World Baseball Classic

ﾜｰﾙﾄﾞ ﾍﾞｰｽﾎﾞｰﾙ ｸﾗｼｸ (WBC)

The Japanese media is still humming with national pride following Japan's win in the inaugural World Baseball Classic at Petco Park in San Diego on Monday night (Tuesday afternoon Japan time).



Gushing editorials sing the praises of the victorious players and team coach Sadaharu Oh, after Japan's exciting 10-6 triumph against Cuba in the final. The Japanese government plans to honor the players for their contributions to sport and for making the general public feel a little better about themselves after a disappointing Winter Olympics, when Japan won only one medal (albeit gold in women's figure skating).

Expectations have risen so high following Japan's unexpected win, that national soccer coach Zico has had to downplay his team's chances of doing something similar at this summer's World Cup in Germany.



The are high hopes that Japan's win in California will boost interest in the domestic game. Baseball has been in the doldrums recently with teams forced into bankruptcy and amalgamation, a resulting players' strike and declining attendances and TV audiences.

Japanese Baseball Articles

Books on Japan


Hostels in Japan - Hostelworld
Hostels in London - Hostelworld


Tag

Japan Baseball