Dominating the airwaves from morning to evening! A close look at a day in the life of former Major Leaguer Ryota Igarashi during the WBC rush | SUNNY SIDE UP’s approach to athlete management and PR
On March 22*, all of Japan erupted in joy. The final of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) to determine the world’s best was being held at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida. *March 21 local time
Aiming to reclaim the world title for the first time in 14 years since the second tournament in 2009, Samurai Japan (hereinafter referred to as the national team) assembled its strongest roster ever, including Major Leaguers Shohei Ohtani and Yu Darvish.
Widely hailed as the strongest team in history, they entered the tournament with a rock-solid foundation.Even before the first round began in Japan on the 9th, the daily media frenzy—from intensive training camp coverage to pre-tournament interviews with WBC players—across all media outlets, not just the broadcasting stations, truly demonstrated that baseball is Japan’s national sport.
From the first round to the quarterfinals, massive crowds of Japanese baseball fans packed the Tokyo Dome. TV broadcasts consistently hit viewership ratings of nearly 40%, and the national team continued to win decisively under intense public scrutiny. After finishing their games in Tokyo in a complete “home” atmosphere, they headed to Miami for the final rounds.
The national team’s success was featured extensively on daily news programs, with some shows dedicating nearly their entire runtime to Samurai Japan specials. Former professional players with WBC experience, former Major Leaguers, and critics appeared as experts, providing clear commentary based on their wealth of experience.
While commentators rarely step into the spotlight themselves, here we take a look behind the scenes with former Major Leaguer Ryota Igarashi, a SUNNY SIDE UP athlete who was incredibly busy during the national team’s run.
Commemorative photo at the press conference venue
Mr. Igarashi appeared on approximately 30 programs during the WBC period alone (the 17 days from March 8 to March 24). During the first and quarterfinal rounds, he spent about a week on-site in Taiwan as a “WBC Reporter” for TV Asahi, covering Pool A matches involving teams that could potentially face Japan in the quarterfinals.
Since only a few domestic media outlets were reporting from Taiwan, Mr. Igarashi’s clear commentary became a hot topic online when the Italian national team—initially not expected to face Japan—advanced to the quarterfinals, as he had been watching them play firsthand.Mr. Igarashi took pride in being the most knowledgeable person in Japan regarding the Italian team, having meticulously noted the results and playing tendencies of every pitcher and hitter during his reporting in Taiwan.
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Ryota Igarashi enjoyed his reporting in Taiwan, where he was able to reunite with former teammates who had played in Japan.
Afterward, Mr. Igarashi prepared for his program appearances in Japan ahead of the semifinals in the United States. His preparation for appearance opportunities, which fluctuated depending on game outcomes, was reminiscent of his days waiting in the bullpen as a relief pitcher.
Once the advancement to the semifinals was confirmed, he was in high demand for news programs across all stations. It was a daily routine of “starting and finishing the game” and “pitching on consecutive days”—appearing on shows from morning to evening, something he never even experienced during his playing days. He worked energetically across different stations and programs, even appearing remotely for regional shows.
Ryota Igarashi providing expert commentary on a morning news program
Ryota Igarashi appearing remotely on a regional program from a TV station’s editing room
In addition to his WBC work, he handled a wide range of assignments, including pre-season work for the upcoming professional baseball season, commentary for exhibition games, variety shows, radio programs, and newspaper interviews.Although he occasionally showed signs of fatigue, it was impressive to see him always approaching his work with enjoyment, especially when working alongside former teammates and fellow commentators on-site.
His ability to switch between work and downtime is truly professional. Even three years after retiring from active play, he still has plenty of stamina!
Athlete Management at SUNNY SIDE UP
While SUNNY SIDE UP operates as a PR firm and in sports promotion, we have long been involved in athlete management and second-career support from the perspective of “promoting athletes.”The history of our athlete management business actually goes back quite far, beginning in 1991 with a management contract for SUNNY SIDE UP’s first athlete, Hideya Miyazuka (triathlon). At a time when triathlon was virtually unknown, Mr. Miyazuka requested management to help introduce the sport to the world.
Since then, SUNNY SIDE UP has grown alongside a prestigious roster of athletes, including former Japan national football team players Hidetoshi Nakata and Masakiyo Maezono, as well as many other Olympians, world-class athletes, and international players.
While we provide PR for events and products, our unique strength lies in our ability to support athlete management and second careers from a “PR” perspective.
During last year’s FIFA World Cup, Mr. Maezono appeared in numerous media outlets as a commentator, and Mr. Igarashi followed suit during the WBC. During these global celebrations, we create an “exciting stir” together with athletes and the media.
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Ryota Igarashi, Former Professional Baseball Player (Pitcher)
Official Instagram @ryota_igarashi53
