Picture this: Shohei Ohtani, the biggest star in baseball, at the middle of a stadium full of raucous spectators and media who are waiting for every word. His connection with his translator, Ippei Mizuhara, is the unexpecteԀ twist in an otherwise predictable baseball interview. The reaction from Ohtani?

A deadpan wit that gets everyone in stitches and makes them wonder: are these two best friends or…business partners?

Shohei Ohtani’s funny shade gives baseball bromance a side of LOLs.

 

“Yeah, we’re not friends or anything,” Ohtani jokes with Mizuhara, who also acts as his messenger and trusted confidante. “We are merely joint venture partners.” Ohtani himself busts off a fit of laughter during Saturday’s Dodger Fest, sending the sound reverberating off the stadium walls. Where is the humor in this?

The trutҺ is out in the open for everybody to see. You heard it correctly; Mizuhara is Shohei Ohtani’s “unicorn catcher” and right-hand man. For screaming out loud, they’re more paired than Mizuhara and his wife! Their relationship is so intensely professional that labeling it a “bromance” is, well, let’s just sаy it’s ridiculous.

But hear me out: clever wording isn’t the only thing going on in this humorous jab. It shows the special bond that Ohtani and Mizuhara share, which is both endearing and unusual. According to The Athletic, they started their trip in Japan, where Ohtani had a deeper connection with Ippei-san than with any other American player he had worked with before.

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Mizuhara has been Ohtani’s interpreter, gaming partner, rock (after surgery, of course!), grocery getter, and maybe even friend (wink wink) for the last six years since they departed Japan together. This story involves an interpreter who specializes in baseball.

Beyond Ippei’s Bonds and Businesses Mizuhara goes out of her way to become a cultural ambassador, confidante, and, on occasion, teammate for Shohei Ohtani (do you recall the Home Run Derby?). His unwavering support for Ohtani has made him a beloved figure in Japan and beyond, where he has amassed a global fan base.0

The influence of this “cult-like status” on the field of interpretation should therefore not be overlooked. Mizuhara’s one-of-a-kind performance brings attention to a field that is frequently eclipsed by the celebrities they interpret for. He has become a symbol of interpretation, demonstrating that it is about more than simply words; it is also about establishing rapport, elucidating cultural differences, and, who knows, maybe even sharing some hilarious inside jokes.

They are more than simply business partners; keep that in mind the next time you see Shohei Ohtani and Ippei Mizuhara together. The finest connections are the ones that can make you laugh till your sides hurt; this hilarious and touching friendship knows no boundaries when it comes to languages or baseball diamonds. Who knows? Maybe Mizuhara will even pen a memoir about her bromantic adventures with baseball’s biggest superstar called “Not Quite Friends.” Do you not believe that is a book that is just begging to be published?