Shohei Ohtani, a highly-regarded athlete in the world of professional baseball, has recently criticized a "tea performance" by fellow sportsman Kitayama. The event took place during a social gathering, where Kitayama performed a Japanese tea ceremony – a traditional ritual deeply engrained in the Japanese culture. Ohtani, however, publicized his opinions by suggesting that Kitayama's interpretation didn't meet traditional standards.

The Japanese tea ceremony holds a high cultural significance in Japan, upholding values of harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility. It's more than a simple serving of tea – it's considered an art, and every single detail counts. The criticism from Ohtani, thus, was taken rather seriously by the public and has sparked conversations on social media and sports communities.

Just like the US or EU takes their traditional arts and ceremonies seriously, so does Japan. For instance, it's versions of an athlete failing to respect national anthem protocols or not adhering to the standards of a ceremonial first pitch in the US.