Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers make heartfelt gesture for Japan earthquake victims
Dec 14, 2023; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers player Shohei Ohtani is introduced at a press conference at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is sharing some of his $700 million contract with his countrymen affected by the New Year’s earthquake in Japan.
Ohtani is teaming up with the Dodgers and Guggenheim Baseball in order to donate $1 million to help the victims of the quake.
The Dodgers and Ohtani released a shared statement Thursday night announcing the news.
“In support of the disaster relief efforts for the 2024 Sea of Japan earthquake and in collaboration with the Dodgers, I am making a donation in aid of the survivors. … I hope for the rapid rescue of missing persons and the reconstruction of the disaster-stricken areas,” said Ohtani in his statement translated from Japanese.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) January 5, 2024
The 7.6 magnitude Japan earthquake has left 84 people dead and several more missing, per a report Thursday from Reuters’ Kiyoshi Takenaka and Sakura Murakami.
Thursday afternoon marked the end of the critical post-earthquake 72-hour survivability window. Survivability rates drop dramatically by the end of the 3-day period following the initial tremor.
Thousands of rescuers remain engaged with trying to find more survivors as Japan recovers from the tragedy to begin 2024.