Roster Announced
The Coaching Staff for the Samurai Japan Top National Team
9/18/2014
The coaching staff for the 'Samurai Japan' Top National Team that plays in the 2014 Suzuki All-Star Series (led by manager Hiroki Kokubo) has been selected as follows.
| | Uniform Number | Name | Age | Date of Birth | Height/Weight |
|---|
| Head Coach |
73 |
Hiroshi Narahara |
46 |
1968/5/16 |
168/65 |
|---|
| Pitching Coach |
89 |
Yoshitaka Katori |
57 |
1957/3/10 |
174/78 |
|---|
| Yoshitaka Katori |
41 |
Atsunori Inaba |
42 |
1972/8/3 |
185/94 |
|---|
| Catching Coach |
88 |
Akihiro Yano |
45 |
1968/12/6 |
181/80 |
|---|
| Infield/Base Coach |
87 |
Toshihisa Nishi |
42 |
1971/10/4 |
171/80 |
|---|
| Outfield/Base Coach |
83 |
Arihito Muramatsu |
41 |
1972/12/12 |
178/78 |
|---|
Hiroshi Narahara Head Coach
'It was a great honor to wear the Samurai Japan uniform for the Japan vs. Taiwan Baseball Challenge last year, and it is a greater honor to wear it again this year for the Suzuki All-Star Series. I will give my utmost best support to Manager Kokubo to bring out the full abilities of the team.'
Yoshitaka Katori Pitching Coach
'I'll try my best to help the pitchers fully display their abilities that Japan can be proud of in the 2014 Suzuki All-Star Series, which, I think, is one big step towards the WBC that will be held in March, 2017. The Series has adopted the WBC's rule of limiting the number of pitches that a pitcher can make. This is a good opportunity for our players to become familiar with the WBC.'
Atsunori Inaba Batting Coach
'I'll do my best to support the team using my experience as a player in international baseball tournaments such as the WBC and the Olympics, and as a coach in the Japan vs. Taiwan Challenge last year.'
Akihiro Yano Catching Coach
'I feel privileged to be a part of Samurai Japan. I'll try my best and do whatever I can using my experience for the team and for Japanese baseball.
Toshihisa Nishi Infield/Base Coach
'It's honorable to be a coach for the Top National Team again this year. I'll do all I can to help the players improve their base running and defense to compete with the power and speed of the MLB.'
Arihito Muramatsu Outfield/Base Coach
'I really appreciate this wonderful opportunity to be one of the coaches for the Top National Team again this year. I'm not gonna stop trying to be better as a coach for the team. I'll do my very best for them.'
The Top National Team
