Ippei Mizuhara has quickly become one of baseball’s biggest cult figures. Though he’s officially the interpreter of Shohei Ohtani, Mizuhara does much more than that. It’s impossible to imagine one without the other with the duo often seen gallivanting around town together. With baseball’s favorite friends now joining the Los Angeles Dodgers, a question emerges – where and when did this journey begin?

When Ohtani was preparing for the United States step of his baseball journey in 2017, he insisted on Ippei Mizuhara joining him. Ever since then, the two have been inseparable, with Mizuhara even confessing that he spends more time with Ohtani than with his own family. So how did Ohtani meet Mizuhara-san?

When Ippei Mizuhara met Shohei Ohtani

The 2013 Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters had two very different people ready to make their mark. The 18-year-old rookie Shohei Ohtani and the 26-year-old Ippei Mizuhara. Ohtani, a full of potential two-way player seemed destined for greatness. On the other hand Mizuhara, a translator who had just finished his tenure with the Boston Red Sox.

It was then that the two met. Though Mizuhara was involved with other players, he and Ohtani had numerous interactions with them. The young Ohtani enjoyed Mizuhara’s company so much that once he exclaimed that whenever he went to the US, he would take Mizuhara with him, or so states the Japanese sports magazine Number. If only they knew that those words would turn into a prophecy.

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After years of casual interactions, finally, the big moment finally came in 2017. Shohei Ohtani was officially an MLB player, having signed with the Los Angeles Angels. His first action as a major league player? Get Ippei Mizuhara, or Ippei-san as he calls him, appointed as his interpreter with the Angels. The journey has continued ever since.

Ippei-san – the all-round supporter of the phenom

Since then Ippei Mizuhara has played a tremendous role in Ohtani’s journey success. From picking up groceries when Ohtani was injured, driving him around until Shotime got his license, and forcing him to play a video game to better interact with his Angels’ teammates, the interpreter has been through it all. Mizuhara’s importance was such that when Ohtani won the Rookie of the Year award, he lifted Mizuhara’s arms as well. The interpreter later remarked to Nippon.com that he felt rather embarrassed during that moment.

Mizuhara and Ohtani’s friendship stretches beyond baseball as well. When Mizuhara married in 2018, Ohtani apparently threw a surprise party for him and his wife on their flight from Tokyo to LA. He also reportedly gifted the couple a travel gift certificate covering their entire honeymoon! 

The two friends/partners have been through a journey and it seems they’re just getting started, as Shohei Ohtani seems set for unprecedented levels of fame and success.

Read more: How Much Does Shohei Ohtani’s Translator, Ippei Mizuhara Earn?