Shohei Ohtani seems to have the Midas touch — and not just when it comes to the World Series.
A Kansai University professor estimated the player’s economic benefit to the Dodgers this year at $783 million, already surpassing the cost of his record-breaking 10-year contract. Ohtani-led ad campaigns within Japan have boosted sales for everything from cosmetics to job-seeking sites. He’s even being credited with the increasing popularity of takoyaki (fried octopus dumplings) in the U.S., thanks to chain Gindaco’s new outlet at Dodger Stadium.
Now, a traditional handicraft of Iwate Prefecture, the baseball player’s home region, is getting the Ohtani bump, too. Iwate is home to Nambu tekki (ironware), whose nubbly kettles have been prized tea ceremony implements for centuries.
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