Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. (hereinafter Konami) has appointed Shohei Ohtani, who plays for the Major League's Dodgers, as the ambassador for KONAMI baseball games, commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Power Pros series and the 20th anniversary of the Professional Baseball Spirits series in 2024. To mark his appointment, the company has released a special interview and behind-the-scenes footage of the shoot.
Konami Appoints Shohei Ohtani as KONAMI Baseball Game Ambassador!
To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Power Pros series and the 20th anniversary of the Professional Baseball Spirits series in 2024, Konami has announced Shohei Ohtani as the KONAMI baseball game ambassador. Konami stated that it resonates with Ohtani's commitment to expanding the possibilities of baseball through his "two-way" playing style and his dedication to promoting the sport. Consequently, the company decided to partner with him to further energize the baseball world.
Shohei Ohtani will participate in various projects throughout the "Power Pros 30th Anniversary x Pro Spirits 20th Anniversary Year," featured in currently available mobile games like Professional Baseball Spirits A, Power Pros Eikan Nine Crossroad, and Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū. Stay tuned for further updates!
Please check the Power Pros 30th Anniversary x Pro Spirits 20th Anniversary official website for details.
Comment from Shohei Ohtani
Congratulations on the 30th anniversary of Power Pros and the 20th anniversary of Pro Spirits!
I believe many people have learned the rules of baseball or rediscovered its joy through Power Pros and Pro Spirits.
I look forward to sharing the fun and wonder of baseball with even more people alongside these two series.Power Pros 30th Anniversary x Pro Spirits 20th Anniversary Ambassador
Shohei Ohtani
(Translated from Japanese)
Power Pros 30th Anniversary x Pro Spirits 20th Anniversary official website
Konami Releases Special Interview with Shohei Ohtani and Ambassador Shoot Footage!
Following his appointment as the KONAMI baseball game ambassador, Konami has released footage of the shoot and a special interview with Shohei Ohtani.
― Since you are becoming the ambassador for the Power Pros 30th Anniversary x Pro Spirits 20th Anniversary and you yourself are turning 30 this year, what is the most memorable event from your 30 years?
It depends on how I look at it. The 2023 WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC stands out, as does entering professional baseball. To be more specific, I also remember the day I first played baseball very clearly, so it's hard to narrow it down. My answer probably changes depending on the moment.
― If you were to grade yourself now against the image of yourself at 30 that you had when you were younger, say, at 20, what score would you give?
I'm not sure about a score, but I thought I would be more of an adult by now (laughs). When I was a teenager picturing myself at 25 or 30, I thought I would be much more mature. Maybe it's just me, but I still feel like a child. I imagined myself as a calmer man, but I think I'm heading in the completely opposite direction.
― You will be playing in a new environment starting this year. Could you share your aspirations again?
First and foremost, I need to adjust to the new environment. Although I've joined the team, I don't feel like a teammate in the truest sense yet. Alongside delivering results, I hope to build trust with my teammates by focusing on communication first.
― What are your goals for this season as you turn 30?
Winning the World Series is the ultimate goal of my baseball career, so that is my biggest focus this season. Since I cannot pitch this year, I will do my absolute best to contribute from the batter's box.
― You will be pitching again starting next year. What would you like to achieve by 30 or during your 30s? Could you share your personal goals?
First, I want to fully recover as a pitcher and continue competing through full seasons as a two-way player. I have a 10-year contract, so my straightforward goal is to fulfill that completely. Winning the World Series remains my primary focus, and I hope to contribute to that with both my pitching and hitting.
― Have you played Power Pros or Pro Spirits since you were a child? Also, has it influenced your current view of baseball?
Yes. In a way, it's just like the cultivation mode, Success—you train in a way that suits you, take breaks, and see your efforts reflected in the results. In that sense, games and reality are roughly the same. I used to practice baseball while pretending I was a Power Pros player, which was incredibly fun as a kid. I also loved developing players in the game, and now it feels like I'm doing the same thing with my own body. It's like a personal development game and almost a hobby, so I definitely think that influence is there.
Success is the popular professional baseball player cultivation mode in the Power Pros series.)
― A dog character named Gander appears in Power Pros. You also recently started keeping a dog; could you tell us the story behind that?
I had always wanted to get a dog and was planning for it around this off-season. But then I got injured, which made me hesitate. However, since I had to stay home in a cast and couldn't go out, it actually turned out to be the perfect timing, even though taking care of a dog during that first month was challenging. So, we did rehabilitation together—and slept together (laughs).
Shooting Episodes
The advertising still shoot featured two outfits: the game-day uniform and casual everyday wear. Shohei Ohtani entered the studio wearing the Japan national team uniform from the 2023 WBC. First, he threw a gray hoodie over the uniform for the casual shoot. While responding to the photographer's requests such as "give us a powerful look" or "tuck your chin in slightly," he maintained a dignified expression for a close-up shot with his arms crossed, looking straight ahead. Following that, he uncrossed his arms for a more relaxed pose and flashed a series of charming smiles when instructed to "go for a happy feel."
For the next key visual shot, Shohei Ohtani put on his full uniform and cap before standing in front of the camera. Since this shot would feature his handwritten message, "Let's play baseball!", the photographer aimed for a "hero image," fine-tuning Ohtani's gaze, face angle, and chin angle to capture the perfect shot. Additionally, when the hair and makeup artist needed to adjust his hair, the tall athlete proactively leaned down to her eye level. His characteristically considerate nature warmed the hearts of the staff watching from the sidelines.
Shohei Ohtani flexibly adapted to every variation the photographer requested, from looking back over his shoulder and gradually turning his full body forward, to fist-pumps, full-body shots, throwing poses with a glove, and batting stances. However, he flashed a confused "Huh?" expression during a shot alongside the MASCOT character, Power Pro-kun. Since the production team would composite Power Pro-kun during post-production, the character wasn't actually on set, prompting Ohtani to ask, "Where should I look?" Even so, once he caught on, he delivered one great expression after another in response to cues like "Look around here, as if you're interacting with a child" or "Imagine saying, 'Let's play baseball!'"—greatly energizing the set.
When Shohei Ohtani spotted the plush toy of Gander, the dog character from Power Pros that staff had prepared for the shoot, he showed immediate interest, asking, "What is this?" After finishing the shoot, he asked to "take it home" and happily left with the plush. Konami plans to release the Gander plush toy as an amusement facility prize in the future, so stay tuned for further updates!
You can watch the making-of and special interview video featuring Shohei Ohtani on the Power Pros & Pro Spirits Official Channel. Check out his diverse expressions and interview answers from the shoot. For more details on his appointment as the KONAMI baseball game ambassador, please visit the Konami official website.
パワプロ30周年×プロスピ20周年 アンバサダー⚾ #大谷翔平 選手のメイキング映像と特別インタビューをGETしてきたでやんす🦄
パワプロ・プロスピ公式チャンネルを、今すぐチェックでやんすよ🎥#パワスピ周年
— パワプロ・プロスピ公式 (@pawapuro_pro) January 15, 2024