On November 6th, a press conference was held to announce the unification of the various national teams of Japanese Baseball. It started with a speech by JBMC Chairman Toshimasa Shimada and Vice Chairman Yoshinobu Suzuki, followed by a declaration of goals, the introduction of the new uniform, and then the managers and players of each generation spoke to the press.

Manager/Player Interview

-- First of all I would like to ask Mr. Kokubo of the Top team. What was your impression upon wearing the new uniform?

Manager Kokubo: Honestly, I think it looks good. I'm sure that everyone wearing this uniform today will agree with me that although it has a modern look to it, the JAPAN logo gives it a sense of historic dignity. I think this is a very innovative and stylish uniform.

-- I think that today is a truly historical day because all the generations of national teams have gathered in one place. What are your thoughts?

Manager Kokubo: Of course, I myself was once an amateur player and practiced hard to realize my dream of becoming a professional. But during my years as an amateur, never did I witness this sort of connection between professionals and amateurs. So from that point of view, I firmly feel that a new history of Japanese baseball has been marked.

-- The next question is for Mr. Kojima the manager of the Amateur team and Mr. Katori the manager of the 15U team. Both of you will also be coaching for the Top team. First Mr. Kojima, please describe your honest thoughts about uniting the professionals and amateurs.

Manager Kojima (Amateur team): I think the main objective of the Amateur team is to produce players who will go on to become world-class players and participate in the WBC. That I think is the ideal flow of this project. By organizing this sort of consensus for each generation, I'm hoping that it will lead to the strengthening of Japanese Baseball itself.

-- How about you, Mr. Katori?

Manager Katori (15U team): We are dealing with the most delicate generation. I'd like to teach various things to these kids, especially the basics that need to be done at their age so that they can go on to become world champions.

-- Manager Katori just mentioned the word "basics". In order to win back the title of World Champions in 2017, what is it that you expect the most from the 15 and 12 under generations?

Manager Kokubo: These young athletes are fortunate to have come across the sport of baseball because they have been given a privilege to mature through this sport. On top of that, they will be competing as members of Samurai Japan in the same uniform as the top team, which I think will give them more sense of responsibility and confidence. I hope they recognize that they are an important part of Japanese Baseball and will practice hard with the goals of one day joining the top team.

-- In regards to leading up to the Top team, I have a question for Mr. Yoshinami of the Collegiate team. I think you are managing a very important generation. How do you plan to instruct the players?

Manager Yoshinami (Collegiate team): My aim is to bring up as many players as possible from the Collegiate team to win back the title of World Champions in 2017. I feel that it is important for these young players to play international games so that they will develop the strong fighting spirits that they will eventually need when they join the top team.

-- Next, I would like to ask Mr. Maebashi of the 12U team. Your team is the foundation of all the generations. They are very energetic and at a promising age. What do you expect from the players?

Manager Maebashi (12U team): Starting at 1st grade when these kids start playing baseball, they yearn to one day participate in the Koshien High School Baseball Tournament. In the midst of that, I have been coaching children for 45 years now with the hope of teaching them patience, endurance, and a strong mind that is able to practice the same routine repetitively. I hope that the Top team can continue to win games and be role models that these kids can truly look up to.

-- In that sense, I think that Mr. Nakata is the player the kids look up to. Mr. Nakata, what are your feelings about uniting the generations here today?

Nakata (Top team): I hope to become World Champions and be an inspiration for the other generations.

-- Mr. Nakata, you participated in this year's WBC. Having had the experience of competing in a world tournament, what do you want to pass along to the players especially in the 12U team and 15U team, regarding baseball or otherwise?

Nakata (Top team): When I was selected to play in the last WBC, I was the youngest player among the batters and I felt that there was so much for me to learn. Seeing how much power the players in the foreign teams had, left a strong impact on me and it motivated me to perform better this season. Of course, the most important thing is to focus on winning, but I hope that the young players will also experience many things that will help them to become better athletes and people.

-- Shota (Sawamura), you're playing for the 12U team. Please describe your feelings after hearing what Mr. Nakata mentioned.

Sawamura (12U team): I'm very happy that someone like Mr. Nakata, a person I usually only see on TV, gave me an advice.

-- By the way, what sort of player do you want to become?

Sawamura (12U team): I want to become a player who can compete at the world level, like Mr. Nakata.

-- What do you like about Mr. Nakata?

