Nine participating teams will compete for the continental title and three available tickets to the XVII WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup, which will take place next July in Europe.

Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto homered, and Samurai Japan edged the United States, 3-2, to become World Champions for the first time in international baseball history. It's the third consecutive title for Japan after claiming the WBSC Premier12 2019 and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Murakami, the NPB triple crown (pictured), delivered the winning hit on a 1-1 count off reliever Giovanny Gallegos with no one out in the bottom of the ninth. Japan will face the United States in the World Championship final on Tuesday, 21 March.

The WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup alum became an example of good sportsmanship.

Eight teams participated in the tournament, that served as a selection for the Women's Baseball National Team.

The WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup qualifier, to be staged from 2-8 April in Incheon, South Korea, will be the first of six continental qualifers this year in Asia.

"Because of baseball, I exist," stated the 21-year-old member of the female group Nogizaka46 who will throw the ceremonial first pitch ahead of Japan v China on Thursday.

Jingu Stadium opened in 1926 and hosted the demonstration baseball game at the Tokyo 1964 Olympics between a US College team and a Japanese amateur All-Star.

The slugging outfielder, one of nine Tokyo 2020 gold medallists on Japan's roster, was diagnosed with an oblique strain while at the Chicago Cubs Spring Training Camp.

The Giants Academy coaches Jun Hasegawa, a former NPB pitcher, Tsujito Rin and Japanese Baseball5 National Team player Miwa Tanaka (pictured above) held the clinic.