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"Ohtani: Made In Iwate" | The Untold Story of Shohei Ohtani’s Roots in Japan | Sports Illustrated

Sports Illustrated

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This is the story of the place that made Shohei Ohtani.

For over a fortnight, Sports Illustrated’s Max Whittle travelled across Japan — from Oshu City and Hanamaki in Iwate Prefecture to Hokkaido and Tokyo — to explore the people, culture and values that helped shape baseball’s biggest superstar.

Along the way, we meet Ohtani’s former high school coach Hiroshi Sasaki, legendary manager and mentor Hideki Kuriyama, devoted fans, former teammates, baseball historians and those who witnessed his rise long before the rest of the world knew his name.

From the training grounds of Hanamaki Higashi High School, where Ohtani developed under Coach Sasaki’s guidance, to the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters organisation that launched his professional career under Kuriyama, this documentary explores the unique environment that produced one of the most remarkable athletes in sporting history.

Featuring exclusive interviews — including Ohtani’s former MLB manager Joe Maddon — alongside rare stories and original reporting from across Japan, OHTANI: MADE IN IWATE is a journey into the heart of Japanese baseball culture, from the passionate ōendan cheering sections to the communities that continue to inspire generations of players.

Produced by Sports Illustrated TV.

#ShoheiOhtani #Ohtani #Dodgers #MLB #Ohtani #Baseball #JapaneseBaseball #NPB #SportsIllustrated #SportsIllustratedTV #Hanamaki #Iwate #Hokkaido #HidekiKuriyama #HiroshiSasaki #LosAngelesDodgers #Documentary #BaseballDocumentary #Japan #Oshu #Koshien #BaseballCulture #MadeInIwate

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Chapters:

0:00 Shohei Ohtani: From Japan to Baseball Superstardom
1:50 Inside Ohtani’s Hometown: Oshu, Iwate
5:07 Mizusawa Little League: Where Ohtani Started
7:18 How Ohtani’s Hometown Celebrates Him
10:33 Oshu FM: Following Ohtani Every Day
14:41 Ohtani’s Childhood Swimming Coach
16:48 Tom Verducci on Ohtani’s Father and Early Lessons
19:09 Japanese Baseball History and Ohtani’s High School Roots
28:35 Inside Japan’s High School Baseball Culture
29:40 Koshien: Japan’s Legendary Baseball Tournament
32:25 The Injury That Helped Create a Two-Way Star
36:21 Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Es Con Field
38:37 Why Ohtani Chose the Fighters Before MLB
40:20 Hideki Kuriyama’s Vision for a Two-Way Ohtani
44:13 Ohtani’s Training, Dorm Life and the “Ohtani Rule”
46:18 Ohtani’s 2016 MVP and Japan Series Championship
47:55 Japanese Baseball Fans and Cheering Traditions
50:25 Ohtani Fans: From Iwate to Los Angeles
52:54 Ohtani and Babe Ruth’s Home Run Connection
54:05 Ohtani vs. Babe Ruth and His Global Impact
1:05:21 Ohtani’s Farewell to Japan and the Fighters
1:07:01 The Japanese MLB Stars Who Paved the Way
1:08:10 Why Ohtani Signed With the Angels
1:10:02 Joe Maddon on Unleashing Ohtani’s Two-Way Talent
1:11:48 Baseball’s Negro League Two-Way Legends
1:14:00 Kobe Bryant’s Role in Recruiting Ohtani
1:15:05 Ohtani’s Impact on Los Angeles and Japanese Fans
1:17:13 Little Tokyo, Oshu and Ohtani’s Community Impact
1:23:21 The Values Behind Shohei Ohtani’s Greatness

____________________

Executive Producer - Alex Tzavalas
Director/Producer - Max Whittle
Supervising Producer - Andrew Kristy
Host - Max Whittle

Featuring:
Itaru Kobayashi
Jason Coskrey
Robert Whiting
Jerry Halvorsen
Hideki Kuriyama
Toshi Shimada
Kotaro Yoshida
Minami Yoshida
Yukie Takahashi
Takayuki Sato
Yuko Hattori
Zachery Gaither
Takumi Gaither Hattori
Rumi Fujimoto
Robert Vargas
Hironobu Kanno
Trevor Raichura
Reiko Kanaya
Hiroshi Sasaki
Taku Mayer
Yuto Asaki
Jota Takahashi
Yoshiko Chiba
Seiichiro Nakagaki
Tom Verducci
Joe Maddon
Hayato Arakaki
Takako Watanabe
Fumiyo Seki
Malachi Evans

Director of Photography - Max Whittle
Additional Cinematography - Snyder Derival
Production Sound - Phil Tudeme
Editing, Color & Sound Mix - Max Whittle
Post-Production Support - Sam Anderson
Editor-in-Chief - Stephen Cannella
Creative Director: Stephen Skalocky
Design - Stephen Goggi
Design - Lila Shokr
Poster Design - Yohey Horishita

