Japan national baseball team

Current roster

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Nickname

The team has been nicknamed "Samurai Japan". Like other national teams in Japan, the nickname is usually prefixed with the surname of the manager. However, in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, the team used Samurai, a symbol of Japan's history, instead of Hara, the surname of their manager. In 2012, it was adopted officially.

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of professional baseball match results currently active in the latest version of the WBSC World Rankings, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled. ;Legend

2019

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

Regional competition

Asian Baseball Championship

Main article: Asian Baseball Championship

Japan have dominated the Asian Baseball Championship since its inception, and have competed in every year. Japan have never missed out on placing in the top 3 in any tournament, and is the only team to have achieved this feat. Japan also holds the record for most consecutive Asian Championships, having won four times in a row on two occasions.

Asian Games

Main article: Baseball at the Asian Games

In all four Asian Games to include baseball, Japan have placed in the top 3 in every tournament, though they have only won the tournament once in the first event held in Hiroshima in 1994.

International competition

World Baseball Classic

Main article: World Baseball Classic

2006

Japan won the inaugural 2006 World Baseball Classic, defeating Cuba in the Final.

2006 WBC roster

2009

Japan also won the 2009 World Baseball Classic, hosting the Pool A games in the Tokyo Dome. Japan started the tournament opener with a 4–0 win over China. Japan then secured advancement into the second round with a 14–2 win in seven innings over arch-rival South Korea. The game was shortened due to the WBC's mercy rule. Japan then played South Korea again to determine seeding for the second round. In the rematch, the Koreans shut out Japan 1–0, making Japan advance as the Pool A runner-up. In Pool 1 of the WBC quarter-finals, Japan defeated Cuba 6–0, but lost to Korea again 4–1. In the elimination match that followed, Japan secured a spot in the semi-finals with a 5–0 win over Cuba. Japan defeated South Korea in the Finals 5–3 partly because of an Ichiro Suzuki base hit in the 10th inning.

2009 WBC roster

2013: The end of the championship streak

Japan, the two-time world defending champions, entered the 2013 World Baseball Classic, hosting Pool A games in the Fukuoka Dome, facing off against Cuba, China, and newcomers Brazil. Despite their first loss against the Cuban team, they secured their position for the second round in 2013 World Baseball Classic Pool 1 to face off the Netherlands and Chinese Taipei. The Japanese team narrowly won against Chinese Taipei 4–3, before proceeding to face off against the Dutch team, winning against them twice before proceeding to the semi-final round, along with the Netherlands, as they faced off against Puerto Rico. Despite Japan's efforts, they eventually lost 3–1 against the Puerto Rican team right after Alex Ríos scored two additional runs from a home run. Japan finished third in the 2013 WBC, as their two-time championship streak ended. The Japanese team bowed out to both the crowd and the Puerto Rican team as a gesture of respect.

2013 WBC roster

2017

In the 2017 World Baseball Classic, Japan hosted Pool B games in the Tokyo Dome. They finished first round play with a 3–0 record and advanced to the second round. After batting .364, outfielder Yoshitomo Tsutsugoh was named the Pool B MVP. In the second round, Japan hosted Pool E games in the Tokyo Dome and again finished pool play with a 3–0 record, advancing to the championship round. However, Japan lost to the United States 2–1 in the semifinal. They finished the tournament in third place. Pitcher Kodai Senga was named to the All-World Baseball Classic Team.

2017 WBC roster

2023

In the 2023 WBC, Japan again hosted Pool B games in the Tokyo Dome, going undefeated in four games with a 38–0 run differential. Shohei Ohtani was named the most valuable player of the pool. In the quarterfinals, Japan hosted Italy and won 9–3. According to the Nikkan Sports, 48 percent of all households in Japan watched the game, making it the most watched Samurai Japan game ever, beating the previous record set during the pool game against South Korea six days earlier.

