Japan to host Korea at Tokyo Dome for 2025 Samurai Japan Series
World No. 1 Japan will take on No. 4 Korea for two games in preparation for the 2026 World Baseball Classic on Saturday, 15, and Sunday, 16 November at the Tokyo Dome in what is called the RAXUS Samurai Japan Series 2025.
Samurai Japan manager Hirokazu Ibata announced his roster:
PITCHERS (12) Daisuke Moriura (Hiroshima Carp), Chihiro Sumida (Seibu Lions), Taisei Ota (Tokyo Giants), Hiroto Takahashi (Chunichi Dragons), Ryuhei Sotani Orix Buffaloes), Yumeto Kanemaru (Chunichi Dragons), Shoma Fujihira (Rakuten Golden Eagles), Koki Kitayama (Nippon Ham Fighters), Kaima Taira (Seibu Lions), Naoto Nishiguchi (Rakuten Golden Eagles), Yuki Matsumoto (Fukuoka Hawks), Shinya Matsuyama (Chunichi Dragons).
CATCHERS (4) Kenya Wakatsuki (Orix Buffaloes), Yukinori Kishida (Yomiuri Giants), Seishiro Sakamoto (Hanshin Tigers), Yuhei Nakamura (Yakult Swallows).
INFIELDERS (7) Shugo Maki (Yokohama BayStars), Tai Sasaki (Hiroshima Carp), Itsuki Murabayashi (Rakuten Golden Eagles), Kazuma Okamoto (Yomiuri Giants), Taiki Ishikami (Yokohama BayStars), Kaito Kozono (Hiroshima Carp), Isami Nomura (Fukuoka HAwks).
OUTFIELDERS (4) Shota Morishita (Hanshin Tigers), Misho Nishikawa (Chiba Marines), Ryota Isobata (Nippon Ham Fighters), Yuki Okabayashi (Chunichi Dragons).
Eleven players on the roster helped Japan secure second place in the WBSC Premier12 2024 - pitchers Murabayashi, Ota, Sumida, Takahashi, Fujihira, and Kitayama; infielders Maki, Murabayashi, and Kozono; outfielders Morishita and Isobata.
Ibata's roster features some of the best players in the 2025 NPB season, including Kaito Kozono, who won the Central League batting title with a .309 average; Shota Morishita, who finished second in the Central League with 23 home runs, and Shugo Maki. The pitching staff features the reigning saves leaders from both the Central League and the Pacific League: Shinya Matsuyama (46 saves) and Kaima Taira (31 saves).
His staff will include coaches Yoshinori Murata, Atsushi Nohmi, Kazuki Yoshimi, Eishin Soyogi, Yoshiyuki Kamei, and Nobuhiro Matsuda, with Murata, Yoshimi, Soyogi, and Kamei returning from the Premier12 staff.
Earlier this month, Korea hosted Czechia at a sold-out Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul and handled the two-game series with ease as Korea beat Czechia 3-0, striking out 17 batters, and 11-1 on the back of 17 hits. Korea, Japan and Czechia will all play in Pool C in the World Baseball Classic Preliminary Round, with Australia and Chinese Taipei being the two other nations in the group.
Mnager Ji-Hyun Ryu selected an expanded roster for the two-game series:
PITCHERS (18) Dong-ju Moon (Hamwha Eaghles), Won-seok Oh (KT Wiz), Chan-seong Bae (Samsung Lions), Ju-young Song (LG Twins), Min-seok Lee (Lotte Giants), Gun-woo Kim (SSG Landers), Haiyoung Jung (Hanwha Eagles), Seohyeon Kim (Hanwha Eagles), Been Gwak (Doosan Bears), Ho Sung Lee (Samsung Lions), Junyoung Choi (Lotte Giants), Yeonghyun Park (KT Wiz), Taekyeon Kim (Doosan Bears), Young-tak Song (Kia Tigers), Young-woo Kim (LG Twins)
CATCHERS (3) Jae-hoon Choi (Hanwha Eagles), Hyeong Woo Cho (SSG Landers), Dongwon Park (LG Twins).
INFIELDERS (8) Seonghan Park (SSG Landers), Minjae Shin (LG Twins), Juwon Kim (NC Dinos), Roh Sihwan (Hanwha Eagles), Bogyeong Moon (LG Twins), Sungmun Song (Kiwoom Heroes), Donghui Han (National Military), Yeongung Kim (Samsung Lions),
OUTFIELDERS (4) Haemin Park (LG Twins), Hyun Min Ahn (KT Wiz), Seongyoon Kim (Samsung Lions), Hyunbin Moon (Hanwha Eagles).
Eleven players represented Korea at the WBSC Premier12 2024 - pitchers Jung, Gwak, Seohyeon Kim, Yeonghyun Park, Taekyeon Kim; catcher Dongwon Park; infielders Seonghan Park, Shin, Juwon Kim, Bogyeong Moon, Sungmun Song.
Roh Sihwan just played his second 30-homer and 100-RBI season. Bogyeong Moon also enjoyed a 100-RBI season.
Ryu's coaching staff will include In-hyun Kang, Kosan Kim, Jin-young Lee, Dong-wook Lee, Jae Gul Kim, Whon-ho Choi, Jihyun Ryu, and Yong-il Kim.