Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani Reveals How Earthquake Shaped His Mindset

"When I think back to that time, I'm just grateful if there's anything I can do to help, even in a small way. It's not about how strong that support is - what really matters is the sense that we're all connected and supporting one another."

"As more and more people grow up without having experienced the disaster themselves, it becomes harder with time to pass on those memories and lessons. But I believe that sharing t"

Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers star, was significantly impacted by the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011, when he was 16 years old. The magnitude 9.0 earthquake and resulting tsunami killed or left missing approximately 22,000 people, devastating coastal towns in the Tohoku region. Ohtani and his Hanamaki Higashi High School baseball teammates were practicing indoors two hours from the coast and were spared the tsunami's direct effects. Despite uncertainty and impacts on their families, the team remained together and advanced to the championship game. The disaster fundamentally changed Ohtani's perspective, shifting him from self-focused to more aware of others' struggles. He emphasizes the importance of connection, support, and preserving memories of the disaster for future generations.

Read at Dodgersnation