Who Is Shohei Ohtani’s Wife? All About Mamiko Tanaka

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani has steadily become a household name in Major League Baseball, but he has kept his personal life largely private—especially when it comes to his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, and their daughter.

Ohtani confirmed that he married Tanaka in February 2024, though he initially did not reveal her identity. “Not only have I began a new chapter in my career with the Dodgers but I also have began a new life with someone from my Native country of Japan who is very special to me and I wanted everyone to know I am now married,” Ohtani wrote on Instagram. Two weeks later, he was photographed with Japanese basketball player Mamiko Tanaka, prompting speculation that she was his mystery spouse.

The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter, in April 2025, though they have not shared her name. “I am so grateful to my loving wife who gave birth to our healthy beautiful daughter,” Ohtani wrote on Instagram. “To my daughter, thank you for making us very nervous yet super anxious parents.”

Tanaka, born December 11, 1996, is a former professional Japanese basketball player. She began her career at Waseda University before turning professional in 2019 with the Fujitsu Red Wave of the Women’s Japan Basketball League. Tanaka played four seasons with the team, retiring in 2023 with an impressive shooting rate of 47.7% from the field and 69.9% from the free-throw line across 28 games, according to ESPN.

During a press conference after his marriage announcement, Ohtani described Tanaka as a “normal Japanese woman.” The couple made their social media debut together two weeks later, photographed boarding a plane to Seoul ahead of a Dodgers series against the San Diego Padres.

Tanaka has actively supported Ohtani’s career, attending games and celebrating his victories, including a memorable moment in September 2024 when she was seen cheering with him and their dog, Decoy, after a Dodgers win. The couple also made their red carpet debut at the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Blue Diamond Gala in May 2024, posing alongside singer Ed Sheeran.

Despite his global fame, Ohtani continues to guard his family’s privacy, requesting that the press avoid contacting his family or friends for more information. “We are still young and [there are] many things we don’t know yet, but we hope you will warmly watch over us,” he wrote.