Hollywood, Los Angeles, has heard of Shohei Ohtani, starting in Iwate, Japan. Numerous publications have acknowledged his impact, most notably Time Magazine’s list of the 100 Most Influential People of 2021. Prodigies, however, are fortunate to have a family that encourages them along their path in addition to their gifts.

The Japan Times’ Mai Yoshikawa detailed journalist Taeko Yoshii’s trip, which involved meeting the families of 300 professionals to find commonalities in their upbringing.

Yoshii spoke in particular about the Ohtani family and how Shohei Ohtani’s parents, Toru and Kayoko, shaped the man who inked a $700 million deal.

Yoshii told Yoshikawa, “Ohtani’s mother, Kayoko, proudly displayed his sporting memorabilia in the family home, while his father, Toru, connected with his son through a shared journal they passed back and forth.”She said, “And the couple, who also have two other kids, vowed never to argue in front of the kids.”

She went on to tell the tale of Kayoko, who managed to take care of her family and accompany Ohtani’s older sister Yuka to his games.

For instance, Kayoko Ohtani made sure that Shohei’s baseball games weren’t limited to father-son activities by always bringing his elder sister along. According to Yoshii, via Japan Times, “many of the well-known athletes I’ve come to know, their sport was a family affair.”

Shohei Ohtani has already shown his value through his Cactus League performances.

Every major team was vying for the contract of Japanese phenom Shohei Ohtani in 2023, making him the most sought-after free agent. The Los Angeles Dodgers signed him to a record-breaking 10-year, $700 million contract after weeks of conjecture.