FromJapan

Ohtani-san changed his batting form from level swing to uppercut, too.
2018 level swing
2021 uppercut swing

From this season, Ohtani-san has been using new bats made of 'Birch'.
Until last season, he used bats made of 'Aodamo ' (Fraxinus lanuginosa), which is distributed in the mountain area of Japan.  'Aodamo' is a closely related species of 'Birch'.  'Birch' is harder and more repulsive than 'Aodamo', but less elastic slightly.
The shape of bat was also changed.  Until last year, it was top-balanced, its gravity center was close to the tip.  To improve the batting average, the thick part of  bat (so-called sweet spot) has elongated.  Therefore, flight distance will be slightly shorter, but Ohtani-san keeps in mind to hit the ball squarely, in addition to strengthening physical.

From this season, Ohtani-san has been using new bats made of 'Birch'.
Until last season, he used bats made of 'Aodamo ' (Fraxinus lanuginosa), which is distributed in the mountain area of Japan.  'Aodamo' is a closely related species of 'Birch'.  'Birch' is harder and more repulsive than 'Aodamo', but less elastic slightly.
The shape of bat was also changed.  Until last year, it was top-balanced, its gravity center was close to the tip.  To improve the batting average, the thick part of  bat (so-called sweet spot) has elongated.  Therefore, flight distance will be slightly shorter, but Ohtani-san keeps in mind to hit the ball squarely, in addition to strengthening physical.

Ohtani-san changed his batting form from level swing to uppercut, too.
2018 level swing
2021 uppercut swing

From this season, Ohtani-san has been using new bats made of 'Birch'.
Until last season, he used bats made of 'Aodamo ' (Fraxinus lanuginosa), which is distributed in the mountain area of Japan.  'Aodamo' is a closely related species of 'Birch'.  'Birch' is harder and more repulsive than 'Aodamo', but less elastic slightly.
The shape of bat was also changed.  Until last year, it was top-balanced, its gravity center was close to the tip.  To improve the batting average, the thick part of  bat (so-called sweet spot) has elongated.  Therefore, flight distance will be slightly shorter, but Ohtani-san keeps in mind to hit the ball squarely, in addition to strengthening physical.

From this season, Ohtani-san has been using new bats made of 'Birch'.
Until last season, he used bats made of 'Aodamo ' (Fraxinus lanuginosa), which is distributed in the mountain area of Japan.  'Aodamo' is a closely related species of 'Birch'.  'Birch' is harder and more repulsive than 'Aodamo', but less elastic slightly.
The shape of bat was also changed.  Until last year, it was top-balanced, its gravity center was close to the tip.  To improve the batting average, the thick part of  bat (so-called sweet spot) has elongated.  Therefore, flight distance will be slightly shorter, but Ohtani-san keeps in mind to hit the ball squarely, in addition to strengthening physical.

From this season, Ohtani-san has been using new bats made of 'Birch'.
Until last season, he used bats made of 'Aodamo ' (Fraxinus lanuginosa), which is distributed in the mountain area of Japan.  'Aodamo' is a closely related species of 'Birch'.  'Birch' is harder and more repulsive than 'Aodamo', but less elastic slightly.
The shape of bat was also changed.  Until last year, it was top-balanced, its gravity center was close to the tip.  To improve the batting average, the thick part of  bat (so-called sweet spot) has elongated.  Therefore, flight distance will be slightly shorter, but Ohtani-san keeps in mind to hit the ball squarely, in addition to strengthening physical.

(July 5, Japan time) Happy birthday, Ohtani-san

Ohtani-san's birthday is July 5, so he will soon be 27 years old.
 