Sawamura (12U team): I like that he is a reliable player in clutch situations.

-- Shoma (Fujihira) from the 15U team, what is it like sitting next to Mr. Nakata?

Fujihira (15U team): I'm very nervous.

-- What kind of player do you want to develop into?

Fujihira (15U team): One day I want to become a member of the Samurai Japan Top team like Mr. Nakata, so I'd like to compete at the higher level.

-- Mr. Osera and Mr. Okazaki, you were selected to the Top team for the first time. Mr. Osera, you will be competing under the Japanese flag as a member of the Top team. What does that feel like?

Osera (Collegiate team): Since I have been selected to the Top team, I would like to give my best effort to help the team, with honor and pride.

-- How about you, Mr. Okazaki?

Okazaki (Amateur team): I think I will just have to do my best now that I have been selected. I would like to show the amateurishness that the professionals don't have.

-- Several players who graduated from Osaka Toin High School have been selected for the Top team (Nakata, Hirata, Asamura). Tomoya Mori from the 18U team, the word is that Mr. Nakata is a very kind senior. Is there anything you would like to ask him?

Mori (18U team): This summer I had the privilege to play on the 18U national team, but I felt there was a big difference in strengths between us and some of the other countries. Mr. Nakata, what did you feel when you played against the other countries?

-- Mr. Nakata.

Nakata (Top team): As I mentioned earlier, I felt the difference in power. I was also surprised at how focused the players were for every single ball in play. As you all know, there are many highlight-reel plays in the Major League and that is because the players are so determined to catch the ball or to hit the ball. That's something I learned during the games. I guess that's the kind of determination you have to have to climb up to the majors.

-- Manager Nishitani of the 18U Team is also the manager of Osaka Toin High School. Three players [from Osaka Toin] have been selected to Team Japan (Top team). What expectations do you have towards your former students?

Mr. Nishitani (18U team): It is an honor to have had three of my former players be selected on the Top team. It's such an encouragement to our students because they remember when these top team players were in high school. The generation of high school players look up to the players in the national team, so I also hope that the Top team will continue to play well and be role models.

-- Mr. Nishitani, you have been watching Nakata since high school. Did you think that he would ever become a player of this magnitude, a player essential to the national team?

Mr. Nishitani (18U team): Yes I did.

-- Do you have any tips for Mr. Kokubo concerning these three players? Maybe some way to get them extra motivated?

Mr. Nishitani (18U team): No, I don't have anything like that. But I sincerely feel that, although high school baseball is what the children initially admire, there is college baseball, amateur baseball, and then ultimately the Samurai Japan team that stands on the top. That is why I truly hope that the top team will continue to lead Japanese baseball.

-- Mr. Kokubo, is it safe to assume that Nakata will be the cleanup hitter?

Mr. Kokubo: Yes. He'll be batting fourth and playing left field on the next game.

-- Thank you for letting us now in advance.

-- As of now, the Women's National Team has won the World Cup three consecutive times. Manager Okura, now with this new structure of unifying all generations and genders as "Samurai Japan", how will you continue to strengthen your team?

Mr. Okura (Women's team): Next year, we will try hard to win the World Cup for the fourth consecutive time. Meanwhile, we are also grateful that we were added to this Samurai Japan project that crosses over the boarders of professionals, amateurs, and even gender. This is a huge encouragement to the female baseball players of Japan. I shall be very thankful if Manager Kokubo of the top team will take this opportunity to know more about women's baseball and give us the chance to be instructed by him.

-- Sorry to have kept you waiting for so long. Ms. Shimura, right now you are playing a central role in your team. What are your aspirations, and what do you expect for women's baseball in general?

Shimura (Women's team): The population of women's baseball has grown rapidly in the past few years, but the environment is still far from being ideal. But I believe that winning next year's world cup will lead to a further growth in women's baseball, so it is essential that we become champions.

-- Now, we've heard from everyone. Mr. Kokubo, I'm certain that all coaches and all players have many things on their minds. What are your thoughts now?

Mr. Kokubo: Upon listening to what each manager has mentioned, I firmly feel that the Samurai Japan Top team must continue to be a goal for players of all generations. I would like my players to keep that in mind. I hope that today has been a good start for the future of Japanese baseball, to ultimately win the 2017 WBC.

-- Thank you very much.

Video of press conference to announce a unified "Samurai Japan"