Japan 2026 World Baseball Classic roster, schedule and pool

The World Baseball Classic is back for the first time since 2023 and Japan is all set for the action. Here's everything you need to know about the Japan national team, including roster, schedule and how to watch.

USA TODAY Sports is on the ground covering the 2026 World Baseball Classic, bringing you behind the scenes with Team USA, Shohei Ohtani and baseball's biggest global stars. Keep up with the latest scores and news all the way through the grand finale in Miami to decide the WBC championship. Sign up for our daily sports newsletter to get the biggest storylines straight to your inbox.

See the full tournament schedule here .

2026 Japan World Baseball Classic Roster

Team Manager: Hirokazu Ibata, Birthplace: Kanagawa, JPN

Pitchers

• Daichi Ishii, Age: 28, Birthplace: Akita, JPN, MLB Org: None, Current Club: Hanshin Tigers (JPN)
• Hiromi Itoh, Age: 28, Birthplace: Hokkaido, JPN, MLB Org: None, Current Club: Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (JPN)
• Yusei Kikuchi, Age: 34, Birthplace: Iwate, JPN, MLB Org: LAA, Current Club: Los Angeles Angels
• Koki Kitayama, Age: 26, Birthplace: Kyoto, JPN, MLB Org: None, Current Club: Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (JPN)
• Yuki Matsui, Age: 30, Birthplace: Yokohama, JPN, MLB Org: SD, Current Club: San Diego Padres
• Yuki Matsumoto, Age: 29, Birthplace: Kanagawa, JPN, MLB Org: None, Current Club: Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (JPN)
• Hiroya Miyagi, Age: 24, Birthplace: Kumamoto, JPN, MLB Org: None, Current Club: ORIX Buffaloes (JPN)
• Taisei Ota, Age: 26, Birthplace: Hyogo, JPN, MLB Org: None, Current Club: Yomiuri Giants (JPN)
• Ryuhei Sotani, Age: 25, Birthplace: Nara, JPN, MLB Org: None, Current Club: ORIX Buffaloes (JPN)
• Tomoyuki Sugano,  Age: 36, Birthplace: Kanagawa, JPN, MLB Org: None, Current Club: None
• Kaima Taira,  Age: 26, Birthplace: Okinawa, JPN, MLB Org: None, Current Club: Saitama Seibu Lions (JPN)
• Hiroto Takahashi, Age: 23, Birthplace: Aichi, JPN, MLB Org: None, Current Club: Chunichi Dragons (JPN)
• Atsuki Taneichi, Age: None, Birthplace: Aomori, JPN, MLB Org: None, Current Club: Chiba Lotte Marines (JPN)
• Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Age: 27, Birthplace: Okayama, JPN, MLB Org: LAD, Current Club: Los Angeles Dodgers

Catchers

• Yuhei Nakamura, Age: 35, Birthplace: Fukui, JPN, MLB Org: None, Current Club: Tokyo Yakult Swallows (JPN)
• Seishiro Sakamoto, Age: 32, Birthplace: Hyogo, JPN, MLB Org: None, Current Club: Hanshin Tigers (JPN)
• Kenya Wakatsuki, Age: 30, Birthplace: Saitama, JPN, MLB Org: None, Current Club: ORIX Buffaloes (JPN)

Infielders

• Sosuke Genda, Age: 32, Birthplace: Oita, JPN, MLB Org: None, Current Club: Saitama Seibu Lions (JPN)
• Kaito Kozono, Age: 25, Birthplace: Hiroshima, JPN, MLB Org: None, Current Club: Hiroshima Toyo Carp (JPN)
• Shugo Maki, Age: 27, Birthplace: Nagano, JPN, MLB Org: None, Current Club: Yokohama DeNA BayStars (JPN)
• Taisei Makihara, Age: 33, Birthplace: Fukuoka, JPN, MLB Org: None, Current Club: Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (JPN)
• Munetaka Murakami, Age: 26, Birthplace: Kumamoto, JPN, MLB Org: CWS, Current Club: Chicago White Sox
• Kazuma Okamoto, Age: 29, Birthplace: Nara, JPN, MLB Org: TOR, Current Club: Toronto Blue Jays
• Teruaki Sato, Age: 26, Birthplace: Hyogo, JPN, MLB Org: None, Current Club: Hanshin Tigers (JPN)

Outfielders

• Kensuke Kondo, Age: 32, Birthplace: Chiba, JPN, MLB Org: None, Current Club: Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (JPN)
• Shota Morishita, Age: 25, Birthplace: Kanagawa, JPN, MLB Org: None, Current Club: Hanshin Tigers (JPN)
• Ukyo Shuto, Age: 29, Birthplace: Gunma, JPN, MLB Org: None, Current Club: Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (JPN)
• Seiya Suzuki, Age: 31, Birthplace: Tokyo, JPN, MLB Org: CHC, Current Club: Chicago Cubs
• Masataka Yoshida, Age: 32, Birthplace: Fukui, JPN, MLB Org: BOS, Current Club: Boston Red Sox

Designated Hitters

• Shohei Ohtani, Age: 31, Birthplace: Iwate, JPN, MLB Org: LAD, Current Club: Los Angeles Dodgers

Coaching Staff: Yoshiyuki Kamei (1B Coach), Makoto Kaneko (Bench Coach), Nobuhiro Matsudo (Game Planning), Yoshinori Murata (Bullpen Coach), Atsushi Nohmi (Pitching Coach), Eishin Soyogi (3B Coach), Kazuki Yoshimi (Pitching Coach)

Japan 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool Schedule

All times Eastern and accurate as of Friday, March 6, 2026, at 12:30 p.m. All Japan pool games played in Tokyo (Tokyo Dome)

• March 6: Japan vs. Chinese Taipei, 5 a.m., FS1
• March 7: Japan vs. South Korea, 5 a.m., FS1
• March 8: Australia vs. Japan, 6 a.m., FS1
• March 10: Czechia vs. Japan, 6 p.m., FS1

2026 World Baseball Classic Pools

• Pool A (San Juan): Puerto Rico, Panama, Cuba, Canada, Colombia
• Pool B (Houston): United States, Mexico, Italy, Great Britain, Brazil
• Pool C (Tokyo): Japan, South Korea, Australia, Czechia, Chinese Taipei
• Pool D (Miami): Venezuela, Netherlands, Dominican Republic, Israel, Nicaragua