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Japan is on a mission in Prince Albert. Despite having participated in every edition of the WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup, the Asian powerhouse has never lifted the trophy. Hiroki Ikeda has been a cornerstone in the 2025 Japanese team, pitching 21.1 innings with 28 strikeouts and nine runs allowed.
Japan has reached the World Championship Final twice—in 2000 in South Africa and in 2019 in Czechia—falling short both times against New Zealand and Argentina, respectively.
Now on the verge of reaching their third final, Ikeda says the team is fully focused on finishing the job. “Of course I feel nervous, but I believe in what I can do, and I want our whole team to come together and win,” he said.
The right-handed pitcher knows the sting of defeat all too well. He was part of the 2019 squad that lost an epic 10-inning final against Argentina, 3-2, in one of the most thrilling games in the sport’s history. “I’ve won a silver medal before, but I still carry the frustration of falling just short. This time, I absolutely want Japan to win and leave our name in the history books,” he said.
Although he was part of the pitching staff in Czechia, Ikeda didn’t see much action in 2019, throwing just 4.1 innings with eight strikeouts. “I wasn’t the ace pitcher back then, so I didn’t carry most of the workload. But this time, I want to show what I can do as the ace and help us win the championship,” he said.
The 30-year-old pitcher also expressed full confidence in himself and his teammates. “Of course I believe we can win,” he affirmed.
In Japan, most kids grow up dreaming of playing baseball and reaching the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league. But Ikeda believes that winning this tournament could elevate men’s softball back home.
“Baseball is definitely the mainstream sport in Japan, and men’s softball is especially minor. But I want us to win a world championship and raise the sport’s profile to the level of baseball,” he explained.
“Not only do I want to showcase our play, but also spread the values of Japanese manners and the greatness of the Japanese people.”
Ikeda also reflected on his early days in the sport. “My father started playing softball first. Then my older brother followed. So I started because of my father,” he recalled. “I began pitching in my second year of high school.”
