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Taipei vs. Japan [November 11] Samurai Japan Finished All Games

12/27/2013TopTeam

Taipei vs. Japan [November 11] Samurai Japan Finished All Games

BASEBALL CHALLENGE 2013 - Review of the November 8 to 10 series from the day the teams arrived to the day it finished.

Interview with Hiroki Kokubo, Manager, Before His Return to Japan

The team was scheduled to fly back to Japan on November 11th. The players from Hokkaido Nippon Ham were flying to Chitose Airport, some were flying to Fukuoka for fall camp, and others were flying to different airports. Members from Tohoku Rakuten needed to prepare for the Asia Series and moved to Taichung.

Manager Kokubo was interviewed by media at the hotel.

----Samurai Japan won all three of its practice games. Would you please tell us how you feel about the games.

Manager Kokubo: I am, of course, quite relieved because I felt pressure to win. I told the players right from the start that these were not friendly matches, but practice matches. So, I am very satisfied with the results. I will keep watching the players we selected, and I'll also be keeping my eye out for new talent. Of course, our decisions will also take into consideration the future of Japanese baseball and what will be happening in 2017.

----What do you think you achieved with these games?

Kokubo: Each of the players had a strong desire to play for Samurai Japan. In this sense, their awareness about what it means to play for Japan was extremely high; and it was great to see that their awareness remained high all the way through.

----Is having a strong desire to play for Samurai Japan an important factor?

Kokubo: I believe it is very important. If they want to join the team, their motivation is completely different from those who sign on just because they are asked to. Kenta Imamiya was unfortunately injured, but he also had a strong desire to play. What Samurai Japan players require more than skill is strength, and I was encouraged much by his attitude.

----There were no home runs in any of the three games. Will this affect the standard for selection in the future?

Kokubo: I don't think so. Through these games, I realized that it is difficult to get long hits against a good pitcher. However, Samurai Japan's running is world-class. I will assign the main players the job of making long hits, but running is a major factor for the other players.

----Is there anything that you feel you should have done better?

Kokubo: Yes, I needed to be a little faster in making decisions during the first game. When I was about to decide what to do, the pitcher on the Taipei team had already thrown the ball. I really felt that I needed to be able to maintain my concentration and be able to make my decisions quickly during games. I think I did better in the second and third games.

----Do you have any teams that you want to have practice games against in the lead up to 2017?

Kokubo: I want to play against the teams from Central and South America. When we played Cuba for the first time, I was really shocked. It would be a good stimulus for players who have not played against them; and I think it would have a good impact on their future.

Strong Potential Shown by the New Samurai Japan

As I looked from the bus that was taking us to Haneda Airport, I saw team staff who had provided support for Samurai Japan during the week waving goodbye.

It was dark when we arrived at Haneda. After they got their luggage, they again started shaking hands with one another to say thank you and good-bye.

"Thank you!"

"Thank you for your support!"

It was a wonderful team that did not look like it had come together only a week before.

The new Samurai Japan showed us strong potential and new approaches.

It is about three years to the 2017 WBC, and we are all looking forward to seeing them take the field again.

チャイニーズ・タイペイ戦 ドキュメント 【11月5日】新生侍ジャパンのはじまり
チャイニーズ・タイペイ戦 ドキュメント 【11月6日】ついに全世代がひとつになる
チャイニーズ・タイペイ戦 ドキュメント 【11月7日】試合前日、いざ台北へ
チャイニーズ・タイペイ戦 ドキュメント 【11月8日】強化試合がついに開幕
チャイニーズ・タイペイ戦 ドキュメント 【11月9日】逆転勝利で2連勝
チャイニーズ・タイペイ戦 ドキュメント 【11月10日】チームはひとつに!強化試合3連勝
チャイニーズ・タイペイ戦 ドキュメント 【11月11日】戦いを終えた侍ジャパン

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