There is still a long time left until the World Baseball Classic (WBC), but the Japanese national team has already begun to move. Coach Hirokazu Ibata visited the Miyazaki Spring Camp.스포츠토토

Multiple local media, including Japan's "Sports Hochi," "Sponichi Annex" and "Daily Sports," reported on the 3rd that manager Hirokazu Ibata visited the Miyazaki Spring Camp.

Coach Ibata took over the baton after manager Hideki Kuriyama, well known as "Teacher Otani," put the Japanese national team at the top of the list through a victory in the 2023 WBC. Coach Ibata put Japan at the top of the Asian Professional Baseball Championship (APBC) shortly after taking the helm of the national team, but faced the worst-case scenario in the final game in the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier 12 held last year.

Japan has not lost a single game since the beginning of the group league, and acquired a ticket to the final following the Super Round. With 27 consecutive wins at international competitions, the team has elevated expectations for a win. However, the team failed to take the mound at the final, and fell to the knees 0-4, and ended up winning 28 consecutive games to remain in the runner-up. As a result, Ibata faced tremendous criticism, and bowed his head in an interview with the media last month for the New Year.

"I didn't pay much attention. I think some people don't know the team's situation," Ibata said of the criticism that had been pouring out. "Even if I object, I have no choice," he added. "The final felt like asking the players to come back. But they were wrong. I needed to work harder. I felt anew that I had to win at the end."

Manager Ibata is determined to restore his honor as he will be the head coach of the Japanese national team until 2026 WBC. In an interview in January, he reported that he was already talking with Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto (L.A. Dodgers), Kodai Senga (New York Mets), Shota Imana and Seiya Suzuki (Chicago Cubs), who are playing in the Major League Baseball.

According to multiple Japanese media, Ibata's notebook is already full of names of players expected to join the WBC list, but WBC visited Miyazaki on the 3rd, where the spring camp of the Rakuten Golden Eagles, Hanshin Tigers, and Nippon Ham Fighters is underway, as there is plenty of time left to proceed in 2026.

During the meeting with Hanshin Tigers, Ibata talked with Fujikawa Kyuji, and then met with Teruaki Sato, who was a teammate of APBC, and offered words of blessing. "We paid attention to Hiroto Saiki, Shota Morishita, Daisuke Oyama, Koji Chikamoto and Takumu Nakano," the Spokini Annex reported. At the Rakuten camp, he observed Rui Muneyama, a rookie draft player in 2024.

Muneyama is highly anticipated as the best shortstop in 20 years. According to Sponichi Annex, Ibata even opened up the possibility of joining the WBC national team in 2026, if Muneyama becomes the main player. "I think the shortstop is the defense. I will focus on that defense," the coach said.

At the Nippon Ham spring camp, he was even recommended by coach Tsuyoshi Shinjo. Shinjo recommended Hideki Nagaoka (Yakurt) and Ryosuke Tatsumi (Rakuten), who acquired the Central League-Pacific League title last year. According to Junichi Sports, Shinjo said, "I think Tatsumi will be strong in international competitions. I think Tatsumi will be a good center fielder in terms of total balance. And he seemed to be a player who can produce results through defense and base play."

Coach Ibata is determined to make up for the humiliation he experienced in the Premier 12 at the 2026 WBC. Along with Ohtani and other ultra-luxury major leaguers, some players in Japan