WATCH: Shohei Ohtani's old high school in Japan celebrates Dodger superstar's first World Series title
Shohei Ohtani has already reached the level of national hero in his native Japan, and he has now added the biggest prize that a player could achieve stateside with a professional baseball club. Ohtani's Los Angeles Dodgers claimed the World Series on Wednesday after a sensational comeback to win 7-6 in Game 5.
The MLB title will now sit beside Ohtani's Japan Series title that he won in 2016 with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. Back in Shohei's home country, people are gleefully celebrating his success.
In the baseball star's former stomping ground at Hanamaki Higashi High School, the students were seen celebrating with yellow and purple balloons (the school's colors) after Ohtani won the World Series.
Time and again, Shohei Ohtani has attributed his success to Hanamaki Higashi High School coach Hiroshi Sasaki. The mentor was lauded for honing Ohtani's skills and encouraging him to improve his craft in baseball alone as Ohtani originally competed as a swimmer.
Apart from the two-way star, the same Iwate-based high school also produced Astros starter and former All-Star Yusei Kikuchi. Ohtani actually idolized the lefty, and that factored into his decision to go to Hanamaki Higashi.
Shohei Ohtani's successful Japan stint
Shohei Ohtani made his professional debut at the tender age of 18 for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. A highly-touted prospect coming out of high school, Ohtani was selected to the NPB All-Star game in his rookie year.
Just two years into his NPB stint, the two-way superstar claimed several awards in the Pacific League, namely, the Battery Award and Pitcher Best Nine Award. He was also that season's ERA leader.
At just 21 years old, Ohtani won the 2016 Japan Series with the Nippon-Ham Fighters while being named the Pacific League's MVP. He also won the NPB Designated Hitter Best Nine Award.
In addition to his club success, Ohtani also won the bronze medal in the 2015 WBSC Premier 12, the second-most prestigious international baseball tournament. After a dominant performance, he was selected as the 2015 WBSC Player of the Year and made the WBSC All-World Team.