- Kayoko Otani is the mother of the 29-year-old baseball player Shohei Ohtani who is famous as “Shotime”
- The mother of three is married to Tori Otani and they have remained so for over 30 years
- Kayoko had a brief career in badminton while growing up and even qualified to play at the national level
Kayoko Otani is widely recognized as the mother of Shohei Ohtani who is a professional baseball player. She is married to Tori Otani and together they have birthed three children.
Kayoko Otani’s youngest son Shohei is the most popular of the clan even though her eldest son Ryuta and only daughter Yuyi are also into sports. It is worth noting that Kayoko was a sportswoman during her teenage years. In fact, she played badminton at the national level before resolving to build her family.
Brief Biography of Kayoko Otani
Shohei Ohtani’s mother Kayoko Otani was born in Yokohama, Japan. Her date of birth is unknown even though reports speculate that she is 60 years old which means she was born sometime in 1963.
Details regarding her early life, parents, and other family members are elusive from the media. What is known however is that her parents were both Japanese.
Spending most of her life in Japan, Kayoko was enrolled in a high school where her love for Badminton was kindled. Aside’s this, other educational pursuits have not been recorded
She was a Former Athlete
Though Kayoko is more popular these days as the mother of two prominent sportsmen, did you also know that she was active in sports as a teenager?
According to sources, Shohei’s mother played badminton while in high school and was retained by the school to play in local games. After a few years, her expertise saw her play at the national level.
She dropped her racquets in her late 20s to build her family and has passed the gene to her children who excel in their own rights.
Kayoko Otani is Still Married to Toru Ohtani
Kayoko Otani is happily married to the love of her life Tolu Ohtani who is also a sportsman and father of her children.
In many quarters, the pair are said to have divorced but this is not true. LoveOhLust confirmed that they are still married and have been pictured together showing support for their son during his matches.
We have not been able to confirm how Kayoko and Toru met however, we can say that their shared interest in sports may have prompted them. They dated for a while and then exchanged vows sometime in the mid-80s. This means that they have been together for over 30 years.
Her husband Toru Ohtani, 61 years old, was also a Japanese and former baseball player and coach. He reportedly played for a corporate-sponsored baseball team even though they were a nonprofessional team. Thereafter, he retired to focus on building a sustainable career at an automobile manufacturing company.
Kayoko Otani is a Proud Mother of Three
Kayoko’s marriage to Toru birthed three children who have made notable careers in their rights. While two of her sons are known to be baseball players, her only daughter also had a brief career in volleyball before switching gears.
Ryuta Otani is Kayoko’s Eldest Son
As hinted earlier, Ryuta is the first child of the family. He was born in Honshu, Japan on March 20, 1988, and he’s currently 35 years old.
Ryuta’s love for baseball was ignited during his early days and greatly supported by his father. His passion saw him play during his elementary and high school days before playing for the Japanese regional leagues. Though he has been applauded several times for his skills, Ryuta still prefers to play for the local teams in Japan rather than pursuing the professional phase.
At present, he also coaches young people who are interested in sports and has inspired others to pursue a career in baseball. He is part of the Toyota Motor East Japan Inc. baseball team known as Morioka.
Read Also: Who Is Ryuta Otani? 7 Unknown Facts About Shohei Ohtani’s Brother
The Only Daughter of Kayoko, Yuka Otani is a Nurse
While Kayoko’s two sons have chosen their paths in sports, the only daughter of the family has settled for an entirely different profession. She is a nurse and is currently practicing in the medical field.
Interestingly, Yuka also had a brief career in sports before switching. According to reports, she was a volleyball player.
Kayoko’s last Child, Shohei Ohtani is the most popular in the family
As you would easily find, the Otani’s became popular through their youngest son Shohei Ohtani thanks to his successful career in baseball. Shohei was born on July 5 1994 in Oshu Iwareon.
He is a professional Japanese baseball pitcher, hitter, and outfielder for the Los Angeles of Major League Baseball (MLB). Over the course of his career, he has received a number of awards including the Silver Slugger Award(2021), AL Most Valuable Player (2021), NPB Pacific League’s Best Picher (2016), and Best Designated Hitter (2016).
More to this, he is tipped to be the next Babe Ruth; a professional Japanese baseball player who broke many records in the field. It is only a matter of time before this actualizes.
While Kayoko Otani is only in the media face because of her son Shohei, she is undoubtedly a supportive mother and a great wife.
