Guggenheim Baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Shohei Ohtani came together in supporting the relief efforts after the Sea of Japan earthquake (7.6 magnitude) struck on January 1.
The epicenter was just over four miles north-northwest of Suzu, which is located on the Noto Peninsula of Ishikawa Prefecture. The reverse-faulting shock was accompanied by a tsunami caused extensive damage on the Noto Peninsula, and in particular in Wajima, Suzu and Noto.
“In collaboration with Shohei Ohtani, who is making his own personal contribution, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Guggenheim Baseball are donating $1 million to support those affected by the New Year’s earthquake in Japan. Our thoughts are with all of Japan in the wake of this tragedy,” the Dodgers said in a statement.
More than 200 people are missing, over 400 were injured and the death total has exceeded 70 in what’s Japan’s deadliest earthquake since the 2016 Kumamoto seismic activity.
“In support of the disaster relief efforts for the 2024 Sea of Japan earthquake and in collaboration with the Dodgers, I am making a donation in aid of the survivors,” said Ohtani in a statement shared by the Dodgers.
“I would like to thank those who have joined in the recovery effort, and my hope is that we continue to come together to support those whose lives have been upended. I hope for the rapid rescue of missing persons and the reconstruction of the disaster-stricken areas.”
Further complicating rescue efforts in the region is inclement weather that potentially was going to include snow and create the threat of landslides.
Last August, the Dodgers, Los Angeles Lakers, Angel City Football Club, Los Angeles Chargers, Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Angels, LAFC, Los Angeles Galaxy, Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Sparks combined to donate $450,000 in relief efforts for those impacted by the Hawaii wildfires.
Under the Guggenheim Baseball ownership group, the Dodgers have also donated to support hurricane relief efforts in Mexico and Puerto Rico, those impacted by tornadoes in Kentucky, and to the LeBron James Family Foundation, among other initiatives.
Shohei Ohtani donated gloves
Ohtani similarly has an extensive history of charitable acts. Most recently he donated an estimated 60,000 baseball gloves to every elementary school in Japan.
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