Major" its a baseball anime with almost the same theme..😁

[@tosleepornottosleepthatist109]

Well, it might be difficult cuz people would say he's overpowered for an anime character...

[@fumin8]

Someday No Hitter + Grand Slam in the same game by Shohei !

[@baldy555]

Yesterday he pitched and won, and was a home run short of a cycle!

[@wakawaka1976]

Will have the first 20 win, 40 steal, 60 homer, 100 rbi, 200 strikeouts pitched season in MLB

[@guys05]

He’s the real goku in real life! Always ascending over and beyond

[@vezzy_3221]

One game he will pitch a no hitter game (Perfect) then hit a homer to win the game Unheard..

[@wilburwood8261]

4 pitchers have pitched a no-hitter and hit a homer in the same game. Wise, Ferrell, Tobin and Wilson. So not unheard of. Although it all happened before the 1970s. Rick Wise hot 2 homers while pitching a no-hiitter. Even more impressive.

[@dontknowdocare]

I disagree with this take. Ohtani is the very example of a nail that sticks out in Japanese society. He's very tall, he speaks his mind, he had the guts to hold a press conference in high school before the Japanese draft announcing he was going America (implying for teams not to draft him) a thing that is essentially sacrilege in Japanese baseball (think of Nomo and Tazawa who were essentially declared outcasts when they went to the US). He was highly criticized for that, and when one team did draft him and propose the two-way player idea he took the opportunity to "stick out" once again and faces criticism all around. The reason he is so embraced by Japanese society DESPITE sticking out as much as one possibly can is because he has been successful. The looks and personality help too of course, but others with high ambitions who have not had success (think for example of koshien legend, NBP failure handkerchief prince Saitou Yuuki) are outcast and ridiculed. Ohtani IS the nail that sticks out, but he is beloved and celebrated for it, not inspite of it.

[@romiarkan450]

Good on the Fighters for taking a shot and selected him in the first round of the NPB draft

[@justjanine]

Great video, man

[@GAINABAND]

Isao Harimoto dislike Japanese players because he is not a Japanese.

[@user-kz5pm2ji2s]

Thanks for introduction Ohtani. FromJapan.

[@taka0359]

日本では出過ぎた杭は打たれません。人々はいつもHEROを求めているのはアメリカも日本も同じです。

[@pico4124]

その通り！出る釘は引き抜かれるんです！

[@as-hj1et]

He gave up $200 million just to play in the major leagues... I don't see him with the angels in the future

[@noname-dk7ri]

I don't know if this is mentioned in this video because I only watched this video randomly (sorry), but I think his personality is related to the fact that he grew up in the cold and snowy countryside of northeastern Japan. They are known for being simple and taciturn (discreet). Incidentally, Otani's home prefecture was the last prefecture in Japan to be free of coronavirus cases for a long time. They seem to have a strong, tacit understanding of horizontal cooperation.

[@metabreaker1185]

I hope Ohtani doesn’t get too caught up in BA. I like that his SO/chase rate is down, but his on base percentage is down from the year before. On top of that, the last 23 games he was homer-less. He offers much more value when he’s slugging the ball. Don’t get me wrong, he’s still a top 10 hitter in MLB, but I hope we can see a season where we get 2021 Ohtani’s hitting + 2022 Ohtani’s pitching. An absolute video game character

[@kennybegeske8824]

Shohei Ohtani Is On The Waiting List To 1BASE From Pitcher To 1Baseman And Outfielder

[@stoneshire645]

Why you say that?

[@rosebellepaeste8838]

A generational talent indeed.. 🦄🦄🦄

[@finessinsports]

So fortunate we get to witness the greatness! 💪⚾

[@KPD017]

Great video! Thank you! I LOVE ❤ SHOHEI! 1️⃣7️⃣

[@therealbs2000]

My favorite part of the video is the American reasoning that the way a man is supposed to stick out is to be rude and loud.

