South Korea aims to break an 11-game losing streak against Japan in professional-level international baseball when the two sides meet on November 13 at the Tokyo Dome in the 2026 Asia Professional Baseball Championship (APBC) qualifiers, according to reports in The Dong-A Ilbo.
Tokyo Dome Qualifier
The tournament returns after a three-year break, featuring players under 24 or in their first three professional seasons from South Korea, Japan, Chinese Taipei, and Australia, alongside up to three wild-card players under 29 per roster.
Japanese media outlets including Sports Hochi report that Yomiuri Giants left-hander Kazuyuki Takemaru is the leading candidate to start for Japan.
Takemaru became the Giants’ first opening-game winning pitcher on March 27, finishing the season with an 11-9 record and a 3.27 ERA.
Right-Handed Power
Takemaru surrendered a 0.275 batting average to right-handed hitters this season compared to 0.218 against lefties, while all 14 home runs he allowed came off right-handed bats.
Sports Hochi highlighted South Korea’s Kim Do-young as a central challenge for the hosts.
Kim hit 45 home runs this season for the KIA Tigers to lead the KBO League.
KT Wiz outfielder Ahn Hyun-min joins Kim as a primary right-handed power threat, despite hitting 14 home runs in a season interrupted by injuries.
Autumn Form
Kim carried strong form into the postseason, batting 0.345 with four home runs and nine RBIs across eight autumn baseball games for KIA.
Kim hit two more home runs during a November 6 evaluation match against the Sangmu baseball team.
“My batting rhythm was good toward the end of the regular season, so I’ve been focusing on maintaining that feeling,” Kim said, according to The Dong-A Ilbo.
South Korea manager Choi Won-ho plans to place Kim in the second or third spot in the batting order.
Roster Adjustments
Ahn struggled during the Korean Series in his first autumn baseball appearance, batting 0.133 with two hits in 15 at-bats after hitting a two-run homer in Game 1.
A defensive misplay in Game 4 led to Ahn’s removal from the starting lineup for Game 5.
“I’m leaving the sadness and regret behind in yesterday,” Ahn wrote on social media on November 10.
Manager Choi stated that the coaching staff will evaluate the physical condition of Ahn, Samsung Lions players Kim Ji-chan and Lee Jae-hyeon, and other Korean Series participants before finalizing their usage.
Historic Skid
South Korea’s losing streak in professional-level games against Japan dates back to an 8-7 extra-inning loss in 10 innings at the 2017 APBC preliminary round.
South Korea’s last victory against Japan in these competitions occurred 11 years ago during the semifinals of the 2015 WBSC Premier12, where South Korea won 4-3.
South Korea has lost two tournament finals to Japan and stands at 0-4 all-time against Japan in APBC play.
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