<figure id="attachment_460589" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2248px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-460589"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="9e1f0371"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/03/9b15ac82f5b7d44f350d74d3bf26807d.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-460589" class="wp-caption-text">For the WBC, Mrs. Mamiko Ōtani returned to Japan with her daughter on a private jet alongside Shohei Ōtani.</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Advancing through the first round in first place</h2>
“Samurai Japan” advanced through the first round of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in first place. The Japanese archipelago is truly buzzing with WBC fever.
“Japan rode the momentum after their 13–0 cold-call victory over Taiwan in the opening game, highlighted by Shohei Ōtani’s (31) grand slam with the bases loaded. Masataka Yoshida (32), batting fourth, hit home runs in two consecutive games against Korea and Australia. The pitching staff has been solid—not just the starters, but also Atsuki Taneichi (27), nicknamed the ‘Strikeout Man,’ who has closed the later innings effectively. The path to consecutive championships looks promising,” said a sports newspaper reporter.
Behind this strong Japanese team are the players’ wives. One of the most well-known “WBC wives” is Shohei Ōtani’s wife, Mamiko.
“This time, Mamiko-san arrived at Haneda Airport with Ōtani and their daughter on a private jet. While many other Major League players headed straight to Nagoya, where the team was practicing, Ōtani spent time with his family before joining the team. This shows their family bond and, more importantly, that Mamiko-san is a strong support for Ōtani,” said a variety show staff member.
Like Ōtani, Seiya Suzuki (31) has also been a central figure for Samurai Japan. His wife is Airi Hatakeyama (31), a former rhythmic gymnast who represented Japan in London and Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
“Airi-san gained attention beyond gymnastics, appearing as a caster on NHK’s ‘Sunday Sports.’ She started dating Suzuki in 2018 and married him about a year later,” said the sports reporter.
<h2>A relationship built after two years of pursuit</h2>
During their courtship, the couple openly went on dates. They were frequently spotted by reporters.
“Their meeting was by chance. Airi-san was supposed to work on TV that day, but her schedule was canceled due to a typhoon. She went to a dinner with her agency’s president, where she met Suzuki. She later said that had the typhoon not occurred, she wouldn’t have married him—it was truly a fateful encounter,” the reporter added.
Similarly, Rumi, the wife of Yusei Kikuchi (34), was also a sports caster.
“Kikuchi fell in love with Rumi-san, who had appeared on shows like ‘World Sports MLB’ (NHK BS). After two years of pursuit, they began dating and eventually married. Rumi-san admitted that Kikuchi is strict at home, but she has also been a strong support for him in daily life in the U.S., thanks to her English skills,” said a sports writer.
As many players cross the ocean, Major League customs and etiquette are gradually spreading in Japanese baseball. Couple parades and wives’ gatherings are gaining attention, increasing the prominence of WBC wives.
[YouTube] FRIDAY Digital “Entertainment Reporter Channel” details the lives of WBC wives, including Mamiko Ōtani and Rumi Kikuchi, as well as other notable wives like Masataka Yoshida’s who developed protein with his wife, and Kaito Kozono walking the runway with his spouse, providing an inside look at these WBC wives.
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