NARITA, Japan (AP) Japan's World Baseball Classic championship team was greeted by thousands of cheering fans Wednesday when it arrived at the airport.

Japan defended its 2006 WBC title with a 5-3 win over South Korea in Monday's final at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

"The team's greatest appeal was its strong attitude and tenacity," Japan manager Tatsunori Hara said at a news conference. "I'm very proud to have been the manager of this team." (MORE)

NARITA, Japan (AP) Japan's World Baseball Classic championship team was greeted by thousands of cheering fans Wednesday when it landed at Narita Airport.

Japan defended its 2006 WBC title with a 5-3 win over South Korea in Monday's final at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

"The team's greatest appeal was its strong attitude and tenacity," Japan manager Tatsunori Hara said at a news conference. "I'm very proud to have been the manager of this team." (MORE)

TOKYO (AP) Special editions rolled off newspaper printing presses and Japanese fans who'd taken time off work to watch the World Baseball Classic final celebrated with banners emblazoned with "Samurai Japan."

The WBC may not be a big deal in the United States but it's huge in Japan, which prides itself on its baseball pedigree. Needing a 10th inning to beat archrival South Korea 5-3 in Los Angeles late Monday only added to the tension.

Workers crammed into bars and restaurants in Tokyo and other cities to watch the game, which started at 10:30 a.m. local time on Tuesday. Electronics stores selling big screen TVs were turned into public viewing galleries as the baseball-crazy nation stopped to watch as Japan defended its title. (MORE)

TOKYO (AP) Special editions rolled off newspaper printing presses and Japanese fans who'd taken time off work to watch the World Baseball Classic final celebrated with banners emblazoned with "Samurai Japan."

The WBC may not be a big deal in the United States but it's huge in Japan, which prides itself on its baseball pedigree. Needing a 10th inning to beat arch rival South Korea 5-3 in Los Angeles late Monday only added to the tension.

Workers crammed into bars and restaurants in Tokyo and other cities to watch the game which started at 10:30 a.m. local time on Tuesday. Electronics stores selling big screen TVs were turned into public viewing galleries as the baseball-crazy nation stopped to watch as Japan defended its title. (MORE)

LOS ANGELES (AP) Seattle Mariners star Ichiro Suzuki hit a two-out, two-run single in the top of the 10th inning as defending champion Japan beat reigning Olympic champion South Korea 5-3 Monday night to win its second straight World Baseball Classic title.

The Japanese won the inaugural tournament three years ago, beating Cuba 10-6 in the finals at San Diego.

"Well, we represented Japan," manager Tatsunori Hara said through a translator. "Day-by-day, the team evolved. (MORE)

LOS ANGELES (AP) For the second time in three years, the United States was beaten at its own game on its own turf.

Maybe baseball just ain't America's sport anymore.

Daisuke Matsuzaka remained undefeated in the World Baseball Classic and defending champion Japan topped Team USA 9-4 in the semifinals at Dodger Stadium on Sunday night. (MORE)

LOS ANGELES (AP) Olympic champion South Korea reached the finals of the second World Baseball Classic with a dominating 10-2 win over Venezuela on Saturday.

Cleveland Indians outfielder Choo Shin-soo hit a three-run homer to cap a five-run first and Yoon Suk-min allowed two runs in 6 1-3 innings as South Korea beat mistake-prone Venezuela at Dodger Stadium before an enthusiastic crowd of 43,378.

"As a major leaguer myself, in terms of the actual players in the major leagues and the other players, there is not a great deal of difference," Choo said through a translator. "All the Korean players are excellent. I believe there is no major difference between the major leagues and our Korean players. (MORE)

TOKYO (AP) Infielder Kenta Kurihara joined Japan's roster Friday at the World Baseball Classic as a replacement for injured Shuichi Murata ahead of the game against the United States.

Murata injured his right hamstring in the 6-2 win over South Korea.

Defending champion Japan will face the U.S. team in the semifinals Sunday at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. (MORE)

SAN DIEGO (AP) Defending champion Japan rallied for three runs in the eighth inning Thursday to beat South Korea 6-2 and win Pool 1 of the World Baseball Classic.

Japan and South Korea had already clinched semifinal berths.

With the win, Japan faces the United States on Sunday in the semifinals at Los Angeles' Dodger Stadium. South Korea, held to six hits by seven Japanese pitchers, will play Pool 2 winner Venezuela in the first semifinal on Saturday. (MORE)

SAN DIEGO (AP) The World Baseball Classic is heading to Hollywood, and what could be more marquee than Daisuke Matsuzaka against Jake Peavy at Dodger Stadium?

That's the expected pitching matchup for the second semifinal Sunday night in Los Angeles, when defending WBC champion Japan will face hobbled Team USA.

Japan earned that matchup - and an extra day of rest - by rallying for three runs in the eighth inning Thursday night to beat South Korea 6-2 and win Pool 1. Japan and South Korea had already clinched semifinal berths. (MORE)