Photo/Illutration Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, center, speaks during a baseball news conference at Dodger Stadium on Dec. 14 in Los Angeles. President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman is at left, owner and chairman Mark Walter is second from left, and interpreter Ippei Mizuhara is at right. (AP Photo)

Major Leaguer Shohei Ohtani, who signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Dec. 11, is often referred to as a “unicorn” by local media. His inimitable talent as a two-way baseball player must make him as unique as the legendary creature.

I was reminded anew of his superstar status by the sheer number of reporters who showed up at his first Dodgers news conference on Dec. 14.

“Why We Love Baseball: A History in 50 moments,” a book published this year by popular American sports journalist Joe Posnanski, contains a chapter titled “Shohei,” where the author recalls the moment Ohtani struck out Mike Trout in the final out of the World Baseball Classic championship game in March.

“Chills. Goosebumps.” Posnanski’s terse narrative conveys his intense excitement.

In a column he contributed to a U.S. newspaper, he said this chapter gave him the hardest time while working on his book. He explained that he had to rewrite the entire chapter after the WBC wound up because Ohtani “keeps topping himself.”

“I might be writing and rewriting that Ohtani chapter for the next decade,” he noted.

The roughly 150-year history of the Major Leagues boils down to the pursuit of endless challenges. The introduction this year of a shorter time between pitches was in response to fans’ demands for speedier play. And there was a team that, after languishing for years, made a dramatic comeback by using the latest player assessment method based on statistics.

Otani’s spectacular records and mind-boggling signing fee obviously draw people’s attention. But fans also want to follow him because he continues to set higher goals for himself. In fact, during yesterday’s news conference, Ohtani expressed his resolve to keep meeting new challenges.

The unicorn of mythology is said to have protected animals by purifying rivers and lakes with his horn.

Will Ohtani continue to blow a fresh breeze into the world of baseball and help grow the sport’s popularity? His games go on.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Dec. 16

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.

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