Welcome to Samurai Japan Frontline — your go-to blog for the latest updates on Japan’s national baseball team.
Here’s everything you need to know from Day 5 of Samurai Japan’s Miyazaki Training Camp (Nov 11, 2025), as they prepare for the WBC 2026 and the upcoming Korea Series at Tokyo Dome (Nov 15–16).
- 🕒 Struggling with the Pitch Clock: A New Rule Japan Must Conquer
- 💥 Offensive Explosion vs Hiroshima — But Pitching Still a Concern
- 🤝 Team Bonding on the Rise: Pitchers’ BBQ Night Strengthens Unity
- ⚾ Korea Series Roster Breakdown: Youth Meets Experience
- 🔍 Three Key Storylines to Watch vs Korea (Nov 15–16)
- 🔧 What Is the Pitch Clock? A Quick Guide to WBC 2026’s New Rule
- 🧭 Conclusion: Time Will Define Japan’s Road to Back-to-Back WBC Titles
🕒 Struggling with the Pitch Clock: A New Rule Japan Must Conquer
The biggest talking point of the camp so far has been the first-ever pitch clock violation. During the Nov 10 exhibition game against Hiroshima (which Japan won 14–11), Ayato Murabayashi was called for an automatic strike after failing to set up within eight seconds.
The new pitch clock rule—15 seconds for pitchers, 8 seconds for batters—will be fully implemented in the upcoming WBC. Players are still adjusting.
Kaima Taira (Seibu): “Fifteen seconds feels like being rushed every time.”
Fans on X (formerly Twitter) are divided between “Get used to it early!” and “This kills the rhythm of baseball!”.
Manager Hirokazu Ibata remains positive: “We’ll overcome it through competition.” On Nov 11, the coaching staff focused on shortening battery communication and timing, with coach Yoshinori Murata emphasizing a “second-by-second awareness shift.”
💥 Offensive Explosion vs Hiroshima — But Pitching Still a Concern
In that same exhibition game, Samurai Japan’s bats came alive with 18 hits and 14 runs. Hanshin Tigers’ duo Shota Morishita and Isamu Nomura each hit two-run homers, showing mid-season form.
However, the pitching staff struggled as Chiichiro Sumida (Seibu) allowed nine runs. Immediately after, the team switched to pitch-clock simulation drills for pitchers like Taira and Kitayama to regain tempo.
Kitayama Koki (Nippon-Ham): “Now I’m getting comfortable even within 15 seconds.”
Meanwhile, Yuki Okabayashi (Chunichi) impressed with four hits in right field, sparking online buzz: “Okabayashi joins the WBC outfield race!”
🤝 Team Bonding on the Rise: Pitchers’ BBQ Night Strengthens Unity
On the night of Nov 11, the pitching staff held a team-building BBQ dinner organized by Shoma Fujihira (Rakuten). His goal: “Bring everyone together as one.” The gathering allowed veterans and rookies to connect, deepening the team’s chemistry.
That growing unity and camaraderie could be the difference-maker in short tournaments like the WBC.
⚾ Korea Series Roster Breakdown: Youth Meets Experience
The 28-man roster for the Korea Series, announced on Nov 8, features Kazuma Okamoto, Taisei Ota, and Gai Kishida (Giants), plus a strong Hanshin contingent—Masaki Oyokawa, Seishiro Sakamoto, and Shota Morishita.
In the middle infield, Shugo Maki (DeNA) and Kaito Kozono (Hiroshima) lead the way, while Yumeto Kanemaru (Chunichi) emerges as a rising candidate for WBC 2026.
Manager Ibata: “We have extra middle infielders to create competition through defense.”
Fans online noted that Japan’s right-handers look deeper than Korea’s current rotation, with many calling Samurai Japan “a system of growth.”
🔍 Three Key Storylines to Watch vs Korea (Nov 15–16)
- Can Japan finish both games with zero pitch clock violations?
- Will the 2-minute pitching change rule cause confusion?
- Will Kazuma Okamoto remain fixed at cleanup or rotate based on matchups?
Both games will be streamed live on Amazon Prime Video (Nov 15 at 6:00 PM / Nov 16 at 6:30 PM JST) with on-screen pitch clock counts and instant replay breakdowns for any violations.
Tickets are nearly sold out, but there’s still a chance to win through the official Coca-Cola campaign.
🔧 What Is the Pitch Clock? A Quick Guide to WBC 2026’s New Rule
| Situation | Pitcher Limit | Batter Limit | Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|
| No runners | 15 sec to start motion | Set by 8 sec | Pitcher: Ball / Batter: Strike |
| Runners on base | 20 sec | Same as above | Same |
| Pitching change | 2 min to first pitch | – | Ball awarded if exceeded |
Since its MLB debut in 2023, the pitch clock has shortened average game times by 31 minutes. Samurai Japan aims to master time management before the year’s end.
🧭 Conclusion: Time Will Define Japan’s Road to Back-to-Back WBC Titles
- Pitch clock adjustments are achievable — MLB players adapted within a month.
- Team chemistry is growing rapidly.
- Manager Ibata views WBC as a “stage for growth.”
Samurai Japan continues to evolve. Their upcoming clash with Korea will show how well they’ve learned to win against the clock.
Are you for or against the pitch clock? Share your thoughts in the comments below ⚾
コメント