*This content was translated by AI.
During last March's World Baseball Classic (WBC), Japan's national baseball team, which failed to reach the semifinals for the first time in history and recorded its worst-ever performance, saw its chaotic team management and internal conflicts starkly exposed through revelations by player representatives. Testimonies emerged that former manager Iwata Hirokazu (51) had no communication whatsoever with the players.
Japanese media outlet "Weekly Bunshun" reported in detail on the same day about the conflicts between the team and players stemming from the lack of communication by former manager Iwata Hirokazu, citing testimonies from four Japanese national team players who were part of the WBC roster.
According to the report, the biggest issue identified by the players was the former manager's lack of communication. One player stated, "The manager seemed to avoid us; there was almost no conversation with the players, and it was difficult to communicate what kind of plays he wanted." The player added, "Even Shohei Ohtani (32, LA Dodgers), who rarely speaks negatively, told the manager, 'You really don't smile.'"
Complaints were also directed at Chief Coach Kaneko Makoto (51), who took charge of the position players without direct instructions from the manager. Due to an inefficient communication system, confusing orders such as "Can you substitute in the next batting?" were issued unexpectedly during games, causing repeated chaos that left the team unable to prepare properly.
Tensions between the coaching staff and players peaked in the locker room immediately after the loss to Venezuela in the quarterfinals. After manager Iwata said, "The defeat is entirely my responsibility," Chief Coach Kaneko remarked, "We felt the gap with the world," which seemed to shift blame onto the players. Angry players shouted, "Let's stop this!" and the team meeting ended in chaos. Even basic information that this WBC also served as a qualifier for the 2028 Los Angeles (LA) Olympics was not shared with the team.
Pitching management was also in complete disarray. Due to the unprincipled operations of pitching coaches Yoshimi Kazuki (42) and Nonomi Atsushi (47), who had relatively limited professional coaching experience, pitchers' roles were frequently changed. Kikuchi Yusei (35), originally scheduled as the second pitcher against Venezuela, was suddenly replaced by Sumida Chihiro (27), who then allowed a home run. Ito Hiromi (29), who rushed onto the mound after throwing only five pitches in the bullpen, ultimately surrendered a three-run comeback home run. Danei Atsuki (28), scheduled to appear in the ninth inning, was brought in earlier than planned in the seventh inning and allowed runs due to poor throws, leading to further disaster.
Despite this, outfield defense and base running coach Kamei Yoshiyuki (44) and battery coach Murata Yoshinori (52), both currently serving as coaches for the Yomiuri Giants, received high praise from players for maintaining appropriate distance and effective communication. In contrast, while coach Matsuda Nobuhiro (43) played a role in boosting morale, players expressed doubts about his leadership abilities.
Manager Iwata retired after the 2015 season and began his coaching career in 2016, but he has no experience as a manager of a professional baseball team. His only experience with a Japan Professional Baseball (NPB) club was serving as a defensive and base running coach for Yomiuri from the 2016 to 2018 seasons. He has served as a coach for the Japanese national team since 2017 and has managed only Yeon Ryeong-byeol (CEO) teams. Ultimately, his lack of managerial experience appears to have been his downfall.
Ultimately, reflecting the players' demands, Japan's national team is welcoming new manager Iguchi Tadahito (52), who previously managed the Chiba Lotte Marines, as its new leader in hopes of a turnaround. However, with the previous manager's shortcomings starkly exposed, significant repercussions are being felt throughout Japanese baseball.
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*This content was translated by AI.
