Tokyo, Japan – ITO EN, Ltd., the producer of the world-renowned unsweetened green tea brand “Oi Ocha,” has announced a global partnership with baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The partnership, effective as of April 30, 2024, marks a significant collaboration between two iconic names in Japan and the United States.
The news was met with enthusiasm from both parties, with Ohtani expressing his excitement for the partnership. “I have been a big fan of ‘Oi Ocha’ since my time in Japan and it has remained an important companion to me even in my life in America,” he shared.
Ohtani has been a long-time fan of “Oi Ocha,” regularly drinking the refreshing beverage during his time in Japan and now in Los Angeles. As part of the partnership, ITO EN will publish a heartfelt letter to Ohtani expressing their support for him. The company also aims to showcase the value of Japanese tea on a global scale by implementing various projects with Ohtani, who is a prominent figure on the world stage.
For more information on the partnership and its details, please visit https://www.itoen.jp/oiocha/ohtani/en.html. Additional information on “Oi Ocha” can also be found on the product information site: https://www.itoen-europe.com/products/oi_ocha.php#oiocha.
In celebration of this partnership, ITO EN has published a full-page advertisement in over 60 newspapers worldwide, including the Nikkei, Asahi, Yomiuri, Mainichi, and Sankei newspapers in Japan. The ad features a heartfelt open letter to Ohtani, expressing the company’s support and admiration for the athlete. It also appeared in sports and regional newspapers throughout Japan, including Iwate and Hokkaido, where Ohtani has played. Outside of Japan, the ad was featured in newspapers published in countries where baseball is popular, such as the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Financial Times, and Honolulu Star-Advertiser in the United States, Chosun Ilbo in Korea, and The Courier-Mail, The Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, and The West Australian in Australia.
The ad not only serves as a show of support from ITO EN but also as a testament to their commitment to the partnership. The company is ready to deliver the partnership products in any quantity, at any time, and to any location, including to Ohtani himself, his friends, family, and associates.
As part of the partnership announcement, ITO EN has also published a letter to Ohtani, who is currently based in Los Angeles, with a message of encouragement from the company. The letter reads, “Dear Mr. Shohei Ohtani, Yes, the new season is here. You continue to inspire us with your exceptional performance. We hope our Oi Ocha green tea will refresh and energize you. No matter the time of day, no matter how far apart, we’re here for you, Ohtani-san. Always, ITO EN ‘Oi Ocha.'”
In response, Ohtani shared his gratitude and excitement for the partnership, stating, “To all of you who have always supported me, hi, this is Shohei Ohtani. I am delighted to announce that I have entered into a global partnership with ITO EN’s ‘Oi Ocha.’ I have been a big fan of ‘Oi Ocha’ since my time in Japan and it has remained an important companion to me even in my life in America. I was thrilled to hear that my love for ‘Oi Ocha’ and my frequent consumption of it resonated with ITO EN, which led to this opportunity. As a devoted fan of ‘Oi Ocha,’ I am excited about the prospect of sharing its charm with people all over the world.”
Born in Iwate Prefecture in 1994, Ohtani is a 193 cm tall, 95 kg baseball player who throws right-handed and bats left-handed. He was the first overall pick in the NPB 2012 draft, joining the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, where he drew attention for being a two-way player. In 2016, he contributed to the Fighters’ Japan championship with both pitching and hitting and became the Pacific League MVP. In 2018, he joined the Los Angeles Angels and received the American League (AL) Rookie of the Year Award. In 2021, he was named AL’s MVP after hitting 46 home runs as a hitter and winning nine games as a pitcher. In 2023, he had a historic season, becoming the first Japanese player in history to win the AL home-run crown in addition to achieving double-digit wins and home runs for the second consecutive year. In 2024, he joined the
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