![Japan buzzing for Shohei Ohtani's return in WBC](https://s7d2.scene7.com/is/image/TWCNews/WBC_Baseball_Japan_17180?hei=300)
Ohtani's Japan teammates, like Lars Nootbaar, are also fans
![Japan buzzing for Shohei Ohtani's return in WBC](https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/6323083071112-1024x576.jpg)
Shohei delivers epic pre-game speech to Japanese teammates before winning WBC title
![Japan buzzing for Shohei Ohtani's return in WBC](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/03/09/17/68520783-0-image-a-50_1678383115908.jpg)
Shohei Ohtani leads Japan with four shutout innings and an RBI-double in 8-1 win over China at WBC
![Japan buzzing for Shohei Ohtani's return in WBC](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/03/09/14/68514277-11840131-image-a-23_1678373901397.jpg)
Shohei Ohtani leads Japan with four shutout innings and an RBI-double in 8-1 win over China at WBC
![Japan buzzing for Shohei Ohtani's return in WBC](https://images.wsj.net/im-748770/?width=1278&size=1)
I'm Excited to Watch Baseball. What Is Wrong With Me? - WSJ
![Japan buzzing for Shohei Ohtani's return in WBC](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/timesdaily.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/df/6dff9b2b-0152-5398-b5dc-ee5bbed5d9cb/6409102fa212f.image.jpg?resize=685%2C500)
Even teammates are fans of Japan's Ohtani, Sports
![Japan buzzing for Shohei Ohtani's return in WBC](https://bdc2020.o0bc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/NBUQEXPF7TYQIG6SVONSH62VEU-64021fa11286f-768x432.jpg)
Shohei Ohtani and Japan: It's much more than just baseball
![Japan buzzing for Shohei Ohtani's return in WBC](https://img.olympics.com/images/image/private/t_s_pog_staticContent_hero_xl/f_auto/v1675872300/primary/pl1ogxmsdoln7rpywepy)
World Baseball Classic: Ohtani Shohei's return to Japan prompts frenzy amongst fans
![Japan buzzing for Shohei Ohtani's return in WBC](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_7561,h_4253,x_0,y_91/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/75/01gse400cvn75f0rqr99.jpg)
Shohei Ohtani's answer on Angels extension gives Dodgers even more hope
![Japan buzzing for Shohei Ohtani's return in WBC](https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2023/03/09/ohtani_t800.jpg?90232451fbcadccc64a17de7521d859a8f88077d)
Japan buzzing for Ohtani's World Baseball Classic return
![Japan buzzing for Shohei Ohtani's return in WBC](https://sportshub.cbsistatic.com/i/r/2022/11/17/8d9e2195-97ea-4e92-b5dc-15cdba9df13e/thumbnail/1200x675/b304d3f986473081610ae10b6ce8661c/ohtani-getty-10.png)
Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani to play for Japan in 2023 World Baseball Classic