Who is Shohei Ohtani's wife? All you need to know about former Japanese basketball player

Shohei Ohtani is married to Mamiko Tanaka, a former Japanese basketball player. The couple has kept their relationship relatively private, but they reportedly met in Japan at a training facility. and share a strong bond rooted in sports.

While Ohtani has become a global baseball superstar, Tanaka has remained largely out of the public eye, supporting him from behind the scenes. The Los Angeles Dodgers star confirmed his marriage in February 2024, though he initially chose not to disclose his wife’s identity.

ALSO READ: Shohei Ohtani becomes 1st MLB pitcher to hit a leadoff homer


"Not only have I began a new chapter in my career with the Dodgers but I also have begun a new life with someone from my Native country of Japan who is very special to me and I wanted everyone to know I am now married,” Ohtani posted while announcing his marriage on Instagram.

Two weeks later, Ohtani was photographed with Japanese basketball player Mamiko Tanaka, sparking speculation that she was his mystery wife.

WHO IS MAMIKO TANAKA?

Tanaka, born on December 11, 1996, is a former Japanese basketball player. She began her career at Waseda University before turning professional in 2019 with the Fujitsu Red Wave in the Women’s Japan Basketball League. Standing 5-foot-11 and playing as a forward, Tanaka competed with the team for four seasons before retiring in 2023. In her final season, she posted impressive stats, shooting 47.7% from the field and 69.9% from the free-throw line over 28 games, The PEOPLE quoted ESPN, capping off a successful professional career.

OHTANI ANNOUNCES DAUGHTER'S BIRTH IN APRIL 2025

Ohtani revealed the birth of the couple’s first child on April 19, 2025, though he chose not to disclose his daughter’s name.

"I am so grateful to my loving wife who gave birth to our healthy beautiful daughter,” Ohtani wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of the newborn's feet. "To my daughter, thank you for making us very nervous yet super anxious parents.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Shohei Ohtani | 大谷翔平 (@shoheiohtani)

SHOHEI OHTANI MAKES MLB HISTORY

Ohtani delivered one of the most remarkable all-around performances in baseball history as the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers secured their place in the World Series with a 5-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night (October 17, 2025), completing a 4-0 series sweep.


The Japanese superstar crushed three towering home runs and struck out 10 Brewers, leading the Dodgers toward a World Series matchup against either Toronto or Seattle.

No player in MLB postseason history had ever hit three home runs and struck out 10 batters in the same game. In modern baseball history, only Boston Braves pitcher Jim Tobin in 1942 had ever hit three homers in a single game, highlighting just how extraordinary Ohtani’s achievement was.


While the Dodgers’ series win was decisive, Ohtani’s historic individual display stole the spotlight. Widely regarded as the greatest player since Babe Ruth, Ohtani’s rare combination of elite pitching and hitting stunned fans.