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Japan national baseball team

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Samurai Japan)

Japan national baseball team
Information
Country Japan
FederationBaseball Federation of Japan
ConfederationWBSC Asia
ManagerTadahito Iguchi
CaptainShohei Ohtani
Team ColorsNavy blue, White, Red, Gold
        [1]
WBSC ranking
Current 1 Steady (26 March 2026)[2]
Highest1 (8 times; latest in December 2021)
Lowest3 (December 2012)
Uniforms
Home
Away
Olympic Games
Appearances6 (first in 1992)
Best result 1st (1 time, in 2020)
World Baseball Classic
Appearances6 (first in 2006)
Best result 1st (3 times, most recent in 2023)
WBSC Premier12
Appearances3 (first in 2015)
Best result 1st (1 time, in 2019)
World Cup
Appearances15 (first in 1972)
Best result 2nd (1 time, in 1982)
Intercontinental Cup
Appearances15 (first in 1973)
Best result 1st (2 times, most recent in 1997)
Asian Games
Appearances7 (first in 1994)
Best result 1st (1 time, in 1994)
Asian Championship
Appearances25 (first in 1954)
Best result 1st (21 times, most recent in 2025)

The Japan national baseball team (野球日本代表, Yakyū Nippon Daihyō or Yakyū Nihon Daihyō), also known as Samurai Japan (侍ジャパン), is the national team representing Japan in international baseball competitions. It won the World Baseball Classic in 2006, 2009, and 2023, as well as the WBSC Premier12 in 2019. The team is currently ranked 1st in the world by the World Baseball Softball Confederation.[2]

Japan is the only country to have participated in every edition Summer Olympic Games since it was first officially added to as a medal sport in 1992, through the last regular tournament at the 2008 Beijing Games and its return in 2020 Tokyo Games (the team also appeared in the demonstration tournaments of 1964, 1984, and 1988). Until 2000, the team was made up exclusively of amateur players. Since the 2000 Summer Olympics, the team has included players from Nippon Professional Baseball. The team that played in and won the 2006 World Baseball Classic included Japanese players from Major League Baseball as well. The team played in the Beijing Olympics in 2008, as it had qualified through the 2007 Asian Baseball Championship. Unlike the WBC roster, the Olympic team was composed exclusively of NPB players (though it included one amateur player, who was drafted during the tournament's progress). Japan participated in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, finishing third.

Samurai Japan won the 2019 WBSC Premier12 Tournament. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, it faced Israel, Mexico, South Korea, the United States, and the Dominican Republic, and won gold. At the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Japan defeated the defending champion United States to become the champions. Their 2023 win was their third World Baseball Classic championship, the most championships for any country.

Team Japan began the 2026 World Baseball Classic tournament's Pool C play on March 6, 2026, by defeating Chinese Taipei 13–0.[3]

Current roster

[edit]
Japan – 2026 World Baseball Classic roster
PlayersCoaches
Pitchers
 Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders


 Manager

Coaches


Nickname

[edit]

The team has been nicknamed "Samurai Japan" (侍ジャパン).[4] 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.

Fixtures and Results

[edit]

Regional competition

[edit]

Asian Baseball Championship

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]
2009 World Baseball Classic finals. Kenji Johjima and Yu Darvish
World Baseball Classic Championship Trophy

World Baseball Classic

[edit]

2006

[edit]

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

2006 WBC roster
[edit]

2009

[edit]

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
[edit]

2013: The end of the championship streak

[edit]

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
[edit]

2017

[edit]

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.[5] After batting .364, outfielder Yoshitomo Tsutsugoh was named the Pool B MVP.[6] 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
[edit]

2023

[edit]

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.[7] In the quarterfinals, Japan hosted Italy and won 9–3.[8] 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.[9]

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.[10] In the championship, Japan beat the United States, with Ohtani striking out his then-MLB teammate Mike Trout to end the game.[11] 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.[12]

2023 WBC roster
[edit]

Olympic Games

[edit]

2008

[edit]
2008 Summer Olympics roster
[edit]

2021

[edit]

Baseball was featured at the 2020 Summer Olympics, in Tokyo, for the first time since the 2008 Summer Olympics.[13] 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.[14]

2020 Summer Olympics roster
[edit]

Baseball World Cup

[edit]

Intercontinental Cup

[edit]

Premier12 Tournament

[edit]

2015

[edit]

Japan came in third in the 2015 WBSC Premier12 tournament.

2019

[edit]

Japan won the 12-team 2019 WBSC Premier12 tournament, which was held from November 2 to 17, 2019.[15]

2024

[edit]

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.[16] Three players made the All-World team, catcher Shōgo Sakakura, second baseman Kaito Kozono, and outfielder Shōta Morishita.[17]

Competitive record

[edit]

World Baseball Classic

[edit]
World Baseball Classic record Qualification record
Year Result Position Pld W L RS RA W L RS RA
Japan United States 2006 Champions 1st 8 5 3 60 21 No qualifiers held
Japan United States 2009 Champions 1st 9 7 2 50 16 No qualifiers held
Japan United States 2013 Third Place 3rd 7 5 2 44 27 Automatically qualified
Japan United States 2017 Third Place 3rd 7 6 1 47 24 Automatically qualified
Japan United States 2023 Champions 1st 7 7 0 56 18 Automatically qualified
Japan United States 2026 Quarterfinals 5th 5 4 1 39 17 Automatically qualified
Total 3 Titles 6/6 43 34 9 296 123 — — — —

