Secretive About His Wife, Did Shohei Ohtani Just Reveal His Better Half?

Shohei Ohtani, MLB superstar and notoriously private individual, has sent fans into a frenzy with a recent Instagram story. The cryptic post features a photo of Ohtani, a woman, his translator, Ippei Mizuhara (and possibly Mizuhara’s wife), along with Japanese pitching sensation Yoshinobu Yamamoto and an unidentified friend in front of a plane. The caption? A tantalizing “Can’t Wait!” written in Korean.

This unexpected development sparks intriguing questions. Ohtani fiercely guards the details of his personal life, particularly his marriage. He surprised the world in 2024 by announcing his marriage to a Japanese woman, but her identity remains a mystery. Could this woman in the photo be his elusive wife?

The baseball world is already clamoring for answers. The Unicorn seemingly revealed his wife’s identity in the photo that was taken just before boarding the Los Angeles Dodgers’ flight to South Korea for the Seoul Series. The image, which resurfaced on B/R Walkoff’s Twitter account, finally reveals her identity: Mamiko Tanaka, a decorated Japanese basketball player.

Shohei Ohtani sent shockwaves through the sports world in late February when he quietly announced his marriage to a woman from his native Japan. In a characteristically understated Instagram post, Ohtani told fans, “(I) have began a new life with someone from my Native country of Japan who is very special to me and I wanted everyone to know I am now married.” The announcement sparked intense speculation about the identity of his new wife.

Read More: Shohei Ohtani, Now a Married Man—Everything to Know About His Wife

Initial reports hinted that Ohtani might have married a Japanese basketball player, but he downplayed those rumors. “She is a Japanese woman, and I don’t really feel comfortable talking about when I got married, the exact date and stuff,” Ohtani said through his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. “But she’s a normal Japanese woman.”

Who is Shohei Ohtani’s wife, Mamiko Tanaka?

Tanaka is a rising star in the world of Japanese basketball. Born on December 11, 1996, the 5’9” athlete made a name for herself at the Taipei 2017 Summer Universiade. Competing for Japan in the Women’s Basketball Event, Tanaka helped her team secure a well-deserved silver medal, according to a profile on the Taipei Athlete website.

It seems that we have finally solved the mystery of Shohei Ohtani’s wife. The two-way baseball sensation has found love with a fellow athlete, further highlighting the remarkable talent and dedication that runs in the family. Ohtani previously confirmed that his wife accompanied him to Arizona for Spring Training and reassured fans that his marriage would not impact his commitment to the team.