The Nippon Professional Baseball Organization has announced the appointment of Iguchi Tadahito as the new manager of Japan’s national baseball team. Iguchi played professional baseball both in Japan and the United States.
The selection of a successor to former manager Ibata Hirokazu had been underway after the national team was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic in March this year.
The NPB revealed Iguchi’s appointment on Saturday. He is the national team’s first manager to have played in Major League Baseball.
Iguchi spoke at a news conference in Tokyo about his ambitions for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Iguchi said he wants to lead his team to the top of the world by bringing out the talent of the best players to the fullest extent, and combining Japan’s traditions and strength.
While at university, Iguchi was a member of the national team at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The team won a silver medal.
Japan has yet to secure a spot for baseball in the Los Angeles Olympics. It will aim to book its berth in upcoming international competitions.
Iguchi said he feels the weight of responsibility. He also said that in a short-term competition, individual strength alone is not enough to become number one in the world. He said he is convinced a team in which each member believes in each other, understands their role and fights for the group is a truly strong one.
The NPB says it plans for Iguchi to manage the national team through the Los Angeles Olympics.