Japan celebrates Ohtani’s record $700 million deal

TOKYO — Pride and incredulity gripped Japan Sunday after baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani signed a record-shattering $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the richest in North American sports history.

The 10-year deal was announced after weeks of speculation about where the 29-year-old Los Angeles Angels pitching and hitting ace would land in free agency.

“Ohtani to go to Dodgers,” blared the headline of an extra edition of the Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan’s leading daily.

“The 10-year, 101.5 billion yen deal: the highest amount ever in sports history,” it said.

A special edition of the Iwate Nippo, a local newspaper in Ohtani’s hometown, featured a headline set against a blue background, the Dodgers’ colors.

Ohtani’s breathtaking contract featured prominently on almost all major news websites and Sunday talk shows in Japan, while also dominating conversations on X, formerly Twitter, for much of the day. 

The excitement was echoed by Takahiro Ogawa, a shopper in Tokyo’s upscale Ginza district.

“I was really amazed,” the 54-year-old told AFP, saying the size of the deal had surpassed even original speculation of a whopping 80 billion yen.

“I wish I could get a slice of it.”

Erika Iwasaki, 33, said she was proud of Ohtani.

“I was surprised at the price first, but I am really happy that a person who is valued so much is actually from Japan.”

Japanese media speculated Ohtani’s desire for a Major League Baseball title played a major part in his deal with the powerhouse Dodgers, perennial contenders in the playoffs.