Japanese baseball has witnessed considerable evolution in tandem with the World Baseball Classic (WBC), which has been pivotal since its inception 20 years ago. Japan has shown remarkable performance in the WBC, claiming victory in the inaugural tournament in 2006 and successfully defending their title in 2009, resulting in an immense popularity for the event in Japan compared to other nations. Establishing a permanent national team, known as 'Samurai Japan,' in 2012 further propelled Japanese baseball into the international spotlight, enabling players to strive for careers in Major League Baseball (MLB), evidenced by a record number of eight MLB players on the current roster.