A group of volunteers in Iwate Prefecture has created a massive rice field mural honoring Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, taking tribute to the next level. The artwork is now three times bigger than past displays and filled with meaning. But this is just one of the many ways Ohtani is being recognized.
Takuo Kumagai Talks About Larger-Than-Life Tribute to Shohei Ohtani
The Aterui Rice Field Art Implementation Committee, a local group of volunteers, took on the challenge of creating this intricate rice field mural. They brought to life a bright depiction of Ohtani as a Dodgers player, planting seven varieties of rice in early June.
The mural also features the phrase “しょうぜ！”, which translates to “Let’s go for it” or “Let’s play baseball.”
One X user posted, “If you ever wondered what it looks like when an athlete transcends the game they play. This is it.”
If you ever wondered what it looks like when an athlete transcends the game they play.
This is it.
— Adam Greenbaum (@Greenbaumly) March 18, 2025
Another user responded, “That’s incredible! Shohei enshrined in agriculture.”
That's incredible! Shohei enshrined in agriculture.
— Ryan (@rdnewberry) March 18, 2025
In 2023, the community in Ōshū City crafted a 1,000-square-meter rice paddy artwork showcasing Ohtani in his Japan national team uniform, celebrating his role in Japan’s World Baseball Classic victory. The design included the phrases “WBC MVP” and “Oraho no☆” (meaning “star of the region”).
“Seven rice plant varieties, including white and purple ones, were used to create this piece,” a reporter noted.
“People from all around Japan have been visiting to see the work by the local association. The katakana ‘HO’ is written next to Ohtani in the mural. Did the association run out of space to write ‘homerun’?”
“We have done three times more before,” said Takuo Kumagai, who spoke on behalf of the committee.
Dentist Spends 100 Million Yen To Create Mini Museum for Ohtani
Dentist Yusuke Kamimura and his father have created a mini museum inside the waiting room of their dental clinic in Koshigaya City, Saitama Prefecture, as a tribute to Ohtani.
Over the past four years, they have spent nearly 100 million yen (about $675,000) to collect around 300 pieces of Ohtani memorabilia.
“I’ve been a fan of Shohei Ohtani for about 10 years. The opening games of the 2025 MLB season are in Tokyo, so it would be great if I could see Ohtani hit a home run here,” Kamimura said.
He added, “My father and I started collecting game-used items because we wanted to feel closer to Shohei Ohtani as fans. As the number of items grew, we thought instead of just keeping them for ourselves, it would be nice to share them with our patients. That’s why we created this space — for people who visit our clinic to enjoy them too.”
In November 2024, a Shohei Ohtani look-alike contest was held at the Japanese American National Museum, giving fans a chance to creatively celebrate the baseball icon.
Joseph Ma, who won the contest’s $17 prize (matching Ohtani’s jersey number) said, “Being compared to greatness is a great feeling, especially to someone who is not only an incredible baseball player but also does so much for the community.”
Meanwhile, at the famous Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo, a pop-up shop and museum featuring the Shohei Ohtani Tokyo Collection has drawn huge crowds. The New Balance store offers exclusive merchandise and highlights Ohtani’s baseball journey.
The collection features a wide variety of memorabilia, including gloves, helmets, signed balls, jerseys, and more, giving patients and visitors a one-of-a-kind experience. Standout pieces include a rosin bag, a bat broken in a 2021 game, and a blue helmet Ohtani wore at the 2024 MLB All-Star Game.