All over Japan, and indeed all over the world, parents likely wish their children could grow up to be like Shohei Ohtani.
So how was the humanity of a player loved by the entire world nurtured? Here, I’d like to share what I, TKTAKAYAMA, have personally felt and observed.
Finally, I'll introduce some secrets to "raising a child like Shohei Ohtani" that anyone can put into practice, so please read until the end.
Parenting that Respects Autonomy What Ohtani’s parents prioritized most was fostering his autonomy.
His father encouraged him to use a goal-setting notebook during his youth, advising him that writing down goals made them easier to achieve. Ohtani put this into practice, writing not only baseball goals but also things related to improving his character, like showing gratitude, greeting people, and reading.
By clearly verbalizing goals, they become ingrained in the subconscious, and the brain naturally begins to work toward their realization. This is a very effective method for us adults, too, to organize our thoughts and clarify the direction we should take.
A Regular Lifestyle and Family Roles His mother focused on maintaining a regular daily rhythm and serving well-balanced meals. The family also always ate meals together, and after dinner, she made him wash the dishes. She taught him that fulfilling his role as a family member was a given.
Adolescent Slump and Self-Reliance When Ohtani was struggling with a slump during his teenage years, his parents told him, "If it's too hard, you can quit baseball."
Receiving these words, he realized that he had the right to decide his own life. He quietly listened to his inner voice, and the answer that came out was, "I still want to play baseball." Following that thought, he began to approach the sport with even more initiative.
His father also advised him that it was pointless to get angry or cry after a loss, and that he should accept things calmly. ...That’s something I personally find very difficult to emulate.
Nurturing Humanity, Not Just Skill In this way, his parents focused more on nurturing his character, his ability to think, his sense of gratitude, and his independence rather than on technical guidance. This is a lesson for us adults as well, isn't it?
Honestly, it's difficult to imitate everything. But I believe that even incorporating a little bit, within our own capabilities, can make a huge difference.
And now, here it is! My personal "TKTAKAYMA-style secrets to raising a child like Shohei Ohtani" that anyone can do.
What I believe is most remarkable about Ohtani is his strong sense of self-worth, which leads to his mental toughness and his ability to always keep a smile on his face. So why was he raised that way?
The answer is that his mother was always smiling.
Through her smile, she consistently sent him the message, "You are fine just the way you are," which helped build his self-worth.
When he did something wrong, his father would not get emotional but would instead think through why it was wrong with him and then explain it.
A Mother’s Smile is the Key Now, I have a question for the mothers reading this article.
Are you always bright and smiling?
If not, a part of the reason lies with the father. The father's most important role is not his job, but to always keep the mother smiling.
Look at any wonderful couple. The husband loves and cherishes his wife, making her smile. Fathers, please share this with your partners.
When a mother is always smiling, her children will grow up to be bright, confident, and full of energy. Please, give it a try.
Summary I believe the secret to nurturing a wonderful character like Shohei Ohtani's is to believe in your children, value their autonomy, live with a cheerful smile, and have a close-knit family.
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