Roster Announced
Samurai Japan creates new "Technical Director" post - Yoshitaka Katori to assume duties
2/10/2014
At the 1st Samurai Japan Summit, held in Japan, the Japan Baseball Management Committee (JBMC, Organized by the Nippon Professional Baseball Organization, General Incorporated Association, and the Baseball Federation of Japan, General Incorporated Foundation) created the post of "Technical Director" and chose Yoshitaka Katori to assume the duties of the same.
The two big roles of the newly create post of "Technical Director" are to "Serve as liaison within the JBMC to the pro side of baseball" and to "Support Manager Kokubo on the Top National Team."
As a liaison to professional baseball he is to build a system of cooperation with the amateur side. Another role will be to provide a vision of how to promote the strengthening of all of Japanese baseball through contacts between the Samurai Japan Top National Team and every group of young players. This will be based on the ideals of the Japan National Baseball Team, "Unity" and "Making every generation the best it can be."
Details about the Technical Director will be found below.
Samurai Japan Technical Director Yoshitaka Katori
About the Technical Director
Job Description
Role at the JBMC
*Regarding the following, he will serve as liaison and build a system of cooperation between the professional and amateur sides of baseball.
/A Vision for all of Japanese baseball/Devise a plan for creating teams at every level and develop a program toward making that a reality
/Organize teams for selecting appropriate professional and amateur players for the 21U National Team/
Role regarding the Samurai Japan Top National Team
/Support Manager Kokubo
/Scouting (Observe Japanese and foreign players, analyze data, transmit information to Manager Kokubo) and etc.
About Yoshitaka Katori
Short Resume
Born March 10, 1957(56 years old) in Kochi Prefecture. After going to Kochi Shogyo High School and Meiji University he joined the Yomiuri Giants outside the draft in 1978. In 1990 he was transferred to the Seibu Lions. In 1997, after playing for 19 years he retired with a total of 755 games played, 91 wins, 46 loses and 131 saves. In 1990 he won the Reliever of the Year Award. After retiring he served as pitching coach and head coach for the Yomiuri Giants. In 2006 he was the pitching coach for the Japan National Baseball Team at the WBC and has served as manager for the Samurai Japan 15U National Baseball Team among other posts.
