The renowned baseball player, Shohei Ohtani, will be given a day off on the 22nd, as declared by his coach. This decision hasn't transpired as a result of any particular injury or discomfort but as a part of the scheduled rest days aimed at maintaining the athlete's condition. Ohtani's phenomenal performances have earned him the well-deserved break, and fans are eagerly anticipating his return in the following games.
In Japan, high regard is given to the balance between effort and rest, especially in sports. Fans honor athlete endeavors but simultaneously understand that rest is key to maintaining peak performance levels. This makes Ohtani's day off less a controversy and more a standard policy adhering to health-orientated player management.
In the US and EU, players' health care has come at the forefront in sports organizations' management policies. The rest strategy employed by Ohtani's coach is akin to 'load management' employed by many NBA teams in the US. Both reflect an increasing awareness of the importance of players' longevity, with focused efforts on preventing overuse injuries.