Oshu City Fans Rally for Shohei Ohtani in World Series Game 3
OSHU CITY, Japan (AP) — On Tuesday morning, hundreds of enthusiastic fans gathered in the serene town of Oshu, known as the hometown of baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani. This lively public viewing event took place 13 hours ahead of Yankee Stadium, as supporters gathered at the Oshu City Cultural Center to witness Ohtani’s performance in Game 3 of the World Series, which was broadcast live.
The atmosphere outside the 500-seat auditorium was electric, with fans forming a line an hour before the game commenced. Many wore the colors of the Los Angeles Dodgers, proudly displaying caps and jerseys, while others brought various noisemakers, including thunder sticks, to cheer on their local hero. The hall was decorated with posters proclaiming Ohtani as “The Pride of Oshu City.”
Ohtani, participating in the game just two days after dislocating his left shoulder in Game 2, received an overwhelming welcome from the crowd. He drew a walk during his first at-bat, igniting wild cheers from the 250 fans in attendance, who chanted “Go, Go, Shohei.” The excitement reached a new peak when the Dodgers surged to a 2-0 lead thanks to a home run from Freddie Freeman.
Among the audience were approximately 20 children from the kindergarten that Ohtani attended as a child. These young fans waved small flags featuring Ohtani’s smiling face, adding to the heartwarming scene. Many attendees were initially anxious about Ohtani’s ability to play due to his recent injury, but they made their way to the center once they received the encouraging news.
“I came to see Ohtani because the television news reported that he would play,” remarked Tadashi Onodera, a dedicated fan. “It’s fantastic. We feel immense pride in having such a player emerge from our hometown.”
Fan Hiromitsu Kikuchi echoed this sentiment, saying, “He’s more like a Japanese treasure than just a local (treasure). I think he has transcended his hometown and is now regarded as world-class. We’ve never had a star player like this before from our region.”
This is the same town where Ohtani’s baseball journey began: playing Little League, excelling as a pitcher and hitter at Hanamaki Higashi High School, and earning the title of favorite son of Iwate Prefecture, a picturesque area along the Pacific Ocean. Oshu City is situated about 300 miles (500 kilometers) north of Tokyo, nestled in a predominantly rural setting far removed from the bustling capital and its towering skyscrapers.
ADDS THE NAME OF THE PERSON, CENTER, FRONT – Oshu Mayor Jun Kuranari, center, and other people watch on a live stream before the start of Game 3 of the baseball World Series between Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees during a public viewing event in Oshu, northeastern Japan, the hometown of Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
The fans’ focus remained steadfast on Ohtani and his recovery from injury, as uncertainty had previously cast a shadow over the gathering. However, joy returned when Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced Ohtani would start as the designated hitter and leadoff hitter for Game 3. This decision was met with widespread relief and excitement from local supporters and baseball enthusiasts alike.
“I was concerned about the injury, but I believed he would be fine,” expressed Masatoshi Honmyo, a dedicated local fan. “I would say he is a hero.”
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