There’s a lot going on with Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. On Thursday, a 4-minute recording came to light that clearly showed Mizuhara impersonating Ohtani and asking the bank to transfer approximately $200,000. Mizuhara has reportedly stolen roughly $17 million from the Japanese baseball player and has pleaded guilty to both fraud and filing false tax returns.

For these crimes, the prosecutors have asked the court to grant the interpreter a 5-year sentence for the harsh crimes. The final verdict and sentencing are scheduled for February 6, but what led Mizuhara to take such a step? Apparently, he had an addiction to gambling and was “severely underpaid.” In his filing, Mizuhara painted a picture of himself as the ultimate “go-to guy,” but with a twist of victimhood. 

What did Ippei Mizuhara cite as his reasoning? 

Ippei Mizuhara claimed that he was “on call 24/7” all while working on one-year contracts that kept him walking on eggshells. According to The Athletic, Mizuhara said he was hesitant to ask for more money, fearing it might cost him his job, so he kept going. The former employee of Shohei Ohtani handled everything from Ohtani’s endorsement deals and brokerage companies to personal errands like grocery shopping, fixing bicycles, and even taking Ohtani’s dog to the vet. 

[Drellich] Update: Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani's fired interpreter, has asked for an 18-month sentence, citing addiction and regret. Mizuhara wrote he was "severely underpaid" and "on call 24/7."
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But it wasn’t just about work tasks—Mizuhara’s hours were often stretched thin by the time difference between Japan and the U.S., leaving him sleep-deprived as he juggled personal and professional duties. He went beyond what most people would expect from an interpreter, playing the roles of personal assistant, chauffeur, and family liaison. Whether this was a case of overworked and underpaid, it’s the court to decide. But fans have found a way to have their own judgement on social media based on the evidence that has come to light. 

Fans react to Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter calling himself underpaid 

Ippei Mizuhara’s recent claims about being “severely underpaid” while working for Shohei Ohtani have sparked a flurry of debate. As Mizuhara tries to explain his actions in light of his massive gambling debts and criminal behavior, many have pushed back against his narrative, pointing out the glaring contradiction in his story. One of the comments read, “He made half a million dollar salary being Ohtani’s friend in 2024. I feel for him dealing with addiction, but he wasn’t underpaid.” When you’re pulling in $500,000 a year, it’s hard to argue you’re struggling financially. Many people work grueling hours or in high-stress environments for far less, and Mizuhara’s role, though demanding, came with a hefty paycheck. 

Another user found this a dream job rather than a burden. “A dream job, especially for someone that never actually got his degree,” they wrote. Getting a part with the world-renowned Shohei Ohtani appears like a once-in-a-lifetime chance for someone without a degree. Mizuhara was responsible for the networking, travel, and access. He was also collaborating closely with an athlete who has a huge brand in Japan and abroad and symbolizes a whole country.  

Some users took the sarcasm route. One of them wrote, “I too, would like to be severely underpaid (500k) by Shohei Ohtani.” The salary Mizuhara received was far above what many people earn for far more demanding or dangerous work. While it’s understandable that the pressure and demands of working for a superstar like Ohtani could be intense, the idea that Mizuhara was undervalued financially doesn’t hold up.  

Many users also acknowledged the bad things about the job, like the one who wrote, “Ok the on-call 24/7 part I understand cause he was pretty much Ohtani’s pseudo manager BUT the underpaid part is bullshit. Dude could have just quit if he couldn’t handle it but instead chose to gamble and steal money instead? I dunno man sounds like a shit excuse lol.” Being “underpaid” is not the main problem here; rather, Mizuhara’s decisions are. Yes, it must have been draining to be on call all the time and serve as Ohtani’s liaison for both personal and work-related issues. Mizuhara had the option to resign or request a better arrangement if it got to be too much. 

“Bro 99% of America is severely underpaid. I understand that being on call 24/7 would suck in terms of workload. But you had such a privilege that any one of us would take in a heartbeat if we had the opportunity,” this remark gets right to the core of the problem, which is the reality of most people’s workplaces. Regardless of their line of work, the vast majority of Americans receive far too little compensation for the amount of labor they perform. Mizuhara still maintains that he was underpaid despite having the unique opportunity to work with a famous athlete in a high-profile, lucrative position. 

Although Mizuhara’s battles with addiction and the demands of his position are certainly genuine, his claim that he is “severely underpaid” is simply untrue. His allegations seem more like an attempt to shift blame for his illegal actions when you take into account his half-million-dollar pay, the unique and prominent nature of his position, and the numerous benefits that came with being Shohei Ohtani‘s right-hand man.