If there is one famous Japanese dog that almost everyone knows, it’s Hachiko! He is known for his loyalty after he waited for his master outside the railway station every day until the day he passed. Hachiko is so famous that millions of tourists flock to Tokyo for that particular waiting spot. Well, there is another Japanese dog making waves recently, and that is Shohei Ohtani’s dog Dekopin, aka Decoy. Ever since the Los Angeles Dodgers star featured his dog when accepting his 2023 AL MVP Award, his dog has been as famous as him!

Decoy’s fame touched new heights, so much so that the Dodgers had to acknowledge his popularity and come out with a special giveaway! On August 28, the team will give away Decoy’s bobbleheads at the stadium—a definite nod to his growing popularity. Recently, the duo is back in the news as renowned artist Romero Britto has a surprise in store for them. A gift for Ohtani and his best pal, along with a big-buck surprise!

Britto’s big surprise for Shohei Ohtani and Decoy

Everyone loves gifts and surprises—well, who can say no to that? Recently, renowned artist Romero Britto, who is known for his stunning, quirky paintings, presented Shohei Ohtani with a stellar painting. The painting had the Dodger star posing with his bat and featured the classic Britto visual, which was vibrant. But well, how could Britto forget Decoy? And he had a special gift for the famous dog: a custom-designed dog bowl!

But that’s not all—Britto gave Ohtani an exclusive $5000 Golden Ticket. Now this isn’t just any ticket; it’s just as equivalent to a Willy Wonka ticket for those who appreciate art! The golden ticket provides an attendee with a once-in-a-lifetime experience at the Britto Palace in Miami. A 60,000-square-foot art sanctuary, the largest studio of a visual artist in the world, is reserved for dignitaries, celebrities, and art aficionados from around the globe. The person holding that ticket gets to experience an unforgettable guided tour through this space. They get to watch the behind-the-scenes action of what goes into Britto’s extraordinary work.

Britto posted several stories on Instagram presenting the gift to Ohtani. The Dodger’s star was caught in all his smiles and was excited about his painting. And he was just as excited to open the envelope with the golden ticket! His wife, Mamiko Tanaka, was by his side, sharing in the joy of the special occasion and adding to the celebration. And if Decoy could talk, he would say how pleased he is with his custom dog bowl; after all, it’s one of a kind. 

Shotime’s dog, Decoy, hits international stardom

Shohei Ohtani is undoubtedly the shining star of the MLB off-season. Not to mention he has a huge fanbase; blame his million-dollar smile! Plus, he signed a $700 million free-agent contract for 10 years after all. But that’s not to say he doesn’t have competition because fans love his dog, Decoy, just as much. And right now, she is as famous as him and has a fanbase. And high-profile fans too, like the US ambassador in Japan!

Well, no bluff, but Ohtani’s beloved dog is an international superstar. When the duo were called to the US embassy in Japan, Rahm Emanuel presented Decoy with a giant mock visa. This would allow the decoy to travel to Japan and the United States. The US ambassador in Japan took his admiration a step further and even posted on X, “Thrilled to meet trailblazing two-time MVP Ohtani-san again – my lucky day. Maybe next time I’ll be fortunate enough to meet his MVPup, Decoy. – this ‘visa’ should help.”

Given Emanuel’s “MVPup” joke, it’s fun to note that Decoy’s documentation features a passport number of “000MVPUP000” and a control number of “000GOODBOY000.” The visa humorously lists his birthday as “N/A Dog Years” and notes dual U.S. and Japanese citizenship. Talk about attention to detail!

Well, dog lover or not, you have to agree that dogs indeed win hearts, not just of their pet parents but of everyone around them. Dogs are angels on earth! Do you know of any more famous sportsmen’s pets? Let us know!