Japanese professional baseball player, Shohei Ohtani, made headlines by engaging in an unusual running practice before a game. This is not a regular occurrence for players at Ohtani's level and thus has attracted media attention. The timing, reasoning, and impact of this training routine are yet to be fully analyzed.

Baseball is widely popular in Japan and exceptional players like Ohtani are national icons. Any unusual activity from popular players can become a topic of discussion. Japanese people usually have great admiration for hard work and discipline - values reflected in Ohtani's additional training efforts.

In the US, pre-game routines vary widely among athletes, but baseball players in particular are known for their superstitious practices and strict routines. Extraordinary measures taken by players to improve performance typically garner attention and respect, much like in Japan.