Shohei Ohtani, the Japanese baseball superstar who plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers, has recently announced that he is married. However, he did not reveal the name or any details of his wife, except that she is from Japan and “extraordinary”.
This has sparked a lot of curiosity and speculation among his fans and the media, who are eager to know more about his mysterious spouse. Is she Maiko Kano, the former Japanese volleyball player who was rumored to be dating Ohtani in 2018? Or is she someone else entirely? Here is what we know so far.
Wedding and Other Details
| Shohei Ohtani | Maiko Kano |
|---|---|
| 29 years old | 35 years old |
| Japanese baseball player for the Los Angeles Dodgers | Former Japanese volleyball player and sports commentator |
| Rumored to be dating Kano in 2018, but never confirmed or denied | Rumored to be dating Ohtani in 2018, but never confirmed or denied |
| Announced his marriage on Instagram on February 14, 2024 | Posted a photo of herself wearing a Dodgers cap in 2020 |
| Instagram- @shoheiohtani | Instagram- @kanochan715 |
The Rumor: Ohtani and Kano
One of the most persistent rumors about Shohei Ohtani’s love life is that he was romantically involved with Maiko Kano, a 35-year-old former Japanese volleyball player who won a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics. According to some reports, Maiko Kano was a big fan of Ohtani and asked his dietician, Megumi Omai, to introduce them in 2018. They allegedly hit it off and started dating secretly, keeping their relationship low-key and away from the public eye.
Some of the evidence that fans used to support this rumor include:
- Matching bracelets: Shohei and Kano were spotted wearing matching Tiffany bracelets, which some fans interpreted as a sign of their relationship. However, it could have been a coincidence or a gift from a friend.
- Instagram posts: Maiko Kano posted several photos and messages on her Instagram account that seemed to hint at her connection with Shohei. For example, when he returned from an injury in 2018, she posted a picture of a ring with her birthstone in the constellation of crab, which is also Ohtani’s zodiac sign. She also posted a photo of herself wearing a Dodgers cap and a shirt with the number 17, which is Ohtani’s jersey number. She captioned it with “I’m rooting for you” and a heart emoji. In addition, she posted a photo of herself holding a baseball bat and a glove, with the caption “I want to play catch with you”.
- Long-distance relationship: Ohtani and she reportedly maintained a long-distance relationship, as Shohei moved to the US to play for the Dodgers, while Maiko Kano stayed in Japan to pursue her career as a sports commentator. They communicated through phone calls and video chats, and occasionally met in person when Ohtani visited Japan.
The Truth: Ohtani and His Wife
Despite the rumors, Shohei Ohtani and Kano never confirmed or denied their relationship publicly. They always maintained that they were just friends and nothing more. In fact, Kano is currently dating someone else, according to her Instagram posts. She has been sharing photos and videos of herself with a man named Yuki, who is a fitness trainer and a model. They seem to be very happy and in love, as they celebrate holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries together.
On the other hand, Shohei surprised everyone with his marriage announcement on February 14, 2024, which also happened to be Valentine’s Day. He posted a photo of himself holding a bouquet of roses, with a caption that read:
“Hello everyone. I have an important announcement to make. I recently got married to someone extraordinary from Japan. I’m very happy and excited for this new chapter in my life. I’m sorry for not sharing this news sooner, but I wanted to respect her privacy and wishes. She is not a public figure, and I hope you can understand and respect that. I will answer any questions from the reporters at the next press conference. Thank you for your continuous support and love. I will do my best to play baseball and make you proud.”
Ohtani did not reveal the name or any details of his wife, except that she is from Japan and “extraordinary”. He also did not share any photos of her or their wedding. He said that he wanted to keep his personal life private and protect his wife from unwanted attention and scrutiny. He also said that he met his wife through a mutual friend, and that they dated for about a year before getting married. He said that she is very supportive of his career and that they share a lot of common interests and values.
Shohei’s marriage announcement came as he was preparing for his seventh MLB season and his debut with the Dodgers, following a record-breaking contract signing worth $700 million. He said that he is very motivated and confident for the upcoming season, and that he hopes to achieve his goals and dreams with his new team and his new wife by his side.
The Reaction: Fans and Media
Shohei Ohtani’s marriage announcement was met with mixed reactions from his fans and the media. Some were happy and congratulated him for his marriage, while others were shocked and disappointed that he did not marry Kano or reveal his wife’s identity. Some were curious and eager to know more about his wife, while others respected his privacy and wished him the best. Some were supportive and hopeful for his future, while others were skeptical and worried about his performance.
Rumor or Real?
Shohei Ohtani’s wife’s name remains a mystery, as he has not revealed it to the public. He has only said that she is from Japan and is “extraordinary”. He has also said that he is very happy and excited about his marriage and that he respects and loves his wife very much. He has asked his fans and the media to understand and respect his privacy and wishes, and to focus on his baseball career instead of his personal life.
Therefore, the rumor that Ohtani married Maiko Kano, the former Japanese volleyball player, is most likely false. There is no concrete evidence that they were ever dating, let alone married. They have always denied their relationship, and she is currently dating someone else. Ohtani has said that he met his wife through a mutual friend, and that they dated for about a year before getting married. This timeline does not match with the rumor that he was dating Maiko Kano in 2018.
Thank you for your continued warm support. As the season approaches, I would like to announce to everyone today that I have gotten married.
We will be starting with a new team and a new environment, but I hope that the two of us (or even just one animal) will work together, support each other, and move forward together with our fans. I think there are still a lot of things that are still immature, but I would appreciate it if you could watch over me warmly.
My partner is a Japanese woman. We will deal with this in a boxed interview tomorrow, so we ask that you please refrain from conducting unauthorized interviews, including with parents and family members.
