Former Interpreter for Ohtani, Ippei Mizuhara, Discovered Inaccuracies in Public Bio
As a brewing gambling scandal has ensnared Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani, questions have arisen about the reliability of the tale’s primary narrator thus far: Ohtani’s now former interpreter and best friend, Ippei Mizuhara. Those questions have only grown, with increased scrutiny on Mizuhara revealing that key points of his publicly available biography appear to be either exaggerated or inaccurate.
Mizuhara’s Questionable Biography
For years, the Los Angeles Angels media guide listed Mizuhara as having graduated from the University of California, Riverside in 2007, and that he spent spring training in 2012 working for the New York Yankees as an interpreter for Japanese pitcher Hideki Okajima. Additionally, multiple news reports noted that Mizuhara served as Okajima’s interpreter in 2010 with the Boston Red Sox — where he reportedly got his first major-league opportunity.
However, the University of California, Riverside disputed the notion that Mizuhara had ever attended the school, much less graduated. They stated that their university records do not show a student by the name of Ippei Mizuhara having attended UC Riverside. When asked if it was possible Mizuhara attended the school under a different name or if anyone with a similar name ever attended, UC Riverside did not respond.
The Inconsistencies Surrounding Mizuhara
Furthermore, news reports show that Okajima failed a physical on Feb. 17, 2012, before spring training, leading to his release by the Yankees. This raises questions about whether Mizuhara could have worked with Okajima before the official start of camp, during the month or so when players on minor-league deals might arrive early to work out.
In addition to the Red Sox’s denial, archives from the Boston Globe in April and May 2010 name Ryo Shinkawa as Okajima’s interpreter. The team’s media guide from 2010 lists two people as team interpreters that season, but not Mizuhara. Searches on two different news databases did not bring up results featuring Mizuhara before 2018 when Ohtani first signed with the Angels.
The Role of Media Relations in Biography Verification
In devising a media guide, the standard protocol requires trust between the media relations department and the rest of the employees. Media relations staffers from other clubs, who requested anonymity, revealed that the department does not have the time to vet the resume claims of each employee. Instead, a media relations staffer will often send a proposed biographic thumbnail for pre-approval to the employee or ask for biographical information when publishing the guide.
The Ongoing Scandal and Investigations
Mizuhara was terminated from his position with the Dodgers after Ohtani’s representatives alleged that he stole at least $4.5 million from Ohtani to cover his own gambling losses. Mizuhara initially claimed that Ohtani had agreed to pay off his debts and was present when the money was wired to the alleged bookmaker, Matt Bowyer. However, Ohtani’s spokesman later recanted the account, stating that Ohtani had not been aware of Mizuhara’s gambling activity.
The IRS has opened a criminal investigation into Mizuhara, and Ohtani’s representatives have initiated a criminal complaint against him. Major League Baseball has also announced that it opened a formal investigation into the situation.
Mizuhara’s Prominence in Major League Baseball
Until these recent events, Mizuhara had been the most prominent of a small group of interpreters working with Asian players in Major League Baseball. He was seen as Ohtani’s right-hand man, always at the side of the two-way superstar, and he was one of the most public-facing people in the sport.
Conclusion
The brewing gambling scandal involving Shohei Ohtani has cast doubt on the credibility of his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. The discovery of inaccuracies in Mizuhara’s biography has raised questions about the reliability of his claims. The University of California, Riverside denied Mizuhara’s attendance at the school, and conflicting reports have surfaced regarding his role as Okajima’s interpreter. The ongoing investigations by the IRS, Ohtani’s representatives, and Major League Baseball further complicate the situation. Mizuhara’s termination from the Dodgers and the alleged theft of millions of dollars from Ohtani only add to the controversy. Despite his prominence in Major League Baseball, Mizuhara’s credibility is now under scrutiny, leaving many to wonder about the extent of his involvement in Ohtani’s career.