Los Angeles / Tokyo — While Yoshinobu Yamamoto is living his best days with the Los Angeles Dodgers at the 2025 World Series, behind the stadium lights, a “small message” is stirring up the online community. Japanese model and actress Niki Niwa – who was rumored to be dating Yamamoto – is said to have sent a sweet message, quietly supporting the star pitcher throughout the finals journey. According to sources from the Japanese and American entertainment industry, Niki Niwa posted a metaphorical photo — just a silhouette of a baseball in the sunset — with the Japanese caption:
“頑張る人の背中は、どんな景色よりも美しい”
(Rough translation: “The back of someone who is working hard is always the most beautiful scenery.”)
The post quickly went viral among international fans, with many believing it was a silent message to Yamamoto, who was struggling to compete in the most intense series of the season. Although Niwa did not mention him by name, the timing of the post coincided with Game 2, where Yamamoto pitched brilliantly, helping the Dodgers to an important victory.
The Yamamoto-Niwa couple was spotted together in Beverly Hills in late 2024, shortly after the Japanese pitcher signed a huge $325 million contract with the Dodgers.
Since then, Japanese social media has been constantly talking about the “secret love affair” between a baseball star and a famous model, but both have remained absolutely silent.
According to SCMP Style magazine, Niki Niwa is a familiar face in the Japanese fashion world, having appeared at Louis Vuitton Tokyo Show events and having a large number of followers on Instagram. Many fans commented that “her gentleness and calmness perfectly match Yamamoto’s quiet personality”.
For Yamamoto, this year’s World Series is the biggest challenge of his career: playing on the American stage for the first time, facing enormous pressure from an expensive contract and the expectations of home fans.
But amid the lights and cheers, having someone quietly watching over him, sending him their trust, becomes a valuable source of encouragement.
On the Reddit Dodgers forum, one fan shared:
“He may not see it, but he definitely feels it — there is someone out there who believes in his every pitch.”
Another account commented in Japanese:
“愛は力になる — Love can turn into strength.”
Yamamoto is so famously private that he barely uses his personal social media. In interviews, he usually only speaks briefly about his expertise. But his Dodgers teammates revealed that, after each game, Yamamoto often calls Japan to talk to “someone special” — further solidifying the rumor.
Amidst the hectic pace of life, the flights and the thousands of screams every night, perhaps what the young Japanese pitcher needed most was not just victory, but a feeling of being heard and trusted. And the message from Niki Niwa, though vague, touched that part of him.
Japanese media called it a “silent message between two worlds” — a world of light (MLB) and a world of peace (Tokyo).
American fans said it was a “rare humane moment” in the midst of a fierce series, when people suddenly realized that the heroes on the field also have hearts that can vibrate.
Hashtags #ForYoshi and #GoYamamoto quickly became the top trending topics in Los Angeles just hours after the photo went viral.
Although the relationship has never been confirmed, the story between Niki Niwa and Yoshinobu Yamamoto is attracting the attention of the entire baseball world and the Japanese-American entertainment industry.
A close friend of Niwa revealed to a Japanese newspaper:
“She doesn’t want to make a fuss. But whenever Yamamoto plays, she wakes up 14 hours earlier to watch live. She just wants him to know that he’s not alone in this game.”
The World Series is still going on, and Yamamoto is still writing his brilliant journey in MLB.
However, behind every powerful pitch, there may still be a gentle whisper, echoing from halfway around the world:
“Just be yourself – because I’m always watching.”
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