They say that home is where the heart is. But that’s not the case with MLB’s most favorite interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. For him, the companionship that is demanded of his job of staying with Shohei Ohtani through thick and thin matters more than family life; it is not something he could change even if he tried. History is proof.

Mizuhara has been a constant companion to Shohei Ohtani for the past six years—365 days a year—and he couldn’t be happier about it. He can joke about how he doesn’t spend as much time with his wife as he does with Shotime. That still doesn’t justify the depth of the Japanese duo’s bond. A bond that proved to be instrumental in Shotime’s upward curve of success.

Mizuhara stays more time with Shohei Ohtani than his family

While talking about the deep-rooted trust between him and Shohei Ohtani, Ippei Mizuhara revealed to The Athletic how it is one of the biggest parts of his job. “We are together pretty much every day, longer than I’m with my wife, so it’s going to be tough if you don’t get along on a personal level.”

Mizuhara has proven the strength of the togetherness in question again and again through his relentless acts of kindness, companionship, and responsibilities that Shohei Ohtani’s job demands of him. Mizuhara’s family life is not well-known, but he can’t spend as much time back home. That part is easy to deduce. From Christmas to MLB lockdowns to playing catcher to the ace, he does not get a break from being helpful to Shotime. It doesn’t look like he wants it, either.

Interpreting might just consist of 10% of the job, as he mentioned to The Athletic, but the rest of it doesn’t stay limited inside the boundaries of the diamond if the past is any proof.

Watch This Story: Breaking Down The Details Of Ippei Mizuhara: The Bridge Between The Japanese Phenom Shohei Ohtani And America

On a personal note for Ippei-san

Mizuhara reportedly collected groceries for Shohei Ohtani when he was worn down by his recovery period from a recent injury. He also asked Shotime to stay in touch with teammates through a game, playing guide to the two-way phenom.

Not only that, Ippei-san took things to a personal level by risking his job as an interpreter for Ohtani when the 2021 MLB lockdown happened. The instant he got to know about the league’s policy of keeping the professionals away from their players, he signed off from the league and stayed in constant touch with Shohei Ohtani until the period was over.

Read More: Who is Ippei Mizuhara? Everything to Know About Japanese Shohei Ohtani’s Link to America

Looking at the pair, it seems like they have formed a bond close to their soul… One that stays unbroken through years of struggles and success. May it bloom further!