Japan national Baseball5 team

Japan
Information
Country	Japan
Federation	Baseball Federation of Japan
Confederation	WBSC Asia
Manager	Kenta Wakamatsu
WBSC ranking
Current	5 (9 August 2024) [1]
Baseball5 World Cup
Appearances	2 (first in 2022 )
Best result	2nd (2 times, most recent in 2024 )
Baseball5 Asia Cup
Appearances	2 (first in 2022 )
Best result	1st (1 time, in 2024 )

The Japan national Baseball5 team represents Japan in international Baseball5 competitions.

History

In January 2019, the Baseball Federation of Japan held a baseball5 seminar in Tokyo, with the goal of promoting the sport in Japan, specially among the kids, youth and high school and university students. ^[2]

Japan participated in the inaugural Baseball5 Asia Cup in Kuala Lumpur, where the team finished second after losing to Chinese Taipei 1 match to 2. ^[3]

Japan qualified for the 2022 Baseball5 World Cup, held in Mexico City. The Japanese team finished second with a 6–3 record after losing the final against Cuba 2 matches to 0. ^[4]

Japan won the 2024 Baseball5 Asia Cup, held in Seoul, South Korea, to claim their first Asian title. The team finished the tournament undefeated with a 6–0 record and defeated Chinese Taipei 2 sets to 1 in the final game, to win the gold medal. ^[5]

Current roster

As of 30 July 2024 ^{[6] [7]}

No.	Pos.	Player	Gender	Club [8]
17	IF	Meiko Karaki	F	Junk 5
1	IF	Ayano Kazuta	F	5STARs
5	IF	Shun Mikami	M	Junk 5
35	IF	Taichi Motoike	M	Tokyo Verdy Bambaataa
0	IF	Miho Oshima	F	Junk 5
36	IF	Ayako Rokkaku  [ ja ]	F	5STARs
8	IF	Takuya Shima	M	Junk 5
6	IF	Harutomo Tsuji	M	S. T. J.

Staff

No.	Pos.	Name
66	Manager	Kenta Wakamatsu
38	Coach	Mizuki Nakahama

Tournament record

Baseball5 World Cup

Baseball5 World Cup record
Year	Round	Position	W	L	RS	RA
2022	Final	2nd	6	3	67	63
2024	Final	2nd	7	2	111	49
Total	2/2	–	13	5	178	112

Baseball5 Asia Cup

Baseball5 Asia Cup record
Year	Round	Position	W	L	RS	RA
2022	Final	2nd	6	2	91	33
2024	Final	1st	6	0	94	10
Total	2/2	–	12	2	185	43

References

1. "The WBSC Baseball5 World Ranking". WBSC. 9 August 2024. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
2. "Baseball Federation of Japan holds Baseball5 Seminar to promote new urban discipline". World Baseball Softball Confederation. 20 February 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
3. "Asia Cup champions Chinese Taipei qualify for inaugural WBSC Baseball5 World Cup along with 2nd Place Japan, 3rd Place Korea". World Baseball Softball Confederation. 19 August 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
4. "Cuba crowned first ever WBSC Baseball5 World Champions". World Baseball Softball Confederation. 12 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
5. "Japan, Chinese Taipei and China qualify for Baseball5 World Cup". wbsc.org. World Baseball Softball Confederation. 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
6. "Japan - WBSC Baseball5 World Cup 2024". World Baseball Softball Confederation. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
7. "List of Players 2nd WBSC Baseball5 World Cup 2024". japan-baseball. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
8. "第2回 WBSC Baseball5 ワールドカップ 2024 侍ジャパンBaseball5代表コーチングスタッフ及び選手の決定について". baseball5.jp (in Japanese). 30 July 2024.