Nippon-Ham pitcher Shoma Kanemura expressed his gratitude to the Japanese national team pitcher on the 16th, after their loss in the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic.

Kanemura, who watched the match against Venezuela on television, said, "They were on that stage carrying a lot of pressure and expectations that we can't even begin to imagine. It wasn't easy, and most importantly, they were representing Japan, so I hope they come back with their heads held high."

Even through the screen, the atmosphere of the stadium created by the Venezuelan fans and team came through. "I could really feel the unique atmosphere even just watching it on TV, so I thought it must be even more difficult for the people who are actually there playing. We were watching with a bit of tension ourselves, so I thought they must be pitching under a level of tension that we can't even imagine," he said.

This tournament was a tough one for him, with his teammate Ito giving up a game-winning home run. But even so, his desire to compete in the next tournament has only grown stronger. "Seeing them give their all made me really want to pitch on a stage like that too. I have to thank my seniors for making me feel that way, and it made me want to work even harder so I don't lose," he said.