WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL B - KOREA VS JAPAN

March 10, 2023

Hideki Kuriyama

Tokyo Dome

Team Japan

Pregame Press Conference

Q. Is there any change in the atmosphere of the team?

HIDEKI KURIYAMA: Well, change, no. Our output was maximum last night, so I was a bit worried about our condition, but it seems like my player is calmed down, and I don't think there's any damage to our roster. So I'm pleased.

Q. The second game for the WBC will be the game against Korea. How do you feel personally about Korea?

HIDEKI KURIYAMA: I was watching, covering as a reporter including Olympic Games and WBC every time when we faced against Korea. It's always tough competition. It's more likely Seoul versus Seoul, and I didn't expect I would be here to play against them as a manager. A lot of players told me how I felt, and last season I had a business opportunity to watch them play in Korea. I watched some KBO games, so I learned a lot.

All I can say is I put all my effort into tonight's game.

Q. Tonight's starting pitcher will be Darvish, who pitched against Team Korea before. What's your expectation for Darvish?

HIDEKI KURIYAMA: Well, he's not a guy that I should comment before the game because he's one of the best pitchers in the world. All I can say is I am trusting in him. That's it. No matter what, he had experience playing against Korea.

I also believe that he felt a lot of pleasure, and note only me but all the Japanese fan is expecting him to pitch well tonight in Tokyo. So I am trusting him very well.

Q. Since last night's loss for Korea, for them it's going to be a do-or-die game.

HIDEKI KURIYAMA: Well, it's the same situation as we are. We are not thinking about future games. The only concern for today's game. We 100 percent concentrate for tonight's contest.

Q. Last year you watched the KBO baseball games. How do you evaluate Korean baseball? What's their strength in your view?

HIDEKI KURIYAMA: Well, it's difficult to explain what's their strength. Well, they're combining Major League method and the Korean baseball method, and it's not easy to answer. All I can say once again is I'll put all our effort and try to get the momentum so it could lead the game winning percentage to us.

Each individual player, I am trusting in all my roster.

Q. Last night's contest, you mentioned the history between you and Darvish previously. You just wrote down his name on the lineup card tonight. How did you feel about that?

HIDEKI KURIYAMA: Well, probably within an hour or so when the game starts, when I see Darvish's name on the scoreboard, probably my feeling might be changed, but it is not the time to explain my feeling right now. It's a do-or-die game, and the percentage of win or lose will be 50/50, so I'll save that moment until after the tournament.