Japan’s Yoshinobu Yamamoto reacts after his team’s loss against Venezuela in a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, on March 15, 2026. (Kyodo)


MIAMI, Florida (Kyodo) — Japan’s players voiced their frustration following their 8-5 quarterfinal loss to Venezuela in the early hours of Sunday, but the disappointment was tempered by a sense of gratitude at being part of a tight-knit World Baseball Classic roster.


Venezuela’s come-from-behind win at Miami’s loanDepot park ended Japan’s title defense and its bid for a record-extending fourth WBC championship.


Starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto was quick to take the blame despite leaving his team with a 5-2 lead at the end of his four innings.


The Los Angeles Dodgers ace steadied the ship after giving up two runs in his first two frames, including a leadoff home run to Ronald Acuna Jr., but the high-powered Venezuelan lineup regained the upper hand against Japan’s bullpen.


“I’m really frustrated. It’s over already and I can only say I’m frustrated,” Yamamoto said.


“I gave up a home run right at the start and also let them go ahead in the second after giving up an extra-base hit. I somehow got through the third and fourth, but I was a bit taken aback by their momentum, and I feel it had a huge impact on how the game went.”


The reigning World Series MVP nevertheless hailed the spirit inside the Samurai Japan clubhouse, which blended Major League Baseball stars with some of the top talent from Nippon Professional Baseball.


“It was great to be able to play baseball again wearing this uniform,” Yamamoto said. “I was the last to join up with the team, but everyone was united and welcomed me in a good atmosphere, and I’m so grateful for that. It ended in a really frustrating result, but it was a really good opportunity.”


Los Angeles Angels left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, a veteran of the squad at 34, was also appreciative of the kinship among skipper Hirokazu Ibata’s WBC roster.


“There’s no doubt I’m frustrated to lose but I’ve never had a chance to train with Japanese players 10 or 12 years younger than me, and I really learned a lot training together with them. It’s really been a fun three weeks,” he said.


“While I said this would be my first and last WBC, wearing this Japan uniform made me want to play again in four years.”


Clubhouse leader Shohei Ohtani, who did not pitch at this WBC while preparing for his first full season on the mound since elbow surgery, echoed his teammates’ frustrations but was likewise positive about the team and its future.


“The national team continues, we have lots of young players and there’ll definitely be another chance,” the Dodgers superstar said.


“It certainly has been a wonderful experience, but anything other than winning the title would be considered a failure in the end…so it’s disappointing to end this way, but there’ll certainly be a next time and we’ll work toward it.”