TOKYO — Shohei Ohtani is becoming a beacon for the newspaper industry in Japan, revitalizing interest in print media through his sporting achievements.

The standout player, who shines for both the Japanese national team and the Los Angeles Dodgers, has recently claimed his third Most Valuable Player (MVP) award and his inaugural MVP title in the National League. Previously, he had secured similar accolades in the American League in both 2021 and 2023, during his tenure with the Los Angeles Angels.

In response to Ohtani’s latest triumph, numerous Japanese newspapers published special editions this past Friday morning, particularly distributed in the heart of Tokyo. Considering Japan’s time difference of 14 hours ahead of New York, the news was hot off the press for the Japanese audience.

“Each year Ohtani shatters records that seem beyond reach for everyone else,” stated Yoshio Inoue, a student who eagerly picked up his copy of the newspaper. His recent victory comes on the heels of the Dodgers’ World Series win less than a month ago, which had similarly fueled a wave of special edition releases eagerly sought after by collectors.

Many publications produced their own unique takes on the news, but they all prominently featured “MVP” in bold letters along with striking images of Ohtani clad in Dodgers’ colors. Hailing from a small town in northern Japan, Ohtani enjoys immense admiration across the nation.

“I was absorbed in the newspaper, awestruck by what he has achieved,” reflected Yuko Shimamoto. “It’s a source of pride to see him represent Japan in Major League Baseball.”

Known as “gogai” in Japanese, these single-page editions constitute a long-standing tradition in Japan to celebrate significant news events, serving as a means to boost newspaper circulation. While the overall newspaper readership is declining, it remains robust in Japan in comparison to numerous other countries.

In the voting results, Ohtani garnered all 30 first-place votes, accumulating a total of 420 points. Following him were New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor in second place with 263 points, and Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte, who rounded out the top three with 229 points.