Softbank Hawks 's Oh Sadaharu, president of the baseball team, expressed his hopes for the Japanese national team to win the WBC again. "Japanese players become stronger when they wear the Japanese flag. It's not just about me," he said, expressing his sincerity as he led the team to the world championship as manager in the first WBC. Manager Kokubo also shook hands and encouraged WBC players Kondo, Makihara, and Shuto, who were leaving the team for Samurai Japan's training camp.