Baseball star Shohei Ohtani and his Los Angeles Dodgers teammates are likely to find themselves in the political crosshairs of both the left and right in America. While the date has yet to be set, it might be in Otani's best interest to find a way to be unavailable whenever the date is determined for a visit to the White House.

The article below is one example of how polarizing such a move could be in the U.S. Something tells me that many Japanese people in Japan would have equally strong views on both sides, even though they might not voice such opinions.

Otani should probably take a cue from Ichiro Suzuki, who was repeatedly pulled into U.S.–Japan political narratives (trade tensions, nationalism, etc.) throughout his major league career. His consistent approach was to decline political framing altogether—short answers, neutral language, or no comment. This approach would effectively manage reputational risk while maintaining dignity and harmony.

What do you think?