Shohei Ohtani’s Parents Learn “Seven Policies and Three Promises to His Father”

Today we bring you a very special topic.

It is about the illustrious career of baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani, who is set to join the Los Angeles Dodgers with a contract worth “10 years and 101.5 billion yen,” the most expensive contract ever in the world of sports, and the family environment that supported him.
Ohtani is more than just a baseball player. He has become an athlete whose astonishing talent and humble personality have attracted fans around the world and endeared him to people beyond borders.

With his recent success, Otani has made new history in the world of baseball.
He has shown exceptional talent as both a pitcher and a hitter, and his all-around skills have amazed not only baseball fans but also all those who love the sport.

But his success was not built overnight. Behind it all lies the family environment that shaped him and the wise parenting principles of his parents.

This article focuses on Shohei Ohtani’s path to becoming a world-class athlete and his family’s parenting policies that influenced his character development along the way. His journey is more than just a sports success story; it teaches us universal lessons in parenting.

Let’s explore together the parenting secrets practiced by Shohei Ohtani’s parents.

Shohei Ohtani’s parents practiced “parenting without scolding,” which emphasizes understanding and dialogue rather than scolding.
For example, when he made a mistake in baseball, instead of scolding him, his parents spent time with him thinking about what went wrong and how he could improve. This approach provides an environment in which the child can continue to challenge himself with confidence without falling into self-criticism. It also helps them develop the courage to try new things without fear of failure.

To foster independence, Ohtani’s parents gave him many opportunities to think for himself.
For example, it is said that he was encouraged to think independently, such as thinking up his own practice menu and game strategy. By letting him think for himself, they nurtured his problem-solving and self-determination skills. This parenting policy encourages children to take a proactive role in their own lives and lays the foundation for them to become independent adults in the future.

Courtesy was a particular emphasis in the Ohtani family.
Because both parents had serious sports experience, polite behavior was always expected, from daily greetings to expressions of respect for others. This environment fosters social skills and empathy, as well as forms the basis for building good relationships with others. A courteous attitude is an important element in gaining trust and respect in relationships.

In Otani’s family, spending time with his family was emphasized.
Even with a busy baseball practice schedule, his parents made it a priority to ensure that he had time to spend with his family. Whether it is going camping on the weekends or attending local events, these times are important opportunities for children to feel secure and to experience love from their families. Strong family bonds are the foundation for a child’s emotional stability and healthy development.

From the very beginning of Otani’s baseball career, his parents made it their top priority to ensure that he enjoyed the game.
They supported him in developing his own passion for baseball and having fun doing it. This parenting policy encourages children to pursue their own interests and passions and fosters intrinsic motivation. Passion for what one wants to do is an important component of a child’s self-actualization and sense of well-being.

The Otani family emphasized mealtime as a fun time for the whole family to get together.
By eating together, they had the opportunity to share daily events and deepen communication among family members. This custom contributes to strengthening family ties and deepening mutual understanding. Through meals, the importance of healthy eating habits is also conveyed.

Ohtani’s parents made it a point to avoid fighting in front of their children.
This maintained a stable environment in the home and provided a sense of security for their children. When children grow up in a stable family environment, it greatly contributes to their mental stability and promotes healthy social and emotional development. In addition, the parents’ attitude of avoiding conflict and resolving problems peacefully sets a good example for the child.

Three promises made in the exchange diary with his father shaped Otani’s attitude toward baseball.
In his “Baseball Notebook,” an exchange diary with his father Toru, Otani frequently wrote the following three words, which he still cherishes to this day.

The teachings from Toru went beyond mere technical baseball instruction and played an important role in shaping his humanity and professionalism.

Toru stressed the importance of Otani’s loud voice during baseball play since he was a child.
This meant more than simply speaking up; it was to foster a confident and positive attitude toward playing. For example, even when playing catch, Otani was instructed to communicate loudly. This habit became the foundation for his leadership on the team and also helped him develop the ability to express himself.

His father, Toru, always stressed the importance of catching the ball, the fundamental element of baseball.
From the time Otani was very young, playing catch with his father was not just for fun, but an important practice to improve his technique and concentration. Toru taught him how to throw accurately, how to catch the ball, and even how to move his feet, all in great detail. This thorough basic practice became the foundation for Otani’s later development as a highly skilled player.

Base running is a very important element in baseball.
His father, Toru, demanded that Otani run as hard as he could, no matter what kind of practice or play he was doing. This meant more than just running fast; it was to instill in him the attitude of giving maximum effort in any situation. This teaching is the basis of Ohtani’s attitude of always giving his all on the field, and is one of the characteristics of his style of play.

These teachings laid the foundation for Shohei Ohtani’s development as an athlete who captivates the world. The guidance of his father, Toru, contributed greatly not only to his technical development, but also to his mental development, and the influence of his father’s guidance is clearly evident in the way Ohtani plays today.

His parents’ child-rearing policy and the promise made to his father helped him become not just an athlete, but someone who captivates people all over the world.

These episodes should provide us all with important lessons in parenting and daily life. Let us raise our children with love and support so that they, like Shohei Otani, can shine in their respective fields.