NPB appoints Shigeo Iguchi as Japanese national baseball team manager

The Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) organisation announced on 25 July 2026 that Shigeo Iguchi has been appointed as the new manager of the Japanese national baseball team. The decision marks a strategic shift for the national squad as it prepares for the upcoming World Baseball Classic (WBC).

Iguchi, a former professional baseball player with a career spanning both the Nippon Professional Baseball league and Major League Baseball (MLB), will take charge of the national side. The NPB stated that the appointment was made with the specific objective of defending the team’s title in the forthcoming World Baseball Classic.

The Japanese national team is currently targeting a successful defence of its WBC crown. The tournament is scheduled to take place in March, requiring the new management to integrate quickly into the squad’s preparations. Iguchi’s selection reflects the organisation’s reliance on players with extensive experience in both domestic and international professional leagues.

Details regarding the specific start date of Iguchi’s tenure or the timeline for his initial official duties were not included in the NPB’s announcement. The source material does not provide information on any immediate press conference statements or detailed tactical plans from the new manager.

The appointment comes as the NPB looks to maintain its competitive standing in international baseball. Iguchi’s background in both Japanese and American professional baseball provides a foundation for his leadership role as the team enters the qualification and preparation phases for the March event.