2024-04-01 10:17:22
Two hours before the Dodgers’ team arrived, Incheon Airport was crowded with fans waiting to see Major League Baseball (MLB) superstar Shohei Ohtani (30, LA Dodgers).
At around 2:30 PM on the 15th, as arrival time neared, the song “Let’s Go Shohei, Let’s Go Dodgers” rang loudly.
The Dodgers are a popular national team in the United States. With Chan-Ho Park and Hyun-Jin Ryu showing good results, the team is considered the most popular MLB team in Korea. Because of this, they were nicknamed ‘National Dodgers.’ The Dodgers have emerged as a hot topic again ahead of the new season. This is why Otani joined.
Ohtani is like a cartoon character who serves as both a pitcher and a hitter and has the best skills in both fields. He is loved all over the world for his flawless personality.
When news spread that Otani was visiting Korea, a huge crowd gathered at the airport. It was crowded with members of Otani’s fan club in Korea, ‘Shotani Fan Club’, as well as fans visiting from Japan.
TBS, a Japanese private broadcaster, broadcast the airport situation live an hour before entry.
The crowd that had gathered since 12 o’clock filled the arrivals hall by 1:30. Until 1 p.m., the general public could freely enter and exit the passageway where the athletes would be leaving, but after 1:30 p.m., movement was blocked.
When news broke at around 2:30 that a charter plane carrying the Dodgers team had landed at Incheon Airport, the surroundings became even more noisy.
A woman waiting for Ohtani shyly said, “I’ve been a fan since I was with the Nippon Ham Fighters, and I’m excited to be able to see him in person today. I live in Daejeon, but I like Ohtani better than Ryu Hyun-jin (Hanwha Eagles).”
At 2:48, as the anxious wait continued, Otani appeared first. A few steps behind Otani, his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, followed.
Then a huge cheer erupted inside the airport. Due to tight security, Otani was unable to provide fan service such as autographs or photos, and immediately boarded the bus.
Afterwards, some fans left, but the majority of the crowd remained and welcomed the Dodgers players who followed them. When big stars such as Mookie Betts (32, outfielder) and Freddie Freeman (35, infielder) appeared, they cheered.
The cheers got louder when Yoshinobu Yamamoto (26, pitcher), another Japanese who joined the Dodgers following Otani, came out.
A man in his 50s who is a member of Otani’s fan club ‘Showtime Korea’ said, “I was trying to get a closer look at Otani in person, but it’s a pity that I couldn’t take a good picture. I waited for a long time, but the time I actually met him was too short. Still, it’s nice to know that I was in the same room with Otani for a while.” “I’m satisfied,” he said.
After 10 to 15 minutes, the entire team left. Afterwards, reporters from Korea and Japan continued their heated coverage of the fans.
In particular, various broadcasting stations captured fans and conducted camera interviews. Most fans also smiled and responded as if they were enjoying this situation.
A woman in her 20s who said she was a Kiwoom Heroes fan said, “Kiwoom and the Dodgers will be playing, and I think I will cheer for the Dodgers this time. More specifically, I will cheer for Ohtani.” “I actually saw Ohtani’s wife, and I think I met a good woman.” “It all feels good,” he said with a smile.
Reporter Kim Won-geun Photo News 1
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2024-04-01 10:17:22