Photo Research:
Marguerite Schropp Lucarelli
Abby Nicolas
Erick Rasco
Stefanie Kaufman

Transcription & Translation:
Trevor Raichura
Fausta Argnani
Yurika Yotsumoto

Archival Footage & Photography:
Mizusawa TV
Iwate Asahi Television
Oshu FM
Baseball Magazine Sha
Toru Sasaki
Kyodo News
Getty Images
Shutterstock

Music:
Extreme Music

Special Thanks:
Trevor Raichura
Hironobu Kanno
Hanamaki Higashi High School
Hiromu Inoue
Hiroyuki Sasuga
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
Jim Small
Wesley Chang
Robert Whiting
Fausta Argnani
Sam Anderson
Jerry Halvorsen
Michael Halvorsen
Yuko Hattori
Zachary Gaither
Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB)
Hiro Abei
Tom Verducci
Daiwa House Premist Dome
Yuki Uehara
Reiko Kanaya
Chinami Hara

Thank you to everyone in Japan who welcomed us and shared their stories.

© 2026 Sports Illustrated

20 Comments

@FlyingSkyy 21 hours ago (edited)

To this day, I still don't think people in America truly understand Ohtani the person. They understand the baseball player they see on the field but don't understand that Ohtani is "Japanese" to his very core. His work ethic, his mannerisms, his conviction, etc. A lot of people find him hard to connect with because he's not outwardly loud or arrogant which most would expect of someone who has accomplished this much. Because he doesn't fit the mold of what a American superstar is, he gets a lot of hate online and racism thrown at him.

@oan1290 19 hours ago (edited)

I am not an American nor a Japanese person. But I am a big fan of Shohei. Yes people may call me bandwagon, but I came from a country where you don't see or hear anything about baseball but still Shohei was able to influence me to root for him and the Dodgers from afar. I have watched all Dodgers games this year and I am looking forward to my first postseason as a fan. 💙

@tatimayumi 17 hours ago

Not only is he a great player with exceptional skills, but he’s also a humble person who never forgets where he came from

@jameslowery3882 23 hours ago

Ohtani is the most humble nicest person and a great player, everything you want from a sports athlete. Recently he opened up a childrens sports program center so kids can stay active and be involved in sports activity, also helped his teammate whose mother was battling cancer, and created a rescue animal shelter, to adopt rescued pets in need of loving homes.

@탄곰탱이 15 hours ago

저는 한국에 사는 오타니 팬입니다^^

매년 오타니 경기를 직접보러 갑니다.
재작년에는 서울 고척돔에서 2경기를 봤고 작년에는 아틀란타, 올해는 샌프란스코에서 가서 3경기를 보구 왔습니다.
오타니 은퇴전까지 매년 미국 여행을 계획하고 있습니다.
내년엔 워싱턴 DC 가서 볼려합니다..

정말 멋있는 야구 선수이자. 존경할만한 인물입니다.
오타니 행복야구를 응원합니다 😊

@miyo522 16 hours ago

I was very impressed by the interviews with the people of Iwate. People from the region are often known for being reserved and understated, so I was especially moved by how willing they were to open up and share their stories about Shohei. The interviewer did a wonderful job.

@einpepelu 19 hours ago

During a difficult time in my life, I watched him compete in the All-Star Home Run Derby. He wasn't hitting very well, but he enjoyed every moment. He didn't get frustrated, depressed, or upset; he was simply enjoying baseball. I was deeply moved by that. It was an event that changed my perspective on life. Because I had been raised being taught that "failure is life's failure." I had distanced myself from anything where failure was expected.
However, that day, I gained the freedom to enjoy failure and things not going well. my world expanded, my way of thinking changed, and I've felt free ever since.
Thank you, Sho. I hope you're enjoying your growth process again.

@VivaLaVida-y9o 15 hours ago

Wow!!What a wonderful documentary.Thank you Sports Illustrated
The more I learn about Shohie,the more I
respect him,.More blessings and success to Shohie, I hope he will achieve everything he wish for and enjoy the journey of getting there,.It's not easy given the facts of injuries,critisms,and hates he got,But it's all part of the Journey, May he find joy even in the most challenging times and overcome every hardships along the way..

@myjhersey17 1 day ago

Gifted is always nice to hear but Ohtani's greatness comes with a lot of hardwork and sacrifice.

@yoriokuda4792 9 hours ago

So true. The world is in turmoil. Shohei is brought to this world for a purpose. He is truly godsend. Young kids around the world are changing for the good because of him. Let there be peace on earth and let it start with me. I think that is what Shohei Ohtani is. Doesn’t know how he does it but he does. God bless him.