Baseball star Ohtani turns down top Japan government award

Angels are going, no where sign with the Astros

Good action.

Good for him. Focus on the game and keeping the fans happy. Humility and integrity.

Baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani has turned down the Japanese government's offer to award him one of its top honors.

Ohtani rejected the People's Honor Award.

What “people” voted on this?

Was this on the same ballot that 30% of the Japanese pop voted for when the LDP continued to take control of Japan?

Im a fan of Otani doing well in the MLB as much as the next guy, I definitely hope he does it for the next 20 years.

But it seems like the award just goes out to sports athletes who do well. With some exceptions. Does it always have to be someone “famous?”

How about awarding it to people who make a difference?

A civil rights leader?

An educator?

A scientist?

A community activist?

Someone that makes positive contributions towards the people in Japan on a daily basis?

What am I saying, of course that would never happen. It’s the Japanese government.

Not only will he retire as the GOAT

wowa hold on he hasn't performed consistently over a long period yet, lets look at his stats in say another 10~15yrs then see if he deserves the GOAT tag

Does this award go out to people who get the most praise overseas?

Woldpack: "I so much admire the humbleness of great Japanese players like Ichiro and Ohtani. "

Agree with you on the latter -- Ohtani going in humble -- but the former was extremely arrogant going into the MLB. He mellowed out somewhat while there, though. Both are/were fantastic players. Agree with all else you say, too.

I so much admire the humbleness of great Japanese players like Ichiro and Ohtani. What is crucial for Ohtani’s place in his sports history is his ability to keep up with his performances over an extended period of time. That might be difficult to do but I hope he can pull it off. One great season doesn’t make a Hall of Famer. He is young and his future looks bright.

Not only will he retire as the GOAT of world baseball, Ohtani is a very humble megastar.

A shame, but hopefully Ohtani can go even greater!

I want to correct what I wrote earlier, and say that Ohtani-san had a better single year than Babe Ruth ever had. Now he needs to stay healthy and continue to have success and a long enough career of which eventually may be said was the best ever.

both as a pitcher and batter.

Though it's wrong to compare players across different eras, I say given how much bigger and stronger baseball players have got, that Ohtani-san is a. better baseball player than Babe Ruth. He also has more class than babe Ruth ever had.

Ohtani must be a Democrat (kidding!).

The selection criteria for the PHA is unclear and highly arbitrary in service of the sitting administration who decides and gives awards. Reforms are needed.

Ohtani, who hit 46 home runs this year, is not the first person to turn down the award, with now retired baseball star Ichiro Suzuki having done so three times

Ichro has continued to decline the PHA on the same ground of "being too young and immature." Interesting.

Admirably humble. Ohtani is deserving of only continued greater successes.

A man of great integrity!