Recently, the achievements of Japanese athletes have been frequently highlighted as positive news in Japan.
Shohei Ohtani has signed a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers that is not only the most expensive in Major League history, exceeding 100 billion yen over 10 years, but also establishes him as a top athlete in the United States, both in name and reality.
His contract isn’t just the highest among all American sports deals but it could also be considered the most lucrative globally, surpassing even football icons like Messi and Ronaldo, arguably making him the world’s number one athlete.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who also transferred from the Orix Buffaloes to the Dodgers, signed the highest-valued contract for a pitcher in Major League history. Having two Japanese players become the face of the same team, a feat not seen in the past, is quite notable.
In the 2023 WBC, Japan proudly claimed victory for the first time in 14 years, overcoming a nearly all-star American team with speed, power, and skill. The Japanese WBC team was rich with young and talented players such as Munetaka Murakami and Roki Sasaki. Gradually, there’s a growing atmosphere that even soccer and rugby may reach the top of the world, with baseball and soccer consistently showcasing a healthy turnover of young and able players.
Watching the WBC, the demeanor and communication among the players seem genuinely relaxed, which is encouraging. The balance between mental fortitude and theory has substantially improved, as long as their performance doesn’t decline.
In soccer, it has become normal to see Japanese players who have experienced the J-League playing for top European teams and displaying impressive skills as a part of the national team. Looking at the recent national soccer team, players who are successful in Europe might even be substitutes, indicating a high level of competition.
The influence of Japanese athletes is spreading far beyond the sports field, possibly affecting daily life and the business world. Social media quickly spreads both good and bad approaches to coaching and interacting, highlighting the significant influence sports have.
End-of-year WBC specials, like the indirect dialogue between Ichiro and Yu Darvish, offered fascinating insights into the valuable perspectives of Japanese baseball, resonating with my own perception of the past and present.
Darvish was praised by Ichiro for connecting the 2009 team, as reported by Baseball King via Yahoo! News. Following Ichiro’s retirement, Ohtani has risen to meet and exceed the expectation of being the best in the world, a status undisputed even among the athletes in America’s NBA and NFL.
Ohtani’s lifestyle, mindset, and passion could serve as a model for Japan on the global stage, especially by eliminating negative influences and persistently pursuing goals and results. While I can only speculate about his private life from his media presence, his consistency suggests he is genuine.
In business, Japan has struggled to fully develop its automotive, semiconductor, and aviation industries, potentially due to American pressure. The country may have been adept in other areas, but opinions on this are divided.
If the salaries in Japan’s professional baseball and J-League could match those in Western leagues, it could potentially enrich the country economically. However, this also raises concerns about increasing inequality. Ideally, maintaining Japan’s value of harmony could create a unique and favorable state.
The persistence of individual opinions and commitment to one’s ideal lifestyle will become vital while still valuing harmony.
Efforts to invigorate startups and venture companies from Japan, like those listed by Forbes Japan, indicate an exciting trend for future leadership in global industries.
Furthermore, articles like the one on Coral Capital about Japan’s potential strategy, history, and direction, even with a smaller population, suggest a path towards a “Japan 4.0” that’s twice as affluent, and this is a compelling vision for the future.
In an age of information overload, it’s essential to skillfully navigate, selecting what to embrace and what to discard.
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