The six-time defending World Champions Japan announced their 20-player roster for the IX Women's Baseball World Cup - Group B, presented by CARNEXT.
Rising 21-year-old superstar Kana Onodera will contend the role of ace-pitcher with reigning Women's World Cup MVP Ayami Sato, who will turn 35 in December and is the only pitcher returning from the 2018 staff.
Onodera (Yomiuri Giants) defeated Sato (Seibu Lions) 1-0 in the 18th Japanese Club Championship final. The whole roster was involved in the Championship, with 10 players on the teams of three Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) clubs that opened a Women's Section - the Yomiuri Giants, Seibu Lions and Hanshin Tigers.
Including Sato, six players helped Japan win the VIII WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup 2018. The other five are infielders Ayaka Deguchi, Yuki Kawabata, Miwa Tanaka, Yaya Kojima, and outfielder Iori Miura.
Former pitcher Risa Nakajima, who helped Kapan win five consecutive Women's World Cups from 2006 to 2014, will debut as manager in the tournament. She was named in November 2020.
Nakajima's coaching staff includes Katsuhiko Kido, who was on the 2018 World Champion staff, Hiroki Fukudome and Mitsuharu Yokoi.
World No. 1 Madonna Japan will open camp on Friday, 8 September and debut in the IX WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup - Group B on Wednesday, 13 September, against No. 9 Puerto Rico. They will face No. 16 France on 14 September, No. 5 Venezuela on 15 September, No. 2 Chinese Taipei on 16 September and No. 7 Cuba on 17 September.
