How ungrateful! Mizuhara even revealed the pre-nuptial contract for Ohtani... the U.S.-Japan resentment
How ungrateful! Mizuhara even revealed the pre-nuptial contract for Ohtani... the U.S.-Japan resentment
Blog Article
Is there another such thing as ungrateful behavior? The contents of a petition filed with the court by Mizuhara Itfei, 41, a former interpreter who is suspected of illegally gambling by stealing money from LA Dodgers, are drawing public outrage in the U.S. and Japan.
On the 7th, a federal court in California sentenced Mizuhara to four years and nine months in prison for stealing about $17 million from Ohtani's bank account and transferring it to illegal sports gambling funds.
The court also ordered Mizuhara to pay a total of $18 million ($17 million to Otani and $1 million to the IRS) in compensation, along with a three-year probation sentence.
The allegations of Mizuhara's illegal gambling surfaced during the opening series between the Dodgers and the San Diego Padres in Seoul in March last year. The club immediately fired Mizuhara and announced the fact. "I am sad and shocked. I didn't even know that happened until a few days ago. In conclusion, Mizuhara stole money from my account and lied to everyone around me," Ohtani said in a press conference after returning to the U.S. after the opening game.
Mizuhara, who has been with Ohtani since he was a Japanese Nippon-Ham Fighters, followed Ohtani as a dedicated interpreter when he entered the U.S. in 2018. Having been with Ohtani every day in a foreign country, he was an indispensable friend beyond simple business relationships.
Mizuhara betrayed Ohtani's faith and used his money as if it were his own. Mizuhara's money was found to have been used not only to pay off gambling debts, but also to purchase baseball cards and to pay for his own dental treatment.
In January, Mizuhara made a bold statement in a petition to Judge John W. Holcomb, calling for a commutation, saying, "There was little proper rest. It was severely underpaid for labor." But prosecutors' investigation found that Mizuhara's salary in 2024 reached $500,000, receiving ample support, including a luxury sports car Porsche.
In addition, Ohtani made public by revealing Ohtani's private life through a petition. Scott Brown, the host of the U.S. podcast program "Foul Terry" criticized Mizuhara for revealing that Ohtani and his wife Mamiko have a prenuptial contract. 바카라
"One of the things that Mizuhara made as evidence that he had not been paid enough was that he had to remain seated at the prenuptial agreement that Ohtani and his wife had made," Brown said. "This was the most upsetting part. It was obvious that the two (Otani and Mizuhara) were close friends. It was disgusting. Ohtani didn't have to include his personal part in the petition at all. What a mean act."
Japanese fans were also angered by Mizuhara's revelation. Comments on the article said, "Are you trying to appeal that you are close to Otani by attaching undisclosed information? There is no sign of self-reflection," and "Was everyone like that person from the beginning? I feel betrayed." Some fans also said, "Four years and nine months in prison is too lenient," and "It would have been better if they had been sentenced to 20 years in prison to show the main example." Stronger punishment should be imposed.