Japan's baseball team at the Olympic Games

Japan during their 8-7 loss against Cuba at the Olympic Games Atlanta 1996. Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn / Allsport

Yoshinobu Takahashi #24 is congratulated by teammates after defeating Italy in the baseball preliminary game during the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Japan won 11-0. (Photo by Nick Laham / Getty Images)

Kazuhiro Wada celebrates with teammates at the dugout after hitting a home run against Canada in the preliminary game during the Athens 2004 Olympic Games (Photo by Jamie Squire / Getty Images)

Yu Darvish of Japan pitches against the United States during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games (Photo by Nick Laham / Getty Images)

Manager Senichi Hoshino #77 stands with his team before taking on the Chinese Taipei during their preliminary baseball game at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games (Photo by Mark Dadswell / Getty Images)

Masahiro Tanaka of Japan pitches against the United States during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games (Photo by Nick Laham / Getty Images)

Koji Uehara celebrates with teammate Atsunori Inaba after defeating Chinese Taipei 6-1 during their preliminary game at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games (Photo by Mark Dadswell / Getty Images)