Mural artist Robert Vargas was surrounded by a crowd of his fans and took autograph requests at the unveiling of “Samurai of the Diamond,” his latest painting depicting the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki.
By J.K. YAMAMOTO
RAFU SHIMPO
The parking lot of the Doubletree by Hilton Torrance-South Bay was filled with hundreds of excited Dodgers fans as Robert Vargas’ latest mural, “Samurai of the Diamond,” was unveiled March 24 on the side of the hotel.
Located at 21333 Hawthorne Blvd. in Torrance, the mural features the Dodgers’ Japanese stars, Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki.
Passers-by had seen the mural gradually taking shape, and many stopped by to chat with the artist whenever he took a break from painting.
Serving as emcee at the ceremony, actress and activist Tamlyn Tomita noted that Vargas unveiled his Ohtani mural in Little Tokyo two years ago and his Fernando Valenzuela mural in Boyle Heights last year, coinciding with the Dodgers’ back-to-back World Series wins. She called Vargas the team’s “good luck charm” and said the murals exemplify “his passion, his love … for the people of Los Angeles.”
Torrance Mayor George Chen, accompanied by other city officials, said, “My heart melts to see all the support” from Dodgers fans. He thanked the hotel’s owner, Andre Koo, for supporting the creation of the mural and presented him with a Dodgers jersey with Koo’s name on the back.Along with Torrance’s friendship city relationship with Ohtani’s hometown, Oshu, Iwate Prefecture, and Yamamoto’s hometown, Bizen, Okayama Prefecture, the mural will help make Torrance a “destination point” for visitors, Chen said.
The mayor presented Vargas with the key to the city and named him an “honorary cultural ambassador” for promoting international friendship. A city proclamation stated that Vargas “celebrates cultural heritage and inspires civic pride.”
Councilmember Jon Kaji said that the “crazy idea” for the mural began 2-1/2 years ago, after Ohtani signed with the Dodgers, when he happened to run into Vargas and actor Edward James Olmos at a USC event. All three were born in Boyle Heights, and Kaji said he was “so happy that as a member of this council we could bring all these connections together.”
Declaring that “Samurai of the Diamond” is “the largest L.A. Dodgers mural in the world,” Koo said that it “showcases the remarkable talent of Robert Vargas and proudly features three iconic athletes … symbols of excellence, discipline and global inspiration.”
The location of the mural is significant, Koo explained. “Torrance is home to one of the largest Japanese American communities in the U.S. … This city is shaped by heritage, enriched by diversity and defined by a deep sense of community [which has] made Torrance such a vibrant, welcoming and meaningful place.”
The two friendship cities and Torrance’s sister city of more than 50 years, Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture, represent “decades of cultural exchange, mutual respect and shared values … that connect people, cultures and generations across the Pacific,” Koo said, adding that he was “deeply honored to be part of this story.”
Actor Edward James Olmos, wearing a Valenzuela jersey, said, “We have definitely crossed over into unification that is profound and needed more now than ever in the history of the world. We’ve had some problems and all I can tell you is that this is the best way to solve it, to use art … to show [our common] humanity.”
A cookie handed out during the unveiling shows Robert Vargas working on the Ohtani portion of the mural.
He introduced Vargas’ mother, Alice Garcia-Vargas, and credited her with helping her son reach “a level that is unprecedented” as an artist.
Olmos invited the audience to “touch the wall … realize what this man has done … This is a monumental moment of the power of art.”
Following a performance by L.A. Taiko Collective, Tomita told the crowd that the mural was “painted in 10 days without projections, without screens, without grids. This entirely by free hand.” She called the result “a wonderful, incredible, world-class piece of art.”
Vargas showed up wearing a jersey with Ohtani’s name written in Japanese.
Noting that “Samurai of the Diamond” is a follow-up to the Little Tokyo mural, Vargas recalled, “I remember painting that mural and people asking, ‘Why Shohei Ohtani? … What has he done for the Dodgers?’ … That mural was about ushering in a new era, ushering in a new face, ushering in what’s possible.”
He emphasized that the message is one of “advocacy and allyship.” “This mural is about the collective greatness coming out from Japan. Foreign-born players are not only contributing to the team but to the community … People who come here and … create a cultural bridge from Los Angeles to Japan.
“I happened to have two murals in Ohtani’s hometown, Oshu, Iwate, commissioned by their mayor … It’s a perfect fit to come here and bring some love to the South Bay.”
He thanked his friends and supporters, particularly those who came to visit during the days and nights he worked on the mural.
Like the Little Tokyo mural, he said, the new one features an interactive experience. By scanning a QR code on their phones, visitors can see the mural come to life.
Vargas’ speech was followed by the big moment — a tarp covering the entire side of the hotel was dropped and the mural was revealed, eliciting cheers and bursts of confetti.