Cheers erupted across Japan as the Samurai Japan’s victory over Team USA in the World Baseball Classic final in Miami sent fans in homes, ballparks and public viewing locales into ecstasy.

The championship game began on a weekday morning in Japan on March 22, but many fans took off from work or changed their schedules to cheer on their heroes. 

About 400 people gathered at the public viewing spot set up in the Star Rise Tower event facility near Tokyo Tower in Tokyo’s Minato Ward.

They exploded in joy after two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani struck out Los Angeles Angels’ teammate Mike Trout, giving Japan its third WBC crown.

Shuji Ihara, a company employee living in Yotsukaido, Chiba Prefecture, who took paid leave more than a month ago to watch the final, said, “Japan’s players became messengers of baseball in the world with their splendid performance.

“I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart,” he said.

Ihara, who has been a baseball fan for 50 years, has been watching the WBC on TV or at stadiums since its inception in 2006.

While he felt joy during Japan’s victories in 2006 and 2009, he also felt a sense of heroism in the midst of the pressure of being the defending world champion.

This time, however, when he heard Japanese ace pitcher Yu Darvish say that “we’re not going to war,” he felt his words gave the team a sense of relief.

“It was the world’s best competition, filled with bright and enjoyable moments and played in a real earnest fashion, thanks to the outstanding performances of players from both home and abroad,” Ihara said.

Taiki Kobori, a company employee residing in Tokyo’s Kita Ward, who visited the public viewing location after changing his work schedule a month ago, said excitedly, “I am proud of the players who fought so hard to win the championship.”

He said he thinks that this is a story that brightens people’s lives amid the dark news such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and rising consumer prices.

“I felt that this WBC was a tournament that leads to the next generation, with admirable players such as Ohtani and (pitcher) Roki Sasaki playing significant roles,” he said.

Mimi Hagiwara, 21, a third-year student at Tokyo University of Science who lives in Yokohama, shifted her morning part-time job to the afternoon to watch the game.

“It was the best game to be able to cheer with everyone and share the joy,” she said.

Hagiwara entered a university in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and has spent the three years without many events or opportunities to watch baseball in person.

"Some people took off their masks to cheer, and I finally feel like a spring without COVID-19," she said.

Hagiwara was invited to attend by her friends from her part-time job who were originally not interested in baseball but told her, “I have become a bandwagon fan,” and “Let’s watch the game together.”

“It’s been said that many people lose their interest in baseball, however, (the players’ best performance) increased the number of young and female fans,” Hagiwara said.

Tomoko Taniguchi, 33, a company employee who resides in Tokyo’s Meguro Ward, attended the public viewing event for the first time after having applied for paid leave more than a month ago.

She is a fan of the Hiroshima Toyo Carp and was wearing the uniform of Seiya Suzuki, a former Carp star now playing for the Chicago Cubs, who withdrew from the Japanese team due to an abdominal strain.

She shed tears when she saw the players on Samurai Japan wearing their gold medals over Suzuki’s uniform on the big screen during the victory ceremony.

"Players on the Japanese team, who said they would do their best for him, presented the victory to Seiya. It’s amazing. I love them," Taniguchi said.

Spectators of the annual spring national high school baseball tournament at Hanshin Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, were also thrilled by Samurai Japan’s victory.

When Japan clinched its third WBC title, the first since 2009, it was 11:40 a.m. Japan time.

In Koshien Stadium, Tokoha University Kikugawa High School of Shizuoka Prefecture was playing Senshu University Matsudo High School from Chiba Prefecture in the bottom of the first inning at the time.

Spectators watched both the high school baseball game and the WBC final on their smartphones or tablets at the same time. 

When Japan secured the victory with Ohtani’s strikeout, spectators whistled and gave a loud applause.

In the top of the third inning, the large message, “Congratulations to the Japanese WBC national team” was displayed on the big ballpark scoreboard and the stadium again erupted in applause.

Yosuke Ohoka, a 40-year-old Tokyo public employee, who visited the stadium to cheer on his alma mater, Tokai University Sugao High School, was immersed in watching the WBC game on his smartphone, saying, “The pitcher in front of me is throwing well, but I’m sorry.

“It was perfect and a happy day for baseball fans. I’m glad I took the day off work,” he said.

Yuito Takahashi and his wife, both 28, are baseball fans who reside in Tokyo’s Katsushika Ward.

They said, “It’s rare to see both high school baseball and Japan’s victory in the WBC at the same time.

“Now we can focus on the game that Senshu University Matsudo High School is playing.” 

(This article was compiled from reports by Yosuke Watanabe, Takeshi Okada and Eriko Noda.)