Japan national baseball team

Infobox National baseball team

Name = Japan national baseball team
Country = flag|Japan
Federation = Baseball Federation of Japan
Confederation = Baseball Federation of Asia
Manager =
WBC apps = 1
WBC first = 2006
WBC best = 1st (2006)
Olympic apps = 5
Olympic first = 1992
Olympic best = 2nd (1996)
WC apps = 15
WC first = 1972
WC best = 2nd (1982)
IC apps = 15
IC first = 1973
IC best = 1st (1973, 1997)
AG apps = 4
AG first = 1994
AG best = 1st (1994)

The Japan national baseball team is the national baseball team of Japan. It has participated in every Summer Olympic Games since the first demonstration tournament in 1984. Until 2000, the team was made up exclusively of amateur players. Starting with the 2000 Summer Olympics, the team has been comprised of players from Nippon Professional Baseball. The team playing in the 2006 World Baseball Classic also includes Japanese players from Major League Baseball. In the Classic, the team played in Pool A and placed second, advancing to round two. They went on to win the Classic. They would be playing in the Beijing Olympics in 2008, as they had quailifed on the Asian Baseball Championship in 2007, unlike the roster of WBC, it was exclusively formed by NPB players (but included one amateur player, who was drafted during the tournament's progress).

According to the 77-man candidate list for the Beijing Olympics roster, which all players come from different teams in the NPB, they would not choose any MLB player in the selection progress, since the final roster must be chosen among the players in the list. The final 24-men list was confirmed in 17th, July, 2008.

Regional Competition

Asian Baseball Championship

Japan have dominated the Asian Baseball Championship since it's inception, and have competed in every year. Japan have never missed out on placing in the top 3 in any tournament.

Asian Games

In all 4 Asian Games to include baseball, Japan have placed in the top 3 in every tournament.

International Competition

World Baseball Classic

Japan won the inaugural World Baseball Classic, defeating Cuba in the final. Japan is set to host games at the 2009 competition as they did in 2006.

Olympic Games

Baseball World Cup

Intercontinental Cup

Placings

World Baseball Classic
* 1st

Olympic Games
* 1984 : 1st (demonstration sport)
* 1988 : 2nd (demonstration sport)
* 3rd
* 2nd
* 2000 : 4th
* 3rd
* 2008 : 4th

Baseball World Cup

External links

* [http://www.japan-baseball.jp/nationalteam/2008/index.html Official Site] ja
* [http://ww2.worldbaseballclassic.com/2006/rosters/index.jsp?sid=t843 World Baseball Classic Roster for Japan]