[@user-jk9co4fh2z]

彼が安価で１年契約した理由のひとつとして、私はトレード拒否権を盛り込んだのではないかと考えています。これはエンゼルスから出ないという意味ではなく、トレードする際には相手の球団を選ぶということです。彼は二刀流を長く継続できて、ポストシーズンに進出できそうな球団に行きたいと思います。もちろん、エンゼルスが強くなれば良いですが、あまり期待できません。

[@tomasa-jisan2465]

一年契約結んだんじゃなくて、元々あった契約の年俸を決めただけです。

[@markeastridge9649]

I am just hoping in free agency he signs nothing without near yearly player opt outs.

[@flame-sky7148]

If the Angels were a winning ball club, Sho could have won MVP and Cy Young in the same season.

[@karlmckinnell2635]

Discipline and Humility 😊

[@gosato]

I love ur vidéo as a Japanese. Thanks for creating a such a nice video. FYI two way, Nitouryu’s pronunciation is not Ni Too Ryu but Ni Toe Ryu.😊

[@finessinsports]

Hi Go Sato, glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for the pronunciation! 🙏⚾

[@Kane-ib5sn]

i'd like to see Ohtani improve by hiring MLB hall of famers as pitching coaches and/or hitting coaches. it's the only way to take his skills to the next level.

[@stevest8675]

Agree 100%. He need a HOF coach him.

[@user-mk8dv7oo1d]

Correctly, it's "Deru KUI ha utareru." "KUI" means a "stake" in the ground. Kugi means a nail. Both sentences have almost the same meaning. but I never heard "Deru kugi ha utareru."

[@subhumanspeciess]

Been having a hell of a time not watching Shohei whenever he's playing... even when my team is playing. Shohei is unreal, can't not watch him

[@ainmiky4620]

LOVE HIM

[@Nosuke_Jun]

釘ではなく、出る杭は打たれるかな？

[@user-kr4yn1ez2o]

杭or釘　どっちもOK

[@fusayyo]

ビッグフライ 大谷サーン　の解説が 大好きでした！

[@kentosalazar]

when you said “then and now” i thought you were pointing out that he switched to the other side of the plate😂

[@user-vw5wu4gq5d]

出るくぎは打たれる、なんかほんとSNSもそうだね。大谷くんは、日本人の誇り。同じ時代に見ることができて感謝💕

[@ayayaya0428]

出る杭は打たれるってよく調べましたね。深い分析SUGOI！

[@steviejohnson378]

Nippon Ham does not share the same stadium as Yomiuri Giants. Totally different cities.

[@kuni6684]

They used to, until they felt they had to move to Hokkaido. They "shared" the Tokyo Dome with the Giants, always getting the short end of the stick.

[@steviejohnson378]

@@kuni6684 That's not relevant to this video cause by the time Ohtani joined the Fighters they had moved to Hokkaido

[@tomo90125]

張さんやり玉にあげられてて草

[@misa7401]

Despite how the narrator butchers the Japanese language with some misunderstanding of Japanese proverb, this is a pretty good watch.

[@finessinsports]

Hi Eclair, thank you for your feedback. Glad you enjoyed the video! 🙏⚾

[@tahzib1451]

now all MLB needs is a real submarine pitcher that goes feet wet

[@dotjai330]

he will get a 5 year/$500M contract, all guaranteed

[@PrinceChaloner]

The Dodgers, Padres, Yankees either will get him by next year..

[@ricebowl3]

this dude should have come to the Mariners

[@greg375]

Nah.

[@nakachen7646]

超可愛

[@jeff4941]

I do believe Shohei Ohtain should play with Aaron Judge for New York Mets!

[@user-nn6ei6rd2q]

MAJORというアニメの影響も大きいでしょう

[@nyr14]

Complete and utter waste of talent in that organization… shame🤦‍♂️

[@PhatLvis]

beared?

[@hi53qsyq]

日本人から見ても大谷の有り様は異様ですけどね

[@earlcalingacion8369]

First?

[@HoosierHugh317]

He’s addicted to gambling, he’s also a liar and threw the interpreter under the bus.

[@johnhung8393]

The true MVP, not the Stankee choker PMSL!