Shohei Ohtani became the first pitcher to hit a leadoff hit run in a postseason game. As his wife, Mamiko, cheered for him from the stands, let’s look back at his reflection on married life.

Shohei Ohtani is a Japanese baseball player who plays in MLB for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Known for being a ‘two-way’ player, as a pitcher and a hitter, Shohei has carved a special place in the hearts of his fans. He is also popular for his calm and composed demeanour on the field. Recently, Shohei made history, being the first pitcher to hit a leadoff hit run in a postseason game, which brought him back to the headlines. While his fans have been going gaga over his historical moment, it was his lucky charm, his wife, Mamiko, who, from the stands, was cheering for him. Amid this moment, let’s circle back to the time when Shohei talked about his marital life.

Shohei Ohtani makes history in Game 4 of the NLCS, as his wife, Mamiko returns to the stands

The two-way player, Shohei Ohtani’s brilliance reflected on the field throughout game 4 of the National League Championship Series (NLCS), the playoff that determined who would have their tickets booked to the World Series. Shohei hit three home runs and scored six runs in six scoreless innings to lead the Dodgers to a 5-1 win. It was a historical moment for Shohei as he became the 11th player to hit three home runs in a postseason game, the second pitcher in American League or National League history to hit three home runs in a game.

Though it was not a really good beginning for Shohei, he ended the series with an incredible game, leaving everyone gushing over his skills. Amid this historical moment, it was Shohei’s very own lucky charm that grabbed the attention. It was his wife, Mamiko, who was present on the stands to witness the victorious moment of her husband. She was nowhere to be seen during the first two matches, but she made an appearance for Game 3 and Game 4, along with their daughter.

Shohei Ohtani talked about his marital life with Mamiko

Shohei Ohtani kept his marriage to Mamiko a secret, and it was only in February 2024 that he announced the same. Taking to his Instagram, he revealed that he didn’t start his new life with the Dodgers, but he also geared up in his personal life with a native from his country, Japan, who is very special to him. On the other hand, a report by the LA Times shared that the couple actually got engaged back in 2023, and she even accompanied him to his spring training in Arizona. Sharing that he has gotten married, Shohei revealed:

“Not only have I begun a new chapter in my career with the Dodgers but I also have [begun] a new life with someone from my native country of Japan who is very special to me and I wanted everyone to know I am now married.”

There have been several moments afterwards, when Shohei has talked about his wife. In a press conference, he talked about his wife, Mamiko. The player revealed that he doesn’t like to talk much about his personal life. He mentioned that his wife is a normal woman, and he’s not very comfortable talking about his marriage. In another press conference, Shohei mentioned that his wife has a great understanding of his profession, and she has always respected his profession and accompanied him wherever he went. As per Kyodo News, Shohei said:

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“She has a great understanding of my profession. She respected my decision … and offered to come with me wherever I go. So, where I want to play baseball was my top priority.”

Who is Mamiko? A glimpse at her parenthood with Shohei Ohtani

For the unversed, Mamiko is a retired basketball player. She was born in 1996 and started playing basketball at Hino Daiichi Junior High School. In 2019, Mamiko joined Fujitsu Red Wave of the Women’s Japan Basketball League. She played there for the next four years. Mamiko represented Japan in several FIFA Women’s Champions League tournaments and won a silver medal for Japan while playing for the national U-24 team at the 2017 Summer Universiade in Taiwan. In 2023, Mamiko decided to retire.

Talking about her parenthood journey, she became a mom to Shohei Ohtani’s child back in April 2025. Taking to his IG handle, Shohei shared the news with his fans and revealed that they have welcomed a beautiful daughter.

What do you think about Shohei Ohtani’s historic game and his reflection on his marital life with Mamiko?