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March 2023. In Japan, it was early morning. In the United States, it was prime time.
The final at-bat of the World Baseball Classic came down to this: Shohei Ohtani vs. Mike Trout.
Full count. Slider. Swing and miss.
Japan erupted. But something else happened too — America was watching. CNN and ESPN led with the name “Shohei Ohtani.”
Japanese baseball was no longer just a domestic sport.
Now in 2026, as anticipation builds again for the next WBC, the energy feels different. Japan will enter not as an underdog — but as the defending champion.
The world is watching once more.
What Is the World Baseball Classic(WBC)?
The World Baseball Classic (WBC) was launched in 2006 under Major League Baseball’s initiative to globalize the sport.
From the very beginning, Japan took it seriously.
Japan won the inaugural tournament in 2006 under manager Sadaharu Oh, and repeated as champions in 2009.
The United States, however, initially approached the tournament differently. For many MLB players, the regular season still carried more weight.
Japan’s passion for national team competition — similar to World Cup energy in soccer — gave the WBC a different meaning there.
After falling short in 2013 and 2017, Japan reclaimed the title in 2023. But this time, the context had changed.
Why 2023 WBC Felt Different
Several factors made the 2023 WBC historic:
- MLB superstars fully committed to playing
- Higher American television ratings
- A tournament that felt globally unified
And then there was the ending.
Shohei Ohtani striking out his Los Angeles Angels teammate, Mike Trout, to secure the championship.
It felt almost too perfect — like a sports film script written in advance.
But this wasn’t fiction. It was global live television.
What Shohei Ohtani Changed
Shohei Ohtani is often described as a once-in-a-generation talent. But his impact goes deeper.
He broke structural assumptions:
- Pitcher or hitter — he became both
- Physical limitations for Japanese players — redefined
- The psychological barrier of MLB — lowered for younger athletes
Equally important is his demeanor. He does not rely on theatrics. He lets performance speak.
In American sports culture, that quiet confidence resonates strongly.
The stereotype shifted from “Japanese players are disciplined” to “Japanese players can redefine the game.”
How Japanese Baseball Evolved
The 2023 victory was not a temporary celebration. It marked structural change.
1. A New Generation’s Mindset
For young players in Japan, MLB is no longer distant — it is attainable.
2. Development Philosophy
Two-way experimentation is taken more seriously.
3. Global Brand Recognition
Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) is now seen as part of a global baseball ecosystem, not merely a domestic league.
Japanese baseball moved from being local culture to global identity.
The Significance of Streaming and Netflix
One symbolic shift: global streaming distribution.
When sports move beyond traditional television into international streaming platforms, they become intellectual property — global content.
The WBC is no longer just a tournament. It is global entertainment consumed across borders simultaneously.
That represents a turning point in baseball history.
Looking Ahead to 2026
In 2006, Japan won. But it was not yet the center of the baseball world.
In 2023, the world was watching.
Now in 2026, Japan enters as defending champion. The narrative has shifted.
The next question is no longer whether Japan belongs at the top — but how it will evolve from here.
Shohei Ohtani and the WBC may ultimately represent something larger: a moment when Japanese sport fully stepped onto the global stage.