Ohtani may be South Korea’s most-beloved Japanese athlete. His charm’s winning over historic rivals WFTV [Video]

SEOUL, South Korea — (AP) — Shohei Ohtani may be South Korea’s most-beloved Japanese athlete, a testament to his charm in softening any lingering animosity between the two neighbors.

Since his arrival in South Korea with his wife for the Major League Baseball opener on Wednesday against the San Diego Padres, the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar has been the focus of keen, special attention.

Many Korean fans are wearing Ohtani jerseys and rooting for him at the stadium. The Korean national team manager covets his autograph and myriad media reports and social media posts are praising him.

This is nothing new for the two-way baseball sensation, who in December signed a record $700 million, 10-year contract to join the Dodgers. But a Japanese receiving such a treatment in South Korea is extremely unusual, because of historical grievances stemming from Japan’s 1910-45 colonization of the Korean Peninsula.

“Our social atmosphere has often made it difficult for us to openly say …