Ippei Mizuhara: Ohtani’s Fall Guy

Ippe Mizuhara, former translator for Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani, was arrested earlier this year on allegedly stealing $17 million from Ohtani to use that money on sports betting. He has since pleaded guilty to both fraud and filing false tax returns and is facing up to 5 years in prison. 

On Thursday (January 23) a 4-minute recording came to light that clearly showed Mizuhara impersonating Ohtani and asking the bank to wire roughly $200,000 dollars from Ohtani’s account. This is the first time we have seen proof of Mizuhara actually committing the crime. Before this it was believed by most fans that Mizuhara is taking the fall for Ohtani in a possible “Pete Rose case.” But with this new video evidence and audio, it is clearly Mizuhara’s voice impersonating Shohei Ohtani asking for $200,000 to be wired. 

Mizuhara has since claimed that he was severely underpaid, and was “on call 24/7” all the while working on one-year contracts that kept him walking on eggshells. Mizuhara said he was hesitant to ask for more money, thinking it may cost him his job, so he kept working. His job with Shohei was public as a translator but he did more behind the scenes, handling everything from Ohtani’s endorsement deals and brokerage companies to personal errands like grocery shopping, and even taking his dog to the vet. 

Many fans have been outspoken now calling out Mizuhara for being “underpaid” while pulling roughly $500,000 to be “Shohei’s friend.” Now is this a case of underpaid, or being overworked? 

Mizuhara has also come out to say that he is heavily addicted to gambling and sports betting, obviously if convicted, he said that gambling gave him hope in life. But since calling out to America, almost playing the victim card saying that he is underpaid is simply untrue. It’s hard to make that argument when you are making $500,000, many people would love to hold that job that Mizuhara held. 

Ippei Mizuhara has requested if he could serve 8 months in jail, basically trying to get the process over with and done in about a year. Right now he’s looking at about 5 years, but a judge may be likely to move that to only a couple years. The final verdict is set for February 6, 2025.

Cameron Williams

DiSportsPhotoAgency

Senior Writer