(Photo taken in June 2015)
Nippon-Ham Fighters Official Shop in Sapporo, Hokkaido
Shohei Ohtani Yellow T-shirt

The person at the top of the upper left panel is Mr. Kuriyama (Manager, Nippon-Ham Fighters).  Mr. Kuriyama believed in Ohtani-san's potential and expanded his possibilities of 2-way (pitching and batting).
# At the bottom of the panel, "Ezolution" is a compound word of Ezo (old name of Hokkaido island) and Evolution.
Ohtani-san's uniform number in the Nippon-Ham Fighters was 11. 
Before him, it was of Yu Darvish (Padres). 
The number 11 has been a missing number for Nippon-Ham Fighters since 2018.
The uniform number 17 was when Ohtani-san was a student at Hanamaki Higashi High School.
Before him, this number was of his senior, Yusei Kikuchi (Mariners) in the first grade of the school. 
The number 17 symbolizes Otani-san's feelings of "going back to a beginner's spirit" and "doing his best with new stage".

In Japan, "Ohtani-san (in Japanese katakana)" has entered the Twitter trend due to the influence of broadcasting (Big Fly Ohtani-san!).
"San" means a Japanese suffix, a frank and non-sexual honorific title.
For Japanese fans, it becomes a morning routine to see if Ohtani-san hits a home run.
The header of MLB Twitter has become a hot topic among Nippon-Ham Fighters fans.
https://twitter.com/mlb

Interviewer's final greeting to Ohtani "Thank you very much, Arigato matane!"
"Matane" is an expression used in a close relationship, means "See you again" in Japanese.

"Ii atari"  "Haitta"  "Douten manrui home run"
"Perfect connection"  "It's gone"  "Game-tying grand slam"

Interviewer's final greeting to Ohtani "Thank you very much, Arigato matane!"
"Matane" is an expression used in a close relationship, means "See you again" in Japanese.

"Ii atari"  "Haitta"  "Douten manrui home run"
"Perfect connection"  "It's gone"  "Game-tying grand slam"

To Japanese media, Ohtani-san said,
"I was in good physical condition and my arm was moving well. But on the contrary, my upper body was slightly leaning forward, and I caught the ball too much with my fingers, so I think that was the cause."

In other words, over-the-air television (OTA).
In Japan, almost all of the terrestrial TV, including commercial broadcasters, are HDTV.
NHK's terrestrial broadcasting has two channels, one for all fields and the other for education.

Ohtani-san set a baseball life plan (in a sense, dreams) when he was 17.
He had a dream of becoming a fastball pitcher.
Age18 Join major team (To US)
Age19 3A, Master English
Age20 Major, 14 million dollars
Age21 Starting rotation, 16 wins
Age22 Cy Young Award
Age23 WBC Japan National Team
Age24 No-hitter, 25 wins
Age25 The fastest in the world, 175km/h (108.74mph)
Age26 World Series Champion, Marriage (This year!)

Regarding selection of the first place as MLB All-Star designated hitter, Ohtani-san announced to the Japanese media that he would like to do his best to entertain everyone.
"My profile photo" is a picture I took when Ohtani-san participated as a starting pitcher in the NPB All-Star Game (Koshien Stadium, a ball park located between Osaka and Kobe) on July 19, 2014.
Second NPB All-Star selection (2014)

Ohtani-san's birthday is July 5, so he will soon be 27 years old.
 
(Photo taken in June 2015)
Nippon-Ham Fighters Official Shop in Sapporo, Hokkaido
Shohei Ohtani Yellow T-shirt

The person at the top of the upper left panel is Mr. Kuriyama (Manager, Nippon-Ham Fighters).  Mr. Kuriyama believed in Ohtani-san's potential and expanded his possibilities of 2-way (pitching and batting).
# At the bottom of the panel, "Ezolution" is a compound word of Ezo (old name of Hokkaido island) and Evolution.
Ohtani-san's uniform number in the Nippon-Ham Fighters was 11. 
Before him, it was of Yu Darvish (Padres). 
The number 11 has been a missing number for Nippon-Ham Fighters since 2018.
The uniform number 17 was when Ohtani-san was a student at Hanamaki Higashi High School.
Before him, this number was of his senior, Yusei Kikuchi (Mariners) in the first grade of the school. 
The number 17 symbolizes Otani-san's feelings of "going back to a beginner's spirit" and "doing his best with new stage".

