By Tato Takahama February 23, 2026
PACIFIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE – Shohei Ohtani continues to achieve remarkable feats as a two-way player for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Major League Baseball. His success is not merely a result of natural talent. In fact, there was a meticulously structured “method for achieving goals” that he had followed since high school — insights that a Harvard University study released in February reveals.
In the essay “Crush your Goals the Ohtani Way,” Harvard Business School Professor Frances Frei analyzed Ohtani’s goal-setting and daily routines during his high school years. Professor Frei is highly respected in academia for her expertise in leadership and organizational theory, and she is also known as an advisor in Silicon Valley and the broader business world. In an interview, she said, “When I show this to my students, their eyes light up. It’s not just theory — it’s the story of someone who achieves real results.”
Big Goals, Small Actions
According to Professor Frei, Ohtani did not simply think, “I want to be a professional baseball player.” He set a clear, concrete goal: “I want to be the top draft pick.” Around this goal, he organized not only his physical fitness, pitching and batting skills, and mental preparation, but also non-technical factors such as “character” and “luck.”
The framework he used for achieving these goals was the “Harada Method,” developed by Takashi Harada. Harada, a former middle school teacher and track-and-field coach, had turned an underperforming team into a national-level competitor. Drawing on this experience, he created a methodology for translating long-term goals into daily actions and rigorous self-management. The method’s key feature is the “9×9” structure: a central goal surrounded by eight key areas, each broken down into specific daily actions. Ohtani, even in high school, used this system to organize both his goals and daily habits.
In an interview with Harvard Gazette, Professor Frei noted:
“What’s fascinating is that he even incorporated ‘luck’ into his daily actions. Picking up trash or showing courtesy — these small acts are believed to attract unseen forces.”
“I often tell my students: just setting a goal changes nothing. The important part is converting that goal into concrete daily actions.”
For Ohtani, abstract dreams became a “to-do list.” Beyond batting and pitching practice, he concretized his lifestyle habits and mindset, so every day was clear in terms of what needed to be done.
Becoming a Trusted Person as Part of the Goal
Professor Frei emphasized another point: “What’s interesting is that Ohtani included character as a condition for success. Becoming someone trusted and supported by others was itself one of his goals.”
“Many people chase skills alone, but Ohtani cared deeply about how he behaved. I think that was a major factor supporting his long-term success.”
Why the Professor Became Interested and Understanding Japanese Culture
Professor Frei had long been interested in the Harada Method. She had experience teaching and advising students and business professionals in the U.S., and she taught this methodology to them. She was particularly drawn to Ohtani because he had applied this system in high school and achieved real results.
“The brilliance of the Harada Method is that it bridges long-term ambitions and daily actions. My students’ eyes light up when they see it. Ohtani literally incorporated this theory into his daily life, which is why I found it so compelling.”
Although Professor Frei does not have extensive experience living in Japan nor special Japanese language skills, she gained deeper understanding by learning how Japanese expressions and values were embedded in the Harada Method and Ohtani’s habits. She said:
“I don’t speak Japanese, but it was fascinating to see how the words and ideas in the Harada Method — like ‘Cool head, Hot heart’ — connect with Japanese cultural values.”
Lessons for Business and Education
This Harvard analysis extends beyond sports. Professor Frei explained:
“The same approach can help my students and business professionals. Clearly defining goals and converting them into daily actions can significantly change a person.”
From a behavioral science perspective, visualizing goals and linking them to daily tasks is highly effective for producing results. Ohtani’s case is a living case study, rich with insights both academically and practically.
Extraordinary achievements are not accidental. Structuring ambition and rigorously implementing it in daily actions is what produces the exceptional. Shohei Ohtani’s journey eloquently embodies this truth.
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Tato Takahama – U.S. Politics Report Series