A 150-foot-tall mural featuring baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani was officially unveiled in Little Tokyo Wednesday morning, a day before the Dodgers’ home opener game. Ohtani signed with the LA Dodgers just a few months ago with a whopping $700 million contract, the largest sports contract in history.
Native Angeleno Robert Vargas designed and painted the mural which showcased Ohtani’s two-way talents as a batter and pitcher. As an artist honored by the city of Los Angeles, Vargas is known for painting murals of LA icons, such as Kobe Bryant, that can be found throughout Downtown LA. On the days leading up to the event, the Boyle Heights artist encouraged fans to watch him complete the mural, painting every day from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The mural scales the side of the Miyako Hotel, beside the Japanese Village Plaza. Ohtani shares a connection with the Japanese American district, as he hails from Japan. Though Ohtani’s LA debut would come the next day, the large turnout for the unveiling was proof that fans were ready to support Ohtani in his new journey as a Dodger.
This homage also comes days after Ohtani fired his interpreter who was involved in a theft and sports gambling scandal. Nevertheless, both the Japanese community and Dodger fans alike joined in the festivities on Wednesday. This was a union that was particularly special to Vargas.
“We’re team LA and looking at everybody here, I see the whole country of Japan rooting for Shohei,” Vargas said. “We’re all Angelenos rooting for Shohei. That nation and Dodger Nation are all on the same team.”
Performers played taiko drums for the crowd as they waited for the mural, which had been covered with a blue tarp for most of the morning. Lowriders, a staple of LA Chicano culture, were displayed for attendees to admire. The cars were featured along East 1st Street, which closed for the event.
The mural also featured an augmented reality component, allowing fans to scan QR codes posted around the street to view the mural as a moving piece through mobile devices.
After remarks from Robert Vargas and other community leaders, attendees excitedly counted down as the blue tarp dropped to reveal the fresh tribute. Confetti rained down on the sea of blue jerseys as cheers broke out.
Local businesses welcomed customers coming from the event for the rest of the day and the Japanese Village Plaza bustled with renewed optimism.
See the mural, titled “LA Rising,” now up on 328 E 1st St.