Former Shohei Ohtani singer Ippei Mizuhara sent a letter to Judge John W. Holcomb, asking for leniency in his sentencing and describing the reasons for his gambling problems.
Mizuhara committed bank fraud and tax fraud as he stole nearly $17 million of Ohtani’s money to pay off gambling debts.
Federal prosecutors sought a 57-month prison sentence, while requiring Mizuhara to pay $16.9 million in restitution to Ohtani, and an additional $1.1 million to the IRS.
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Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) with translator Ippei Mizuhara against the Chicago White Sox during a spring baseball game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA Today Sports)
Mizuhara requested an 18-month prison sentence, while revealing the factors in his life that led him to play, in his letter obtained by The Athletic.
Mizuhara said he has sacrificed his life and the lives of his family since becoming Ohtani’s performer/manager in late 2017.
“Usually when a Japanese baseball player makes the move to the United States, he would bring several staff members to handle various tasks, such as a driver, coach, chef, off-field performer/support member , etc. However, I was the only person Shohei brought,” Mizuhara said in the letter.
“So naturally, I had to support him with most of the aforementioned tasks. I drove him everywhere he needed to be, I did frequent grocery runs, I ran random errands whenever he needed to be. “He needed it, so I felt like I was on the call 24/7.”
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Los Angeles Dodgers translator Ippei Mizuhara designated slugger Shohei Ohtani during an introductory press conference at Dodger Stadium. (Kirby Lee-USA Today Sports)
Mizuhara said the busy baseball schedule, combined with the international schedule difference dealing with Ohtani’s management team in Japan, would keep him late at night on the phone, causing him to lose sleep.
Mizuhara said the offseason was more difficult than the baseball season, due to Ohtani’s demanding schedule.
“The offseason was much more difficult both physically and mentally. Shohei would train 5-6 times a week, and I was responsible for booking the facility, setting up and cleaning everything training equipment, filming and tracking all of his drills, being His workout partner (as it was just him and I during all offseason training), driving him back and forth, and communicating all this to the angels and his pitching/hitting/rehab personnel in the United States.”
“I would also do daily errands such as grocery shopping, checking his mailbox, repairing his bicycle, accompanying him when he returned to Iwate Prefecture to visit his family, taking his dog to the vet and the groomer, dropping off and picking up her dinners with peers while I waited in the car, helping coordinate Japanese and American lawyers for her wedding at the wedding and attending meetings, etc. “
In addition to these tasks, Mizuhara said he was responsible for communicating with endorsement and brokerage companies to set up commercial shoots of Ohtani. These shoots were once a week between off-season training, leaving Mizuhara with little free time.
Shohei Ohtani’s former performer, Ippei Mizuhara
Los Angeles Dodgers player Shohei Ohtani (right) and interpreter Ippei Mizuhara attend the game between the Los Angeles Rams and the New Orleans Saints at Sofi Stadium. (Kirby Lee-USA Today Sports)
With all the work he was doing for Ohtani, Mizuhara said he felt severely underpaid. Mizuhara said the Angels paid him $85,000 in 2018, $87,000 from 2019 to 2021, $99,611.16 in 2022 and $250,000 in 2023; But Ohtani paid him about $11,000 a year.
“I felt like I was seriously underpaid, but I was afraid to speak up for myself, because I was on a one-year contract every year, and I didn’t want to upset them and risk d ‘be fired,’ Mizuhara said.
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Los Angeles Dodgers player Shohei Ohtani (left) and performer Ippei Mizuhara (right) pose with the Los Angeles Rams mascot rampage (center) at Sofi Stadium. (Kirby Lee-USA Today Sports)
Another challenge of working for Ohtani was that Mizuhara had to live close to Ohtani, which meant he had to pay higher rent to get a place near him.
“All these extra expenses were taking a huge toll on me, and I was living paycheck to paycheck. There were months when I had to borrow money from family and friends to make ends meet.”
Mizuhara said he had opportunities to help himself financially, “like writing books, doing TV/radio interviews and appearing in TV commercials, which would have helped me financially, but they were all shut down by Shohei and his business in Japan.”
Among the salary, high demands of his job and not being able to earn money for himself, Mizuhara said he thought gaming could be an opportunity to help himself financially.
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani with translator Ippei Mizuhara in the dugout against the San Francisco Giants during a spring baseball game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA Today Sports)
“Before I knew it, my gambling debt had grown so much that I couldn’t find any way to pay it off but using Shohei’s money,” Mizuhara said. “I felt terribly guilty putting my hands on his money, but at the time it seemed like the only solution.”
Mizuhara can no longer hope that Judge Holcomb can find some sympathy in his sentencing, with his side of the story now.
