Why Do They Bow? Shota Imanaga and Shohei Ohtani’s Deep-Rooted Japanese Culture of “Ojigi” to Show Respect to Umpires and Managers

 Japan has always fascinated people. From their rich mangas to the cyberpunk-esque vibes of Tokyo, it’s perhaps one of the most culturally significant countries in the world. However, when one looks at it deeply, one will only find a few threads holding everything together. The biggest of them all? Respect. It’s the one inherent quality present in nearly every Japanese person. Right from an everyday Joe to superstars like Shohei Ohtani and the fast-rising Shota Imanaga. 

Part of Ohtani’s fame comes from his high respect for umpires and managers. But now Shota Imanaga too has joined his ranks. The WBC finals starter and Chicago Cubs’ ace has been consistently seen doing two things. The first is destroying the opposing batters and the other is showing respect to the umpires after every new ball. How does he do that? By doing what the Japanese do – Ojigi. 

Commonly called bowing, the Japanese have created a system of formally greeting each other. Unlike in the West where handshakes are the most common type of greeting, in the Land of the Rising Sun, people bow in respect for one another. It’s an elaborate system governed by degrees and given names according to it. The name of what Shota Imanaga and Shohei Ohtani normally do is Eshaku.

Imanaga and Ohtani normally bow up to 15 degrees for umpires or managers. That is a greeting reserved for casual meetings and fellow colleagues. It is a less formal way than Keirei (30 degrees) and Saikeirei (45 degrees). What it signifies is that the person is showing respect and greeting someone without being completely formal about it. 

Though sometimes one can see the two giving someone a Keirei (which is the most common form of greeting in official settings), usually it is reserved for someone they hold in very high esteem. 

Shota Imanaga and Shohei Ohtani – uncompromisingly respectful 

The Japanese culture of respect extends beyond greetings. One of the founding principles of their philosophy comes from being respectful about everything in life. Shohei Ohtani and Shota Imanaga respect their surroundings and their tools. It has been ingrained within them since their childhood. But it’s quite interesting how the two manage to show their gratitude in different ways.

For example, while their bowing has gone viral, Ohtani’s attention to cleanliness and order is second to none. The superstar rarely, if ever spits his sunflower seeds on the ground. Instead, he finds it better to hold two cups and spit it there. And if that wasn’t enough, the two-way phenom also rearranges his equipment after making it to first base. This greatly reduces the workload of the collector.

With such a respectful demeanor, is it surprising that both Imanaga and Ohtani have become instant favorites of their teams? Though in the case of the philosopher, his wicked sense of humor too has played a huge part in endearing him to the masses.