Tokyo: South Korea and Japan will engage in exhibition baseball games in Tokyo this November, as announced by officials from both countries. The two games, highlighting the rivalry between the nations, are scheduled for November 15 and 16 at the Tokyo Dome.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the announcement was made at a press conference in Tokyo. The event was attended by KBO Commissioner Heo Koo-youn and South Korea manager Ryu Ji-hyun, alongside NPB Commissioner Sadayuki Sakakibara and Japan skipper Hirokazu Ibata. These games are part of preparations for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, where South Korea and Japan will compete in Pool C next March at the same venue.
The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) stated that the exhibition games are also a component of its Team Korea Level Up Project, unveiled in July 2023. This initiative aims to organize games against international teams to strengthen the national team. The KBO further emphasized that 2025 will mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Japan.