By Akira Tomoshige Elaine Lies

TOKYO (Reuters – From the prime minister down to the people on the streets, Japan celebrated Shohei Ahtani’s winning of the American Baseball Top Award with joy banners and extras full of pride over the achievement.

Ohtani, 27, of the Los Angeles Angels won the Most Valuable Player Award (MVP), for Major League Baseball’s American League. This made him the second Japanese player to do so after Ichiro Suzuki, then with Seattle Mariners.

“I’m proud. Minoru Tanaka (68), a part time worker, said that he worked hard and displayed Japanese presence.

Other people were more excited.

Chihiro Nakamura (36), a 36-year-old office worker, said, “I’m just happy. I think it is amazing.” “I will keep cheering him.”

To match Ohtani’s jersey number, extras were given out by newspapers. The iconic Tokyo Tower was scheduled to be illuminated with Angels’ colors at 17:17 (or 5:17) p.m.

Ohtani was born in Oshu in rural northeastern Japan. City workers gathered there in Angels jerseys cheering and clapping. Banners announcing the victory were later hung at city hall.

Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan, joined the event, and told reporters, “It is an extraordinary achievement, and as a Japanese citizen I feel very proud.”

Ohtani’s success stems both from his athletic abilities and his personality, according to Hirotaka Matsuoka (a professor of sports marketing at Tokyo’s Waseda University).

He added that Ohtani is humble and earnest so even if it doesn’t seem like he says anything, he still appeals to all age groups.

Although Suzuki is well-known, Ohtani has a better reputation, according to Robert Whiting (author of many books about Japanese baseball).

In remarks to Reuters, he stated that “he gives Japan a certain standing in MLB it had never before …,”” before the award announcement. He is being called the “best baseball player” by some.

Asics shares rose while Zett Corp (a lesser-known sporting goods company) saw its share price soar after Ohtani’s appearance in the All-Star Game. However, Zett Corp fell shortly after an initial surge.

Matsuoka stated that although baseball in Japan has fallen behind soccer over the past few years, Ohtani’s MVP will likely inspire more people to play and to be more interested in watching, which could give Japanese pro baseball an extra boost.

“After all you never know when you may be able see Ohtani’s next Ohtani right here.” He said.