Dodgers Interview: Yoshinobu Yamamoto Set to Start WBC Opener in Tokyo
Setting the Tone: Yamamoto Lined Up for Game 1
TOKYO, JAPAN — Yoshinobu Yamamoto has a way of making the biggest moments sound like another day at the office, but you could still hear the edge of excitement in his voice once Team Japan finished its workout at Tokyo Dome. With the World Baseball Classic about to begin, Yamamoto spoke with a calm confidence about the mood around the club, what it means to take the ball in the opener, and how his years with the Dodgers have shaped the way he prepares. His answers were steady, direct, and very “Yamamoto,” right down to the dry little joke at the end.
WBC: “It’s here.”
When he was asked what it felt like to arrive in Tokyo with the tournament right there in front of him, Yamamoto put the focus on preparation. “Today we finished practice at Tokyo Dome, and it started to feel like, ‘It’s here,’” he said. “We still have one more day, so I want to adjust well and take the mound in the best condition I can.” Asked what he thought after watching Japan’s two exhibition games, he kept it about the group’s tone. “The atmosphere is really good,” he said. “We’re in a really good mood, and of course the players are all top-level, so I think that part is fine. The atmosphere is really good.”
The biggest headline, of course, is that Yamamoto is lined up as Japan’s opening pitcher, and he talked like a guy who understands how much that first game sets the table. “It’s our first game,” he said, “so I want to get off to a good start and make it a start that lets us ride momentum through this WBC.” He also spoke about the responsibility that comes with getting that assignment. “The first game can be difficult,” he said. “They trusted me with it, so I want to do my job and answer those expectations.”
A treat for Japanese fans
For fans excited to see him pitch in Japan again, Yamamoto sounded genuinely happy about the setting and where his body is at right now. “My condition is good, my body feels really good, and I think I can pitch at full strength,” he said. “And after last year, I get to play again in a ballpark here in Japan, so I’m really looking forward to it. I think the fans are looking forward to it too, so I’m going to do my best to show a good version of myself.”
Yamamoto also weighed in on the “tea pose” celebration that’s been making the rounds around Team Japan, and he answered it like someone who’s been watching the same clips everyone else has. “During yesterday’s game, I saw the newest pose,” he said. “I thought it was really good, and then I saw on social media and learned what it meant for the first time.” He even tied it back to what players care about most. “If we can do that a lot, I think that means runs will score,” he said with a grin. “We’ll work to do it a lot together.”
Committed to Samurai Japan
When a reporter asked about his commitment to playing for the team in this tournament, Yamamoto pointed straight at the goal. “Winning it all,” he said. “Repeating as champions is everyone’s goal, so I want to work hard as one member of the team toward that.” Another question compared the feeling of starting a season opener with the Dodgers, starting one with the Buffaloes, and starting this WBC opener for Japan. Yamamoto didn’t really separate them. “For me, every game is the same feeling,” he said. “A regular-season game in the summer is the same, and a season-opening game is the same. Every game is the same feeling.”
A Balancing Act with the Dodgers
One of the most interesting parts of the availability came when Yamamoto addressed the balancing act between the Dodgers’ season and the WBC, and he made it clear the decision came out of mutual communication and his condition. “The Dodgers understand how important the WBC is to the people of Japan,” he said. “And I’m also a member of the Dodgers, so both matter. We talked it through, and my condition was good.” Yamamoto explained that the choice came down to whether he felt ready. “If I had been carrying any worries, I wouldn’t have been able to play,” he said. “But I can line up for the Dodgers’ Opening Day, and I can play in the WBC at full strength too, so I talked with the team and decided to play.”
Reporters also asked about the last three years, a stretch that included moving to the majors, pitching in big games, and stacking experiences that don’t always go smoothly. Yamamoto described it as a slow build that adds up. “Little by little, I’ve had different experiences, and I really feel I’ve been able to grow,” he said. “When you look back, those small steps become something big. In three years, a lot changes. I have more confidence than before, and I think the accumulation has become something larger.” When another reporter asked what hasn’t changed about him over those three years, Yamamoto kept it blunt. “The basic parts,” he said. “Almost nothing has changed. I don’t think it has.”
“Changing is important… if I start getting carried away, please warn me.”
Keeping Consistent, no matter the uniform
Pressed on what he values that stays constant even as he continues to evolve, he gave a thoughtful answer, then cracked a line that sounded like it came straight out of a clubhouse hallway. “Changing is important, and not changing is important too,” he said. “It’s hard, but… if I start getting carried away, please warn me. Please. Keep an eye on me.”
If you read between the lines, Yamamoto’s vibe is pretty simple: the team feels good, his body feels good, and he wants the first game to set the tone. The rest is the work he trusts, the routine he keeps, and the calm he brings with him to every mound, no matter what uniform he’s wearing that day.
GAME ALERT: If you want to catch Yoshi and the rest of Samurai Japan, it’s going to require a little commitment (or at least a recording device). Team Japan makes its 2026 WBC debut a 7:00 PM Tokyo time tomorrow. For those of us in LA, that’s 2:00 AM PST. Yikes! Set those VTRs!
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