"I think from a very young age, Japanese players play this style of baseball. You start from a very young age, you learn at a very young age, and you continue to progress as your life goes on. Those fundamentals, those philosophies, I think, really carry as these players mature, which is probably a big reason for the success for Japan in international tournaments."
"Emperor Naruhito will be in attendance at the Tokyo Dome, making it the first time that the serving emperor will attend a professional baseball game in over 59 years. The last time that an Emperor attended a professional game was back in 1966, when an All-Japan team faced the Los Angeles Dodgers in a friendly match."
Emperor Naruhito will attend Japan's World Baseball Classic pool play game against Australia at Tokyo Dome on Sunday, making history as the first serving emperor to watch a professional baseball game since 1966. This represents the third WBC game the emperor has attended, though previously as crown prince in 2006 and 2009. Team Japan, led by star player Shohei Ohtani, is favored to win the tournament again. Manager Hirokazu Ibata attributes Japan's international baseball success to the country's systematic approach to player development from youth, emphasizing fundamental skills and winning philosophy that players carry throughout their careers.
Read at Dodgers Nation
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