Softbank Hawks manager Hiroki Kokubo gave an interview on the 6th before the game against Hanshin Tigers (Koshien) and sent his support to Samurai Japan ahead of their first WBC game against Taiwan (Tokyo Dome). "After all, the first game is important. The form or content doesn't matter, we just need to win. Anyway, we just need to score one more point than the opponent, or one less point, and win," he said, hoping for win. "I'll watch it from my room today," he said, planning to watch the game on TV at a hotel in Osaka city after the day game. The team has sent four players to the Samurai: Kondo, Shuto, Makihara Dai, and Matsumoto Yutaka.

He himself coached the team in the 4th tournament in 2017, and they made it to the semi-finals. In the first match, they beat Cuba 11-6. "The match against Cuba. I don't really want to remember it," he said, apparently still having a strong impression of the pressure and unique tension.