It took Shohei Ohtani just seven seasons to break this record, which was set 10 years ago by fellow countryman Hideki Matsui. ‘Sho’ said it is an honour to be able to sit at the same table as someone like Matsui who won the 2009 World Series and who, among other achievements, was a nine-time All-Star.

Shohei Ohtani and Yuki Matsui 🤣 pic.twitter.com/i3OZY0uFN4

— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) April 14, 2024

What did Ohtani say about reaching the Japanese home run record?

“Personally, I’m very happy,” commented Shohei Ohtani. “It’s an honour to be talked about in the same breath as Matsui and it obviously means a lot to the baseball industry in Japan,” added the Dodgers’ designated hitter.

Shohei Ohtani has many games ahead of him to break the record and set a new one that will be hard to beat. The Japanese has a 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers and could achieve this milestone on Sunday when they play the third game of the series against the San Diego Padres at the Chavez Ravine.

A plea agreement will get Mizuhara credit for acceptance of responsibility, but he still could face significant prison time depending on how prosecutors calculate the total amount of his fraud.

The charging papers say he withdrew $16 million from Ohtani’s accounts. pic.twitter.com/FNdEruYmwL

— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) April 12, 2024

As well as speaking about his numbers, Ohtani also broke his silence recently on the scandal that has embroiled him and his team ever since it was revealed. His former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, transferred over $16 million from Shohei Ohtani’s bank accounts to cover betting debts and make new ones.

“I am grateful to the Department of Justice for the investigation,” Ohtani began. “Personally, I want to put this behind me and focus on playing baseball”, Ohtani said in a succint statement. CNN reported earlier in the week that Mizuhara had handed himself in to federal authorities on Friday.