Regarding selection of the first place as MLB All-Star designated hitter, Ohtani-san announced to the Japanese media that he would like to do his best to entertain everyone.
"My profile photo" is a picture I took when Ohtani-san participated as a starting pitcher in the NPB All-Star Game (Koshien Stadium, a ball park located between Osaka and Kobe) on July 19, 2014.
Second NPB All-Star selection (2014)

Regarding selection of the first place as MLB All-Star designated hitter, Ohtani-san announced to the Japanese media that he would like to do his best to entertain everyone.
"My profile photo" is a picture I took when Ohtani-san participated as a starting pitcher in the NPB All-Star Game (Koshien Stadium, a ball park located between Osaka and Kobe) on July 19, 2014.
Second NPB All-Star selection (2014)

Regarding selection of the first place as MLB All-Star designated hitter, Ohtani-san announced to the Japanese media that he would like to do his best to entertain everyone.
"My profile photo" is a picture I took when Ohtani-san participated as a starting pitcher in the NPB All-Star Game (Koshien Stadium, a ball park located between Osaka and Kobe) on July 19, 2014.
Second NPB All-Star selection (2014)

Ohtani-san's birthday is July 5, so he will soon be 27 years old.
 
(Photo taken in June 2015)
Nippon-Ham Fighters Official Shop in Sapporo, Hokkaido
Shohei Ohtani Yellow T-shirt

The person at the top of the upper left panel is Mr. Kuriyama (Manager, Nippon-Ham Fighters).  Mr. Kuriyama believed in Ohtani-san's potential and expanded his possibilities of 2-way (pitching and batting).
# At the bottom of the panel, "Ezolution" is a compound word of Ezo (old name of Hokkaido island) and Evolution.
Ohtani-san's uniform number in the Nippon-Ham Fighters was 11. 
Before him, it was of Yu Darvish (Padres). 
The number 11 has been a missing number for Nippon-Ham Fighters since 2018.
The uniform number 17 was when Ohtani-san was a student at Hanamaki Higashi High School.
Before him, this number was of his senior, Yusei Kikuchi (Mariners) in the first grade of the school. 
The number 17 symbolizes Otani-san's feelings of "going back to a beginner's spirit" and "doing his best with new stage".

Ohtani-san's birthday is July 5, so he will soon be 27 years old.
 
(Photo taken in June 2015)
Nippon-Ham Fighters Official Shop in Sapporo, Hokkaido
Shohei Ohtani Yellow T-shirt

The person at the top of the upper left panel is Mr. Kuriyama (Manager, Nippon-Ham Fighters).  Mr. Kuriyama believed in Ohtani-san's potential and expanded his possibilities of 2-way (pitching and batting).
# At the bottom of the panel, "Ezolution" is a compound word of Ezo (old name of Hokkaido island) and Evolution.
Ohtani-san's uniform number in the Nippon-Ham Fighters was 11. 
Before him, it was of Yu Darvish (Padres). 
The number 11 has been a missing number for Nippon-Ham Fighters since 2018.
The uniform number 17 was when Ohtani-san was a student at Hanamaki Higashi High School.
Before him, this number was of his senior, Yusei Kikuchi (Mariners) in the first grade of the school. 
The number 17 symbolizes Otani-san's feelings of "going back to a beginner's spirit" and "doing his best with new stage".

Ohtani-san set a baseball life plan (in a sense, dreams) when he was 17.
He had a dream of becoming a fastball pitcher.
Age18 Join major team (To US)
Age19 3A, Master English
Age20 Major, 14 million dollars
Age21 Starting rotation, 16 wins
Age22 Cy Young Award
Age23 WBC Japan National Team
Age24 No-hitter, 25 wins
Age25 The fastest in the world, 175km/h (108.74mph)
Age26 World Series Champion, Marriage (This year!)