Yoshinobu Yamamoto's rumored girlfriend clarifies: They broke up long ago, the person appearing at the World Series is not her.

The rumors involving Los Angeles Dodgers' "Japan's strongest pitcher" Yoshinobu Yamamoto and mixed-race model Niki Niwa have resurfaced. Japanese reports state that they ended their relationship early in 2025, and the woman in the viral video during the World Series, thought to be Niki Niwa, is actually someone else.

According to Japanese media outlet "Josei SEVEN," a mutual friend of Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Niki Niwa revealed that the two have already broken up, and the woman in the video is another person. "Niki Niwa did not go to the United States during the World Series, and their relationship ended early in 2025." However, the friend emphasized, "They remain friends and parted on good terms."

The relationship between 27-year-old Yoshinobu Yamamoto and 29-year-old Niki Niwa was first revealed in November 2024. At that time, American entertainment media captured her appearing with Yamamoto in the upscale Los Angeles shopping district Rodeo Drive, causing a stir. Niki Niwa is a model and entertainer who appeared on the reality dating show "Terrace House," regarded as one of the most beautiful members in the show's history. She was also listed among the "Top 100 Most Beautiful Faces Worldwide" for three consecutive years from 2017 to 2019.

However, after entering 2025, there were no public interactions between them. After the World Series ended, a video uploaded by an American journalist on Instagram sparked speculation again. In the clip, Dodgers star Freddie Freeman's wife walks ahead through the stadium tunnel, followed by Shohei Ohtani's agent Nez Balelo and others. One woman wearing a black baseball cap and long hair was identified by netizens as Niki Niwa, and the video quickly spread on social media.

People wondered why neither party ever publicly denied their relationship or breakup. The report explains that the reason is that they never officially confirmed their romance. Their mutual friend said, "Since they never publicly acknowledged dating, they naturally didn't issue a breakup statement either. They felt doing so would seem strange."