The Day Japan's WBC Dream Ended

Japanese media editors focused on Japan's elimination from the World Baseball Classic after a quarterfinal loss to Venezuela, with live coverage throughout the early morning hours tracking the game's developments including home runs by Shohei Ohtani and Morishita Shota. Following the 5-8 defeat, multiple outlets analyzed the performance, collected player comments, and reported manager Hiromitsu Ibata's resignation announcement, while coverage continued on the Trump administration's expectations for allied naval deployments to secure the Hormuz Strait. Simultaneously, editors reported on domestic opposition to U.S. military action against Iran, with Asahi Shimbun publishing a poll showing 82% disapproval of attacks on Iran, and coverage of North Korea's ballistic missile launches toward the Sea of Japan continued from previous days.