The world needs no new introduction of Shohei Ohtani, the Boys in Blue’s greatest free agency win, otherwise known as the “world’s best baseball player.” While Ohtani plays for U.S.-based teams, the slugger is not too concerned about practicing his language skills. Fortunately, he has his long-time companion, Ippei Mizuhara, to help with that.

Mizuhara is a well-established linguist for baseball players in and outside America. Despite having roots that reach far out to Japan, he spent the majority of his childhood and educational tenure in the land of opportunity. Mizuhara has garnered global fame by Ohtani’s side as not just a translator, but also a close personal friend. Considering the impact Mizuahara has on the phenomenal Shohei Ohtani’s upward career curve, the details of his ties to Uncle Sam demand attention.

Ippei Mizuhara: Born in Japan, raised in Los Angeles, California

Ippei Mizuhara, a Japanese by birth, has his roots in Hokkaido, where he was born in the year 1984 on the 31st of December. Mizuahar’s father, Hidemasa Mizuhara, a chef by profession, decided to migrate to Los Angeles, CA, in 1991 with his family in search of better career opportunities. Their family now owns a restaurant in the city.

Ippei was known to be involved in sports during his high school years, though baseball wasn’t a part of that list. Interestingly enough, his US high school recognizes him as one of the most important alumni of their institution.

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A US college graduate: A look into Mizuhara’s educational journey

While attending the local high school in the eastern LA County of Diamond Bar, Mizuhara played basketball and soccer. 2003 alumni Mizuhara is well respected in the school and is considered somewhat of a phenomenon of his own. His consistent part in Shohei Ohtani’s career is what made that possible.

The school’s alumni spotlight page details Mizuhara as a celebrity who has gained fame with his own credibility. “Mizuhara has gained popularity among baseball fans for his close association with Ohtani.” As it comes naturally to any educational institution, the school loves Mizuhara for both his presence and his past of playing on their sports teams. A practice that went on until he moved to Riverside, CA, to pursue further education.

Watch This Story: Breaking Down The Details Of Ippei Mizuhara: The Bridge Between The Japanese Phenom Shohei Ohtani And America

Ippei Mizuhara completed his graduation from the UC Riverside campus in 2007 before initiating his adventure of working as one of the most prominent translators in MLB’s history. His impressive portfolio ranges as far as NPB’s Nippon Ham Fighters team to MLB’s Boston Red Sox, highlighting the journey of a man who is heavy on committing to a cause and staying true to it.

A changed approach: From Seattle Mariners to Los Angeles Angels

Mizuhara was not an ardent baseball fan in his childhood years. It all changed when countryman Ichiro Suzuki joined the Seattle Mariners as one of the biggest additions to their lineup. In a 2018 Bally Sports Interview, Ippei Mizuhara divulged, “I was more of a Mariners fan because of Ichiro,” before continuing to say that he supports the Angels and the Yankees as well.

What is interesting about that predicament is that being a Los Angeles dweller himself, Mizuhara never really felt the urge to visit Angel Stadium, which was just 15 minutes away from his home. His first interest in the sport came to light when the Dodgers acquired Hideo Nomo back in 1995.

“I was right in the middle of Nomo Fever,” the linguist revealed to Sports Illustrated, before admitting that since then he has gotten involved a lot more in MLB. Suzuki made his love for the game as strong as it could for the time being. Following that, Mizuhara finally got the chance to witness the intricacies of the sport when the Red Sox team called him on his first interpreting job for their Japanese ace Hideki Okajima.

Mizuhara served as the team’s Japanese translator from 2007 to 2011, after which he got a call from the Nippon Ham Fighters. As fate would have it, that is also where he met his most prominent client of the future, Shohei Ohtani.

“Really Gonna Miss You”: Shohei Ohtani’s Translator Bids Heartfelt Farewell to LA Angels

Ippei Mizuhara traveled to Japan to act as a native interpreter for the team’s American players, which included the current Red Sox ace, Chris Martin. In an unprecedented play of fate, that job offered him the opportunity to witness the then-18-year-old Shohei Ohtani at play. Mizuhara revealed what he felt during their first meeting during his Angels’ tenure as Shotime’s translator. Incidentally, the stadium closest to Mizuhara’s U.S. home proved to be the biggest turning point of his career, despite him not having been there in the past.

Ippei Mizuhara’s life as Shohei Ohtani’s closest ally

“I always remember how lucky I am to be in this spot,” Ippei Mizuhara once mused to Sports Illustrated. “When I first saw him I was like, ‘Oh, my God, this guy’s unreal.’ That’s got to be the best part of the job, just getting to be in the house and watch him do his thing.” It seems like Shohei Ohtani’s form on the field was enough to make Mizuhara in awe of the two-way superstar. The bond that the two fostered over the years, beginning with their 2017 Angels journey together, only showed how paramount Mizuhara has proven to be in Ohtani’s success.

For a person who once said, “Speaking is only about 10 percent of the job,” to The Athletic, Ippei Mizuhara has consistently reflected the sincerity behind those words in his past efforts to stay by Shotime’s side through thick and thin. Be it playing catcher to him in the 2021 Home Run Derby or spending time analyzing rivals’ gameplay together, to helping Ohtani recover, the man doesn’t know what limits are when it comes to fulfilling responsibilities.

How Much Does Shohei Ohtani’s Translator, Ippei Mizuhara Earn?

Two of the biggest instances of his commitment were seen once in the 2021–2022 MLB lockout. The teams strictly advised the players not to be in touch with the personnel they employed. As a solution, Mizuhara straight up and exited the Angels banner by temporarily resigning from the team, putting his earnings at risk just so he could stay in constant touch with Ohtani. In the second instance, Mizuhara picked up and dropped groceries for Ohtani during one of his recovery periods from surgery. 

How deep the Mizuahara-Ohtani bond goes doesn’t need any emphasis. Fans can expect them to show up at Dodgers meetings and other events from the 2024 games onward. Cheers to their lasting bond, the true display of camaraderie of the highest kind!