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Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani meets 100-year-old Nagasaki bombing survivor in touching moment
TL;DR
Shohei Ohtani met 100-year-old Nagasaki bombing survivor Momoyo Nakamoto Kelley before a game against the Rockies. The touching encounter included a handshake and Ohtani signing a baseball for her.
Key points
- Shohei Ohtani met a 100-year-old Nagasaki bombing survivor
- The meeting took place before a game against the Colorado Rockies
- Momoyo Nakamoto Kelley was introduced by her grandson
- Ohtani signed a baseball for Kelley
- Kelley described the experience as a dream come true
Mentioned in this story
Shohei OhtaniMomoyo Nakamoto KelleyNagasaki
MLBLos Angeles DodgersColorado Rockies
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani shared a heartfelt moment with a very special baseball fan before the game against the Colorado Rockies on Saturday, April 18, at Coors Field. Ohtani met Momoyo Nakamoto Kelley, a 100-year-old survivor of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan, on August 9, 1945.
Through the help of her grandson Patrick Faust, Kelley had the chance to meet the Japanese baseball superstar down on the field. After finishing his warmups, Ohtani knelt before her, and the two shook hands. Ohtani also signed a baseball for her.
“I’m so lucky,” she told MLB.com. “I [went] home and called my brother in Japan…it’s a dream come true. I watch every game they play.”
Kelley shares her survival story
She was 19 when the bombing occurred, according to Yahoo Sports. Kelley told MLB.com about the day the bomb hit, describing it as “like the sky was on fire.”
Kelley’s son-in-law added that she survived the bombing because she had been “upwind” from the explosion. After surviving, Kelley and her husband, whom she met on an Air Force base in Japan, emigrated to the United States in the early 1950s.
Ever since she moved to the U.S., she’s been a baseball fan, explaining that her earliest baseball memories are from the ’50s watching Joe DiMaggio. She currently lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, and was visiting family in Denver, Colorado, when the meeting came together.
Q&A
Who is Momoyo Nakamoto Kelley and why is she significant?
Momoyo Nakamoto Kelley is a 100-year-old survivor of the Nagasaki atomic bombing, making her a significant historical figure.
What did Shohei Ohtani do during his meeting with the bombing survivor?
Shohei Ohtani knelt to shake hands with Momoyo Nakamoto Kelley and signed a baseball for her.
When did Shohei Ohtani meet Momoyo Nakamoto Kelley?
Shohei Ohtani met Momoyo Nakamoto Kelley on April 18, before a game against the Colorado Rockies.
How did Momoyo Nakamoto Kelley feel about meeting Shohei Ohtani?
Momoyo Nakamoto Kelley expressed that meeting Ohtani was a dream come true and felt very lucky to have the opportunity.
