Los Angeles Dodgers player Shohei Ohtani. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers make heartfelt gesture for Japan earthquake victims

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Renzo Pocholo Salao | Last updated 1/5/24

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is sharing some of his $700M contract with his countrymen affected by the New Year’s earthquake in Japan.

Ohtani is teaming up with the Dodgers and Guggenheim Baseball in order to donate $1M to help the victims of the quake.

The Dodgers and Ohtani released a shared statement Thursday night announcing the news.

“In support of the disaster relief efforts for the 2024 Sea of Japan earthquake and in collaboration with the Dodgers, I am making a donation in aid of the survivors. … I hope for the rapid rescue of missing persons and the reconstruction of the disaster-stricken areas,” said Ohtani in his statement translated from Japanese.

pic.twitter.com/yAl6HnzaTN

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) January 5, 2024

The 7.6 magnitude Japan earthquake has left 84 people dead and several more missing, per a report Thursday from Reuters’ Kiyoshi Takenaka and Sakura Murakami.

Thursday afternoon marked the end of the critical post-earthquake 72-hour survivability window. Survivability rates drop dramatically by the end of the three-day period following the initial tremor.

Thousands of rescuers remain engaged in trying to find more survivors as Japan recovers from the tragedy to begin 2024.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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