The baseball world is abuzz with the extraordinary talent of Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ newest sensation. Yet, beyond his towering home runs and blazing fastballs, a peculiar habit has captured the hearts and minds of fans: Ohtani’s relentless pursuit of trash on the baseball field. While many view it as a simple act of good samaritanism, the story behind this behavior runs much deeper, rooted in his Japanese upbringing and a unique philosophy towards luck.

Ohtani’s trash-picking ritual traces back to his high school days in Japan, where he meticulously crafted a Harada method chart to guide his journey toward success. Among his goals of gaining weight and being drafted number one overall, a dedicated section for “Karma” emphasized the importance of being a good person. In Ohtani’s mind, picking up trash was akin to picking up the luck that others had discarded, a practice he believed would ultimately contribute to his overall success.

This philosophy was reinforced by the teachings of his high school mentor, Hiroshi Sasaki, who instilled in Shohei Ohtani the importance of “human strength” alongside baseball skills. Sasaki taught him that “garbage is luck that people have dropped,” and by picking it up, one could attract that luck to themselves. Ohtani took this lesson to heart, incorporating “garbage picking” under the “luck” section of his goal achievement sheet.

Even after achieving many of his childhood dreams, including signing a lucrative $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ohtani continues to practice this habit. It’s a testament to his belief in the power of positive actions and his unwavering commitment to maintaining good fortune. This even explains his “mean side eye” to Will Smith during a game, as Ohtani likely viewed Smith’s littering as a squandering of luck.

Moreover, Ohtani’s actions resonate with Japanese cultural values, which emphasize cleanliness and respect for one’s surroundings. Picking up trash is a common practice in Japan—it is expected that one would do it, especially as a guest or host; Ohtani’s adherence to this tradition even while being on American soil only reflects his upbringing and respect for his cultural roots.

Shohei Ohtani’s habits are rooted in Japanese tradition and mentorship

It is to be noted here that none of this is for show—because Ohtani’s trash-picking habit isn’t limited to just the field. He has been caught on camera cleaning up the dugout after games, a gesture that surprised his teammates and fans alike. In one instance, he was even seen gathering plastic and paper cups used by his teammates, which stands as a perfect testament to his selfless personality and commitment to maintaining order.

Obviously, given the man’s sky-high popularity for his persona both on and off the field, this kind of behavior was impossible to go unnoticed by the media and fans. Social media has long circulated viral clips of an unaware Ohtani picking up trash captured by reporters, earning him praise for his humility and good-natured spirit. Even MLB has used Ohtani’s actions in promotional material for Earth Day, highlighting his positive influence on the environment.

One interesting fact to observe here is that Shohei Ohtani’s trash-picking philosophy finds an unlikely parallel in a Zen riddle. Just as one must empty a container of water before filling it with something new, Ohtani believes that one must clear away negative energy and discarded luck to make space for new opportunities and good fortune. It makes sense why his actions on the field symbolize this openness to receiving abundance in all aspects of his life.

As any good samaritan with a heart of gold, Ohtani remains grounded and committed to his values despite his immense talent and fiscal and careeristic success. His trash-picking habits only serve as a reminder that even among the most extraordinary individuals, one can find a sense of meaning in simple acts of kindness and respect for their surroundings, which often go unseen and unheard of in people of his stature.

Shohei Ohtani’s trash-picking phenomenon turns out to be more than just a quirky habit—it’s a reflection of his character, beliefs, and cultural values. As a living testament to the power of positive actions and the importance of maintaining good fortune, both on and off the field, he will continue to dazzle the baseball world with his skills, with his humble act of picking up trash undoubtedly leaving a lasting impression on fans and inspiring others to follow suit. After all, as Ohtani himself says, “If you consider the garbage that people throw away as luck, you can get good fortune by picking it up.”