Samurai Japan manager Hirokazu Ibata works with children in Toyama City

Samurai Japan manager Hirokazu Ibata was a special guest in the Let's Throw Let's Hit Bun Bun Cup, an event sponsored by Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in Toyama City. The Toyama Prefecture will host the next NPB All-Star Game.

Ibata, Giants Academy coaches Kentaro Nishimura, Kyoki Kuroda, and Kokoa Higashi (Yomiuri Giants Women's Team) interacted with 110 children in morning and afternoon sessions.

"My eldest son is in the first year of junior high school," said Ibata in his closing remarks. "Parents and children can only do things together until elementary school. So I hope parents and children can have as much fun as they can during that time. I would be happy if baseball were one of the things they do."

After the event, Ibata told the local press that children not living in metropolitan areas have fewer chances to watch baseball live. "We need to keep doing these kinds of activities," he said.

Ibata also spoke about the RAXUS Samurai Japan Series. World No. 1 Japan will face No. 7 Netherlands on March 5 and 6 at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka. It will be the first chance to work on the World Baseball Classic 2026 team.

"We won't select players on the WBSC Premier12 team. We will look to new players," Ibata explained.

The manager also confirmed he will also serve as the U-15 National Team head coach again this year having filled the dual role last year.