Fact Check: Ohtani “Fired Back” Hoax Debunked; Dodgers and Hakkaisan Brewery Are in Multi-Year Partnership.vc
A viral “scorcher” report claiming Hakkaisan Brewery is “cutting ties” with the Dodgers to exclusively sign Shohei Ohtani is “categorically false.” The two companies signed a multi-year partnership in 2025, and Ohtani’s endorsement earnings already dwarf the rumored $15M offer.
LOS ANGELES — In a story that seems to have originated from a “viral hoax” or a piece of fan-fiction, a shocking report has circulated claiming a dramatic confrontation between Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani and Hakkaisan Brewery President, Jiro Nagumo.
The false report—which alleges Hakkaisan “cut ties” with the Dodgers to offer Ohtani an exclusive $15 million deal—claims the superstar “FIRED BACK” with “18 words” that left the CEO “stunned.”
This entire scenario is factually incorrect.
The Reality: A “Fruitful Relationship,” Not a “Fracture”
Far from “cutting ties,” the Los Angeles Dodgers and Hakkaisan Brewery are, in fact, current business partners.
- The Deal: On March 12, 2025, the Dodgers and Hakkaisan announced a multi-year partnership agreement.
- The Terms: The deal makes Hakkaisan the “exclusive sake partner” of the Dodgers, with products available at Dodger Stadium and co-branded bottles sold in Southern California.
- The “Hoax” Victim: Hakkaisan President Jiro Nagumo, who the hoax claims “lost control,” in reality released a statement praising the deal. “It is a great honor to collaborate with such a historic team,” Nagumo said in March. “We look forward to a fruitful relationship with Hakkaisan.”
Debunking the “Offer”
The viral hoax’s premise contains two other major factual errors:
- The $15M “Double Contract” Claim: The rumor claims the $15 million offer is “double his current contract with the Dodgers.” This is wildly inaccurate. Ohtani’s contract is a 10-year, $700 million deal ($70M AAV). While his paid salary is famously deferred to $2 million per year, his endorsement income is estimated to be over $100 million annually from all sources. A $15 million offer would be a fraction of his endorsement earnings, not “double” his contract.
- Ohtani’s Actual Beverage Sponsor: Ohtani’s primary, exclusive beverage partner is the green tea company ITO EN, producers of “Oi Ocha.”
The “Ohtani effect” has been a historic financial boom for the Dodgers, attracting new Japanese partners like Hakkaisan, not creating conflict with them. There was no “press conference,” no “slogan,” and no “18-word” comeback. The real story is one of successful, ongoing collaboration.