Record by opponent

[edit]
Japan World Baseball Classic record by opponent
Opponent Tournaments

met

 W-L

record

 Largest victory Largest defeat Current

streak

Score Tournament Score Tournament
 Australia 3 3–0 7–1 Japan 2023 – W3
 Brazil 1 1–0 5–3 Japan 2013 – W1
 China 5 5–0 18–2 (F/8) Japan 2006 – W5
 Chinese Taipei 3 3–0 13–0 (F/7) Japan 2026 – W3
 Cuba 4 5–1 6–0 United States 2009 6–3 Japan 2013 W2
 Czech Republic 2 2–0 9–0 Japan 2026 – W2
 Israel 1 1–0 8–3 Japan 2017 – W1
 Italy 1 1–0 9–3 Japan 2023 – W1
 Mexico 2 2–0 6–1 United States 2006 – W2
 Netherlands 2 3–0 16–4 (F/7) Japan 2013 – W3
 Puerto Rico 1 0–1 – 3–1 United States 2013 L1
 South Korea 4 6–4 14–2 (F/7) Japan 2009 4–1 United States 2009 W4
 United States 4 2–2 9–4 United States 2009 4–3 United States 2006 W1
 Venezuela 1 0–1 – 8–5 United States 2026 L1
Overall 6 34–9 Against  CHN Against  VEN L1
18–2 (F/8) Japan 2006 8–5 United States 2026

Olympic Games

[edit]
Summer Olympics record Qualification record
Year Round Position W L RS RA Method
Japan 1964 Exhibition only 0 1 2 6 No qualifiers held
United States 1984 Finals 1st [a] 4 1 33 11 Invited
South Korea 1988 Finals 2nd [a] 4 1 27 17 1984 Summer Olympics
Spain 1992 Bronze medal 3rd 6 3 70 22 1991 Asian Baseball Championship
United States 1996 Silver medal 2nd 5 4 77 59 1995 Asian Baseball Championship
Australia 2000 Fourth Place 4th 4 5 42 29 1999 Asian Baseball Championship
Greece 2004 Bronze medal 3rd 7 2 60 23 2003 Asian Baseball Championship
China 2008 Fourth Place 4th 4 5 36 28 2007 Asian Baseball Championship
Japan 2020 Gold medal 1st 5 0 25 15 Qualified as hosts
Total [b] 1 Title 6/6 31 19 310 176
  1. 1 2 No medals awarded; tournament was a demonstration sport only
  2. ↑ Totals only include years 1992 to 2008 and 2020, during which baseball was an official medal sport.

WBSC Premier 12

[edit]
WBSC Premier12 record
Year Round Position Pld W L % RS RA Ranking
Japan Taiwan 2015 Third Place 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 3rd 8 7 1 .875 54 22 1st
Japan 2019 Champions 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1st 8 7 1 .875 52 24 1st
Japan Taiwan 2024 Runners-up 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 2nd 9 8 1 .889 63 33 1st
2027 To be determined
Total 1 Title 3/3 25 22 3 .880 169 79

Baseball World Cup

[edit]
   

Intercontinental Cup

[edit]
   

Asian Baseball Championship

[edit]
     

Far Eastern Championships

[edit]
 

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ Baseball Federation of Japan (2022-01-13). "新ユニホームの発表について". 野球日本代表 侍ジャパンオフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  2. 1 2 "WBSC World Rankings". WBSC. 26 March 2026. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
  3. ↑ "MLB Gameday: Japan 13, Chinese Taipei 0 Final Score (03/06/2026)". MLB.com.
  4. ↑ "Samurai Japan sets roster for 2013 World Baseball Classic". 21 February 2013.
  5. ↑ "World Baseball Classic: Cuba, Japan advance to 2nd round" – CBC Sports – Baseball – MLB
  6. ↑ "Tsutsugoh named MVP of WBC '17 Pool B". MLB.com.
  7. ↑ Murphy, Brian (March 14, 2023). "Dominant Ohtani named Classic Pool B MVP". Major League Baseball. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  8. ↑ "MLB Gameday: Italy 3, Japan 9 Final Score (03/16/2023)". MLB.com. Retrieved 2025-01-31.
  9. ↑ "【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%" (in Japanese). nikkansports.com. March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  10. ↑ Anderson, R.J. (March 21, 2023). "Japan vs. Mexico score: Shohei Ohtani sparks late rally to set up World Baseball Classic championship vs. USA". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  11. ↑ "Shohei vs. Trout for the Classic title? A strikeout heard 'round the world". MLB.com. Retrieved 2025-01-31.
  12. ↑ Clair, Michael (March 22, 2023). "Ohtani's MVP performance leads '23 All-Classic Team". MLB.com. Retrieved 2025-01-31.
  13. ↑ 野球・ソフトボール 競技紹介. Olympics.com (in Japanese). Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  14. ↑ オリンピックスケジュール&結果 – 野球・ソフトボール. Olympics.com (in Japanese). Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Two teams from WBSC Premier12 2019 to qualify for 2020 Tokyo Olympic Baseball". WBSC.org. December 19, 2018. Archived from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  16. ↑ "Standings". World Baseball Softball Confederation. Retrieved 2025-01-31.
  17. ↑ "Chieh-Hsien Chen is the WBSC Premier12 2024 MVP". World Baseball Softball Confederation. November 24, 2024. Retrieved 2025-01-31.
[edit]
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