Japan gripped by two things: a general election and Shohei Ohtani’s shoulder

Speculation about the country’s political future is competing for space with the fortunes of the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar in the World Series

The Monday morning headlines in Japanese newspapers will be dominated by the result of the previous day’s general election. But speculation about the country’s political future after a tightly contested vote will be competing for space with another event taking place thousands of miles away. And all because of one man: Shohei Ohtani.

On Tuesday in Japan, millions of people are expected to devour every pitch and hit in the next instalment of the seven-game World Series between Ohtani’s Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees, with enthusiasm reaching levels usually reserved for the climax of domestic baseball, the Japan Series.

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Snakes and batters: reptile slithers into LA Dodgers’ dugout during MLB game

Snake appears in top of fifth inning of Dodger v New York Mets game before being wrapped in towel and removed

A snake slithered through the Los Angeles Dodgers’ dugout during game two of the National League Championship Series on Monday.

The reptile appeared in the top of the fifth inning of the Dodgers’ 7-3 loss to the New York Mets. It wasn’t big enough to put a scare into anyone.

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Shohei Ohtani interpreter to plead guilty to stealing millions from MLB star

  • Ippei Mizuhara faces long jail sentence after admission
  • Plea deal will absolve Ohtani of any wrongdoing

Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for Japanese baseball star Shohei Ohtani, will face up to 33 years in jail when he pleads guilty to stealing millions of dollars from his former friend.

Mizuhara has admitted to one count of bank fraud and one count of subscribing to a false tax return. As well as a length jail term, he must also pay $16,975,010 in restitution to Victim A, assumed to be Ohtani. Mizuhara will enter his guilty plea in the coming weeks and is set to be arraigned on 14 May, prosecutors said.

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MLB star Shohei Ohtani’s translator fired after allegations of ‘massive theft’

  • Ippei Mizuhara admits to have run up gambling debts
  • Ohtani is world’s most famous baseball player

The interpreter for Shohei Ohtani, the biggest star in baseball and one of the most famous people in Japan, has been fired after lawyers for the player said there had been a “massive theft” from the slugger’s account.

ESPN reported that several sources said Ippei Mizuhara had run up large debts to a Californian bookmaker. Initially a spokesperson for the player said Ohtani had transferred $4.5m to cover Mizuhara’s debts. But when ESPN asked further questions, the spokesperson backed away from their claim and said Ohtani’s lawyers would soon make a statement.

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Shohei Ohtani: a Japanese baseball star so loved even Koreans flock to him

The Japanese star is considered one of the most talented players in history. Now he finds himself in an unfamiliar role as a cultural ambassador

The sport is American, the venue South Korean. But when the LA Dodgers and San Diego Padres open the Major League Baseball season with two games in Seoul this week, all eyes will be on a Japanese superstar: Shohei Ohtani.

It says much about Ohtani’s singular appeal that South Korean baseball fans are as excited about his imminent presence in the batter’s box at Gocheok Sky Dome as his legions of admirers in Japan.

The Associated Press contributed reporting

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Dodgers re-invite drag nuns to Pride Night after cutting them

Baseball team apologizes to Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence after removing group from event amid conservative opposition

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced that the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a well-known San Francisco order of queer and trans “nuns” that has existed since the 1970s, are once again welcome at the team’s annual Pride Night.

Last week, the baseball team rescinded the group’s invitation after a Republican senator from Florida wrote a letter accusing the sisters, a group which came to prominence during the Aids crisis, of being anti-Christian activists. The group, which does charitable and protest work in addition to its street drag show performances, was set to receive an award during a ceremony before a 16 June game against the San Francisco Giants.

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NBA joined by MLB teams in boycott to protest police shooting of Jacob Blake

  • Bucks’ home of Milwaukee is close to site of shooting
  • George Hill says team is ‘tired of killings and injustice’
  • MLB and WNBA teams also boycott in solidarity

On an extraordinary day for the NBA, the Milwaukee Bucks boycotted Game 5 of their playoff series against the Orlando Magic in protest of the police shooting of Jacob Blake, leading the NBA to reschedule all other Wednesday night playoff games.

Milwaukee’s baseball team, the Brewers, also confirmed they would not play their game scheduled for Wednesday evening.

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Dodgers World Series bright spot for immigrant community

For Los Angeles Dodgers fan and illegal Mexican immigrant Romulo Avelica-Gonzalez, the team's first trip to the World Series in nearly three decades has been a rare bright spot in an otherwise difficult time. Undocumented immigrant Romulo Avelica-Gonzalez, 49, poses for a photo with his wife Norma Avelica-Gonzalez, 48, in Los Angeles, California, U.S. October 26, 2017.

Sen. McCain faces cancer battle with typical feistiness

In this Aug 10, 2017, file photo, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., watches a baseball game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning in Phoenix. McCain's packed agenda while on break from Congress in his home state of Arizona has hardly been the schedule of a typical brain cancer patient, or even someone about to turn 81. McCain has been undergoing targeted radiation and chemotherapy treatments at the local Mayo Clinic on weekday mornings before going about his day with vigor.

Ex-Dodgers great Maury Wills retires from broadcasting in ND

Former Los Angeles Dodgers great Will... Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck has told graduating cadets to be ethical and "do the right thing" in the wake of a scandal involving the youth program. Gay pride parades in New York, San Francisco and other cities are spotlighting resistance to what participants see as new pressure on gay rights.

DirecTV, AT&T Settle DOJ Charges of Harming Dodgers Sportsnet

DirecTV, and its parent company, AT&T on Thursday settled federal charges that the satellite TV provider acted as the ringleader of a conspiracy that ended up preventing the Los Angeles Dodgers' sportsnet from being carried in much of the team's TV market. The settlement with the Department of Justice will prohibit DirecTV and AT&T from illegally sharing confidential, forward-looking information with competitors.

Donald Trump vs. Hillary Clinton as ‘SNL’ tackles third presidential debate with Tom Hanks

The Cubs, for more than half a century viewed as the lovable losers of old ivy-covered Wrigley Field, beat the best pitcher of the now generation in Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw in a 5-0 victory that clinched the National League pennant, 4-2. Next up, the Cleveland Indians and the Curse of the Billy Goat.