 | This article's factual accuracy may be compromised due to out-of-date information. (March 2023) |
| Japan national baseball team | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Information | |
| Country |  Japan |
| Federation | Baseball Federation of Japan |
| Confederation | Baseball Federation of Asia |
| Manager | Hirokazu Ibata |
| WBSC ranking | |
| Current | 1  (18 December 2023)[1] |
| Highest | 1 (8 times; latest in December 2021) |
| Lowest | 3 (December 2012) |
| Uniforms | |
 | |
| World Baseball Classic | |
| Appearances | 6 (first in 2006) |
| Best result |  1st (3 times, most recent in 2023) |
| Olympic Games | |
| Appearances | 6 (first in 1992) |
| Best result |  1st (1 time, in 2020) |
| WBSC Premier12 | |
| Appearances | 2 (first in 2015) |
| Best result | 1st (1 time, in 2019) |
| World Cup | |
| Appearances | 15 (first in 1972) |
| Best result |  2nd (1 time, in 1982) |
| Intercontinental Cup | |
| Appearances | 15 (first in 1973) |
| Best result |  1st (2 times, most recent in 1997) |
| Asian Games | |
| Appearances | 7 (first in 1994) |
| Best result |  1st (1 time, in 1994) |
| Asian Championship | |
| Appearances | 25 (first in 1954) |
| Best result | 1st (17 times, most recent in 2017) |
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 WBSC Premier12 in 2019. The team is currently ranked 1st in the world by the World Baseball Softball Confederation and is a baseball powerhouse.[1]
The team has participated in every Summer Olympic Games since the first demonstration tournament in 1984, through when baseball was discontinued following the 2008 Beijing Games. Until 2000, the team was made up exclusively of amateur players. Since the 2000 Summer Olympics, the team has been composed of players from Nippon Professional Baseball. The team that played in the 2006 World Baseball Classic included Japanese players from Major League Baseball as well.
The team won the 2006 Classic. It played at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, as it had qualified through the Asian Baseball Championship in 2007. 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.
Team Japan won the 2019 WBSC Premier12 Tournament. At the Olympics in 2021 it faced Israel, Mexico, South Korea, the United States, and the Dominican Republic, and won gold. At the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Japan was able to defeat the defending champion United States to become the champions. Their 2023 win was their third World Baseball Classic championship, and have the most championships.
- ^ a b "The WBSC World Ranking". WBSC. 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.