Dodgers News: Lakers’ Rui Hachimura Proud of Countryman Shohei Ohtani
Los Angeles is a city of champions, known for winning and winning at the highest level possible. The pennants and banners hanging in Dodger Stadium and Staples Center testify to this tradition.
If you’re a native of Los Angeles, no doubt your rooting interests lie with the Dodgers and the Los Angeles Lakers. These two squads are connected in so many ways. After the Dodgers signed baseball’s biggest star, Shohei Ohtani, they’ve never been more connected.
In Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Dodgers have two Japanese superstars on their roster. The Lakers have one of their own, forward Rui Hachimura. Hachimura, from Toyama, knows what it’s like to come from a different country and play professionally in the United States.
In a recent interview with Los Angeles Times staff writer Dan Woike, Hachimura expressed his excitement about Ohtani becoming a Dodger, and the impact Ohatni has had on him.
“I’m proud of being Japanese as an athlete, came from there, grew up and came here to the U.S. to be in the NBA, the top league in the world,” he told The Times. “It’s different sports, but I’m in one of the biggest organizations in the world. The Lakers. And also him as well. Baseball. Top league. Dodgers one of the biggest organizations. As a Japanese, I’m really proud of him and happy for him. He actually motivated me.”
Per Rui Hachimura via LA Times
Hachimura not only plays in Los Angeles — he plays for the biggest brand in the sport. The same can be said of Ohtani.
Yes, Ohtani has been in Southern California for the past six seasons, but the Angels’ brand has had a harder time transcending its local Orange County market. Playing for the Angels and Dodgers does not bring the same marketability or caché; insiders and outsiders alike that to be true.
Shohei is finally in Los Angeles — the real Los Angeles. Count Rui among those who couldn’t be happier. Growing up in Japan, the sport to play was baseball. Rui was no exception. He also told Woike that he idolized baseball legend Ichiro Suzuki.
“Everyone wanted to be like him,” Hachimura said.
Per Rui Hachimura via LA Times
Now, kids all over Japan, the U.S., and the world will want to be like Ohtani.
Just a couple of kids living their dreams, playing in the greatest city in the world.
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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