Japan

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.

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.

Japan's national baseball team, simply known as "Japan," is a powerhouse in the world of international baseball. With a rich history of success in various tournaments and championships, Japan is known for its skilled players, disciplined training methods, and passionate fan base.

The team is made up of some of the best players from the Nippon Professional Baseball league, which is considered one of the top baseball leagues in the world. Known for their speed, precision, and teamwork, Japan's players are always a force to be reckoned with on the field.

Japan has a long-standing rivalry with other baseball powerhouses such as the United States, South Korea, and Cuba, and their matchups are always highly anticipated by fans around the world. The team has won multiple championships, including the World Baseball Classic and the Olympic Games, solidifying their reputation as one of the top baseball teams in the world.

With a strong tradition of excellence and a deep love for the game, Japan's national baseball team continues to inspire and captivate audiences with their skill, determination, and sportsmanship.