After traveling to the Miami, Japan faced Mexico in the semifinal. Thanks to a home run robbery and double from Randy Arozarena, Mexico led 5–3 after the top of the eighth inning. Japan scored once in the bottom of the eighth, then two decisive runs in the bottom of the ninth on a double by Munetaka Murakami for a 6–5 win. In the championship, Japan beat the United States, with Ohtani striking out his then-MLB teammate Mike Trout to end the game. Ohtani was named the tournament MVP and the DH and a pitcher on the all-WBC team. Outfielder Masataka Yoshida was also selected to the all-WBC team.

2023 WBC roster

Olympic Games

Main article: Baseball at the Summer Olympics

[[Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics|2008]]

2008 Summer Olympics roster

[[Baseball at the 2020 Summer Olympics|2021]]

Baseball was featured at the 2020 Summer Olympics, in Tokyo, for the first time since the 2008 Summer Olympics. Six national teams are competing in the tournament: Israel, Japan (host), Mexico, South Korea, the United States, and the Dominican Republic. It will be held from July 28 to August 7, 2021.

2020 Summer Olympics roster

Baseball World Cup

Main article: Baseball World Cup

Intercontinental Cup

Main article: Intercontinental Cup (baseball)

Premier12 Tournament

[[2015 WBSC Premier12|2015]]

Japan came in third in the 2015 WBSC Premier12 tournament.

[[2019 WBSC Premier12|2019]]

Japan won the 12-team 2019 WBSC Premier12 tournament, which was held from November 2 to 17, 2019.

[[2024 WBSC Premier12|2024]]

Japan hosted the 2024 WBSC Premier12 tournament, with some group stage games held at the Vantelin Dome Nagoya and the Super Round and medal games held in the Tokyo Dome. After going undefeated in all five Group B games and all three Super Round games, Japan lost in the championship game to Chinese Taipei, finishing second in the tournament. Three players made the All-World team, catcher Shōgo Sakakura, second baseman Kaito Kozono, and outfielder Shōta Morishita.

Competitive record

World Baseball Classic

Record by opponent

Olympic Games

WBSC Premier 12

Baseball World Cup

Main article: Baseball World Cup

Intercontinental Cup

Main article: Intercontinental Cup (baseball)

Asian Baseball Championship

Main article: Asian Baseball Championship

Far Eastern Championships

Main article: Baseball at the Far Eastern Championship Games

References

References

1. (October 28, 2024). "ラグザス presents 第3回WBSCプレミア12 出場選手".
2. (21 February 2013). "Samurai Japan sets roster for 2013 World Baseball Classic".
3. "Japan in the WBSC Ranking (Men's baseball)". [[World Baseball Softball Confederation]].
4. [https://www.cbc.ca/sports/baseball/mlb/world-baseball-classic-friday-recaps-1.4019094 "World Baseball Classic: Cuba, Japan advance to 2nd round" – CBC Sports – Baseball – MLB]
5. "Tsutsugoh named MVP of WBC '17 Pool B".
6. Murphy, Brian. (March 14, 2023). "Dominant Ohtani named Classic Pool B MVP". [[Major League Baseball]].
7. "MLB Gameday: Italy 3, Japan 9 Final Score (03/16/2023)".
8. (March 17, 2023). "【WBC】日本－イタリア戦、大会史上最高視聴率48・0% 瞬間最高は源田適時打54・5%". nikkansports.com.
9. Anderson. (March 21, 2023). "Japan vs. Mexico score: Shohei Ohtani sparks late rally to set up World Baseball Classic championship vs. USA". CBSSports.com.
10. "Shohei vs. Trout for the Classic title? A strikeout heard 'round the world".
11. Clair, Michael. (March 22, 2023). "Ohtani's MVP performance leads '23 All-Classic Team".
12. link. Olympics.com
13. link. Olympics.com
14. (December 19, 2018). "Two teams from WBSC Premier12 2019 to qualify for 2020 Tokyo Olympic Baseball". WBSC.org.
15. "Standings".
16. (November 24, 2024). "Chieh-Hsien Chen is the WBSC Premier12 2024 MVP".