The coaching staff for the series against Chinese Taipei (November 8th - 10th) have been decided as follows.
| Position |
Name |
No |
Team |
| Bench Coach |
Hiroshi Narahara |
#73 |
Saitama Seibu Lions Fielding and Base running Coach |
| Pitching Coach |
Yoshitaka Katori |
#89 |
Samurai Japan 15U Manager |
| Batting Coach |
Hirotami Kojima |
#80 |
Samurai Japan Amateur Team Manager |
| Batting Coach |
Atsunori Inaba |
#41 |
Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters |
| Battery Coach |
Akihiro Yano |
#88 |
Baseball Commentator |
Infield Coach,
Base running Coach |
Toshihisa Nishi |
#87 |
Baseball Commentator |
Outfield Coach,
Base running Coach |
Arihito Muramatsu |
#83 |
Fukuoka Softbank Hawks Scout |
Hirotami Kojima, Batting Coach
It is an honor to be able to participate in the Samurai Japan project that unites the baseball world of Japan as one. I hope that I can make a contribution with my past experiences of working in the Amateur National Team.
Hiroshi Narahara, Bench Coach
I definitely feel a lot of pressure and responsibility in being the bench coach for the brand new Samurai Japan, but I will use all the experience I have in doing my best to support manager Kokubo.
Yoshitaka Katori, Pitching Coach
It is a real privilege and an honor to once again be able to coach the national team since the last time I coached in 2006 when we were able to win the WBC. I assume that this new team will be mainly consisting of young players, but it will be an important first step of the next 4 years until the next WBC, so I hope to give all the pitchers the experience to play and put in all efforts to win the series.
Hirotami Kojima, Batting Coach
It is an honor to be able to participate in the Samurai Japan project that unites the baseball world of Japan as one. I hope that I can make a contribution with my past experiences of working in the Amateur National Team.
Atsunori Inaba, Batting Coach
Originally I was slightly reluctant to coach because I am still an active player, but I thought that if I can contribute to the baseball world of Japan, then I should take on the job of coaching the team. Now that I have made up my mind to coach, I would like as many young players to inherit the skills that I have developed through my experiences as a player so that it will lead to the progression of Japanese baseball. Also, because I will be coaching full-time for the team, I thought of declining to wear my player number 41, but many persons concerned in the team have kindly offered me the number and so I shall be wearing number 41.
Akihiro Yano, Battery Coach
Having been selected as a coach for the new Samurai Japan, this will be the first time for me to wear a uniform since I retired as a player. This really inspires me to work together as one with the team to coach the pitcher and catcher "battery" which I believe is the most crucial element of baseball.
Toshihisa Nishi, Infield and Base running Coach
It is a real honor to have been chosen as a coach for the new Samurai Japan team and I will focus my mind on coaching the team. The upcoming series will be very short but I will put in all my effort and experiences in doing my best for the players and the team.
Arihito Muramatsu, Outfield and Base running Coach
I am grateful for having been given such a wonderful opportunity even though I have never had any previous experiences in coaching a team. I feel tremendously happy to be able to take part in the beginnings of a brand new Samurai Japan team. Although there is pressure, I hope to have the spirit of a challenger and contribute to hopefully putting Japan at the top of the IBAF world rankings.
