Baseball may have been invented in America, but nowhere outside the United States has the game become such a part of a country’s identity as it has in Japan. For well over a century it has been woven into the fabric of Japanese life, producing players whose fame extends far beyond the sport itself.

No player embodies that status more completely than the homegrown superstar Shohei Ohtani, who has played in Major League Baseball since 2018 and is widely regarded as the greatest talent for generations. Ohtani excels as both a hitter and a pitcher, something that was thought to be impossible in the modern game. The last player to achieve anything comparable was Babe Ruth, and even that giant of the game gradually gave up pitching duties to concentrate on batting.

Japanese baseball player Shohei Ohtani pitching for the Los Angeles Angels (Image: David Berding/Getty Images Sport)

When Grand Seiko chose Ohtani as an ambassador to represent its distinctly Japanese approach to watchmaking on the global stage, it is perhaps no surprise that they were drawn to the country’s biggest sporting icon. But this is about more than stardom.  Ohtani is not just known for his record-breaking results, but for his approach off the field as well. In a world where celebrity status often means fast cars and a party lifestyle, Ohtani has a reputation as a single-minded professional with an obsessive attention to detail.

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers speaks to the media at Dodger Stadium (Images: Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

When Ohtani signed his landmark contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023, watch enthusiasts noticed that the watch on his wrist was not a diamond-encrusted number that you might expect from someone who had just signed a record-breaking $700m contract. Instead it was an elegantly understated Grand Seiko.

Japanese baseball player Shohei Ohtani batting for the Los Angeles Dodgers in an exhibition game against the Kiwoom Heroes in Seoul, South Korea (Image: Masterpress/Getty Images)

Ohtani was born in Oshu, in Iwate Prefecture, a mountainous region in the north of Japan known for its forests and dramatic seasonal landscapes. The same prefecture is home to the Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi, where the brand’s mechanical watches are made. Many watches take direct inspiration from the surrounding countryside, the same landscape that helped shape one of Japan’s greatest athletes.

Ohtani was born in Oshu, in Iwate Prefecture, the same prefecture is home to the Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi

Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi

That shared heritage was recognized in 2021, when Grand Seiko marked Ohtani’s American League MVP season by presenting him with the SLGH005. Better known to enthusiasts as the White Birch, the model won the Men’s Watch Prize at that year’s Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, widely regarded as the Academy Awards of watchmaking.

Grand Seiko’s design philosophy has always looked beyond conventional ideas of luxury, drawing instead on the landscapes, seasons and craftsmanship of Japan itself. The White Birch draws inspiration from the forests surrounding Studio Shizukuishi, while the Snowflake captures the texture of freshly fallen snow. Elsewhere, the Four Seasons collection reflects subtle changes in light and color that mark the passing of the Japanese year.

The Japanese concept of kaizen is often translated as “continuous improvement”. In recent years the word has become fashionable in Western business circles, but its underlying principle is straightforward. Lasting success comes through countless small refinements rather than dramatic overnight transformation. Whether on the baseball field or at the watchmaker’s bench, it is an idea that feels entirely appropriate.

Ohtani’s greatness has never been the result of natural ability alone. Coaches have long spoken of his extraordinary work ethic. Every aspect of his game has been refined year after year, allowing him to achieve something many believed impossible in the modern era. His success is not built upon one remarkable season but on an unwavering commitment to getting fractionally better every day. As a teenager, Ohtani drew up a detailed plan mapping out every small step he believed would one day make him the world’s best player.

Grand Seiko has pursued a remarkably similar path. Rather than chasing fashion or constantly reinventing itself, the company has spent decades optimizing every aspect of its watches. Cases have become more ergonomic, dials more intricate and movements steadily more accurate and technically sophisticated. The Evolution 9 collection is perhaps the clearest expression of that philosophy, building upon decades of accumulated expertise while introducing significant technical advances.

The White Birch marked an important milestone on that journey. One of the defining Grand Seiko watches of the modern era, it now evolves into the updated SLGH031, which preserves its distinctive design while enhancing the wearing experience with the latest Evolution 9 bracelet and clasp. That same philosophy extends beyond its mechanical calibers. The latest SLGB003 showcases Grand Seiko’s newest generation of Spring Drive technology. These uniquely Grand Seiko hybrid movements demonstrate how the brand continues to push its technical capabilities forward while remaining unmistakably Japanese in both design and execution.

Grand Seiko SLGH031

Grand Seiko SLGB003

The three watches also trace the story of the partnership itself. The SBGM221 was Ohtani’s own choice at one of the defining moments of his career. The White Birch celebrated the shared heritage between athlete and watchmaker, while the SLGB003 demonstrates that Grand Seiko’s story of innovation is still unfolding.

Grand Seiko SBGM221

Many luxury brands choose ambassadors because they are famous. Grand Seiko appears to have chosen Ohtani because his story already reflected its own values. Both have earned worldwide respect without abandoning the qualities that made them distinctive in the first place. Both demonstrate that true mastery is not achieved through one spectacular moment, but through the accumulation of thousands of small steps.

In that sense, Shohei Ohtani is more than an ambassador for Grand Seiko. He is a fitting representative of a brand that has quietly spent more than six decades pursuing its own distinctive vision of Japanese excellence, one careful refinement at a time.