Before LA Days, Shohei Ohtani’s Translator Forged Fame in Another Storied MLB Franchise

Ippei Mizuhara is a unique phenomenon. As the translator of Shohei Ohtani, Mizuhara has slowly built his following. A cult figure for everyone who loves Ohtani, Mizuhara has consistently remained with Shotime and played various roles for him. But lo and behold, this isn’t Mizuhara’s first rodeo in the MLB.

Mizuhara has known Shohei Ohtani since 2013 when they joined the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters. Though he wasn’t his translator then, their relationship grew strong enough that Ohtani brought Mizuhara with him when he jumped to the US in 2017. Though Ohtani is his biggest client, Mizuhara has worked for another superstar as well.

The deep history of Ippei Mizuhara, the support system of Shohei Ohtani

Ippei Mizuhara’s big bet with the MLB came in 2007 when the Boston Red Sox hired him to act as the translator of Hideki Okajima. The left-handed pitcher had just entered the States. Eventually, Okajima became a popular figure in the Red Sox, a status that endured until his departure from the team in 2011. This was the first time Mizuhara had tasted fame and success.

During that time, Mizuhara saw the BoSox win the World Series in 2007. He remained with Okajima till 2011 and by 2013 he was in Japan working in the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters as a translator for players like Chris Martin and other English-speaking members of the team. There he crossed paths with the rookie Shohei Ohtani. They didn’t know their legacies would forever be entwined from there on.

The unbreakable bond

Even though officially Mizuhara is Shohei Ohtani’s translator, that’s just 10% of what he does. He accompanies Shotime 24/7 for 365 days a year. He has seen Ohtani’s anger, his outbursts and knows the two-way phenom more deeply than anyone else. Mizuhara’s importance is such that even the Samurai Japan team asked him to accompany them during their 2023 WBC winning campaign. 

Mizuhara throws to Ohtani during side sessions and reads scouting reports of all the opponents. Apart from this, when they first arrived in the US, he drove with Ohtani until the star got his license. His necessity is such that once he resigned from his post to be with Ohtani.

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During the 2021 lockout, Mizuhara resigned from the Los Angeles Angels to keep working with Ohtani. If he had remained on the team, his meetings with Ohtani would’ve been questioned. He re-signed with the team once the lockout ended. Long story short, Mizuhara shared a special connection with the Angels and recently gave them a loving message.

Ohtani’s success story feels incomplete without the mention of Mizuhara. Now in Dodgers, will Mizuhara get to see his second World Series win?

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