Japanese Media Praise: "Amateur Team Representative, Fought Evenly Against Pro-Strength Korea → Drew Out Ace Kwak Bin"

*This content was translated by AI.

Japanese local media praised the Japanese amateur national team, which secured a silver medal by competing evenly against South Korea's professional squad.

On the 27th, Japanese media outlet 'Nippon Television News (NTV)' reported on Japan's 1-3 loss to South Korea in the final match of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games baseball tournament held at Toyohashi Stadium in Aichi Prefecture. While acknowledging the disappointing result, NTV focused heavily on the Japanese national team's spirited performance against a South Korean squad centered around professional players.

The media reported alongside the final match results: "Japan's Samurai Japan, led by amateur players, advanced to the finals undefeated, but faced off again against South Korea, which had dominated with a 5-0 victory in the Super Round on the 25th and is built around professionals, engaging in an intense battle."

In the earlier matchup, starting pitcher Higuuchi Shin pitched seven scoreless innings. However, he surrendered a lead-off RBI double to Moon Hyun-bin (Hanwha Eagles) in the second inning, losing the lead. Yet, the mound remained steady. When relief pitcher Chugami Yoshiki (Toyota Motor) escaped a bases-loaded, two-out crisis with a fly out in the top of the 7th inning, NTV described the tense game flow as "held on while trailing by one run."

The media also noted that Japan's lineup tenaciously fought against South Korea's ace. Though Japan was held hitless through four innings by Kwak Bin (Doosan Bears), who leads the KBO League in ERA, they finally broke through with a double by Mizutani Shohei in the fifth inning. Then, in the bottom of the 7th with one out and runners on first and second, Sato Yuki (Toyota Motor) targeted Kwak Bin's 111st pitch—a slider—and hit a dramatic 1-1 tying home run.

Analysis of key turning points followed. NTV expressed regret that "although Japan managed to pull South Korea's ace from the mound, they were unable to come back after facing consecutive strikeouts against Jo Byung-hyun (SSG), who recorded 20 saves in the league." The outlet further stated: "After allowing the tying run, South Korea displayed 'professional pride.' The decisive moment came when, following manager Ryu Ji-hyun's fierce protest during a rundown out situation with one out and runners on first and third in the top of the 8th inning, South Korea immediately scored two runs via an infield hit and an RBI single."

Finally, the media reported: "Japan seized consecutive opportunities in the bottom of the 8th with one out and runners on first and third, and in the bottom of the 9th with two outs and runners on first and second, but ultimately failed to deliver a decisive hit, falling 1-3." Nevertheless, it concluded by summarizing the local atmosphere: "Although they lost the victory, this was a match that highlighted the fighting spirit of Japan's amateur national team, which competed evenly against South Korea's professional squad until the final moments of the game."

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.