Shohei Ohtani Shares Rare Glimpse of Personal Life with Wife Mamiko Tanaka Ahead of Seoul Series

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani gave fans a rare peek into his personal life as he shared a photo on his Instagram Story alongside his wife, basketball player Mamiko Tanaka. The couple is currently en route to the 2024 Seoul Series where the Dodgers are scheduled to kick off the regular season on March 20 against the San Diego Padres.

Ohtani had previously mentioned his marriage through an interpreter in February without disclosing further details. Tanaka, a former basketball player who competed for teams such as the Fujitsu Red Wave in the Women’s Japan Basketball League from 2019 to 2023, is Ohtani’s beloved partner. She honed her skills playing for Waseeda University and Tokyo Seitoku University before transitioning to the professional league.

During her time with the Fujitsu Red Wave, Tanaka showcased her talents by averaging 7.8 points and 1.0 steals in 24 minutes per game, contributing significantly to the team’s success. Her prowess in basketball was evident when the Red Wave reached the league’s tournament final in a previous season.

Ohtani further confirmed his marriage in a social media post, three months after signing a lucrative 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers. In his announcement, he expressed excitement about this new chapter in both his career and personal life shared with a special someone from his home country of Japan. The confirmation of his marriage came as a pleasant surprise to his dedicated fans.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a fellow Japanese teammate, was also featured in Ohtani’s social media post along with Tanaka as they prepared for the Seoul Series. The Dodgers, in their post, referred to Tanaka as Ohtani’s wife in the alt text, making a public acknowledgment of their relationship ahead of the team’s international engagements.

As the Dodgers departed for South Korea to take part in the Seoul Series, Ohtani’s and Tanaka’s presence together marked their first public appearance following their marriage. This public reveal of their union adds a personal touch to Ohtani’s professional journey and sheds light on an otherwise private aspect of his life, delighting fans with insights into their favorite player’s world beyond baseball.