Prominent sports journalist famous for being the "superfan" of Japanese baseball player Shohei Ohtani has announced his retirement from following Ohtani's career. The individual, known colloquially as "Mini Tani," detailed his decision in a recent presentation, expressing his respect for Ohtani's remarkable achievements as a player so far and his hopes for his future. Exact reasons behind this decision remain obscured; however, it marks a significant shift in the landscape of sports reportage related to Ohtani.

Following and extensively covering the career of individual players, especially those making international waves like Ohtani, is a common practice among Japanese sports journalists. Mini Tani's dedicated coverage of Ohtani's career has been a significant driver in maintaining high local and nationwide interest in Ohtani's performance. A sense of pride is involved as Ohtani represents the success of Japanese players in international sports platforms.

Similar to Japan, personalized sports journalism is a common practice in the US and the EU. Journalists follow prominent players throughout their career, shaping the public's perception of these athletes. The retirement of such a journalist can shift public interest simply by reducing the constant spotlight on the player.