Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) Secretary General Katsuhiko Nakamura visited the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) headquarters on Tuesday to discuss the continued global advancement of the sport.
WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari and WBSC CEO Michael Schmidt welcomed Nakamura along with NPB Director of the International Relations and Baseball Operations Department Takao Nakajima and participated in a series of productive meetings.
During the visit, the leaders from both organisations reflected on the growing popularity of baseball in Japan – one of baseball’s strongest markets with increased fan attendance year-on-year including overseas visitors from Australia, China, Europe, Korea, Taiwan and USA – as well as its expanding global footprint. The group noted the sustained success of Nippon Professional Baseball, whose competitive level, fan engagement and strong organisational structure have helped elevate the sport worldwide.
Discussions also focused on the bright future of upcoming WBSC events. Of particular interest was the next edition of the WBSC Premier12, which will introduce qualifying rounds for the first time next year. This new format is expected to increase international participation and provide emerging baseball nations with greater opportunities to compete on the world stage.
The meeting underscored the shared commitment of NPB and WBSC to strengthen the sport’s international presence and support baseball’s growth at all levels.