"I won't do it" There was a controversy over the refusal of an interview with the Japanese media with an impression of Ohtani, and there was a reason

By Yuri, Na

Nov 05, 2024

'I won't do it' There was a controversy over the refusal of an interview with the Japanese media with an impression of Ohtani, and there was a reason
Otani accepts the explanation from the staff that he needs to do a broadcast interview. Photo =Fuji TV Capture



'I won't do it' There was a controversy over the refusal of an interview with the Japanese media with an impression of Ohtani, and there was a reason
Otani, who frown and refuses the interview after checking the media. Photo =Fuji TV Capture Screen
'I won't do it' There was a controversy over the refusal of an interview with the Japanese media with an impression of Ohtani, and there was a reason
Otani turns around and leaves after refusing the interview. Photo =Fuji TV Capture Screen
Major League Baseball's 「Superstar" Shohei Ohtani refused to interview his native Japanese broadcaster after winning the World Series. But there was a good reason.

The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Yankees 4-1 in the World Series to the top. ahead of this seasonOhtani, who signed an astronomical FA contract of 700 million dollars (about 960 billion won) for 10 years with Juss, advanced to the postseason for the first time in a year after moving to the team and won his first World Series.

Naturally, the whole nation was in a state of turmoil in Japan. Not only Ohtani, but also another Japanese pitcher, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, is playing for the Dodgers, and the two were already interested as much as national stars. Games 1 and 2 of the World Series were watched by an average of 15.15 million people in Japan.




In addition, it was possible to predict its enormous popularity, with the viewership (based on Kanto district) in Japan, which was broadcast live on the broadcaster 'Fuji TV', exceeding 13% on average.

However, shortly after winning the championship, Ohtani frowned and refused to be interviewed by 'Fuji TV' was broadcast live. Ohtani responded to short interviews with broadcasters while performing a ground ceremony with his teammates shortly after winning the championship. Among them, an official believed to be a 'Fuji TV' staff member briefed Ohtani about the interview, and Ohtani responded.

'I won't do it' There was a controversy over the refusal of an interview with the Japanese media with an impression of Ohtani, and there was a reason
Otani and his wife, Mamiko, and their dog, Decopin. EPA Yonhap News
However, as soon as Ohtani, who was approaching for the interview, checked the reporter's face a few steps away, he whispered briefly to the staff who asked for the interview, and then made an impression and went back on live broadcast.




This is due to a bad relationship with 'Fuji TV'. After Ohtani moved to the Dodgers, Japanese media competed for every move.

The problem happened in the Arizona spring camp. Dozens of Japanese media covered the camp site, and the sports entertainment program 「'Fuji TV' reported the Porsche car he drove to work without Ohtani's permission, took pictures, and uploaded them to SNS. The host of the program is Daisuke Motoki, a former Yomiuri Giants player and broadcaster. Motoki deleted a photo of Ohtani's vehicle from social media when he was criticized.

In June of this year, it was revealed that 'Fuji TV' and 'Nihon Televi' even flew drone cameras to film the interior of the new mansion purchased by the Ohtani couple, and that they tried to reveal their sensitive privacy to nearby residents, such as whether they knew about Ohtani. Ohtani is known to be very angry.




'I won't do it' There was a controversy over the refusal of an interview with the Japanese media with an impression of Ohtani, and there was a reason
Shohei Ohtani who responded to the press conference after winning. AFP Yonhap News
The Dodgers disenfranchised Fuji TV from interviewing the clubhouse, and since then Ohtani has not responded to interviews with Fuji TV and Nihon Televi.

Fuji TV even has the right to broadcast Dodgers games in Japan, but it is reluctant to cooperate with Ohtani's interview. Yamamoto recently responded to an interview with 'Fuji TV', but tried to interview Ohtani again under the pretext of winning the World Series, but it failed.

In particular, Motoki was the reporter who tried to interview after winning the World Series, and Ohtani seems to have refused the interview after checking his face.

Fans say they can understand Ohtani's rejection. Some Japanese media have been overly competitive to report Ohtani's private life, and there are many voices uncomfortable with privacy violations, such as unnecessary information about his home being revealed.



youll@sportschosun.com

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