Shohei Otani purchased a 2.6 billion yen villa in Hawaii.

As expected, the difference between the two is staggering.

Shohei Otani of the Dodgers has reportedly purchased a $17 million (about 2.6 billion yen) estate on the U.S. island of Hawaii.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), a U.S. media outlet, reported the news.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported, “Otani has signed a contract for prime real estate in Hawaii. The company plans to design and build a 5,000-square-foot home with ocean views in a gated community at the Mauna Kea resort.

The report said.

Ohtani is a marketing partner in the California-based real estate developer’s resort project, and the company’s website shows Ohtani visiting the site.

Still, it is dizzying.

On February 28, before the start of the season, Otani married Mamiko Tanaka, a member of Fujitsu’s women’s basketball team. The blessing was short-lived, however, as the couple lost 2.45 billion yen in a fraud case involving a suspect, Ippei Mizuhara, a former full-time interpreter for the team.

According to the investigation by the U.S. authorities, Mizuhara impersonated Otani and spent 28 billion yen in illegal gambling over a two-year period, losing a total of approximately 6.2 billion yen.

A sports newspaper reporter covering the majors said

In the end, Otani’s innocence was proven, but he was betrayed by his closest partner, so I think his mental shock is considerable. The purchase of real estate in Hawaii was underway before the incident was discovered, and with the purchase price almost equivalent to the amount stolen by Mizuhara, there are comments on the Internet such as, ‘A total of 5 billion yen outlay,’ ‘I wonder how much money he has,’ and ‘We can’t imagine this world.

According to local media, Otani purchased one of 14 luxury houses overlooking the vast ocean, complete with hitting and pitching facilities dedicated to training.

What is somewhat disturbing to fans, however, are Ohtani’s own comments in the above-mentioned WSJ article.

I recently chose my own lot in this new development. I plan to build a house there in the near future so that I can enjoy it for many years to come.

Taken at face value, the Hawaii property is not only an off-season training base, but also a cherished home that he can enjoy with his family “for years to come.

I think he is planning to finish his career in the majors,” he said. I would have liked to see him make a final triumphant return to his old stomping ground, Nippon Ham. ……

In addition, there are reports that Otani is planning to build a luxurious new house in a prime location in Los Angeles, U.S.A. “Otani and the Dodgers have signed a contract.

The contract between Otani and the Dodgers is worth an unprecedented 101.5 billion yen. Most of the money is paid later, but he earns nearly 10 billion yen a year from advertising revenue alone. Celebrities in the United States are decidedly buying up real estate. Since his agent, Nez Valero, is an investor who owns several properties, it is not surprising that he advised Otani.

Although he lost a lot of money to Mizuhara, this “shopping” must have been worthwhile.