憧れるのをやめましょう
Akogareru no o yamemashō.
Let’s stop putting them on a pedestal.
Shohei Ohtani · 大谷翔平 (Ōtani Shōhei)
Two-way baseball player · Japan’s 2023 WBC MVP
Before Japan faced the United States in the 2023 World Baseball Classic final, Ohtani reminded his teammates that the opposing stars were players they admired. He asked them, for that day, to set aside awe and focus on winning. The message was to compete as equals while retaining respect for the opponent.
Why this date: October 12 is Japan’s Sports Day in 2026. We chose this speech for its distinction between respecting an opponent and feeling too overawed to compete confidently.
Language note: 憧れる (あこがれる / akogareru) means to admire or look up to someone. 尊敬する (そんけいする / sonkei suru) means to respect. やめましょう (yamemashō) means “let’s stop.” Here, he asks the team to set aside awe for this game and compete as equals.
Where is admiration quietly becoming intimidation, and what would it mean to meet that moment as an equal?
DJW practice example:
相手を尊敬して、対等に挑みます。
Aite o sonkei shite, taitō ni idomimasu.
I respect my opponent and take them on as an equal.
Sources:
Samurai Japan — original pre-final speech video: https://x.com/samuraijapan_pr/status/1638324724655886336
Netflix Japan — official documentary excerpt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfSuT1D2CQo
Japan Cabinet Office — 2026 national holidays: https://www8.cao.go.jp/chosei/shukujitsu/gaiyou.html