Ohtani’s dog had became one of the biggest light-hearted mysteries of the MLB offseason last month

Shohei Ohtani’s dog Dekopin (referred to as Decoy) received an honorary visa from the U.S. Embassy in Japan this week in the form of an oversized mock document that jokingly identified the canine as “000MVPUP000.”

Rahm Emanuel, the former Chicago mayor and current U.S. Ambassador to Japan, met with the Dodgers star and gave him a mock visa designed just for Decoy.

“Thrilled to meet trailblazing two-time MVP Ohtani-san again – my lucky day,” Emanuel posted on X (formerly known as Twitter). “Maybe next time I’ll be fortunate enough to meet his MVPup, Decoy. – this ‘visa’ should help.”

Is it showtime or is it Sho-time!? Thrilled to meet trailblazing two-time @MLB MVP Ohtani-san again – my lucky day. Maybe next time I’ll be fortunate enough to meet his MVPup, Decoy – this “visa” should help? I promise my bark is worse than my bite! ⚾️🐾@Dodgers @DodgersNation pic.twitter.com/hzPZRPYnSn

Ohtani shared an image of the visa on Instagram Story, which was reposted on X by the MLB. The snapshot showed that the fake document was filled with jokes.

Decoy’s age was listed as “N/A Dog Years,” his passport number was listed as “000MVPUP000,” his control number was listed as “000GOODBOY000” and his VISA type was listed as “canine.” The mock travel document also states that Decoy has dual nationality between Japan and the United States.

Ohtani, 29, and his brown and white pup first made headlines when the then-Los Angeles Angels star appeared on camera with his well-behaved pet while awaiting his second-straight American League Most Valuable Player award last fall.

The small Kooikerhondje dog “stole the show” during the virtual MVP awards ceremony, according to Sports Illustrated. The MLB and its broadcasting partner Fox even poked fun at how much attention the spaniel was receiving on social media, posting an image on X of Ohtani and his dog with the caption: “The MVP and Shohei Ohtani.”

Ohtani, 29, and his brown and white pup first made headlines when the then-Los Angeles Angels star appeared on camera with his well-behaved pet while awaiting his second-straight American League Most Valuable Player award last fall.

The small Kooikerhondje dog “stole the show” during the virtual MVP awards ceremony, according to Sports Illustrated. The MLB and its broadcasting partner Fox even poked fun at how much attention the spaniel was receiving on social media, posting an image on X of Ohtani and his dog with the caption: “The MVP and Shohei Ohtani.”