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6 months ago
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Shohei Ohtani attended the LA Dodgers' Blue Diamond Gala this week alongside his newly-unveiled wife Mamiko Tanaka.
The $700million star stunned fans back in February when he announced that he was married to a mystery woman, before later identifying Tanaka - a Japanese basketball player - as the woman in question amid much intrigue.
As Japan's biggest celebrity, Ohtani had previously kept details about his personal life private in order to maintain his focus on baseball, with his wife not seen publicly until he shared a photo of the two of them in March.
Yet in a rare public appearance from the couple, on Thursday they arrived together for the Dodgers' annual charity fundraiser in LA, posing for photos on the red carpet before making their way into Dodger Stadium.
A number of Ohtani's teammates were also present at the gala, along with a host of celebrity guests - including British singer Ed Sheeran.
Shohei Ohtani attended the Dodgers' Blue Diamond Gala alongside wife Mamiko Tanaka (right)
The $700million star stunned fans back in February when he announced that he was married to a mystery woman, before later identifying Tanaka as the woman in question
Tanaka, a Japanese basketball player, is believed to have known Ohtani for three to four years
The two-way Dodgers phenomenon has previously kept his personal life extremely private
A number of Ohtani's Dodgers teammate were at the event - including Freddie Freeman and wife Chelsea (left) - while Ed Sheeran (right) was one of several celebrities who attended
Fellow Dodgers Freddie Freeman, Jason Heyward, Kike Hernandez and Mookie Betts were also accompanied by their wives on the night, while Sheeran rocked up solo.
The event helped raise money for LA's foundation, which provides the city with funding for important causes.
According to reports, Ohtani and Tanaka have known each other for three to four years, although it is unclear when they tied the knot.
Earlier this year, the two-way phenomenon posted on Instagram that he was starting not only 'a new chapter in my career but I also began a new life with someone from my native country of Japan who is very special to me...'
Ohtani added that his wife was 'a normal Japanese woman' and insisted his marriage didn't affect how he treated free agency.
'She has a great understanding of my profession, and she's willing to be wherever I wanted to play and ultimately it was my decision,' he said.
Ohtani attended Thursday's Dodgers gala as the investigation into his interpreter's alleged $16m theft continues.
Ippei Mizuhara has been accused of stealing money from the player's bank accounts in order to pay off a massive gambling debt - and then tried hiding it by saying he was helping him.
Ohtani appeared at the charity gala amid the investigation into his interpreter Ippei Mizuhara (left) for allegedly stealing $16m from him continues
According to ESPN sources, Mizuhara made a series of $500,000 payments from Ohtani's bank account and forwarded them to California and Las Vegas casinos in order to pay back an illegal bookie.
Mizuhara would then deposit the cash in gambling accounts, convert the money to chips, and then would later cash them out in order to pay back the bookie.
The interpreter is now the subject of a federal probe into what Mizuhara has called a gambling addiction.
English (US)