Selected 9 (Nine) “Famous Scenes of Great Emotion” that Shook the Whole Country [WBC Special Report].

Shohei Otani howled as he “slayed Trout!
The final game against the U.S.A. in the ’23 Fifth World Championships.

Shohei Otani (31) must have moved many fans as he bared his emotions and howled. It was right after he led Japan to the championship in the final of the 5th Olympics (2011), striking out the hard-hitting Trout of the United States. After the game, Otani told the press, “I threw more pitches than my best.

I thought if I didn’t throw pitches beyond my best, I might be a hitter who couldn’t be contained.

In the WBC, Samurai Japan, with the Japanese flag on their backs, will be competing to the death against powerful nations. It is the super plays of these players, who are under extreme pressure to perform beyond their best, that are so inspiring to watch. The persistent timely hit by a legend who had been in a slump, the great comeback in the bottom of the ninth inning when the team was in trouble, and the “God’s hand” home run that evaded the catcher’s block are just a few examples. …… I would like to revive the excitement that shook all of Japan through nine carefully selected famous scenes.

Ichiro’s final timely hit in the final game of the 2009 tournament
The 2009 Second World Series Final against South Korea

Ichiro had been in a slump, with a .211 batting average through his previous games in the tournament. He said, “I was suffering more than I could have imagined,” but in the 10th inning of the final game, with two outs and runners at second and third, he hit a final-time ball. After the game, he said, “God came down to me.

Hirokazu Ibata’s timely tying run with two outs in the 9th inning
The 3rd World Tournament in ’13, 2nd round, against Chinese Taipei

With a one-run lead in the top of the 9th inning, Ibata scored the tying run with a runner on second base with two outs. After catching up in the last minute, Japan won the game in the 10th inning.

Munetaka Murakami Dramatic! Dramatic hit for a comeback victory!
The 5th World Tournament in 2011, Semifinal game against Mexico

Murakami, who was hitless in four at-bats on the day, including three consecutive strikeouts, scored a dramatic two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to bring the game back from the dead!

Seiichi Uchikawa’s super fine play to turn the tide
The 2nd Tournament in ’09, Final against Korea

After the game was over in the bottom of the 5th inning, Seiichi Uchikawa made a one-bounce catch of a liner from a South Korean batter. He sent the ball to second base and killed the batter. Japan caught on and won the game in extra innings.

Munenori Kawasaki’s “Hand of God” home run
2006 First World Tournament, Final against Cuba

In the top of the 9th inning, the score was tied at one. Ichiro hit a ball to second baseman Kawasaki, who evaded the catcher’s block and brought it home with just his right hand!

Yu Darvish, selected as an inexperienced pitcher
2009 2nd World Tournament, Final against South Korea

In the same tournament, manager Tatsunori Hara selected Darvish as an inexperienced supporter. Despite his own concerns, he allowed only one run in two innings in the final game.

Shinnosuke Abe became the first player in history to hit two homers in one inning! Two homers in one inning
3rd World Tournament ’13, 2nd round, game against the Netherlands

In the bottom of the 2nd inning, Japan went on the offensive. Five runs scored in one inning, including a homer by Abe, who led off the inning. Abe’s three-run homer in the top of the first inning was the first time in WBC history that two homers were hit in one inning.

Kosuke Fukudome, who had been in a slump, hit a two-run double in his place.
2006 First WBC Semifinal against Korea

Fukudome, who was out of the starting lineup for the first time in this tournament due to a slumping batting average of .105, came in as a substitute batter with one out and two on in the top of the 7th inning with the score 0-0. He gave up the final two runs.

From the March 13-20, 2026 issue of FRIDAY