Japan’s national baseball team “Samurai Japan” officially announced on January 26, 2026 a 29-player group expected to participate in the “2026 WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC™”. The remaining one roster spot will be announced at a later date, and the final roster will be published by WBCI on February 6 (all dates in Japan time).
In addition to previously announced names, the roster also features a strong MLB contingent—including Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Dodgers), Kazuma Okamoto (Blue Jays), Munetaka Murakami (White Sox), and Seiya Suzuki (Cubs)—forming a star-studded squad worthy of a team aiming to defend its title.
29 players including eight from MLB — 15 pitchers, 3 catchers, 7 infielders, 4 outfielders
With this announcement, the roster stands at 29 total players (15 pitchers, 3 catchers, 7 infielders, 4 outfielders). Of those, eight are MLB-affiliated (including free agents). Samurai Japan’s official site and MLB coverage have described it as one of the largest MLB contingents the team has fielded.
Key MLB-based players include:
- Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers / Pitcher)
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Dodgers / Pitcher)
- Yusei Kikuchi (Angels / Pitcher)
- Yuki Matsui (Padres / Pitcher)
- Tomoyuki Sugano (Orioles / Listed as FA)
- Kazuma Okamoto (Blue Jays / Infielder)
- Munetaka Murakami (White Sox / Infielder)
- Seiya Suzuki (Cubs / Outfielder)
The NPB group also brings notable names such as Hiroya Miyagi (Orix), Hiroto Takahashi (Chunichi), Teruaki Sato (Hanshin), and Kensuke Kondo (SoftBank), creating a blend of championship core from the last WBC plus new firepower.
Samurai Japan: projected 29-player roster by position (as of January 26, 2026)
The list below is compiled based on the official Samurai Japan announcement and the projected roster page (uniform numbers and affiliations follow official notation).
| Position | No. | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pitcher | 1 | Yuki Matsui | San Diego Padres |
| Pitcher | 13 | Hiroya Miyagi | Orix Buffaloes |
| Pitcher | 14 | Hiromi Itoh | Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters |
| Pitcher | 15 | Taisei | Yomiuri Giants |
| Pitcher | 16 | Shohei Ohtani | Los Angeles Dodgers |
| Pitcher | 17 | Yusei Kikuchi | Los Angeles Angels |
| Pitcher | 18 | Yoshinobu Yamamoto | Los Angeles Dodgers |
| Pitcher | 19 | Tomoyuki Sugano | (FA: Orioles) |
| Pitcher | 26 | Atsuki Taneichi | Chiba Lotte Marines |
| Pitcher | 28 | Hiroto Takahashi | Chunichi Dragons |
| Pitcher | 47 | Ryuhei Soya | Orix Buffaloes |
| Pitcher | 57 | Koki Kitayama | Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters |
| Pitcher | 61 | Kaima Taira | Saitama Seibu Lions |
| Pitcher | 66 | Yuki Matsumoto | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks |
| Pitcher | 69 | Daichi Ishii | Hanshin Tigers |
| Catcher | 4 | Kenya Wakatsuki | Orix Buffaloes |
| Catcher | 12 | Seishiro Sakamoto | Hanshin Tigers |
| Catcher | 27 | Yuhei Nakamura | Tokyo Yakult Swallows |
| Infielder | 2 | Shugo Maki | Yokohama DeNA BayStars |
| Infielder | 3 | Kaito Kozono | Hiroshima Toyo Carp |
| Infielder | 5 | Taisei Makihara | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks |
| Infielder | 6 | Sosuke Genda | Saitama Seibu Lions |
| Infielder | 7 | Teruaki Sato | Hanshin Tigers |
| Infielder | 25 | Kazuma Okamoto | Toronto Blue Jays |
| Infielder | 55 | Munetaka Murakami | Chicago White Sox |
| Outfielder | 8 | Kensuke Kondo | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks |
| Outfielder | 20 | Ukyo Shuto | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks |
| Outfielder | 23 | Shota Morishita | Hanshin Tigers |
| Outfielder | 51 | Seiya Suzuki | Chicago Cubs |
Note: This table reflects the official announcement as of January 26, 2026. It may be updated later due to the final remaining selection, roster changes, or registration updates.
Tournament schedule and pool — Japan opens in Pool C vs. Chinese Taipei
Samurai Japan will compete in the 2026 WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC™ from March 5–18, placed in Pool C (Tokyo Dome) alongside Chinese Taipei, Korea, Australia, and Czechia.
| Date (JST) | Game | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| March 2 | Orix Buffaloes vs Japan (Warm-up) | Kyocera Dome Osaka |
| March 3 | Hanshin Tigers vs Japan (Warm-up) | Kyocera Dome Osaka |
| March 6 | Chinese Taipei vs Japan (First Round) | Tokyo Dome |
| March 7 | Japan vs Korea (First Round) | Tokyo Dome |
| March 8 | Japan vs Australia (First Round) | Tokyo Dome |
| March 10 | Japan vs Czechia (First Round) | Tokyo Dome |
The quarterfinals are scheduled for March 14–15, the semifinals for March 16–17, and the final for March 18—with Japan chasing back-to-back WBC titles.
Key storylines: Ohtani’s role, Yamamoto’s “Year 2” in MLB, and an elite infield
The biggest point of focus is, of course, how Shohei Ohtani will be used. Considering his elbow condition and the Dodgers’ season context, to what extent will he be deployed as a two-way player? Manager Hirokazu Ibata’s decisions will be closely watched.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto returns to the WBC after experiencing a World Series in his MLB rookie year. The showdown between “an evolved Yamamoto in MLB” and the world’s elite hitters could be one of the must-see highlights of the tournament.
On the position-player side, the infield features a power-packed group led by Shugo Maki, Kazuma Okamoto, Munetaka Murakami, and Teruaki Sato, while the middle-of-the-order options include Kensuke Kondo and Seiya Suzuki. Add Ukyo Shuto’s speed and Shota Morishita’s pop, and the lineup’s blend of flexibility and explosiveness becomes a major attraction.
Watch the announcement press conference on official X & YouTube
Footage from roster announcement day and comments from manager Ibata and the players are also available via Samurai Japan’s official X and YouTube. Fans will want to check out the full press conference as well.
Wrap-up: the final remaining spot and the “last survival” in the Miyazaki camp
With this, Samurai Japan has confirmed 29 of the final 30 roster spots. Who will take the last slot? And what final adjustments will be made at the pre-tournament camp in Miyazaki starting February 14—along with the Samurai Japan Series 2026 (Miyazaki / Nagoya)? Those will be major points to watch.
All roster and schedule information in this article is based on the official Samurai Japan website and official tournament information. For the latest changes and additional announcements, please be sure to check updates on the official site and official social channels.
