Shohei Ohtani's Mandala Chart Analyzed — The 81-Cell Secret Behind an MLB Legend

Shohei Ohtani is arguably the greatest two-way player in MLB history. Behind his success lies a single Mandala chart he created as a high school freshman. In this article, we analyze Ohtani's original chart and extract key lessons for your own goal setting.

Ohtani's Mandala Chart — Original Analysis

Shohei Ohtani created his Mandala chart at Hanamaki Higashi High School in Iwate Prefecture, under the guidance of baseball coach Hiroshi Sasaki. His core goal: "Get drafted #1 by 8 teams."

Ohtani's 8 Sub-Goals

1. Body Building — Weight gain, muscle strength, flexibility
2. Pitching Control — Precision command training
3. Pitch Power — Achieve 160 km/h (99 mph) fastball
4. Mental Strength — Unshakeable mindset
5. Character — Being a player people love
6. Luck — Habits and attitudes that attract good fortune
7. Breaking Balls — Mastering various pitch types
8. Speed — Sub-7.0 second 60-yard dash

5 Lessons from Ohtani's Mandala Chart

1. He Included "Luck" as a Goal

Most people see luck as uncontrollable. But Ohtani set "Luck" as a sub-goal with specific actions: picking up trash, greeting people properly, organizing equipment, respecting umpires. He treated fortune as something you can attract through effort.

2. Character Was as Important as Skills

Ohtani included gratitude, politeness, teamwork, and trust-building alongside technical skills. This holistic approach eventually earned him the support of teammates and millions of fans worldwide.

3. Every Item Was Specific and Measurable

Not "throw better" but "160 km/h fastball." Not "run faster" but "60-yard dash in 7.0 seconds." Concrete numbers let you track progress and stay accountable.

4. Technical and Mindset Goals Were Balanced

Of his 8 sub-goals, 4 were technical (pitch power, control, breaking balls, speed) and 4 were non-technical (mental, character, luck, body). This balanced, holistic approach prevented blind spots.

5. A High Schooler Created This

The Mandala chart works for anyone regardless of age or expertise. What matters is the act of breaking down goals — the process itself clarifies your vision.

Create Your Own "Ohtani-Style" Mandala Chart

Inspired by Ohtani? Create your own Mandala chart. The principles apply to any field, not just baseball.

1. Write your biggest dream in the center
2. Identify 8 areas needed to achieve that dream
3. Balance technical and mindset categories
4. Fill each area with 8 specific, measurable action items
5. Include unconventional areas like "luck" or "character"

If filling 81 cells feels overwhelming, just tell Mandalart AI your goal. The AI will generate a structured Mandala chart just like Ohtani's — automatically and for free.