August 1, 2017
Atsunori Inaba hadn’t even been officially unveiled as the next Samurai Japan manager for 10 minutes when NPB commissioner Katsuhiko Kumazaki told him he carried the hopes and dreams of the public into the upcoming Tokyo Olympics in 2020 and World Baseball Classic in 2021. Samurai Japan Strengthening Committee director Atsushi Ihara informed him his job was to win an Olympic gold medal.
Not that there’s any pressure or anything.
Ihara made the news that first came out around two weeks ago official on Monday, announcing Inaba as the next manager of the national team and tasking him with leading Japan into both the 2020 Games and the next World Baseball Classic.
Inaba, who turns 45 on Thursday, takes the reigns from Hiroki Kokubo, who stepped down in March following Japan’s run to the semifinals at the World Baseball Classic earlier this year. As was the case with Kokubo in 2013, the job will be Inaba’s first as a manager. He’ll make his debut during the three-team Asia Professional Baseball Championship in November at Tokyo Dome.
Inaba was a decorated player himself during a 20-year NPB career with the Yakult Swallows and the Fighters. He ended his playing days with 2,167 hits and 261 home runs and an .806 on-base plus slugging percentage. He made five Best Nine teams, won five Golden Gloves and was an All-Star eight times. Inaba was also the MVP of the 2006 Japan Series.
The Fighters retired his No. 41 after his final season and he currently serves as team’s Sports Community Officer. He traded his Nippon Ham No. 41 for a pinstriped No. 80 Samurai Japan uniform, which Kumazaki helped him into, on Monday.
Inaba’s first tournament in charge will come in November during the Asia Professional Baseball Championship, a three-team tournament that will feature Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. The event will be held Nov. 16-19, with Inaba and Japan facing South Korea in the opening game.
As for the next edition of the WBC, the new manager is focusing on the Olympics first.
“I consider the 2021 WBC a different animal,” he said, noting some of the rule differences between the two events. “Right now I’m focused on the Olympics and winning a gold medal there. We’ll pour all our effort into that.”
Masatake YAMANAKA, Vice President of Baseball Federation of Japan, introduces newly appointed Atsunori INABA
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