Ippei Mizuhara is a Japanese professional interpreter who currently translates for Japanese baseball star Shohei Ohtani, find out more about him below along with his salary and net worth
Shohei Ohtani is currently one of the biggest stars in MLB history, and most recognisable athletes in the sports world.
Who is Ippei Mizuhara interpreter of Shohei Ohtani, salary, net worth, father, bio, age and height
One of the biggest acquisitions in LA history – Ippei Mizuhara
Ohtaniโs best bud and interpreter ๐ pic.twitter.com/o2El7DDmfx
— ESPN Los Angeles (@ESPNLosAngeles) December 15, 2023
โi cant believe iโm babysitting him for the next ten yearsโ
-ippei mizuhara, the worldโs greatest babysitter pic.twitter.com/NN9F1ZpcAG
— fa๐ฅ๐๐ฎ (@aliionah) December 15, 2023
Shohei Ohtani is currently the MLBโs biggest star after just recently securing a $700 million move to the LA Dodgers.
Ippei Mizuhara bio
Ippei Mizuhara is an English and Japanese-speaking professional interpreter who was born on December 31, 1984, in Tomakomai, Hokkaido, Japan. He eventually moved to Los Angeles with his family in 1991 and grew up in Diamond Bar, California. He graduated college from an institute nearby the California-Riverside, back in 2007.
Interestingly, despite growing up near Anaheim’s Angel Stadium, Mizuhara wasnโt really a fan of the Los Angeles Angels. Notably, Mizuhara developed an interest in baseball only when Hideo Nomo joined the Dodgers back in 1995. Moreover, Mizuhara also started following the Mariners because of another Japanese player named Ichiro Suzuki, who joined the team. Back in an 2018 interview, Mizuhara stated:
I was more of a Mariners fan because of Ichiro. And the Angels were still good at the time, but I always came to the field to watch the Mariners, and maybe the Yankees.โ
Age and height
Ippei Mizuhara is currently 38 years old and stands at a height of 1.86m.
His father, Hidemasa, is a chef and the family moved to the Los Angeles area in 1991 so that he could work there and Mizuhara was raised in Diamond Bar. His salary and net worth aren’t known though.
Relationship with Shohei Ohtani
Ippei Mizuhara first worked as Ohtani’s interpreter when he joined the MLB with the Angels from the NPB’s Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. He joined the MLB following the end of the 2017 season. He has since worked on that role even after Ohtani recently signed for the LA Dodgers. However, Mizuhara relationship with Ohtani revolves around more than just translating for Ohtani in news conferences. Mizuhara once shared about Ohtani saying:
My first priority is to help create an environment where he can concentrate on baseball.โ
Moreover, he also translates during informal situations like interactions with teammates in the clubhouse and detailed coaching tips. Notably, the 38-year-old acted as a middle man between Ohtani and Angels manager Phil Nevin.
Besides translating work, Ippei Mizuhara helps on the baseball side as well by throwing to Ohtani in side sessions, watching tape of opposing pitchers as well as studying scouting reports. Interestingly, Mizuhara also served as Ohtani’s catcher during the 2021 Home Run Derby and joined the Japan national baseball team. The team won the most recent 2023 World Baseball Classic. Mizuhara once jokingly shared how speaking accounts for just 10 percent of his job alongside Ohtani. He shared:
I’m with him all offseason, too. I’m with him 365 days of the year, which I think is different than the other interpreters.โ
Itโs such a big part (of the job). We are together pretty much every day, longer than Iโm with my wife, so itโs going to be tough if you donโt get along on a personal level.โ
Ippei Mizuhara career
Mizuhara started out his career as a baseball interpreter back in 2007 after graduating from college. The Red Sox first hired him to interpret for pitcher Hideki Okajima, who played for the team from 2007โ11. After serving that role, Mizuhara traveled back to Japan in 2013 to interpret for the Fightersโ English-speaking players, including players like Chris Martin. While working here, he first met Ohtani during the 2013 season as an 18-year-old rookie with the Fighters. Mizuhara once shared about his encounter, saying:
I always remember how lucky I am to be in this spot. I’ve known Shohei since he was 18, and when I first saw him I was like, ‘Oh, my God, this guy’s unreal.’ That’s got to be the best part of the job, just getting to be in the house and watch him do his thing.โ
Mizuhara now joins Ohtani in his move across town to the LA Dodgers after Ohtani’s $700 million move. Following the official announcement about the move, Mizuhara updated his Instagram profile and made a reference to the Dodgers while posting a message to thank Angels fans for their six years spent together.
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