Английская Википедия:Ippei Mizuhara
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Шаблон:Nihongo is a Japanese-American interpreter. Mizuhara is best known for having served as the interpreter for Major League Baseball player Shohei Ohtani, translating Japanese to English and vice versa for Ohtani's media appearances and teammate interactions. He previously worked for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) as an interpreter for several of the team's Anglophone players.
Mizuhara had gained popularity among baseball fans for his close association with Ohtani. He frequently aided Ohtani in non-interpreting contexts, such as catching his bullpen sessions or playing catch with him during pregame warmups. During the 2021 MLB Home Run Derby, Mizuhara served as Ohtani's catcher.
On March 20, 2024, the Dodgers fired Mizuhara after Ohtani's representatives accused him of "massive theft" of Ohtani's funds to repay debts owed to a bookmaker.[1][2]
Early life
Mizuhara was born on December 31, 1984, in Tomakomai, Hokkaido, Japan. His father, Hidemasa, is a chef and the family moved to the Los Angeles area in 1991 so that he could work there. Mizuhara was raised in Diamond Bar, a city in eastern Los Angeles County.[3] He grew up playing soccer and basketball and attended Diamond Bar High School.[4] Ippei falsely claimed that he was a 2007 graduate of the University of California, Riverside. In March 2024, in the wake of Ippei's 2024 gambling controversy, the school told the media outlet NBC Los Angeles that "there are no records of him attending the school."[5]
Career
In 2013, he was hired by the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters to translate for Chris Martin and other English-speaking members of the team. He first met Shohei Ohtani while interpreting for the Fighters as the two both arrived in 2013.
When Ohtani was posted to MLB by the Fighters in 2017 and he signed with the Los Angeles Angels, the team hired Mizuhara to serve as Ohtani's personal interpreter.[6] When Ohtani was a participant in the 2021 MLB Home Run Derby, Mizuhara was chosen as his catcher. He borrowed an extra set of equipment from Angels catcher Max Stassi and practiced with Angels infielder José Iglesias in preparation for the role. Mizuhara had also previously caught some of Ohtani's bullpen sessions.[7] During the 2021–22 MLB lockout, Mizuhara temporarily resigned from his position with the Angels to circumvent rules against players and personnel being in contact in order to continue working with Ohtani. Mizuhara returned to his official position as an Angels employee after the lockout was lifted.[8] Mizuhara remained Ohtani's interpreter after Ohtani signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2023-24 offseason.[9]
It was previously reported that Mizuhara worked as an interpreter for pitcher Hideki Okajima with the Boston Red Sox from 2007 to 2011. However in March 2024, the Red Sox declared that "Mizuhara was never employed by the Boston Red Sox in any capacity".[10]
2024 gambling controversy and dismissal
On March 20, 2024, the Dodgers fired Mizuhara. He was indebted to alleged illegal bookmaker Matthew Bowyer[11] who was under investigation by the federal government in Southern California. It was reported that at least $4.5 million (approximately 680 million yen) had been transferred from Ohtani's bank account to associates of the bookmaker. A spokesperson for Burke, Williams & Sorensen, the law firm representing Ohtani, stated that Ohtani was a victim of "massive theft" and that the matter had been referred to the authorities. After a game against the Padres, Mizuhara admitted to his gambling addiction in a speech to Dodgers players in the clubhouse following the game.[11] Ohtani's representatives had initially told the media that Ohtani made the payments to help Mizuhara, and Mizuhara said in an ESPN interview on March 19 that Ohtani transferred funds to Bowyer instead of Mizuhara, as he did not trust Mizuhara to not "gamble it away."[12]
Despite sports betting being legal in approximately 40 states in the US, it remains illegal in California, where Ohtani and Mizuhara are based. Mizuhara had accompanied Ohtani to the Dodgers' spring camp in Arizona and had traveled with the team to Seoul, South Korea, for the Korean Series. He was also present at the opening game against the Padres, performing his duties as Ohtani's interpreter.[13]
Personal life
Mizuhara was married in 2018, to Naomi.[14]
References
- Английская Википедия
- Baseball people from Hokkaido
- Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
- People from Diamond Bar, California
- People from Tomakomai
- Interpreters
- Los Angeles Angels personnel
- Los Angeles Dodgers personnel
- 1984 births
- Living people
- Diamond Bar High School alumni
- Major League Baseball controversies
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- Википедия
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