Ohtani’s Popularity Has Eclipsed That of Japan’s First Baseball HOFer Ichiro

Even as Ichiro Suzuki is enshrined in baseball’s Hall of Fame, the legend of two-way player Shohei Ohtani grows.

Shohei Ohtani (17) of the Los Angeles Angels and Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners shake hands before a game at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington, on July 10, 2021. Abbie Parr/Getty Images

Ichiro Suzuki, enshrined during a ceremony on July 27 this year at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York, had formed an imposing shadow across Japan since the 1990s.

His persona crossed over from being a standout on the diamond to being an icon in everyday life, like a proud symbol of Japanese society. The “Ichiro” personality was much like the indelible image of the player himself, his right arm extended toward right field with the bat held high in the air during every at-bat—projecting an aura of concentration and confidence.