WBC First Round Group C Taiwan 0-13 Japan = 7th innings called = (6th, Tokyo Dome)

Samurai Japan's 4th Koki Kitayama pitcher (Nippon-Ham) pitched 1 hit 1 strike out runs in the first inning. "I was able to pitch a lot of fun while throwing," he said, enjoying the atmosphere.

He took the mound as the 4th in the 6th inning with a 13-run lead. In the leadoff hitter, he was hit by a right-handed hit, which was the first hit of the Taiwanese team, and allowed him to get on base, but he did not allow a run with a struck out swing, two grounders, and two ground balls.

Kitayama, who also came up with the "tea-making pose," has seen it become popular within the team, with Ohtani even demonstrating it after hitting bases loaded slam in the scoreless second inning. Seeing this, he said, "I was watching from in front of the dugout before going to bullpen, and as the one who came up with it, I felt a sense of relief. I was able to stir up quite a bit of the diamond today, so there was plenty of good tea. I've already drunk so much that I'm full, but I'm happy, and I hope to keep the excitement going with both my pitching and my celebrations." He seemed pleased with his own two-way performance.